Northwoods Sporting Journal, May 2023

Me & Joe Capsized In Uncle Arnold’s Old Guide’s Canoe May 2023

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Wives Who Hunt - V. Paul Reynolds

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

Wives Who Hunt

Probably not a politically correct title for an article in a post-modern, gender-confused culture, right?

After all, many women - married or not - simply take up hunting because they want to, not because their significant other sparked their interest, or brought them along in the blood sports.

Historically, women, though a minority in the hunting community, have been hunting for years.

According to an article in the Alaska News, pioneer Alaska had its legendary female hunters from the early days. Nellie Neal Lawing, known popularly as Alaska Nellie, and Fannie Quigley were widely known and respected for their hunting and outdoor skills.

Famous hunting writer Jack O’Connor, though he rarely mentioned it, hunted often with his wife

Eleanor.

And in the early days of Maine’s booming outdoor recreation industry, our legendary “Flyrod Crosby” was Maine’s first Registered Hunting Guide.

The lady from Phillips was best known for her skills with a fly rod, but she also knew her way around the deer woods and hunting

hunting heritage and the very conservation model itself, the addition of female hunters to the hunting community became part of the public focus. Manufacturers of gear and hunting apparel and popular outdoor media began to include the woman hunter.

Today, women hunters represent the fastest

There have been other marital joint ventures over the years that we do not perform as well together: hanging wallpaper, sharing a kitchen, and reading travel maps, for example. camps.

Although women have hunted for years in Maine, they were not very visible in the popular hunting narrative until a national hunter survey revealed some stunning news. Licensed hunters for the first time in America were on the decline. Suddenly, in hopes of stemming the tide and safe guarding the

growing demographic of the licensed hunting community. Ten percent of this country’s 11.1 million hunters are women.

Hunting wives are part of this ten percent demographic. This slice of the statistical pie is the focus of this article for a couple of reasons: 1) The author’s experience with women hunters is limited to his

Page 3

Outdoors In Maine

by V. Paul Reynolds, Ellsworth, ME

time in the deer woods with his wife 2) Marriage is a unique interpersonal dynamic with its own set of parameters and boundaries. 3) Most of the aging male hunters that the author

knows, who hunt with a woman, do so with their wives. Fifty years ago, co-habitation was a rarity; couples got married.

My wife Diane took up hunting late in life after retiring from the grade school classroom in her mid 50s. It was her decision to hunt, not mine, there was no arm twisting.

Like me, she always enjoyed the solitude of the woods.

She said that she witThe author and his wife Diane take n e s s e d t h e a break from the moose woods. passion that (Photo by Paul Huston) (Wives cont. pg 6)

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On The Cover

Me & Joe Capsized In Uncle Arnold’s Old Guide’s Canoe - Pg 16 Wives Who Hunt - Pg 3 Best Spring Trout Flies - Pg 49 Canoeing In May - Pg 43 Lever Action Comeback - Pg 33 Camps, Cottages and Land for Sale - Pg 68

Contents

3. Outdoors In Maine - V. Paul Reynolds 5. The Northwoods Bowhunter - Brian Smith 7. On The Ridge - Joe Judd 9. Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff - Denny Corriveau 10. A Hiker’s Life - Carey Kish 11. The Gun Cabinet - John Floyd 13. Muzzleloading Afield - Al Raychard 16. The Adventures Of Me & Joe - Bob Cram 18. Outdoor Sporting Library - Jeremiah Wood 20. Aroostook Woods & Water - Mike Maynard 22. Northwoods Sketchbook - Mark McCollough 23. The Trail Rider - Dan Wilson 24. Fly Casting 301: Mends, Curves and Line Speed - Fred Hurley 26. Best Bassin’ - Bill Decoteau 27. Basics Of Survival - Joe Frazier 28. Marsh Island Chronicles - Matthew Dunlap 30. Post-Script From Pocasset - Josh Reynolds 33. Guns & Ammo: A Guide’s Perspective - Tom Kelly 34. The Maine Woods - Matt LaRoche 35. The Tyer’s Corner - Hugh Kelly 36. View From The River - Laurie Chandler 37. South Of The Kennebec - Stu Bristol 38. Maine Outdoor Adventure - Rich Yvon 39. Old Tales From The Maine Woods - Steve Pinkham 40. Women In The Woods - Erin Merrill 41. Kineo Currents - Suzanne AuClair 42. The Buck Hunter - Hal Blood 43. Northwoods Voyager - Gil Gilpatrick 44. Warden’s Words - Kale O’Leary 45. On The Prowl - Justin Merrill 46. Maine Tails - Jonah Paris 48. New Hampshire Outdoors - Peter St. James 49. “Just Fishing” - Bob Leeman 50. Outdoors In Vermont - Gary W. Moore 51. Maple Country Outdoors - Ben Wilcox 53. Vermont Ramblings - Dennis Jensen 54. Why Do A Soil Test? - Mike Farnham 55. Against The Current - Bob Romano 56. Question Of The Month - Bob Mercer 57. Green Mountain Report - Bradley Carleton 58. Show Up! - Brian Bialas 59. The Singing Maine Guide - Randy Spencer 60. On Point - Paul Fuller 62. SAM News - David Trahan 63. Cracker Barrel - Homer Spit 64. The Back Shelf - Matt LaRoche 66. The Bird Perch - Karen Holmes 67. Raisins - Joel Tripp

Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

The Sportin’ Journal The Outdoor Paper For “Maine Folks”

The Northwoods Sporting Journal is the Northeast’s most comprehensive and readable monthly outdoor publication. Published at the trailhead of Maine’s sprawling North Woods, the Sporting Journal prides itself on being an independent voice for the region’s outdoor community for more than 28 years. Some of our writers are seasoned and specialized outdoors people who will share their know-how and insights; some of our contributors are simply lifelong outdoor people with interesting stories to tell.

Our aim every month is to capture the essence of Northern New England’s remarkable outdoor heritage by stirring memories, portraying outdoor humor, and sharing experiences and outdoor knowledge. We also keep our readers up to date with late-breaking outdoor news and hard-hitting editorials about fish and wildlife issues.

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

On The Ridge - Pg 7 Joe Judd

www.sportingjournal.com

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

Vol 30 Issue 5 is published monthly by Northwoods Publications, 57 Old County Rd. North, W. Enfield, ME 04493 Periodical Postage Paid at W. Enfield, ME. and additional mailing offices.

The Northwoods Sporting Journal (ISSN#1548-193X) Postmaster: Send address changes to: Northwoods Sporting Journal, PO Box 195, W. Enfield, ME 04493 Northwoods Publishing Group Victor Morin - Susan Morin - Diane Reynolds - V. Paul Reynolds Publishers - Victor Morin Jr. - V. Paul Reynolds Editor - V. Paul Reynolds Director of Marketing - Victor Morin Assistant Editor - Josh Reynolds Associate Editor - Donna Veino Graphic Arts Manager - Gayleen Cummings Subscription/Distribution Manager - Alicia Cram Operations Manager - Annette Boobar Webmaster - V. Paul Reynolds Sales Department; Victor Morin,Thomas Schmidt, Paul Hatin, Traci Grant, Michael Georgia & Mike Brown Regional Advertising Manager - Jim Thorne The Northwoods Sporting Journal invites submissions of photographs and articles about the Maine outdoors.

Manuscripts should be sent with a self-addressed envelope to: NORTHWOODS SPORTING JOURNAL P.O. BOX 195, W. ENFIELD, MAINE 04493 The Northwoods Sporting Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited photos or manuscripts. Photos submitted without a stamped, self-addressed envelope will not be returned.

All rights reserved, 2023. Written permission must be obtained from the Northwoods Sporting Journal to reprint any part of this publication. Any errors or omissions in ads or editorial matter will be corrected in the next issue of NWSJ. The views and opinions expressed by our monthly columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

The Maine Woods - Pg 34 Matt LaRoche

Other Great Stories & Information 8. Editorial/Letters 12. Outdoor News 64. Maine: Register Turkeys Online 68. Real Estate

Cover Photo:

By V. Paul Reynolds

The Tyer’s Corner - Pg 35 Hugh Kelly CORRECTION

SAM News - Pg 62 David Trahan

In a column in the April Issue by Bob Leeman, the word Tomah was misspelled. It should have been “Tomah Stream”, not Thomah Stream.

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Turkeys and Trout!

When I started turkey hunting as a newlywed almost forty years ago, I may have become a little obsessed with it. My wife said I talked about it and practiced calling so much that she dreamed about

Two friends from Utah and Virginia turkey hunted with me on the Downeast coast and thought it was awesome to call gobblers on the edge of the ocean.

Working a gobbler with the smell of the sea and hum of

Provinces for rainbows, browns, grayling, dolly varden, stripers, three species of Pacific salmon and many warm water species.

All of those trips were a blast, but there is a nostalgia about catching a wild brook trout on a fly rod that has thrilled me for over 55 years.

When my Dad and Uncle taught me how to cast a dry fly on a Fenwick fly rod and that first wild brookie engulfed it, I instantly became hooked,

Page 5

The Northwoods Bowhunter

by Brian Smith, Machiasport, ME ultralight tackle, though sometimes they were giant suckers. In recent years, my brother Dave has guided us to some amazing brook trout waters in the Moosehead and Katahdin areas.

Though we had great success with nymphs and dry flies in May, sometimes all they would take would be a smelt imitation. A 1520” brook trout on a 4 or

foundland up to 18”. Tidal streams on the coast of Maine can have nice runs of sea going brookies as well if you can hit them at the right time. A wonderful thing about brook trout is they are usually not fussy when it comes to what fly you throw at them. Just make sure your dry flies float high, your nymphs bounce on the bottom, your

As she calmly focused on taking her first bird, I was beside her nearly hyperventilating with excitement.

At last, she was able to witness my enthusiasm for pursuing our greatest game bird.

The author with a nice brace of brookies. it. In her “nightmare”, I working lobster boats in the convinced her to dress up back ground is a unique exin a turkey suit to call in perience. Many of us will a big tom. But, instead of be waking up in the early shooting it, all I could do morning hours this month was roll on the ground in to be set up near a roost tree laughter as she screamed at well before dawn with our me to get the bird off her. decoys and arsenal of calls.

Hey, it worked. The scary Maine has a five week long thing about that dream she season with all day huntsays is that back then I may ing running into June and have actually been able to if you hunt on the last day, talk her into it! She finally you’ll have over 16 hours began turkey hunting with of legal shooting light. As me four years ago. As she die hard turkey hunters calmly focused on taking know, the long days can her first bird, I was beside wear you down, thus many her nearly hyperventilating of us take a break and go with excitement. At last, fly fishing for wild brook she was able to witness my trout! enthusiasm for pursuing I have fly fished in 10 our greatest game bird.

States and three Atlantic

pun intended! Family trips to our Washington County camp always involved excursions to our favorite streams and ponds in May and June. One never forgets the smell of Ole Woodsman bug dope and the taste of trout fried in salt pork and fiddleheads.

While an Environmental Science major at UMM, I spent even more time hunting and fishing Downeast and experienced some unbelievable fly fishing at hidden honey holes.

I even got to canoe the St. John river for a credit class from Baker Lake to Dickey catching some of my biggest brookies on flies. I worked one summer for state fisheries biologists and got to fly fish many more special trout and salmon waters all over Washington and Hancock Counties. When my wife and I were dating in the mid 80s, we often walked or canoed into remote streams after brookies. She often caught the biggest fish on

5 weight rod is a thrilling battle in the swift current. On one trip, Dave caught a 20” splake and we always caught great landlock salmon as well. I was thrilled to catch a rare brookie on the Big Hole River in Montana that my cousin blasphemed as an east coast trash fish. Wild sea run brook trout on a fly are a blast to catch though not as colorful as inland brookies with more of a silvery sheen. I have been fortunate to land many on rivers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and New-

wet flies have a fast retrieve and keep your tip up!

Brian Smith is a Retired Maine State Police Detective and NRA Field Representative. He is a longtime Town Selectman and currently the Washington County Shellfish Warden. He serves on the boards of the Maine Bowhunters Association and Sportsmans Alliance of Maine Institute for Legislative Action. He can be reached at bowhunter@ mgemaine.com

Page 6

Wives

(Cont. from pg 3) deer hunting held for me and wanted to be part of that. And the idea of harvesting healthy wild meat for her family’s table was a big factor. Over the years, she has successfully hunted deer, bear, moose, turkeys and elk. It’s pretty cool to share the hunt passion with your life partner!

Her marksmanship, passion for the hunt and ethical behavior have always impressed me. And you want to know a funny thing? There have been other marital joint ventures over the years that we do not perform as well together: hanging wallpaper, sharing a kitchen, and reading travel maps, for example. But in the deer woods, we click, and we never haggle about hunt strategies or other facets of the hunt.

Brian Smith, who writes a bow hunting column for the Northwoods Sporting Journal, began hunting with his wife, Joyce, late in life. He writes, “Though Joyce has always fished with me, she did not take up hunting until 2019.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

She had just retired after 40 years at DHHS protecting children. I get more excited about her harvests than my own and thrilled she is my hunting partner. In only four years, she has taken 4 big bucks, 4 gobblers, 3 coyotes and a big bear.

This was her first buck that weighed 190 lbs.

sitting and reading in a cabin all day long, while I was hunting, Susan decided she was going to hunt too.

The summer following that trip, she bought her own shotgun and her own puppy (Dena). I never have to ask permission to go hunting.

Susan is always by my side.

We’ve hunted together in eight states and three Canadian provinces. And, there is more to come. I’m so glad my life partner became my hunting partner. I could not have asked for a better partner to enjoy the upland life”.

E r i n Sporting Journal bow writer Brian Merrill, who Smith and his wife Joyce with writes Womher big buck. en in the P a u l F u l l e r, w h o Woods for the Sporting writes a gundog column Journal, is a passionate adfor the Sporting Journal vocate for outdoor women. has been hunting upland Here’s what she says, “ My birds with his wife and husband was a deer hunter their dogs for many years. before he started hunting “My wife is my confidant with me. I didn’t necessarand my hunting partner. ily get him into it but I got About 15 years ago, after him outside more. He bird hunts though and I don’t do that. Plus, if we need to watch the kids for whatever reason, he is usually willing to stay home before I am.”

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first date was a day of flyfishing and, from there, away we went. That first day of fishing was on September 8, 1980 and thus hunting season was just around the corner. That first fall we deer hunted together and Lila harvestSporting Journal gun dog writer ed a beautiful Paul Fuller, his wife Susan and big doe! And, Ol’ “Deadtheir upland dogs. shot” herself filled her tag last fall with a beautiful 6-point.

It’s a good thing that I shot that cow moose to save face!”

Have you considered “bringNorthwoods Sporting Journal ing your wife columnist Erin Merrill and her along” as a husband. hunter? Let’s Carroll Ware, a leg- face it. Male or female, endary Maine guide and young or old, hunting is a former Sporting Journal not everybody’s cup of tea. writer, has been hunting, Either it holds an attraction fishing and outfitting with for you, or it doesn’t. In his wife and business part- fact, more of my grandner, Lila, since their first daughters demonstrated date. His story: “Our very an early interest in hunting than my grandsons. My sons wanted to hunt not long after they could walk; my daughter wanted nothing to do with it.

There is a chapter in my popular book, Maine Deer Hunter’s Logbook called “The Kitchen Pass.”

In it there is a warning to young male deer hunters about to take the marital plunge. The suggestion is

Coastal

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(Wives cont. pg 14)

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Best Hunt of All

“If you could only hunt one thing, what would it be?” This was a question I received during a March

now, and after having time to think about it, here’s the answer I should have given on that late winter day in

deer, as both animals can be agonizingly difficult, or at times, unbelievably easy to hunt, which could easily lead to some very interesting debates! That said, archery hunting for whitetail deer is something I’d be hard-pressed to ever give up or give the impression that it’s not my all-time favorite!

On The Ridge

by Joe Judd Shelburn, MA

day to day as the season progresses. The beauty of nature, the radiance of October, and the cold bitter reality of November.

The emotions of another lost opportunity, and the feelings that overwhelm

I love the heart-gripping suspense of a wild turkey coming to my calls while hunting me! Or maybe it’s just the beauty of this great game bird that leaves me in awe every time I encounter one up close.

seminar in New Hampshire that caught me completely off guard and resulted in, I’m certain, a very poor answer! But that question has stayed with me for weeks

Everything about it cuts straight to the heart of my life as a hunter, and only poor health would ever keep me from it. The homework needed to be successful, the countless hours spent in the woods, New Hampshire.

To me, there is no the quiet waiting that aleasy answer to this ques- lows you to learn so much tion. However, for the sake about the habitat, watching of space, I’ll narrow it the landscape, and a whitedown to just turkeys and tail’s life cycle change

Page 7

you when success finally comes, are all intense experiences that are hard to explain to those who have never done it before.

To give all this up by admitting that there may be another that I love more would seem like an act of betrayal. However, the truth, when put to the test, no matter how difficult, will eventually win out.

Because I have another obsession, and passion which, of course, would be for wild turkey hunting. I’m convinced, and have been for some time now, that I possess a kindred spirit relationship with wild turkeys. When I’m not hunting them, I’m working for them, when I’m not working for them, I’m talking about them, or I’m thinking about them, and on and on it goes! And it’s hard to say when wild turkey hunting began to consume me — sometime in the late 70s or early 80s would be a safe guess! At that time, I was big into waterfowl hunting. But I soon realized that turkey hunting was forcing my old reliable duck and goose calls into retirement. By 1985 the sport just overtook me, and before I knew it, I was (Hunt cont. pg 32)

Page 8

Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

Coyotes: A Drastic Measure There is a bill pending in the Maine State Legislature, LD 814, that, if passed, will drastically curtail Maine’s well-established coyote control program. This coyote management initiative was a response to Maine’s declining deer numbers in the North Woods. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W) undertook this program at the behest of the State Legislature a number of years ago.

There are 45 states in the country that permit coyote hunting and trapping year round, as does Maine. LD 814 would reduce the coyote season by 60 percent and ban the legal pursuit of coyotes altogether in the spring and summer months. Proponents argue that hunting coyotes during the pup-rearing period is “cruel and inhumane” to the juvenile coyotes.

The nine legislative sponsors of this bill, all Democrats, were contacted by me in an effort to confirm their rationale for putting their names on this bill. Those lawmakers are: Rep. Williams, Bar Harbor; Rep. Collings, Portland; Rep. Copeland, Saco; Rep. Eaton, Deer isle; Rep. Geiger, Rockland; Rep. Mathieson, Kittery; Rep. Millett, Cape Elizabeth; Rep. Warren, Scarborough; and Senator Grohoski, Hancock.

Only two returned my calls: Rep. Williams from Bar Harbor, who is the House lead sponsor of the bill; and Rep. Geiger from Rockland.

Both lawmakers indicated in our chat that, indeed, they simply opposed the hunting of coyotes during the pup-rearing season. Both lawmakers freely conceded that they knew little about the deer/predator relationship or wildlife management in general. Interestingly, Rep. Williams said that her Island constituents “loved coyotes” because they reduced pesky deer, which over browsed their gardens and shrubbery. (Because hunting is not permitted on Mt. Desert Island, this bill presumably would not impact the deer/coyote equation one way or the other!)

Gerry Lavigne, who is a wildlife consultant for the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM), and a former deer research leader for MDIF&W, points out that “coyote harvests during spring and summer can impact coyote demographics to a greater degree than harvests during fall and winter. Coyotes whelp during April, and pups remain dependent on adults until August. Removal of one or both adults would reduce survival of their litter as well. Coyote removals during April, May and

Ammo?

one of the online sources. I like to stick with the major online retailers. It can take To The Editor: I have a question for some searching but you can Tom Kelly: What’s a fel- usually find what you need. low have to do to find a box Thanks Tom Kelly or two of .35 Remington ammo?

Kirk Silvester Jefferson Editor’s note: Answer from Tom Kelly: It’s tough sometimes to find some of the less popular calibers right off of the shelf. I have had pretty good luck by establishing a relationship with my favorite dealer and asking them to order what I am looking for. Another way to find ammo is to order it from

The Old Winchester Safety

To the Editor: The guns and ammo article in the January issue, while good, there is something I would like to point out. The old model Winchesters depend on the “half-cocked” safety. However, it is unsafe to “lower the hammer” into the halfcocked position. Instead, you lower the hammer all the way down. Then mak-

ing sure your finger is away from the trigger, slowly pull the hammer back until hear it “click” into place.

When lowering the hammer down, you could just barely catch the sear.

Then if the gun gets a good “thump” it may slip off and discharge. I am not sure if older makes of other lever rifles are like the old Winchesters. I treat them all the same. Lower the hammer all the way down---be sure to clear the trigger area--then slowly pull the hammer back until it clicks into place. And, yes, muzzle control is the #1 rule.

Fern Bosse Norway

June would also reduce the number of coyotes targeting deer fawns. If LD 814 passes, survival of adult and pup coyotes will increase, leading to higher coyote populations throughout Maine.

This in turn, would lead to increased losses of small livestock and pets. Higher density of coyotes during early summer would result in lower survival of deer fawns, increased losses of adult deer during winter, and ultimately lower deer harvests.”

In other words, effective coyote population control by definition MUST include spring coyote hunting. So the choice, implicit in this piece of legislation, is not simply whether or not to impose a shortened coyote hunting season but rather to manage or not to manage excessive coyote numbers in Maine. Wittingly or unwittingly, the aforementioned state legislators are joining forces with those state activists who have long pledged to eliminate coyote hunting and trapping altogether. As Lavigne asserts, Passage of LD 814 reverses Legislative intent during the past 50 years in that it prevents DIFW from protecting deer, minimizing conflicts with people, and achieving sustainable deer harvests.”

- VPR

Coyote Misinformation To the Editor: I read with interest, the article published in the January 18, 2023 issue of The Chronicle, written

by Mathew Wilson and entitled, “Coyote Tested to Determine Its Heritage.”

Within the article, Mr. Medwid says, “Understand that some people see coyotes as pests.” Mr. Medwid also stated, “Coyotes also help keep deer populations healthy by taking weak specimens from the field,” and that, “Coyotes only rarely feed on deer and select old and compromised prey.”

Studies and research

by Gerry Lavigne, a retired and well-known and respected deer biologist of 30 years with the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and who is currently a wildlife consultant, prove otherwise. He, along with a fellow biologist, performed a multi-year study of coyote predation on deer in deer wintering yards. They found that coyotes took large and healthy deer at the same rate that they occupied the yard.

It is believed that coyotes take up to 50% of the fawn crop each year in many areas. Deer are their main source of food around deer wintering yards. Contrary to what Mr. Medwid says, (Letters cont. pg 15)

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Legend of Maple

If you live in New England, maple is a natural resource that we all enjoy.

As a “First Nations” Metis, it is woven into the fabric of who I am.

Historically, early in

the 16th century, the First Nations people shared their process for making maple syrup with the Europeans. In 1521, Peter Martyr wrote that “Honey is found in the tree and is gathered amongst the briar and the bramble bushes.”

I recall from my childhood numerous maple memories that hold a special place in my heart.

Maple taffy drizzled over snow; as children, we couldn’t wait to swirl a teaspoon over that taffy, savoring the delicious flavor as it melted sweet maple goodness into our mouth.

Trips to Canada to visit our land always included a trek to get mini maple taffy cones topped with maple cream. We would enjoy going to the sugar shack, and observe the traditional woodfire burning, and watch sap boiling while maple steam billowed from the roof

vent of the shack. Tasteful memories of the smell of crepes cooking in the kitchen, while my siblings and I lined up for a plate, only to drizzle that fresh liquid gold over our family breakfast treat.

This was representative of my French heritage, or so I thought.

I learned through research that my Metis heritage was where it originated.

I always had a sense of appreciation for the ingenuity of pioneers, but what I did not realize was that it was the First Nations people who first revealed the secrets of the Sugar Maple.

Rolls of birch bark were peeled from the trees in early spring and were made into wide shallow storage containers. Seams were stitched together with thin strands that were

pulled from spruce roots or basswood trees and sealed with pine pitch.

Native woman typically kept over 1,000 such containers, each of which were filled and refilled countless times over the season.

Sap buckets were similarly created which included a thin wood strip around the lip of the bucket to prevent tearing. A cord handle was attached to the buckets so they could be hung from either end

Page 9

Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff

by Denny Corriveau, Kennebunkport, ME

to bring it to a slow rolling boil. (This manner of cooking with stones was documented as early as 1555.) More sap was added throughout this process as the water boiled off. When you think about this, it is amazing when you compare to modern sap making methods.

First Nations people

this maple to water when they wanted sweet flavor added to a recipe. They also occasionally poured warmed syrup over snow to transform it into a maple taffy.

Native people celebrated this time of year, referencing it by stating that maple was a gift from the Creator.

The native people had a unique method for creating syrup.

They poured sap into a container made from a hollowed-out log. Then they heated stones that were placed into the sap to bring it to a slow rolling boil. of a yoke that was carried across the shoulders.

Slices were made in the tree trunk. The sap then trickled over the surface of the shingle or through a wood reed that was inserted into the cut, and then the sap dripped into the birch bark bucket.

The native people had a unique method for creating syrup. They poured sap into a container made from a hollowed-out log. Then they heated stones that were placed into the sap

stored the maple syrup as sugar cakes, granular, or taffy. The syrup was poured into tight fitting boxes called mokuks, that were made of birch bark panels and sewn together with thin strips of elm bark. Inside the mokuks, the syrup would crystalize and then become sugar cakes that weighed approximately 20 to 30 pounds each. Mokuks were a meaningful part of First Nations commerce.

The First Nations people added small amounts of

It is this gift that I cherish. It is particularly meaningful, knowing that my ancestors used their ingenuity, recognizing this natural resource from God, and transforming it so centuries later we can all enjoy the tasty health benefits of maple.

WildCheff’s Maple Candied Lake Trout

This tasty recipe can be interchangeable with (Maple cont. pg 15)

Page 10

“A Hiker’s Life”

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Beer Hiking: Vermont

by Carey Kish, Mt. Desert Island, ME Beer Hiking New England features 50 great hikes and craft breweries from around the region.

On this selected adventure, follow old carriage roads and winding footpaths on Mount Tom leading to a pleasant pond and clifftop vistas. Visit Long Trail Brewing after your hike for a cold Long Trail Ale. From the huge open ledges high on the southeast slopes of Mount Tom, hikers can enjoy a wonderful view over historic downtown Woodstock.

Mount Tom is the central natural feature of the former Marsh estate, now a 600-acre conservation landscape known as the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park.

Opened in 1998, the park is a model of conservation and stewardship and its name honors several of its environmentally conscious former owners.

George Perkins Marsh

grew up on the estate in the shadow of Mount Tom in the early 1800s. As a young man, Marsh became increasingly concerned about the rampant deforestation of the Vermont woods and the poor agricultural methods used by farmers, and later published Man and Nature or Physical Ge-

ography as Modified by Human Behavior, an important book that laid the foundation for the modern conservation movement in the U.S. Frederick Billings and his wife Julia purchased the land in 1869. Profoundly impacted by Marsh’s work, Billings established a managed forest and progressive dairy farm, a showcase for sustainable management practices, and developed DOVER-FOXCROFT

AUBURN

NORTH WINDHAM

HAMPDEN

SCARBOROUGH

ELLSWORTH

LINCOLN

PRESQUE ISLE MACHIAS

a system of carriage roads and trails. Julia Billings’ daughter, Mary French, married Laurance Spellman Rockefeller, the son of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller Jr., in 1934. The couple later inherited the estate and managed it until 1992, when it was donated to the National Park Service.

The Carriage Barn Visitor Center near the start of this hike is worth a visit,

View of historic Mt. Tom. (Photo by Carey Kish)

From the huge open ledges high on the southeast slopes of Mount Tom, hikers can enjoy a wonderful view over historic downtown Woodstock.

ORONO

MILO

May 2023

PORTLAND YARMOUTH HOLDEN

and you may want to take a tour of the George Perkins Marsh Boyhood Home, which, built in 1805, is the park’s architectural centerpiece. The Mountain Road leads to a circuit around the scenic pond known as the Pogue, while the Mount Tom Road threads past pretty pastures to the aforementioned South Peak Overlook. The Faulkner Trail then descends via 14 switchbacks through Faulkner Park, a “place of respite and healthy exercise” created by Marianne Faulkner in memory of her husband, Edward Daniels Faulkner.

The nearby brewery. (Photo by Carey Kish) The Long Trail threads a scenic route along the crest of Vermont’s Green Mountains for 273 miles, from Massachusetts to Canada. The famous hiking path—established in 1910, it’s the nation’s oldest—was the inspiration for Long Trail Ale back in 1989, at the trailblazing start of Vermont’s craft beer movement. Today, the venerable hiking trail

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and Long Trail Brewing, with its flagship Germanstyle altbier, are well-loved institutions in the Green Mountain State.

“Take A Hike” and then enjoy a cold one at the brew pub on the beautiful Ottauquechee River, where you’ll find twelve taps pouring a variety of Long Trail beers, plus classic pub fare with a Vermont twist.

Grab a pint and a table on the outdoor patio or wander down to the rippling river to dip your toes and enjoy the mountain views.

Carey Kish of Mount Desert Island, ME is a diehard hiker and dedicated beer enthusiast. When he’s not on the trail or on a bar stool, you might be able to catch him at maineoutdoors@aol.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram @ careykish

Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

A Guide’s Truck

Charley scrambled up into the passenger seat of my pickup truck and fastened her seatbelt. We had just finished breakfast and were headed out of the hotel parking lot on our way to the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show at the Augusta Civic Center. Her father Thomas skipped breakfast that morning and was already there, getting our booth ready for the opening of the show. Charley was already preparing to become a Junior Maine Guide and no doubt would be following in her father’s footsteps when she reached adulthood. She certainly is on the right path, displaying an amazing amount of knowledge and skill in the outdoors for a youngster; a testament to the time she spends with her dad on the

water and in the woods.

‘What happened to your windshield?’ she asked as we pulled into the Civic Center parking lot, pointing out a crack on the passenger side. I explained it took a good whack from a tree branch while creeping down an overgrown winter road up in the north Maine woods during a moose hunt I guided a couple of years ago. Charley looked pensive as she studied the windshield then looked over at me said, ‘I bet this truck has a lot of stories to tell.’ I hadn’t ever really thought of that and Charley was right. This old guide’s truck certainly does.

You have probably heard the adage, ‘Behind every great man is a great woman’. I can attest that behind every Maine hunt-

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and been mired in deep wet snow. It has pulled other guide’s trucks out of ditches and received the same favor. It has carried fathers and daughters, mothers and sons on first time fishing vacations. It has ferried many multigenerational families on ing and fishing guide stands big game hunting trips. It a great truck. I don’t think has proudly hauled tons make and model factor into of firewood to the lodge’s the equation – it is the heart wood stove to keep sports and soul of the truck that warm.

My guide’s truck bed matters. I know that sounds

You have probably heard the adage, ‘Behind every great man is a great woman’. I can attest that behind every Maine hunting and fishing guide stands a great truck. funny, but after thousands of hours in the driver’s seat and tens of thousands of miles guiding clients, I believe it.

My old guide’s truck has hauled half a dozen moose and literally tons of bears for clients without complaint. It has summited the highest peaks of the North Maine Woods and launched my Grand Laker canoe all over Eastern Maine on gravel launches that most respectable trucks wouldn’t dare. It has cut down many tires on unforgiving woods roads

Page 11

is stained red from moose, black bear and whitetail retrieval operations. The paint on the body is a few shades lighter than it used to be, decorated with ‘guide’s pin striping’ and chances are that the tail gate takes an extra nudge to lock in securely. It carries a payload of tree stands, bear bait and miscellaneous equipment deep into the woods regularly and has towed boats thousands of miles. It endures numerous surgeries every year. Front end parts are replaced regularly, suspension and steering

components on a guide’s truck do not last long. It’s lifeblood of oils and fluids are changed at twice the rate of a civilian truck. It boasts over 257,000 miles on the odometer.

I’ve watched my old guide’s truck age with grace, never letting the many dents, scratches and cracked glass prevent it from performing. A guide’s truck does not know vanity; it simply can’t afford to. I know my truck will let me know when it is ready to retire and I admit I do not look forward to it. My client’s memories and experiences are embedded in that truck as much as the photos I take for them with their harvests and trophies. But until that day, I know that when I load out the next trips equipment and turn the key, this old guide’s truck will be ready; eager to work and generate a few more stories for clients.

John is a Registered Maine Guide, an NRA Certified Instructor and is the owner of Tucker Ridge Outdoors in Webster Plantation, Maine. He can be reached at john@tuckerridge.me or on Facebook @tuckerridgeoutdoors

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 12

Outdoor News - May 2023

The sweet of the year May. The sweet of may catch you by surprise, the year. so get the spring chores For the angler who done, and be ready to get likes to get after lake land- after those fish! Tight lines. locks early, who loves to feel the bite of the wind on Wardens Rescue his face as his Grey Ghost Snowsledders on Streamer fly trolls smartly through a brisk “salmon Moosehead Lake chop,” the sweet of the A couple and two chilyear may be late April or dren who became stranded early May. The trout angler, out on the ice on Moosehon the other hand, who ead Lake during a severe waits patiently to match the winter storm were rescued hatch with a #14 Parachute late last night by a group of Adams, may not taste the both Maine Game Warden sweet of the year ‘til late and Passamaquoddy Game May or early June. The Warden trainees who were challenge for all fishermen, training in the area. of course, is the timing: beRuby Goodmen, age ing there and having a line 31 of Greenville, and Join the water when the sweet seph Wentworth, age 32 of the year comes calling. of Orland were out on At press time, spring Moosehead Lake yesteris looking elusive. But over day ice fishing with two the years we have seen that, children, ages 5 and 2, when it comes to spring in and their dog, when the Maine, expect anything. weather started to worsen.

Edited by V. Paul Reynolds

Somerset

One of the children was already wet, so it was decided that Goodmen would head home with the wet five-year-old and the dog, while Wentworth picked up their ice fishing gear, then would head back with his two-year-old, and catch up with them.

Very quickly, the weather got worse. At nearly the same time, Goodmen’s snowmobile broke down before she could get home, and due to whiteout conditions from the heavy snow and high winds, Wentworth could not see well enough to drive to them, and the heavy snow had already covered existing snowmobile tracks. Both called 911 and said they were stranded and separated in worsening weather conditions out on the lake.

The Maine Advanced Warden School, which includes both Maine Game Warden and Passamaquoddy Warden trainees, were training in the area, and had ended their day earlier when the call came in about 9:15 pm, notifying them about the stranded couple and children on the west side of the lake.

Fortunately, about half of the Warden Class was staying at a camp on the west side of the lake, and working with the Bangor Regional Communications Center, they were able to estimate the

stranded couple’s locations through GPS coordinates transmitted through the 911 calls from the cell phones of the stranded couple.

Goodmen was approximately 800 yards from shore, and Wentworth was two miles away from her.

Game Warden Matthew Tenan assisting the two-year-old-boy off a snowmobile.

Game Wardens Joshua Polland and Chad Robertson, two of the Game Warden Cadres assigned to the school, split the wardens into two groups, then led each of the groups, and they were able to locate and transport everyone to shore in about 45 minutes. At the time they were found, both children were wet and shivering and wrapped in blankets. The group was transported back to the camp, were everyone warmed up, and the camp owner provided a vehicle for the couple, children, and dog to get home safely.

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May 2023

Vermont’s Trout Season Open

Despite lingering snow cover in some areas of the state, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says anglers can still have fun and be successful early in the season if they keep a few strategies in mind.

“Just like any other time of year, anglers fishing early in the spring should adjust their tactics based on conditions,” said State Fisheries Biologist Shawn Good. “Trout will become more active with warmer water temperatures. If you can find a good location and present your bait or lure without spooking the trout, you’ll have a good chance of catching a few fish, and enjoy a nice day outside.”

Good adds that finding a small to medium lowelevation river or stream that is not too murky from spring runoff can be key.

Trout are coldblooded and may be slow to bite especially with low water temperatures, so it is important that they can also see your bait, lure or fly.

Larger baits can often be more effective for enticing early-season trout into biting. Spin-anglers should try nightcrawlers, egg imitations, or bright colored spoons and spinners. Fly anglers may find success in the early season by drifting large, more visible flies such as wooly buggers, streamers, or San Juan worms along the bottom in slower pools and runs.

Trout will often hold close to the bottom in the deeper areas of streams during high flow condi(News cont. pg 14)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

New Blackpowder Bullets Years ago I found a .50 caliber muzzleloader that fits and handles extremely well and developed a load combination that has proven its worth. Both have served me well on bear hunts from Maine to Idaho to Alaska and across Canada, on moose hunts in Newfoundland, elk hunts in

see little reason to change.

What I have been using for years has been getting the job done. Still, as a muzzleloading enthusiast and hunter I do like to “play,” “tinker” and “plink” with new products that come down the pike.

Hornady’s Bore Driver FTX has been one of the

even long range and a copper alloy jacket for deep penetration. But the heart of the bullet is a 0.499inch bore-size polymer base and integrated post that extends into the base of the bullet core. Upon ignition the post swells in diameter and apparently provides better torque en-

Page 13

Muzzleloading Afield

by Al Raychard, Lyman, ME

extending into the bullet and works in the opposite direction upon impact.

Working together the rear skirt and post, and front tip and post are designed to provide controlled but maximum expansion and

Like the FTX bullets the new ELD-X bullets incorporate an InterLock ring system designed to retain bullet weight upon impact even long range and a copper alloy jacket for deep penetration.

Wyoming and before they cancelled them, numerous caribou hunts across northern Quebec and Labrador and I don’t know how many deer hunts. It has long been my conviction there’s not much that can be done to improve the inline muzzleloader. That “new” models are merely upgrade versions with added bells and whistles that generally have more to do with aesthetics but little do with overall performance.

Basically, I feel the same way about muzzleloader bullets. Still, bullet makers keep trying. On occasion I have been pleasantly surprised how some of the new, “revolutionary,” “industry-changing” bullets actually perform but

gagement from inside the bullet and the centering petals grip the bullet’s boat tail while the polymer base skirt engages the rifling for maximum energy transmission. The polymer tip is best-selling muzzleloader also equipped with a post bullets since it hit store shelves a couple years ago.

I tried it back then and actually liked it. This year Hornady has come out with the Bore Driver ELDX, a somewhat elongated version with some new additions which stands for, “Extreme Low DragXpanding.” It is Hornady’s first specific long-range muzzleloader bullet in the Bore Driver FTX lineup.

Available in .50 caliber, the ELD-X has a sectional density of .194, ballistic coefficient of .315 and weighs in at 340 grains.

Like the FTX bullets the new ELD-X bullets incorporate an InterLock ring system designed to retain bullet weight upon impact,

Let us know your opinion. Send letters to the Editor to: NWSJ P.O. Box 195 W. Enfield, ME 04493

on targets or in ballistic gel, to saying nothing of in the woods. I will, but considered I’m not much of a long range shooter or hunter and really like what I’ve been using for a couple decades or so there’s little reason to change. Still, they’re worth taking a look at.

Al Raychard and his wife Diane live on 43 +/acres in Lyman, Maine that offers good deer and energy transfer.

It all sounds good, and turkey hunting opportuniI’m sure Hornady has done ties which they both entheir research in the lab and joy. If the property had a in the field so I have no rea- trout stream it would be son to think otherwise. And true paradise. Al can be to be honest I have yet to reached at alraychard@ give them a try at the range sacoriver.net 22 Peck Farm Road, Winthrop, ME

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Page 14

Wives

(Cont. from pg 6) to either marry a young lady who grew up in a hunting family, or, if that is not possible, never marry in the month of November. This will avoid anniversary celebrations during the critical month and make it easier to procure a kitchen pass to cover your absence from the home fires during the fall hunt.

There is an even better option, as Sporting Jour-

Northwoods Sporting Journal nal gun dog writer Paul Fuller points out in this article. “I never have to get permission to hunt.” Marry a hunter and you’ll never have an issue getting away from home.

When your wife is your hunt buddy, you have a

perpetual “kitchen pass.”

May 2023

News

(Cont. from pg 12)

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide and host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. He has authored three books.Online purchase information is availCarroll Ware and his wife Lila, able at www.sportingjourtions to conserve energy. business partners and hunting nal.com Outdoor Books.

Choose locations and tacpartners. tics that allow you to fish using a slow retrieval right along the bottom. Focus on deep holes behind current breaks created by big boulders, downed trees or log-jams where trout may be resting. If possible, approach the hole from downstream as trout will often ALL COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS HAVE GUIDES AVAILABLE orient themselves facing The private world of BEEN DROPPED IN CANADA the current.

North Camps While Vermont offers HENDERSON’S HUNTING CAMPS NORTH CAMPS Oquossoc, ME excellent and diverse fishLocated at Rangeley Lake Spring Black Bear Hunts ing opportunities for wild in New Brunswick Waterfront Housekeeping Cottages Family owned and run, trout, stocking also ocGREAT FISHING & FAMILY FUN home cooked meals, curs in many lakes, ponds, For 2023 Spring & Summer Reservation 207-864-2247 nice clean well kept streams, and rivers where cabins with www.northcamps.com wild trout populations are E.F. GIBSON P.O. BOX 341 hot showers, a main OWNER OQUOSSOC, ME 04964 low or absent. This generlodge for meals and sharing Hunter’s Stories, ally happens in April and high success rate.

May each year once the ice 35 miles North of has melted and following Motel and Cottages Houlton, Maine spring runoff.

Hunting May and June “Early in the season, 3 Hunters per guide, www.newbrunswickbearhunts.com 2 bear option. like on opening weekend, contact: Joe Bowen 919-820-2424 Open year round you’ll probably have more Rangeley, Maine success if you focus on waters known to hold wild 207-864-3755 trout,” said Good. “Despite www.rangeleytownandlake.com unpredictable weather during early spring, each year anglers report catching impressive trout during opening weekend.”

Good also reminds anglers to check the department’s website frequently as updates are made to the Pet friendly Complimentary Trout Stocking page. “This rooms available Internet is a great tool for anglers Domenic Pono to see what nearby waters 2303 Main Street - Rangeley, Maine bgblock@domsjeep.com have been stocked, as the Located on ITS 84/89 2599 Main Street • Rangeley, ME (News cont. pg 61) 207-864-3434 - www.rangeleysaddlebackinn.com Tel: 207-864-3494 www.domsautojeepandcycle.com

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May 2023

Maple

(Cont. from pg 9) wild salmon.

Ingredients 4-5 lbs. of lake trout, cut into 2-inch-thick strips, skin removed 1 lb. of brown sugar 1 Jar of WildCheff Farmhouse Brine 1 C of Maine maple syrup Directions In a large mixing bowl, combine the brine and brown sugar.

Using an extra-large plastic storage container, layer the bottom of the container with approximately 1/4 inch of the mixture.

Place a layer of the lake trout or salmon pieces on top. Cover the top of the fish with more of the cure mixture.

Note: If you fill the container and have more fish, grab another con-

Northwoods Sporting Journal

tainer, and use the same process.

Cover and let cure in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes.

Remove the fish from the cure and lightly rinse fish under cold water.

Pat dry with paper towels and place fish on a drying rack. Let it dry for a couple of hours with a fan blowing over it or overnight in fridge. This helps form a pellicle which allows the fish to smoke properly.

Place your fish in the smoker, and slowly bring your smoker up to a temperature range of 165-200 degrees over the 1st hour.

Smoke the fish for 3-4 hours.

Every 90-120 minutes, brush the fish with Maine Maple syrup.

When your fish has a nice, lacquered appear-

ance, remove it from the smoker and brush it with maple syrup one last time and let it cool to room temperature.

The candied fish will last about a week in the fridge and it can be vacuum sealed and frozen until you are ready to enjoy it.

I like to enjoy it with sharp cheese, fruit and a nice glass of wine or artisan beer!

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Letters

(Cont. from pg 8) “Coyotes are not selective and do not feed only on old and compromised deer.”

Below are comments made

by Gerry Lavigne in the October, 2022 issue of the Northwoods Sporting Journal, p. 14., concerning deer predation.

During a question and answer period, biologist Lavigne pointed out that, “Predation on healthy wintering deer in the North Woods by both coyote and bears has been a significant cause in deer population declines. Predators also take about 50% of spring fawns that don’t survive.”

Responding to questions about whether coy-

Page 15 otes engage in random killing even when they are not hungry, Lavigne explained that, “All predators, coyotes included, have no compunctions about killing prey, whenever the opportunity arises.” The career biologist explained, that, “This is called, “surplus killing” and is not all unusual.”

It is disturbing when an individual, such as Mr. Medwid misrepresents the facts and truths. The general public relies on what they hear and read for the facts. Shame upon anyone, when if knowingly, they misrepresent the facts and truths.

Willard H. Taft Island Pond, VT

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 16

The Adventures of Me and Joe “What’s that old boat in the loft of the barn?” I asked Uncle Arnold as he fried brook trout in a big cast iron frying pan. Me and Joe were seated in the kitchen of my Uncle Arnold’s old farmhouse waiting patiently for the first trout fry of the season.

We had caught the limit of brookies in Chowder Pond after school and brought them to Uncle Arnold. He was the finest fish cook in the family, as well as a connoisseur of well-prepared brook trout.

“Ain’t a boat.” He turned the fish carefully with a fork. “That’s my ol’ canoe. White Guide’s Model. Ain’t seen water since…” he paused to stare at the ceiling. “…think it was nineteen an’ fortythree. Yep, that was the spring me an’ Gabe Frenzy trapped them spring muskrats in to Fiddlehead Bogan. Canoe’s been hangin’ in the loft of the barn ever since.” He began scooping steaming trout into our

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

I stared across the table at Joe. From the look of animation on his thin face, I knew his thoughts were rambling in the same groove as my own.

“Say, Uncle Arnold,” I said casually, “is there any chance me and Joe could use that old canoe? You know, to fish the river and go to camp and stuff?”

Uncle Arnold paused with his fork in mid-air. It took him a little time to get his thoughts around a new concept. He considered for a minute, then slid another fat trout onto my plate.

“Don’t see why not.

But that ol’ canoe’s been stored so long, I ‘spect the canvas has come loose in places an’ the shellac is cracked an’ dried. Still, I got me some white lead in the barn an’ plenty of shellac. You boys wanna spend the elbow grease, I guess you kin git her afloat agin’.

Jist don’t go drowndin’ yerselves. I don’t want yer folks comin’ back on me.

HELP US FIND

The elusive Northwoods Sporting Journal’s moose Marty.

He has wandered into the northwoods.

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

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

Name

The Canoe

The canoe pitched again violently. I looked over my shoulder in consternation to see Joe lean far out to the left, drop his paddle and pinch his nose shut. Instantly, the canoe capsized.

After nearly killing ourselves getting the old canoe down out of the loft, me and Joe spent a week off and on working on the old craft. Under Uncle Joe’s watchful eye we filled cracks with white lead, chipped and sanded off dried shellac, and painted on a new coat. Rips in the faded canvas we carefully patched and shellacked over. Finally, on a bright, sunny Saturday afternoon we were ready for a trial run.

“Strap them paddles an’ life vest to the thwarts,” Uncle Arnold fretted over last minute advice. “Git her upside-down on yer

shoulders an’ she’ll carry real easy. Jist want yer to remember one thing.” He sat down on an old caned chair in the doorway of the barn and began packing his pipe.

This here’s a 20-foot White. Ain’t like a Old Town, what’s pretty flat bottom an’ made fer luggin’ cargo. A White won’t carry as much weight, but she’s made fer runnin’ whitewater. Handles like a dream.

On’y thing is, she’s tippy.

Uncommon tippy. Best make sure you step in the center when boardin’ an’ gettin’ out. An’ don’t go runnin’ the bow up on a slopin’ bank. She’ll roll when

you try ta git out. Other’n that, she’s safe as houses.”

Our trek through the middle of Mooseleuk village toward the landing on the Little Salt Pork River caused somewhat of a stir.

Teenagers showed up all along the route to admire the canoe and ask for rides.

Me and Joe were more than happy to oblige. The old canoe was the best thing that had happened to either of us that spring and showing off to our peers made it just that much better.

As we gingerly launched the canoe into the river a small crowd gathered. The canoe floated (Me & Joe cont. pg 17)

Shown actual size

Ray Boies

(Marty was found on pg 68)

Address City

Marty

May 2023

State

Phone I found Marty on page

Zip

Entries must be postmarked by 5/16/23 to be eligible for this issue.

If you just can’t get enough of reading our Me & Joe Adventures, check out the All Outdoor section of our new Northwoods Sporting Journal website:www.sportingjournal.com You’ll find an ample supply of Me & Joe stories to keep you checking for a long time.

May 2023

Me & Joe

(Cont from pg 16) high in the somewhat swollen waters of the river.

Spring runoff was almost ended but the water was still cold and a little high.

We climbed carefully into the canoe, myself in the bow and Joe in the stern. As Uncle Arnold had warned, the craft was tippy, but as long as we were careful, there seemed to be no danger. And it did handle like a dream. We shot across the river and paddled along the opposite shore for a few minutes before crossing diagonally back into the landing.

Among the clamoring boys wanting rides I spotted an unwelcome addition. Port Sidemeat stood a little apart, eyeing the canoe with an avaricious, porcine gaze. As we slid to shore, he sauntered down the bank, the rolls of fat under his sweater jiggling with the effort.

“Not a bad canoe, for an old junk,” he smirked.

“Wanna sell it?”

“Ain’t ours ta sell,” Joe said shortly.

“Belongs to my Uncle Arnold,” I added. “He’s just letting us use it.”

As we took the first two passengers out away from shore, I was relieved to see Port waddle off toward town. For the next two hours we were kept busy ferrying excited teenagers around the stretch of river that flowed through town.

Then, as we paddled back to the landing with our last two passengers, I saw trouble standing on the shore, waiting for us. Port Sidemeat had returned and with him were his two pals, Geese Ladder and Dabble Spleen. Piled on the bank beside them were boxes

Northwoods Sporting Journal

and sleeping bags.

“Our turn,” Port smiled unpleasantly as our last two riders glanced at the newcomers nervously, then disappeared toward Main Street.

“Sorry, we’re all done for today,” I smiled nervously.

Port’s face darkened.

“You’re all done when I say you’re all done!” He reached out and grabbed the gunnel of the canoe.

I watched Joe raise his paddle and gaze longingly at Port’s knuckles, but as Geese and Dab leaned over the canoe, he thought better of it. All three were hefty 200 pounders and while Joe loved a fight, the odds were just too great.

“We been wanting to go up and spend the night at my cousin Cheater’s camp up river. But Halter Brook is so swole up with runoff, we can’t git across to reach the camp. So you two are gonna paddle us to the camp instead.”

“But that’s four miles upstream,” I cried. “And besides, we can’t carry you and all that food and dunnage you got with you. The canoe’s not big enough!”

“You jist git us up there,” Port grated as he swung the canoe broadside to the bank. “Then you kin come back down and bring up our wangan.”

It seemed there was little we could do. I kind of hoped the three porkers would upset the canoe getting in. I’d have swapped a dunking in the icy water just to foil their plans. But they climbed in gingerly and settled themselves on the bottom of the canoe.

The added weight sank the old canoe down to about four inches of freeboard, but with the calm water, it was more than enough clearance. Resign-

edly, me and Joe picked up our paddles and began the long trip upstream against the current, straining to move the heavily loaded canoe.

The three chums enjoyed the trip immensely.

As me and Joe paddled and sweated, Port pointed out the rush of water coming from the mouth of Halter Brook as we passed.

“See how high the brook is? No wonder we couldn’t git across. Be three, four days, maybe a week before it’s down low enough to ford.” Joe eyed the swollen stream speculatively but said nothing.

Finally, we arrived at the camp, a small log structure set on a bank above high water. A tiny dock stuck out into the river and after we slid in alongside, Geese and Dab climbed out onto the platform.

“Aren’t you getting out?” I asked Port.

“On no,” he leaned back against the center thwart and crossed his arms comfortably. “You don’t think we were gonna trust you two to bring up our supplies, do ya? I’m ridin’ right back down with ya, to make sure you don’t forget to come back.”

I flushed in exasperation but Joe just sat mutely in the stern.

“We’ll git the camp swept out an’ the fire built up, Port,” Geese said with a smirk. “You enjoy yer ride, now.”

The trip back downstream with the current behind us was much easier.

Joe maintained his silence but I was sure the gears were turning in his head.

I thought I knew what his plan would be and prepared to join in overpowering Port when we reached the landing.

But to my surprise,

Joe made no move other than to start loading the boxes of food and the sleeping bags into the canoe.

“What are you doing?” I hissed as Port walked up the bank for another load. “We can take him!”

Let’s just git this done,” Joe replied noncommittally as he stored yet another box of provisions.

Port came back down the bank and Joe raised his voice slightly. “We’ll get this stuff up there for these guys and then we kin be done with ‘um.”

“Smart thinkin’,” Port agreed menacingly. “Now let’s shove off.”

As we struggled once again slowly upstream, Joe eyed the pile of supplies.

“Looks like you boys plan to live high on the hog,” he commented.

“Yep,” Port replied as he relaxed against a box of bacon and ham shoulders. “We always eat good, wherever we go.”

Finally we passed the mouth of Halter Brook again. Joe eased the canoe a little more toward shore.

With the tree-lined bank a dozen yards away he suddenly barked at Port.

“Say, Sidemeat, sit easy there! Don’t be shiftin’ around!”

“What?” Port came out of a doze. “I ain’t movin’ atall!”

“Stay steady there!

Page 17

Yer rockin’ the canoe! We tol’ yer she was tippy!”

Indeed, the canoe was rolling ominously from side to side.

“I’m not doin’ nothin’!” Port shouted nervously. “It ain’t me! Hold this thing steady!”

The canoe pitched again violently. I looked over my shoulder in consternation to see Joe lean far out to the left, drop his paddle and pinch his nose shut. Instantly, the canoe capsized.

I came sputtering to the surface to see Port Sidemeat churning wildly toward the shore.

Jerking around I spotted the overturned canoe a few yards away and swam toward it. Joe was already holding onto the side.

“Git to the other gunnel,” Joe said quietly. “Remember how we learnt to right a canoe at scout camp?” With a little effort, we had the craft right side up again. I held it steady while Joe clambered aboard. Then he leaned out over the left gunnel while I climbed in from the right.

I got busy with the bailing bucket that was tied to my seat as Joe loosened the lashings on the spare paddle.

“You git in here!” I swung around to see Port hopping up and down on the bank. “Git in here an’ (Me & Joe cont. pg 19)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 18

Outdoor Sporting Library

by Jeremiah Wood, Ashland, ME

It was 1920. The war was over and a young New Hampshire-born man headed north on a steamer from Seattle to Nome with no real destination in mind.

The ship stopped at a whaling village in the middle of nowhere just as the men

looked up a long lost uncle who happened to be the town’s mayor. Nome was a dying town by now, having shed most of its population after the gold rush boom died out. Those who were left had either been badly bitten by the gold bug and

The crew lived with the delta Eskimos and learned as much about these people as the wildlife they depended on for survival. were hauling in an 87 foot long whale. It was inside this massive creature that Frank Dufrense met Dr. Gill, a biologist collecting scientific data that would be a key component to future management of the species. It made an impression on him.

At Nome, Dufrense

grown to love the place, or didn’t have anywhere better to go. Uncle Charley still had the bug, and he spent considerable time trying to transfer the passion for yellow metal to Frank. But his nephew had other ideas.

Dufrense was captivated more by the natu-

May 2023

My Way Was North

ral environment and the fish and wildlife around this incredible place than anything else. In his own words, “The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that for me the real gold in Alaska had wings and fins and hair on it.”

After being convinced to give up his ticket for passage south out of Nome in the fall, Frank was resigned to spending the winter in the harsh and desolate north country. A skilled writer, he found work in the U.S. Marshall’s office, and began observing wildlife and writing articles on the side.

One article published in an east coast magazine would change the trajectory of Frank Dufrense’s life.

Dr E.W. Nelson, Chief of the U.S. Biological Survey in Washington D.C. was in-

trigued by this young man’s observations in an area he’d surveyed extensively decades before. Before long, he was offering Frank

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a job as a Federal field agent to carry out wildlife surveys throughout northwest Alaska.

The field agent job was the beginning of a long and exciting career ranging far and wide throughout Alaska. Dufrense started around Nome, traveling the country by dog team conducting winter ptarmigan counts. In summer he surveyed from a boat, up and down the coast inspecting reindeer herds and collecting ancient bones, tusks and other remnants of the Ice Age. One spring and summer was spent on the vast Yukon-Kuskokwim delta, identifying birds and collecting specimens in one of the greatest waterfowl production areas in the world.

The crew lived with the delta Eskimos and learned as much about these people as the wildlife they depended on for survival.

During his time in Nome, Frank befriended (North cont. pg 19)

May 2023

North

(Cont. from pg 18) a beautiful accomplished you ng w oman named Klondy Nelson, daughter of one of the original gold rushers who never gave up looking for the next big strike. They eventually married and moved to Fairbanks, where he completed surveys of fish and wildlife up and down the Yukon River.

Frank and family ended up in Juneau where he became head of the Alaska Game Commission, and eventually moved to D.C. for an even greater challenge. All in all, it was an incredible career working with and around Alaska’s wildlife, and throughout it Frank developed a philosophy that has guided sound wildlife management for generations.

He learned to visit with and listen to the locals who depended on the fish and game resources in their area. He advocated for their needs and concerns when making rule recommendations, even when it put him at odds with his supervisors. He learned, as many others have since, that wildlife management is in many ways people management, and policies that don’t consider the needs and desires of the resource users are bound to fail.

“My Way Was North:

Northwoods Sporting Journal

An Alaskan Autobiography” follows Dufrense in his journeys around the territory during a time of great freedom and rapid change. Frank was a gifted writer and penned numerous magazine articles and a few other books, including “No Room for Bears”, a story of the preservation of grizzly and brown bears in southeast Alaska. His wife Klondy Nelson wrote her own book, “Daughter of the Gold Rush”, describing her childhood and the early days of Nome.

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

Me & Joe

(Cont. from pg 17) pick me up! I’ll ketch my death of cold an’ we still gotta pick up all them supplies!”

Joe turned and gazed downstream where boxes and parcels dotted the surface of the water. He turned back toward Port with a slow smile spreading across his narrow features.

“Was I you, Port, I’d head on up to camp an’ git

dried off. Can’t be more’n a half mile. Don’t you worry, we’ll pick up them supplies for yer. They’ll be waiting’ back at town for ya. At least, what we don’t use will be.”

“Why you bleeps!

You rotten bleeps!” Port was slowly turning purple, although whether it was from anger or from the cold, I couldn’t be sure. I’ll head right down the shore!

I’ll be there at the landin’ waitin for ya!”

“Yore fergittin’, Port,” Joe called as he turned the canoe downstream and began to paddle. “Yore above the mouth o’ Halter Brook.

Don’t expect you boys will be crossin’ that any time soon!”

Port’s mouth dropped open in wild dismay. “But we’ll starve! We got nothin’ ta eat at camp but a little flour an’ rice! We’ll perish!”

“Looks o’ the three o’ you, it’ll take a lot more’n a week on light rations to slim yer down much. In the mean time, enjoy yer time at camp!”

Port’s high-pitched shouting diminished as we

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rounded a bend. I turned and eyed Joe sourly. “The least you could have done was warn me you were going to tip over the canoe!

I’m apt to freeze to death before we get to town.”

“Me? Tip over a canoe?” Joe asked innocently.

“Never happen. It was that no-count Port. You heard me hollerin’ at him. Joe turned the canoe slightly

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“Get that floatin’ box of eggs. Careful when you lean out,” he smiled as I continued to scowl. “After all, you know how tippy this ol’ canoe is.”

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Northwoods Sporting Journal May 2023 Aroostook Woods too) there is another, slight- ing stuff and cut it up and filled to overflowing with & Water ly smaller armoire; it too, make sink-tip sections for reels. Why? Because I can’t

Page 20

by Mike Maynard, Perham, ME There comes a moment when you realize that something is not right.

There I was, sitting at the tying bench working on emergers or some such pattern. I was surrounded by more tying materials, hooks, threads, tools, boxes

pedestrian, but all loved unconditionally. On the opposite wall is a full-grown potato barrel. It stopped resembling that for which it was intended a very long time ago. It now looks like a giant aluminum hedgehog from outer space; there

Late April Musings

is filled with rifles, shells, fly lines of all descriptions, a box of new trigger locks just waiting for new triggers to embrace.

I’m still pining away for that elusive .28gauge single; but

the fly rods. I have a literal pile of lead-core that I can’t bear to part with. I haven’t used the stuff in de-

help myself, apparently.

My wife is in NYC for the week and I’m home alone, drinking too much coffee,

cades, but you never know.

I might get nostalgic in my dotage and give it another whirl. And until that time, there it will sit.

Reels! Yikes… I have two big canvas satchels

letting the dog up on the couch, and spending way too much time perusing all the reels on Ebay. I blame my wife, if she hadn’t left me home this wouldn’t be happening. But I was pointedly not invited on the NYC trip; something about, “If I wanted a cityhating curmudgeon with us, I could just drag you to someplace bigger than Madawaska!” Ouch…

Hunting boots? Yes, I own them all; every damn one of them. I have size 14 feet and it’s a little difficult at times (all the time up here) to find the boots you want in your size.

Therefore, says I, when you find them, whether you need them at the time or not, you buy them! Am I wrong? I don’t think so.

Two of these pair of boots are at least 10 years old and have yet to see the outside world, but I’ll get around to getting them muddy, I promise. How many pairs (Musings cont. pg 21)

My wife is in NYC for the week and I’m home alone, drinking too much coffee, letting the dog up on the couch, and spending way too much time perusing all the reels on Ebay. I blame my wife, if she hadn’t left me home this wouldn’t be happening. and boxes of unfished flies.

And I was tying more.

There are also three lights and two magnifiers taking up air space just over my head at any given time.

One entire wall of the rod and gun cave is a bookcase, filled from floor to ceiling with nothing but sporting titles; some rare, a few magical, most

are soooo many rod tubes growing out of it.

On another wall is a big, antique Victorian armoire that I converted into a gun case. You would be amazed at just how many rifles you can comfortably line up in an armoire. I also find it sexier looking than some giant metal box. In the closet (it’s a big closet,

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if I manage to find one of those, the next logical conclusion would be that I need a .28 gauge pump. And so it goes.

There are coils of used line in a box. Sometimes I take some of the old sink-

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Musings

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Chest packs, fanny packs, sling packs, vests (fishing and shooting) hats, nets, ancient wicker creels…

Sleeping bags. Hard to pass up the next greatest bag when you see it, even if I don’t sleep on the ground much anymore.

Tents. Oh, boy, do I have tents. Canoes! Kayaks!

Motors! Paddles of all varying shapes, lengths, materials, and bends. There are three trucks in the yard and they all serve a specific and reasonable function in my life as far as I’m con-

Northwoods Sporting Journal

cerned. My wife, far more practical than me (so she says), has but the single car. She says that’s all she needs. Silly woman.

Battered aluminum percolator coffee pots for those chilly, snowy, streamside respites; I have several. I’ve got at least three of them upstairs and another two out in the barn.

Now, I find my defense of these items to be an easy one. Coffee is the elixir of life; this must be acknowledged. Everywhere I go, everything I do, …it’s all predicated on being able to access this life-affirming beverage. If it’s just me on the stream that day, I take the small one. More than me, a slightly bigger one.

Size your coffee pot to your

entourage. But never leave it home. Ever.

Snowshoes; got to have a different pair for every possible occasion, right? Ice fishing tip-ups.

How many different styles are there? A lot, I know because I have at least four of every one.

I guess I’ve always been subconsciously aware of my ‘collections’ (my wife says I’m a gear hoarder. That is sooo unfair, honey) but as I sat there at the vise, it suddenly occurred to me that through all the years and all of the outdoor-life accoutrements

that threaten to crush me under their accumulated tonnage, I have only ever owned a single tying vise.

Just the one. Bought with hard earned cash decades ago when I was just getting started, it rocked my world and I’ve never loved or longed for another. Life’s little contradictions don’t have to be a bad thing, I’m thinking.

One vise. It’s always been enough.

Mike Maynard lives in Perham, Maine. He can be reached at perhamtrout@ gmail.com

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Page 22

May 2023

Northwoods Turkey Romance Sketchbook young, I offered them each here when the landscape to my stone-still, and very

by Mark McCollough, $5 dollars for a 5-gallon was still tundra. The knife mute decoy. They had a lot bucket of New England may have been lost while of gossip to discuss after Hampden, ME

May 3 - The worst thing about turkey hunting is getting up at 4:00 a.m.

The best thing is witnessing the arrival of a new day. As light creeps into the turkey meadow, the woodcock’s peent and barred owl’s call who cooks for you? gives way to a cacophony of crows and a white-throated sparrow trilling Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada.

tried to convince me to come to him. I argued that he come my way. He eventually broke ranks with his consorts and started across the field my way. He was a cagey bird and languished 60 yards distant. Did I call too little or too much?

Serendipity is what makes turkey hunting challenging, but enjoyable.

May 5 – We sure can

potatoes. I had no takers.

May 9 - While planting peas I found an arrowhead in our garden. After tossing tens of thousands of stones over the years, I finally found something useful – a rhyolite knife blade.

We used to find beautiful flint and chert arrowheads in my grandparent’s garden on our family farm in western Pennsylvania. This one was not an object of great

skinning and quartering a caribou to carry back to a river camp.

May 9 – Today I will try a new turkey hunting location. What adventures will it bring? The eastern horizon was blushed with

the frosty night. A tom approached and strutted in the crisp leaves a few feet behind the maple I crouched under. Each time he gobbled I nearly jumped out of my camouflage hunting gear. I was pinned down

pink when I curled up at the base of a large maple at the edge of the field. Three or four toms gobbled before sunrise, so I was excited at the prospect of seeing turkeys this morning. My problem was too many turkeys. Several hens assembled 20 feet in front me clucking and cackling

and couldn’t move. The old gobbler gathered his chatty harem and marched them out of my view to be heard, but not seen, for the remainder of the morning.

About 30 minutes later I heard a rustling in the leaves to my right. A brown mammal was rooting in the (Romance cont. pg 29)

He eventually broke ranks with his consorts and started across the field my way. He was a cagey bird and languished 60 yards distant. Did I call too little or too much? Serendipity is what makes turkey hunting challenging, but enjoyable.

Each day reveals itself differently. Sometimes a flock of geese skim the treetops at dawn. Other mornings a fox hunts in the farm field.

But you know when you are in the game when you hear the cackle of a tom turkey. If you can hear him, he can hear your hen calls!

This morning I discussed politics with an old gobbler for an hour. He was escorted by two hens and

grow rocks in our New England gardens. Each spring, the melting snow reveals a new crop of “New England potatoes,” the name we give to rocks, large and small, that wiggle their way to the surface over the winter. I’ve been picking stones from this garden for 25 years. Where does the new crop come from?

When our kids were

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My mind wanders…maybe a caribou hunt took place

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 23

A Trail in Bloom

Springtime in Maine is a very special and short lived time. The ground is thawing, grass is green-

each time. It’s a great time to reacquaint yourself with the location of all of your apple trees. Their white A taste of spring.

from their treeline refuge and bring a smile to my face. You might also be lucky to happen upon lilacs or flowering crabapple trees, remnants of where there may have been an old homestead. Hawthorn trees may also find their way in, lining old roads

“The Trail Rider”

by Dan Wilson, Bowdoinham, ME woods just off the trail.

As I ride along, I look for prime lady slipper areas, where there might be pools of water, fallen trees, and stumps mossing

Along the ride there are a lot of signs of spring, with each new path leading you towards another adventure, whether foraging for fiddleheads or spotting trillium near the brook.

ing, trees are budding, and spring flowers are blooming. It’s time to put up the snowmobiles and start up the ATV/4-wheeler, hoping it runs.

With a fresh tank of gas and a careful eye for muddy wet spots, let’s take a ride! I don’t worry too much about getting stuck with the 4-wheeler, but it can happen on occasion. Some riders like “mudding” and others like to keep their rides clean and trails smooth. I lean towards the latter, but there is a time and place for both, so it’s important to be mindful and respectful of where you are.

Riding around the wood trails on our property is always a treat and I observe something new

with their cream colored blooms, alive and buzzing with bees.

Along the ride there are a lot of signs of spring, with each new path leading you towards another adventure, whether foraging for fiddleheads or spotting trillium near the brook.

One of my favorite scouting adventures is looking for lady slippers, which can start blooming in late May or early June in the Midand subtle pink blooms coast. I like to make sure line trails and fields, fill- I start looking early so I ing the air with their sweet don’t miss them blooming. scent. Apple trees in full They are such a special find bloom pop dramatically and are often nestled in the

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too close to one another.

I’ve only seen the pink variety, but perhaps I will be lucky enough to find additional colors someday? I’m fortunate that I have family land that can be explored, and I’m always careful not to disrupt the natural habitat when exploring.

If you are on public land or passing by on a hiking trail, make sure to obey signs that request you stay on the marked trail, and if you are able to explore further, leave the land how you found it so it can thrive and carry on for future gen(Trail cont. pg 29)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

Fly Casting 301: Mends, Curves and Line Speed

Editor’s note: This results. This will take some tance casting. This can be is Part II of a Three Part practice, so stick with it. accomplished several ways series on fly basic casting Once you feel comfortable that include; rod drift, line methods. Part I appeared in the April issue and the final installment will be in the June issue.

By Fred Hurley If you want to go beyond the basic casting stroke there are a variety of casting techniques you can add to your repertoire.

These include various areal mends, curves, and line speed enhancements. The with these moves, you can shooting, single hall, and curves and mends are basi- try linking them in a cast the double haul.

Shooting the line is cally modifications to the to achieve multiple con-

Adding line speed to your casting stroke is also a very useful tool for distance casting. This can be accomplished several ways that include; rod drift, line shooting, single hall, and the double haul. basic casting stroke which are based on the principle the line goes where the rod tip goes, and the rod tip goes where the hand takes it. They require moving the rod hand in different ways during the end of the casting stroke to create a desired configuration of the line when it lands.

Areal Mends are an important tool in fly fishing. Try casting and moving your rod hand in different directions at the end of the forward cast, and see what happens. Hopefully, you will get a feel for how this all works, and begin to experiment and practice these moves. They could include hand movements out and back, to the left, right, up, down, a wiggle movement, and an out and in V. The timing and duration of these moves has a direct impact on the

figurations. Mimicking the moves without the rod in hand is a great way to get started.

Curves at the end of the line present a real challenge, so you will likely have to concentrate on this tool. A curve to the left can be created by a side arm cast that is over powered at the end with an abrupt stop, or by moving your rod hand abruptly to the left as you execute the “Stop”, or by moving your hand in a V shaped in and out movement at the end of the cast, and if you add a wrist twist to the out you get a different result. These take a lot of trial and error practice, but they are useful in your casting tool box. Again, try mimicking each move when you practice.

Adding line speed to your casting stroke is also a very useful tool for dis-

accomplished by simply releasing your grip of the line as you complete the forward cast. This allows additional line to slip through the guides and adds several feet to the cast.

Rod drift is accomplished by letting your rod hand drift back after the completion of the back cast to slightly extent the casting stroke and add addition length to the forward stroke. Make sure the drift maintains the path of the back stroke, does not create slack in the line, nor dip and create a poor loop.

The single haul increases rod loading and line speed, and creates addition distance by moving your line hand away from its normal position during the back cast. A drift movement can be added to extend distance.

(Casting cont. pg 25)

May 2023

Casting (Cont. from pg 24) The double haul links a similar movement to the line hand during the forward cast, with a shooting movement at the end of the cast.

Some additional casting tools include; on the water mends, the Oval or Belgium Cast, Cross the Body Back Cast, Roll Cast, Water Anchor Cast, and Spey Cast.

The Oval Cast is executed from a side arm position by moving your rod hand backward in a broad upward arcing path and without stopping into a forward casting stroke to a normal “Stop”. This is a useful tool under windy condition and other situation where a normal cast is difficult to execute.

The Cross Body Cast is simply a back cast initiated with the casting arm across the body and completed like the normal forward cast. It is very useful when the wind is coming from right to left, when casting from a canoe or boat to keep your line away from another caster, or the

Northwoods Sporting Journal normal back cast is difficult to execute.

The Roll Cast is similar to an Oval Cast, but the low back stroke ends well behind the caster, and ends with a long pause that lets the line touch the ground or water, before the forward cast is initiated. This creates resistance that causes load on the rod during the forward cast and launches the line forward. This is a very useful cast when there are things that obstruct the normal back cast.

Water Anchor cast is performed by letting the back cast briefly drop to water before the forward cast is initiated. This creates additional loading of the rod and is useful for casting heavy flies, or casting in windy conditions.

Last but not least, are Water Mends which have long been a go-to fly casting tool. This is accomplished by lifting the rod hand and repositioning the line to either the left or right with a flip of the wrist and forearm. This is used to reduce the drag on the line, and is especially useful when fishing a fly with an indicator float attached to the leader.

The Single Spey Cast is an advanced casting stroke used to reposition a fly in flowing water in order repeat a drift. It involves one cross body stroke to move the line in one direction and back to a water anchor and an elliptical oval like cast. A Double Spey involves two cross body arm movements to move the line from left to right, and right to left, before initiating the oval like cast.

Many of these techniques may require a lot of practice, but it is a great past time when your not able to be on the water fishing, and will greatly add to your fly fishing skills.

Don’t be afraid to seek a coach who has mastered these skills. They say Herb Welch would write his name with with his fly line when he demonstrated his casting skills at the Boston Sportsmen’s Shows.

Happy Casting!

Fred Hurley lives in Wayne Maine. He is a Fly Tying Instructor, and FFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor.

Former Bangor, Maine broadcaster Jerry Evans, who founded WVOM-FM talk radio a number of years ago, hunted this mountain sheep during a Nevada mountain hunt.

Jerry (left) shared this hunt with his son, Henry. Evans now lives in Nevada where he owns and operates a number of radio stations.

Page 25

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 26

The Swim-Bait Show

Best Bassin’

by Bill Decoteau, Hampden, MA When Dan Kenney, producer of GoFishDan, LLC, New England Fishing Expo and the Northeast Swim-Bait Show invited me to attend his Swim-Bait exclusive show, held in Sturbridge, Massachusetts I was more excited than a Beagle pup on his first rabbit hunt! When I arrived, the line outside waiting for the official opening was huge. Awaiting anglers were telling stories and sharing information on handmade swim-baits.

Names like Psycho Gill, Defiant 210, MagDraft, Douglas X-Matrix Rods, Castaic, Trap Bass and Slammer echoed throughout the crowd.

It was suggested I talk with Joey Lanciotti owner, lure designer and custom painter of Lanciotti Lures first and then just rotate from booth to booth. Joey informed me has been designing and

May 2023

making his line of Psycho Swim-Baits for 6 years.

“The most important and time-consuming portion of designing swim-baits is developing a perfect balance allowing the bait to swim with a natural side to side action.” Lanciotti’s Psycho Gill and Trout swim-baits are what is known as Wake & Crank floating swimbaits. They dive in the 3-5foot depth. The finished Gill weighs 3.2 oz., and according to Lanciotti, the longest process is actually making enough to meet his customer demand. “I have now hired several of the Best Lure Painters in the USA to paint my finish lures and I label each bait with the individual painter’s name!”

Sliding or Gliding as it’s known in the world of Swim-Baits, I entered the booth of MGC Fishing Tackle, where I received a wealth of Swim-Bait

knowledge. While SwimBaits are categorized as either Hard or Soft, come in a wide variety of sizes, made by hand as well as massproduced and can be rigged with both treble or single shanked hooks. SwimBaits all require ‘Balanced Tackle’ for optimum per-

Bait rod recommended by most Swim-Bait anglers I interviewed was Douglas Rods, out of New York.

(View Douglas Rods wide assortment of Spin/Casting Rods @ www.douglasoutdoors.com) Quality bait casting reels in size 300 with lower

formance! (Contact MGC Fishing Tackle @ www.

MGCFishing.com) Depending on the size of your swim-bait, anglers need to choose a rod that matches the size or weight of the swim-bait being fished. In most cases anglers will chose rods between 7’6” to 8’6”, having longer butt ends, heavy to X-heavy actions for both power and casting distance.

The number-one Swim-

gear ratios like 5.3:1 to 6.5:1 are recommended as these reels will have wider spools, and hold larger diameter line required for Swim-Bait techniques. As for type and size of line here is where personal preference comes into play.

Braided line 50-65 lb. test with fluorocarbon or monofilament leaders provides shock absorbing stretch or 100% fluorocarbon 25 to 30 lb. spooled direct. As

for utilizing a lure clip or tying a knot, most SwimBait season anglers tie a knot, but suggest you refer to the particular Swim-Bait manufacture for guidance, as a clip may or may not hinder the Swim-Baits action.

One booth that seemed to be constantly crowded with Swim-Bait enthusiasts was Phil’s Tackle Box, and the abundant beautiful ‘Fish Everything’ shad style swim-baits. A variety of sizes were available and to my knowledge the majority were Shad Style Glide Baits and Shad Hater Crank-downs. Word has it the Shad Glider style Swim-Bait is excellent during cold water periods! www.fisheverythingcustoms.com & www.philstacklebox.com) Berkshire Bass not only has an extensive line of quality tackle, they also provide Guided Trips within Berkshire County of Massachusetts, specializing in Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and (Show cont. pg 31)

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May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 27

Car Camping

If you are new to camping or being in the woods, one of the best ways to start is car camping. There are no weight limits because you are not carrying your gear.

You don’t need expensive freeze dried food or ultra light gear. Almost all you need to get started you can get right from your house.

First, you need a place to go. There are literally hundreds of campgrounds all over New England.

Some are in the woods,

If you are starting out and want to sleep in a tent there are inexpensive options as well.

You don’t need high end or expensive gear to get started.

some on lakes, and some are right on the ocean. If you want to camp, but are not ready to try a tent, there are other options. Most campgrounds now have cabins and campers for rent as well as campsites. The luxuries of a hotel and the benefits of the woods.

Whichever you choose, most campgrounds have lots of options on site.

Small stores, cafe/restaurant, firewood for sale, indoor bathrooms, showers.

Some have boats, canoes, kayaks, etc. for rent also.

You can try new skills and adventures without spending lots of money.

If you are starting out and want to sleep in a tent there are inexpensive options as well. You don’t need high end or expensive gear to get started.

You can get a set with a tent, two folding chairs, and two sleeping bags for

less than one hundred and twenty dollars. Spend an extra few dollars and get sleeping pads or air mattresses. Trust me, you will be warmer and way more comfortable. Remember to NEVER tie your tent or tarp to your vehicle. None of us are used to looking over your vehicle before driving off. That would be really bad really quickly.

If you are worried about rain you already have a back up option. If you have a van or SUV, set up your vehicle for sleeping.

designed for hiking and backpacking. Canned food from your cupboard and cold food from your fridge is fine. Don’t invest in an expensive cooler until you truly need it. Cheap Styrofoam coolers are fine for a weekend. Get a couple packs of hot dogs, some marshmallows and a bag of ice and you are good to go.

The food can be simple and still be great. A couple hot dogs on sticks and some slightly burnt marshmallows are a good supper.

Scrambled eggs and bacon

Basics Of Survival

by Joe Frazier, Bangor, ME

sure it is cleaner than when you got there.

Keep in mind basic safety for both kids and adults. Keep track of knives, hatchets, and anything sharp. Someone needs to keep an eye on the kids anytime they are in or even near the water.

It is good to learn to survive in the wilderness, but car camping is more about letting the wilderness

help you survive. We are all much too connected to electronics these days. On a weekend, phones should only be used for taking pictures/videos and for legitimate emergencies.

Updating social media can wait until you get home.

Joe is a husband, father, author and Marine.

Joefrazier193@gmail.com

North Maine Woods In the heart of the Allagash and Fish River waterways.......

Fly Fishing and Trolling

Lay the seats flat and clear a space. If you find out the hard way your tent leaks, or if your kids are sure there are monsters in the woods just outside the firelight; move the sleeping bags or blankets into the car and go back to sleep. Odds are this will happen about two a.m.

Campgrounds have fire rings and usually grills.

You can buy gas grills for camping, but campfires are more fun. Light a decent sized fire and let it burn down. Cooking over coals is more even and easier to regulate temperature rather than cooking over flames.

If you are using cookware from home don’t use pans with plastic handles. They WILL melt over a fire. If you rub unscented bar soap (like ivory) on the outside of the pans before you cook it will make cleaning the soot off much easier later.

You don’t need expensive dehydrated food

cooked on a campfire as the sun comes up is the best breakfast.

Make sure to bring a couple flashlights. Headlamps are very handy but any decent flashlight will work fine. Make sure you only shine it on the ground near you. You don’t want to shine it in someone’s eyes and possibly damage their vision. Some of the “tactical” flashlights are unbelievably bright and are probably more than you need. You just need to be able to find something around camp or walk to the bathroom. Figure out where the bathroom is during daylight so you don’t get lost.

No matter where you camp you need to keep your site cleaned up and neat. It will keep you safe and not trip over things when you walk around after dark. Check the area before you leave and make

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 28

Marsh Island Chronicles

by Matthew Dunlap, Old Town, ME I often wonder about the development of hunting methods. Some methods are so ancient that it’s pretty certain that they were employed probably long

be when hunting. Decoys, calls, and bait probably also have their roots far back in the mists of time, even prior to the groundbreaking firearm designs

Drunk with hormones and instincts, the tom turkey comes a-swashbuckling in, with caution flung unceremoniously to the wind. But! What’s this?

An interloper? before we began forming social groups, wore shoes or did much cooking, or had access to rimless cartridges or commerciallyproduced doe estrus.

Tracking and ambush methods come to mind, and probably our forebears learned early on that sitting in a tree is a good place to

of John Browning.

Tu r k e y h u n t i n g , though, is truly a marvel in subterfuge and sneakiness, so much so that it carries with it the sulfuric, acrid smell of bad karma.

While decoys and calls are of paramount importance, the whole premise of turkey hunting’s passion

May 2023

Good Times, Bad Karma

play gives me some rience tells us that if be muse d pa use . the tom turkey is of The key element in a mind to come in, successfully hunthe’ll come. Give him ing a tom turkey is time, along with the in convincing the occasional chirp… bird during mating chirp…chirp…chirpseason that he has chirp-chirp! the opportunity, to Drunk with horput it delicately, to mones and instincts, get lucky. Mating the tom turkey comes season, as we see a-swashbuckling in, during the rut for with caution flung moose and deer, unceremoniously offers bountiful to the wind. But! chances at a buck, What’s this? An inbull, or a tom; our terloper? Yes, old otherwise-cautious Tom, we’ve put that quarry tends to put jake decoy in a promIn the spring, the old Tom is the safety manual inent, commanding strutting about in search of love. under the truck seat position before a pair (Photo by Al Raychard) and throw the hamof available ladies, For the turkey hunter, apparently out on an excurmer down in his quest for satisfaction. They reverse after the developed skills sion, with themselves in a course at grunt of a call; required (marksmanship, mind for some socializing. they crash through the calling, camouflaging) Like the sirens who lured woods on a well-worn trail have emerged into flu- sailors to their doom in the that any predator can sim- ency, the most important Odyssey, their “song” is element is patience. Expe- irresistibly tantalizing. Our ply sit and wait by. tom knows this, because he’s heard their song, and he knows the verses, and he’s ready with the harmony lines. But this young, inexperienced jake? Bah! He’s not worthy. His ‘harmony’ is in a minor key.

So our tom spreads his fan, drops his wingtips, fluffs out his plumage in all its shimmering glory. “Excuse me, young fellow,” his glaring eyes say, “I’ll take care of this, young fellow.” In full strut, he does his parade, circling so the ‘ladies’ can get a good, long, admiring look at his regalia.

If the hunter is on his game, he’s inconspicuously off to the side, just another winter-worn shrub, motionless; but with a stick of thunder ominously protruding. No matter; our tom is otherwise occupied.

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(Karma cont. pg 29)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

Karma

pause as they hear that length away and looked wildly enthusiastic gobble me up and down with getting closer in the early alert, curious eyes. I froze (Cont. from pg 28) in amazement, but really morning May hours.

I always wonder: didn’t want a lap-full of The tom may be a bit perplexed that the ‘ladies’ Who knows what all those fisher. Our Mexican standaren’t more responsive to tom turkeys have in mind off lasted a few seconds. I his impressive display, and for me when they get their blinked, and she decided that I was really too big to maddeningly, the jake just chance in another life? eat. Off she bounded into sits there, when he should Matt Dunlap is a the forest. be fleeing. The tom stops May 12 - I tried to and pauses; he thinks that sportsman from Old Town outfox the old gobbler and is a periodic co-host the jake may need an extra shove to get him moving on Maine Outdoors, heard again this morning. I never along. He fixes his baleful statewide every Sunday heard a turkey that had so gaze on him as he begins night at 7:00 pm on WVOM much to say before launch103.9 FM, WVQM 101.3 ing out of his white pine to….BOOM! Just like that. Our tom FM, and WRKD 95.1 FM roost. He gobbled nearly 50 times before landing is taken through the noggin in Rockland. with a thud not far from with a load of heavy turkey where I was hidden. He shot. knew exactly where I was So; let’s review. Ol’ (Cont. from pg 22) located from my attempts Tom, being a magnificent specimen, is out for a good underbrush; a ground hog? at cackles, clucks, and time. It’s been a rough a porcupine? No, it was a purrs. However, as soon as spring, with lots of com- fisher! I squeaked through he saw my decoy he froze petition. This jake isn’t the pursed lips and she came in his tracks and edged first one he’s had to move bounding my direction. around it in a wide arc. I aside. It’s been an annoy- She halted about an arm’s spent the rest of the morning trend. But the reward, let’s just say, is great. Just 284 North Rd, when he thinks he’s about Detroit, ME 04929 to clear the deck for a fun (207) 487-3338 dance, the last thing to go through his mind are a couple of ounces of copperplated number fives, and it’s lights out. , and the BRP logo are www.huffpowersports.com of Bombardier Recreational As a young buck, I trademarks Products, Inc,. or its affiliates.

8-5 M-F 8-1 Sat • Closed Sun can remember going to dances and strutting my stuff for the ladies, too.

Unlike a turkey, I never had to contend with the additional hazard of being tasty. Whoever first came up with the ambush of a hot tom on the make was not, apparently, contemplating the accounting that fate may have in store.

Karma is a Buddhist Serving concept that, according to Maine Since the Oxford English Dictionary, describes “the sum 1995 of a person’s actions in Plumbing - Heating - Air Conditioning - Ventilation this state of existence…

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Romance

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O TM

Page 29

brown wintered grass, mixing in with a few strands of green. My mother often reminisces about searching for mayflowers/trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens) in her childhood. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mayflower before, so I need to add that to my scouting list.

My mom and I were just talking about the beauty of spring and writing haiMark McCollough kus. Haikus are a Japanese hunts turkeys under a ma- poem format, often written ple in Hampden, Maine. He about nature, so I leave you can be contacted at mark- with this haiku that I wrote mccollough25@gmail.com about an apple tree: ing tracking his wanderings from his near-constant gobbling. He responded to every one of my calls, but never again approached that motionless decoy!

Sometimes the old gobbler is repulsed by my plastic beauty. The next day he saddles up to my decoy like a love-sick sailor attracted to a siren across rough seas.

Trail

Subtle pink petals Delicate and abundant Bursting with beauty

(Cont. from pg 23) erations.

Violets, bluets, and Daniel Wilson works maybe some wild straw- in healthcare and enjoys berries start to cover the time outside in nature with fields, reaching past the his family.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

Post-Script New Water From Pocasset times, looking for someAny outdoorsman the pages are torn out and

thing new is forced upon us worth their salt has the stained with spilled coffee. because conditions change, Delorme Maine Atlas and Also, you have the pristine

by Josh Reynolds, trees get cut, a water turns Gazetteer and most of you copy at the house that you Wayne, ME unproductive or a piece of We all have our favor- lack of planning. property gets posted. When ite spots; favorite spots to We can become crea- this happens we get mad, hunt, favorite spots to fish, tures of habit, we crave the we curse the unwelcomed favorite spots to ride, what- familiar, the comfortable, changes. When you lose ever your outdoor pursuit, the “sure thing”. It takes a spot, what do you do? you have a favorite spot.

Someone once said that “the devil There are good reasons to is in the details”. This is so true when return year after year; past looking at the specific laws for each success, great memories, body of water. familiarity with the land, water, patterns, and tech- courage and a sense of Would you whine about niques. There are also not adventure to strike out into it to your friends? Would good reasons to return year the unfamiliar, to find new you stay home and watch after year; laziness, ap- land to walk upon and new golf instead? Do you quit?

The author enjoying camp a remote Maine prehension, fear of failure, water to float upon. Some- Whatever the first reaction trout pond. (Photo by V. Paul Reynolds) is, remember that there is have more than one. You use to do some scouting opportunity here, oppor- have the tattered copy that from the couch. Early April tunity for a new adventure. lives in your truck, half is the perfect time to dust of the pristine copy, crack it open and explore. Combine this with the latest copy of the Maine Inland Fishing Lawbook, published by Maine IF&W, and you’ve got everything you need for an early spring research project. This method of research is the first step in finding something new.

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&

May 2023

Water

(Cont. from pg 30) pages 28, 29, 18 and 19 (Franklin County). Locate all the ponds and make an alphabetical list. Then go to the lawbook where every pond in Maine is listed, look up the ponds on your list and look at the fishing laws. Every pond that is listed (FFO) flyfishing only stays on THE list. I pay special attention to detailed law for each pond – slot limits, bag limits, catch and release only, et cetera.

I also cross reference the Maine Heritage Waters list – these are ponds that are listed as “wild, native ponds”, meaning that they have never been stocked or the stocking was done a very long time ago. Those ponds get special attention on THE list. All this information was gleaned by doing nothing more than

Horse Supply

Northwoods Sporting Journal

sitting at home, looking at map and lawbook.

Someone once said that “the devil is in the details”. This is so true when looking at the specific laws for each body of water. If you want to catch, keep and eat trout. Find the general law, non-slot limit ponds. Chances are these ponds have a lot of small, delicious fish that should be relatively easy to catch. If you want a bigger challenge, try a slot limit pond. If you want a chance at catching a trophy and aren’t afraid to work at it, the catch and release, FFO, barbless hook places are the thing.

Of course, all this research from the couch is just a first step. Ultimately,

you’ve gotta get out there and give it a try, but at least this method will help you narrow down the list to something manageable.

This spring, I’m really looking forward to exploring some new water – I’ve got my list and I’m reminding myself to not overlook those places that may be easy to get to – sometimes I think that I have to find places that are really remote to find good fishing, but often there are easy to get to places that can be fantastic, if you don’t mind sharing the bounty with others.

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

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Spending time with the Reel Northern Bass guys from New Hampshire was totally enlightening. Sean and Andrew’s weekly podcast along with their YouTube videos cover everything ‘Bass’! Andrew revealed to me the unique soft plastic swim-

bait design and rigging tactics on the Defiant #210 & #247. Each model is available in three weightsizes for Slow, Medium and Fast sinking actions.

The #210 is 8.25” the #247 is 9.75” a unique large slot in the dorsal section provides for rigging two large single hooks, plus anglers have the option to rig treble hooks on the bottom. The Defiant linethrough concept produces a higher hook-up percentage, eliminating bass shaking off. (www.Defiantfishing. com) God Bless and Best Bassin’

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Hunt

(Cont. from pg 7) living the life of an up-atdawn, over-the-edge, yearround wild turkey man!

What was it that drew me in you ask? Well, it could have been those misty Green Mountain mornings in Vermont when the ground shook with the “thunder of gobbling turkeys”. It could have happened on a warm Texas evening while falling asleep listening to the gobbling of Rio Grande turkeys in the Southwestern

Northwoods Sporting Journal

twilight. It may have been in Arkansas, Missouri, or Iowa, while hunting those magnum Midwestern brutes. It could have been that spooky, but beautiful, cypress swamp in Alabama where I got twisted up following an old “swamp gobbler” who eventually got the best of me. Or, it could have happened in South Shelburne, Massachusetts, kneeling beside another gift from God, while saying the prayer I always say whenever I take something from the forest. Finding that common thread that binds me to the

souls of wild turkeys and wild turkey hunters could have happened anywhere, at any time, or in any place where I’ve experienced the humble joy, the quiet reverence, or the raw excitement that makes turkey hunting not just a sport, but a passion that, at times, almost becomes a religion.

Wherever or whenever it occurred, the truth remains that I love wild turkeys and wild turkey hunting. I love the springtime woodlands and the thrill of their gobble every time I hear it. I love the heart-gripping suspense of a wild turkey

coming to my calls while hunting me! Or maybe it’s just the beauty of this great game bird that leaves me in awe every time I encounter one up close. I absolutely love this. And I believe I always will.

So, “If you could only hunt one thing, what would it be?” And that question can only be answered on an individual basis by those who hunt. But, for me, the answer lies in the words I’ve just written, and I can’t bear to be any more specific. I’m just thankful this question will always remain hypothetical, with

May 2023 no semblance of reality to it. And frankly if I never hear this question again that’ll be just fine with me!

Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, and a 2019 inductee into the N.E. Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also on the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Regional Pro-Staff.

Fish Stocking Report

Central Maine Region

www.mefishwildlife.com Fish Stocking Report Now Available from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife With Daily Updates

The fish stocking report now features daily updates from hatchery staff. Instead of hearing when and where the hatcheries have stocked well after the season has ended, anglers now will be able to easily locate waters freshly stocked with catchable trout.

Waters are grouped by county, listed by town, and include the date of stocking as well as the species, quantity, and size of fish released. Find the report online at www.mefishwildlife.com. Just click on stocking report.

Jesse Cummings had a great winter on the ice! These two nice togue were caught and released.

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT!

Please

include

Where do you read your copy of the Sporting Journal? At camp, in the boat, at the ice shack? We’d love to see a photo of you with your copy of the Journal at an unusual place. If we like it, we will publish it in the Journal. If we select your best shot for publication, we’ll send you an exclusive Sporting Journal hat created just for the occasion. Send your Jpeg photo and a short blurb to vpaulr@tds.net. your contact information, too.

www.sportingjournal.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal Guns & Ammo:

May 2023

Lever Actions: Sales Up!

Politics have a major effect on the gun industry.

As a result of record panic buying, we ran out of toilet paper and ammo. Seemingly unrelated, but they are victims of the same hysteria. Well, we have come to terms with the pandemic and the government

and especially lever action rifles. Why is this happening? It’s really a mystery, but as an interested observer of this industry, I can offer some thoughts.

I believe that so many modern sporting rifles and high capacity handguns have been sold over the last

season I have been doing an informal survey of dealers about this. The results were pretty consistent.

They all said they cannot keep a lever gun in stock either new or used. This was true with the dealers I spoke to in Massachusetts at the Sportsman’s Show in Springfield and the surrounding area all the way to the top of Maine at the

Page 33

A Guide’s Perspective

by Tom Kelly, Orient, ME

tickets on a turkey gun.

Another had an excellent Windham Arms AR10 in .308. Neither were selling many tickets, except to me.

So what conclusions can we draw from this? Well, if you are in the market for a modern sporting rifle,

tainty when you vote. Our future depends on it.

Tom is a Registered Maine Guide. He is the owner/operator of Shamrock Outfitters in Orient Maine with his wife Ellie.

In addition, companies like Henry have significantly increased their offerings to pretty much cover every niche of the shooting spectrum, from tactical big game to varmints with a lever action. Ruger purchasing Marlin has also brought high quality lever guns back to an honored and cherished brand. exploitation of our collective fear. The gun industry has slowed down to prepandemic levels. Products like AR pattern rifles, high capacity handguns and the ammo to feed them have slowed way down. As a result, these products have come down in price. There are many modern sporting rifles on the used gun racks.

New gun inventories are also full and reasonably priced. In short, there are bargains to be had.

In contrast, the current sales trend is like a step back in time. Products that are topping what sales there are, are guns like double barrel shotguns, single action handguns

few years that the market is saturated. Further, the current administration has promised to ban anything remotely tactical or high capacity. So, as a result, many owners of these types of products have traded them in on more politically correct firearms. In addition, companies like Henry have significantly increased their offerings to pretty much cover every niche of the shooting spectrum, from tactical big game to varmints with a lever action. Ruger purchasing Marlin has also brought high quality lever guns back to an honored and cherished brand.

This outdoor show

Presque Isle Fish and Game Club Sportsman’s Show.

Amid a huge crowd, Dylan Conroy from D.C. Gun Sales in Woodland Maine took a few minutes to give me his experiences. He said that he has not sold a modern sporting rifle in weeks, but cannot keep lever guns in stock. His comments mirror many other dealers.

To further prove the point, D.C. Guns was selling raffle tickets on a brand new Marlin Trapper Model .45/70. People could not buy the $20 tickets fast enough. I watched with interest for a few minutes and moved on.

There were a couple of other booths raffling guns so I observed these as well. One booth was selling

the prices are down, and they are available. If you already own one, it is unlikely that any confiscation legislation will pass so they will not take the guns you have away. Because of all the interest in traditional firearms, the companies will continue to develop the lever platforms to satisfy the demands. Most importantly, remember the politicians who caused all of this concern and uncer-

He is a retired police officer as well as a retired manager from two major firearms manufacturers.

He is an NRA Certified Instructor as well as a Hunter Safety Instructor in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. You can reach Tom at Shamrock Outfitters (207) 694-2473. Please visit our Facebook Page: Shamrock Outfitters and Properties and come visit us on East Grand Lake.

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Page 34

Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

The Maine Canoe Trip That Wasn’t do except wait. in the 12 – 16-inch range. Matagamon. These are Finally, at dusk Rus- Streamers seemed to work class III drops that can Woods sell came walking down Matt LaRoche, Shirley, ME

After canoeing the St. John River with the Johnston brothers and my best friend Russell in 2021, plans were made to paddle Webster Stream in 2022.

Webster Stream is a shorter trip only requiring two nights on the river. But in my opinion, it is a much more interesting excursion

the outfitter confirming the day and time of the flight.

Russell and I went to Webster Lake the day before the scheduled flight.

We moved all the gear to the lake and setup camp.

The weather forecast was great for the day of the flight and Russell was excited about the opportunity

the trail to the camp. I asked him what happened and he said the flight never arrived and that he and Bob tried to contact the pilot and were only able to leave a message on his answering machine. When I told Russell that I was worried, he asked me if I thought the Rapture had happened and I didn’t get taken-up? I told him that I never thought

best in the stream and my old stand-by copper colored Weeping Willow was the best lure for trolling in the lake.

I was really looking forward to our trip down Webster Stream and hope

be run, lined or portaged depending on the water level and experience of the paddler.

I did receive an email from the pilot that failed to pick Russell and Bob up at Matagamon Landing

The predicted time of arrival came and went and I started getting concerned when no one showed up for supper!

There was no cellphone coverage at Webster so there wasn’t much I could do except wait. than the big wide St. John River. Webster Stream is small river paddling at its best. The stream has lots of character and obstacles to avoid as it twists and turns through the northwest corner of Baxter State Park.

I contacted a few outfitters for transportation services back to Webster Lake from the takeout location at the end of Matagamon Lake. As it turned out it was about the same price and a time saver to fly back to Webster from Matagamon. So, I booked the flight with a local outfitter/guide. A few days before the scheduled trip, I sent a reminder email to

to fly over the stream back to our camp. Russell got going early as he walked to the truck and drove to Matagamon Landing. Bob Johnston was to meet him there for a noontime flight back to Webster Lake. I would wait at Webster for the two of them to arrive by aircraft.

I puttered around camp and packed gear while waiting for the flight to arrive. The predicted time of arrival came and went and I started getting concerned when no one showed up for supper!

There was no cellphone coverage at Webster so there wasn’t much I could

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• Canoe Trips • Fishing • Hunting • Wildlife Watching Matt LaRoche - Registered Maine Guide 207-695-2877 www.mainewoodsguide.com

of that!

We decided to make the best of it and we turned our canoe trip into a fishing expedition. We usually schedule our spring fishing trip in June when the caddis flies are hatching. This trip was planned for midMay, before the bugs came out and to take advantage of the spring highwater.

We changed our tactics because there were no fly hatches and the water was cold and high. We trolled streamers and lures instead of casting dry flies and nymphs.

The fishing was not as good as it normally is in early June but we did catch some nice brookies

The author with an early season brookie.

(Photo by Russell Scott)

to fit it in sometime this summer. I have not been down the stream in quite a few years. It is one of my favorite canoe trips passing through a very remote section of Maine’s Northwoods. It does have some significant whitewater below Telos Dam and a series of ledge drops called Indian Carry midway between Webster Lake and

apologizing for the oversight. I found out from another guide who knows this person much better that me that he was going through a tough time personally and with his business. We all make mistakes; I just hope things have worked out for him.

If you are interested in canoeing Webster Stream and need some information about the trip give me a call or send me an email .

Matt LaRoche is a retired Superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, owner of Maine Woods Guide Service and an avid outdoorsman. He can be reached at 207695-2877 or at matt.laroche2877@gmail.com See www.mainewoodsguide.com

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The McGinty

This month’s fly is the McGinty. This is a very old wet fly that has a great reputation around the country for taking bass, and if you ask the right people-it takes landlocked salmon here in Maine too. Dead drift it in pocket water.

times the hook gap. The body is alternating black and yellow chenille. I tie each segment of the body separately, it looks better than any other method I’ve tried. You can also tie in both colors and wind them on at the same time, your call.

Recipe for the McGinty The beard style hackle Thread - Black Hook - Standard wet is next, tie it in and trip or dry, size 12-16 Tail - Mallard flank the excess. fibers and red hackle fibers The wing I Body - Alternating prefer to use black and yellow chenille is mallard Hackle - Brown hack- wing feathers that have le fibers, beard style Wing - White tipped a white tip.

Yo u m a y mallard wing feathers Tie in the tail first, the have to look red hackle fibers first and for these, then the mallard breast fi- but they’re bers on top. The tail is a bit around. You long, about one and a half c a n a l s o

substitute, try turkey. Use the pinch method to tie the wings feathers on top of the hook shank, just behind the eye. Use your middle finger and thumb to grip the feathers instead of the index finger and thumb, the wing will stand

Page 35

The Tyer’s Corner

by Hugh Kelly, Detroit, ME

up straighter.

That’s the McGinty, a great warm water fly and a highly classified salmon

fly. Good luck with it. This column is my swan song; it’s been 18 years with this column and it’s time to take a few bricks out of the pack basket. I’ve appreciated all of your emails and if you see me in a canoe sometime, stop and say hi.

Hugh Kelly has fly fished and tied his own flies for over 50 years. He and his family live in Detroit where he ties flies, drinks Moxie and plans fishing trips. He can be reached at hkellymaine@gmail.com and he blogs about fly tying at puckerbrushflies.com

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Page 36

Northwoods Sporting Journal

View From The River

May 2023

A New Generation

by Laurie Chandler Bremen, ME

By May, I will be a grandmother! My daughter’s baby girl will arrive in the soft Virginia spring, a time of promise and beginnings. In my heart, we are already wandering the woods, searching for tiny mushrooms or dabbling our toes in a stream on a summer afternoon. Dressed in adorable overalls and tiny

Side of the Mountain and fostered my hopes of becoming a writer. She loved serendipity, like the time we spotted a marvelous pair of pintail ducks in a marshy puddle near her grocery store. On trips, we’d take long walks and make lists of the birds and wildflowers we identified.

My paternal grand-

For every wish for her growing up years, there is a memory from mine. I have always been at home outdoors— fishing, hunting for salamanders, or simply wandering. hiking boots, she takes my hand as we explore.

Together, we’ll look at the world in a fresh way. We’ll ask endless questions and make our own adventures.

For every wish for her growing up years, there is a memory from mine. I have always been at home outdoors—fishing, hunting for salamanders, or simply wandering. Those happy times made me the person I am today, and my grandmothers were a large part of that.

My maternal grandmother introduced me to childhood books like The Secret Garden and My

mother embraced life with vigor. Together, we collected ancient shark teeth in her brook and crabbed along the Jersey shore. We’d pick blueberries in the pine barrens, then come home, scratching chigger bites, to make the best homemade jam. These were resilient women, whose long lives never lost the spark of adventure and love of the outdoors.

Rachel Carson recognized the lifelong benefits of introducing children to the natural world. Her small book, The Sense of Wonder, is a must-read for those whose privilege

Our family adventures in the Shenandoah mountains will soon include a new generation.

I remember holding newborn fawn. The hushed it is to wander the woods with a tiny hand in theirs. my breath as my children splendor of the hemlock Published the year after her wobbled across a stream forest where we saw our death, it is an ode to pre- on a slippery log or tore first black bear. The view cious hours spent exploring ahead up the trail toward a from Betty’s Rock and Maine’s coast and for- mountain summit. So much our many hikes along the ests with her grandnephew of a child’s world today is stream to Rose River Falls. structured and protected.

As the years go by, I Roger.

“A child’s world is I believe it is crucial for hope the outdoors becomes fresh and new and beauti- children to go beyond the her treasured friend, as it is ful,” she writes, “full of ordinary, to have time and mine. May the tiny petal of wonder and excitement.” space to invent games and a wildflower be a miracle She continues, “If a child create their own adven- to her. May she feel humis to keep alive his inborn tures. This freedom instills bled when wild creatures sense of wonder…he needs confidence, creativity, and welcome her. May nature be her balm for troubled the companionship of at resilience.

The natural world be- times, her place of retreat, least one adult who can renewal, and restoration. share it, rediscovering with stows many other gifts.

There is the sense of May she learn to listen to him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we belonging that comes with the voice within herself and returning again and again gaze in awe upon the glory live in.”

Her explorations with to a beloved place. My of creation. If I am there to Roger often happened at granddaughter will be the share these moments, that night, or in wild places in fifth generation to enjoy will be the greatest gift. wild weather, where “great the beauty of Shenandoah Laurie Apgar Chanand elemental things pre- National Park, in the Blue vail.” Don’t worry about Ridge mountains near her dler is the author of missed sleep or muddy home. What a treasure Through Woods & Waters, carpets or being unconven- trove of memories I hope which provides an adventional, she advises. Don’t to someday recreate with turous look at Maine’s Kaworry about teaching, just her. The misty morning tahdin Woods and Waters when we stumbled upon a National Monument, and go have fun together.

Upwards, the story of her 2015 solo self-propelled thru-paddle of the NorthP.O. Box 632, Brownville, ME 04414-0632 ern Forest Canoe Trail.

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May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Catch and Release Hunting

Of all the articles and books written on the topic of wild turkey hunting, I’ve never thought to highlight the angle that serious turkey hunters, like fly anglers, regularly practice “catch and release” hunting.

How can that be, you

The serious deer or turkey hunter follows the serious angler’s lead and gets educated as to the lifestyle, vocalizations and breeding habits of deer or turkeys.

The serious deer or turkey hunter will scout the habitats where deer and turkey reside well in advance of the hunting season. ask? It has been my personal experience and observation of other serious turkey hunters that the season comes too slowly and passes very quickly.

Too often filling the tags, having delicious dinners in hand outweigh the magnificence of the turkey hunting experience.

I’ve also noted over years of covering the turkey woods that there are people who hunt wild turkeys as well as those who fish, and there are the serious hunters and anglers who can wear the label of “hunters” and “anglers.”

It doesn’t take much expertise to thread a worm

on a hook and toss it into the stream. Productive, yes, but the serious angler learns the lifestyle of his/ her prey. Where do fish live, what do they eat and how best can we present live or imitation baits to catch them. And once the fish is in the net, the angler makes the decision to make

ous deer and turkey hunters, I begin with topographical maps, learning the terrain, game funnels, and edges of vegetation cover.

I keep one eye on the road and another in back fields, along railroad beds and power lines for movement of turkey flocks.

I read books and ar-

Page 37

South Of the Kennebec

by Stu Bristol, Lyman, ME

gins to rise all those forest sounds coming rushing back.

That’s when the first turkey sounds fill the air.

The hens will cluck and yelp in a muffled tone, just loud enough for a longbeard to hear. Then they fly

down and begin their series of mating yelps (vocalizations) The young gobblers sound off first, trying out their feeble attempts at gobbling. Then they go silent as the mature gobbler sounds off, sounding like (Hunting cont. pg 39)

SKOWHEGAN

Decision time: watch the show or fill the fridge? it a meal or simply open the net and allow the fish to disappear back into the water.

The same is true when it comes to wild turkey hunting, or deer hunting, for that matter. Any deer hunter can walk a logging road or sit at the edge of a wooded marsh and, if lucky enough, take a trophy whitetail. Any wild turkey hunter can drop a hunting blind at the edge of a meadow where flocks have been seen and, if lucky, harvest a trophy longbeard.

The serious deer or turkey hunter follows the serious angler’s lead and gets educated as to the lifestyle, vocalizations and breeding habits of deer or turkeys. The serious deer or turkey hunter will scout the habitats where deer and turkey reside well in advance of the hunting season.

As one of those seri-

ticles written by others like me and watch videos and talk with other hunters, gathering as much information as my little brain will hold. I either buy or build the tools of the trade. Turkey and deer calls, blinds, camo clothing etc.

I anticipate the opening of each season like other hunters busting with excitement. When the day finally arrives, I head into the deer or turkey woods well before daylight. I head for the height of the land where sounds can be heard for long distances.

Just as the first rays of sunlight offer gray shadows, I listen. Many, even season hunters fail to realize there comes a magic period of time just as forest contours take shape when the forest goes silent. No birds chirping, no chipmunks and squirrels scurrying. Then, as the sun be-

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Page 38

Maine Outdoor Adventure

Maine is home to over six thousand lakes and ponds. Although there is no exact technical distinction between lakes and ponds, Maine statutes define any water greater than ten acres in size, as a “great pond”.

When folks think of Maine fishing, the brook trout comes to mind. The state has the largest intact inventory of native brook trout in the lower forty-eight.

Maine is also home to other wild, native fish like the lake trout, landlocked salmon, and blue-back (Arctic Charr) just to name a few...

Is it wild or native? If you are like most, these two words can seem to mean the same and often get used incorrectly. However, in the world of fisheries and conservation, these two terms are distinctively unique. Maine is filled with wild fish. If the fish is born in that water, it is said to be wild. If the fish is native, it is said to be historically found in that water. Wild,

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Rich Yvon, Bradford, ME native put together is just that, born in that water and is historically found there. In other words, an indigenous species born in nature. If a species is said to be “invasive”, it is an introduced species that has established itself, and threatens the diversity and/

May 2023

Maine’s Invasive Fishery

more illegal introductions of the fish, Pike has spread to more than thirty-one rivers, ponds, and lakes in southern and central Maine.

The relocating and introduction of non-native fish can be traced back to early settlers and Native Americans. These peoples started with the relocating of White Perch. White Perch was primarily a

can get tossed on the bank, is said not to proliferate, taken home, and eaten, still takes up space, eats or just released back into food, and can take over. the water. As a lover of This type of management native fish, I still regard leaves destruction in its an invasive fish a life, and path for all indigenous life, therefore if killed, it should and in most cases, changbe eaten. The culling of ing the ecosystem forever. fish is rarely, not a form Our own arrogance has of fish management. So, destroyed and changed our what is my best method for natural world in a negative The author with a pike.

When people think of pike, Maine is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind. The fish, which is no more invasive than the bass, has made its home in the Belgrade lakes region.

Its existence in Maine, like the bass, is man-made. or stability of a native species or environment.

When people think of pike, Maine is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind. The fish, which is no more invasive than the bass, has made its home in the Belgrade lakes region.

Its existence in Maine, like the bass, is man-made.

In the 1970s Pike was illegally introduced into the Belgrade Chain of Lakes.

Subsequently, through

coastal fish, closely related to the striped bass. Due to the catchability, excellent table fare, and proliferation of the White Perch, the species historically had been distributed across New England; for sustenance and has been considered a great sport fish. Today, this fish is considered invasive, and found in lakes across Maine.

Fishing and management of invasive fish is often a mixed bag of opinions, prejudices, and actions. Depending on who you talk to, invasive fish

dealing with invasive fish?

Awareness and education are the best ways to slow down or stop the proliferation of invasive fish. As the adage goes... “ An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” The management of invasive fish needs to start with the stopping of fish stocking over native fish. Even a fish that

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May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

A Thirty-Pound Rangeley Trout

This story, which was originally published in the Boston Journal, was reprinted in Forest and Stream on July 28, 1881.

The incident took place at Camp Kennebago, the headquarters of the Oquossoc Angling Association on Mooselucmeguntic Lake, the largest of the Rangeley Lakes.

“Resting upon hooks at Camp Kennebago is a very curious fishing rod, and that rod has a history.

Some years ago, a novice, but would-be sportsman stopped here, by invitation from the members of the association, and in the evening, he told some fish stories designed to enlighten the members then in camp. He told of large trout caught with 8-ounce rods, and considerably embellished his powers as a sportsman. One of the members hit upon playing a joke upon him. The

Hunting (Cont. from pg 37) something out of Jurassic Park.

This is the hunter’s first opportunity to compete with the real hens, run them off if possible, then assume the role playing. As I’ve preached many times, hunters are merely play actors and the turkey woods their stage. How well the hunter plays the variety of roles will determine success.

One of the early turkey- hunting legends once told me that I would learn something new about wild turkey behavior until the

Page 39

Old Tales from the Maine Woods

by Steve Pinkham Quincy, MA novice was on his way to returned from the upper Kennebago Lake for a day lake, and it was arranged of handsome flies at the ple-tree with the bed-cord, or two of fishing, and the that the fishing tourna- end. He seemed consider- and drew up the fish so member offered to wager ment should take place ably chagrined that his that the novice could see that on the day after the re- next morning. The above- antagonist should have at- him, but quickly let him go turn of the novice he could mentioned rod and reel had tempted to steal a march on again as though alive. The land a bigger fish, and that, been constructed before- him by getting ahead in the novice was nonplussed. He too, with a more wonderful hand. Early in the morning morning; but he soon took laid down his rod, sat down rod and line than the novice the wagering member took a position by the side of in his canoe, and gazed in had ever seen, or would be his position in a canoe on his guide in another canoe, blank astonishment while the huge dead fish was “All at once, at a given splash from his guide, the wagering reeled in. He did not come member dropped his rod and seized the maple-tree with the to his senses, and see that bed-cord, and drew up the fish so that the novice could see he had been badly sold until the laughter of the him, but quickly let him go again as though alive. members on the shore and able to catch. The bet was the stream in front of the a few rods from his rival. the sight of the ungainly quickly taken, the novice camp. The novel rod lay All the campers, the most tackle brought him to his departed for the mountain in the bottom of the canoe, of whom were in on the wits. He acknowledged the lake, and preparations for with the 30-pound fish secret, came down upon the wager won without weighcatching the big fish began. hooked to the line over the shore to witness the coning the fish, and has never The member making the side in the water, so that test. Both parties made a since allowed himself to wager sent to Portland for neither would be noticed. few casts, and each landed bet against older heads.” the largest fish to be ob- The member went quietly a few small trout. Soon he tained, to be forwarded in- to work casting his flies hooked a fair-sized fish; but tact to Indian Rock. Three with another rod, while he lost him by bad handling or four days after it came, his guide kept the canoe of his rod.

Steve is an avid hiker, an immense specimen of in place. Soon the novice paddler and historian, hav“All at once, at a given codfish, weighing some 30 came down from the camp, splash from his guide, the ing collected over 30,000 pounds, in a very nice state clad in a sporting suit, and wagering member dropped Maine Woods articles to of preservation. balancing his 8-ounce rod his rod and seized the ma- date.

“That night the novice deftly in hand, with a cast day I die. Don’t even let any of the experts say they know it all. I’ve been hunting turkeys for 50 years and I have plenty more to learn.

Finally, after doing your sweet talking the longbeard of your dreams comes into view all puffed up with mating excitement.

Now it’s the hunters turn to decide; watch the show or fill the fridge.

Hunters are on social media all the time after the first week of hunting, wishing the experience could last longer and can’t wait for the next season. I’ve taken many record-book longbeards in my time, but I have also sat back,

watched the magnificent bird with iridescent feathers and broad tail fan display just melt back into the forest. My challenge has been won and yes, there is such a thing as “catch and release” hunting.

Old Tales of the Maine Woods Steve Pinkham Maine Woods Historian, Author and Storyteller

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 40

Teaching Bear Conservation

Women In The Woods

by Erin Merrill, Portland, ME The drive to the Inland Fishers & Wildlife office was long and my son was unsure of what to expect when we got there. I had shown him pictures of previous trips to bear dens with the biologists but he was still a little wary.

We were going out to the den with Commissioner Judy Camuso and Jen Vashon, Maine’s lead bear biologist. The den season was starting to wrap up as the once drivable roads started to turn into slick mud puddles, making it more challenging for the trucks hauling the snowmobile trailers.

We p a i r e d u p o n snowmobiles and headed into the Maine woods. A few miles in, we unloaded and let the biologists continue further in to find and sedate the sow. My son sat in the snow playing with some twigs as we waited.

This was not the fun outing that he had thought it was going to be. But, after just

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a few minutes, we got the signal and started following the trail to the den.

The sow was 22 year old Pew, who had been collared a few years prior but the collar had fallen off. She was trapped on the spring trap line and recollared, which is what

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biologist work.

It brought it full circle for him. The cubs and sow demonstrated the import work that Inland Fisheries

some of these conservation projects for the state.

It was an incredible day in the woods spent with some of the most pas-

The cubs were passed from biologist to biologist to be weighted and measured. Their claws dug into our jackets. Judy was as excited as we were to have the opportunity to see and hold these incredible bears. allowed us to find her. She had tucked herself under and between the roots of a partially fallen tree, creating a perfect hiding spot from the elements. She had two cubs with her.

The cubs were passed from biologist to biologist to be weighted and measured. Their claws dug into our jackets. Judy was as excited as were to have the opportunity to see and hold these incredible bears. She slid herself into the den after Pew had been taken out for her own measurements and showed my son how big the space was. When

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she climbed out, my son climbed in and could see how much the space was, smell the distinct smell of evergreen and get a sense for how warm it would be in there.

Then the fun really started. The cubs! We took turns holding the 6.5lb female cub and 7lb male cub.

They snuggled against our

May 2023

necks and the crooks of our arms and jackets. They were moving around to stay warm and exploring these new smells. My son was thrilled. He was patient and waited for everyone to hold the cubs but any chance he got, he had a cub (or both) in his arms. He held them and rubbed their fur.

We took so many photos of the day. We sent 10 of them to his teacher and he asked if he could present to the class about why he has skipped school and what he had learned from the biologists and seeing first-hand how the bear

The author with a bear cub. & Wildlife does for conservation efforts around the state. It is those efforts that ensure we have a healthy bear population that can support hunting. It is me bear hunting that puts meat in our freezer and it is the funding from my hunting and trapping licenses that helps to offset the cost of

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sionate people we have in the field. My son learned so much from both Jen and Judy and got to experience something few people have had the chance to. He learned the importance of wildlife conservation in the woods and helped to teach his peers back in the classroom. It is exactly what we need to create a new generation of conservationists.

Erin is a member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association and the New England Outdoor Writers Association. She is a senior writer for Drury Outdoors’ DeerCast. You can read about Erin’s adventures and contact her at www.andastrongcupofcoffee.com

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

A Tribute to Roger

From the time he could walk, Roger AuClair was interested in fish. And water. When he grew up in Westbrook at the turn of the last century, the Presumpscot River was surrounded by fields and the family lived across from the river, where he, his sisters, brothers and neighborhood kids spent most all their free time. The family fished

He was a big believer in protecting the natural conditions of the waters for native fish, and he believed the role of the biologist is to hold waters to the highest standards and to guard the natural reproduction of wild, native fish.

potatoes in the fire and they ate those piping hot, smokey and a little burnt, with the fish. They fished with a stick and string.

Roger trapped muskrats and hunted along the river, too. In the winter, they played hockey by the river.

The constant was always the river, and what was in it. Those happy, young years on the river shaped the rest of his life.

After WWII, he set up housekeeping in Philadelphia, where he’d met the river and ate all they his wife. Shortly, Roger caught. They caught eels, said he knew he was way hornpout, pickerel, set up off track, and had to get a fire and ate them on the back to Maine. On the GI spot. His father roasted bill, he went to UMaine,

started trapping again, this time along the Penobscot River, and got the formal education to put him back on the water. He became a fisheries biologist and was appointed to open the first headquarters of the Moosehead Lake Region.

Now that was life! He spent the rest of his time in the waters there, surveying remote areas and field training up and coming

biologists. He said he was never bored a day of his life and enjoyed all aspects of his work. One time he was invited to become an administrator in Augusta, but said no, even though it meant a raise and “promotion.” He knew he’d found his place and would never be as fulfilled as he was managing from Moosehead.

At the time, the Moosehead Lake Region covered a huge quarter of Maine, including Baxter State Park to the Canadian border near Jackman, south to Dover-Foxcroft, and east to the Penobscot River.

Because the region holds the remote headwaters of most of Maine’s great river systems — the Kennebec, the West Branch, the Piscataquis, Pleasant and St. John — it has had fewer biological and physical

Page 41

Kineo Currents

by Suzanne AuClair, Rockwood, ME changes than most other areas in Maine. Roger gloried in surveying and writing about the fish and water in these places. Major tributaries include some of the state’s landmark waterways: the Moose River, Roach River chain, Chesuncook, Chamberlain, and Baker lakes; Ripogenus Dam, Nahmakanta, and the Allagash. He was in his element!

Roger said he was most proud of how different Maine is from other states. The geography, the climate, and the sheer amount of available waters in many different areas of the state, unlike other states, with artificial lakes, stocked beyond recognition, where there are no big river systems and serious water problems. He said Maine has everything, from high elevations down to the salt water, with moderate to cold climate, which has served the native, wild fisheries well. He became an expert on Maine’s wild brook trout, now, sadly, the last stronghold on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. After a lifetime with water and fish, he called one of the biggest challenges today the spread of non-native fish throughout the state. He thought tearing down dams, like on the Penobscot River, spells a modern mistake, because of how interconnected all the waterways are, which he believed will lead to the accidental or illegal spreading of new introductions into remote places with

important cold-water species. He was a big believer in protecting the natural conditions of the waters for native fish, and he believed the role of the biologist is to hold waters to the highest standards and to guard the natural reproduction of wild, native fish.

Roger lived and worked Maine fish and water through the 20th century, and a little beyond.

He died next to Moosehead Lake in the spring of 2016, at the age of 97.

Suzanne AuClair is an avid outdoorswoman and Roger’s widow. She has been writing about the Moosehead Lake region for 28 years and produced the state anthology,“The Origin, Formation & History of Maine’s Inland Fisheries Division.” She is an award-winning member of the New England Outdoor Writers Assn.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 42

So Much to See Outdoors

The Buck Hunter

by Hal Blood, Moose River, ME As winter slips away and spring arrives, there are unlimited outdoor activities to pursue in the woods and on the water. Whether you hit the water for ice out salmon and trout fishing or head into the woods to spring scout for deer or look for moose sheds, just

May 2023

the year, I’m there to learn.

If you keep your eyes and ears open there is always something to learn in the woods and from nature.

All things in nature are connected in one way or another. Whether it’s a predator prey relationship or a friendly coexistence

learn how to be a part of the woods and blend into it.

It’s not hard to do, it is just a matter of paying attention to even the subtlest details of your surroundings.

Whenever you take to the woods, don’t get single focused on that one activity. By that I mean, if you’re looking for moose antlers, don’t ignore other things you see. If I’m out looking for moose antlers, I

seeing.

One time I was guiding a moose hunter. One calm morning as I was cow calling and listening for the grunt of a distant bull, I could hear water splashing in the ditch on the side of the old winter road we were standing on. We had been getting a fair amount of rain so the ditches had a

brook, so I knew it would be a great place to catch a some nice native brookies.

I still haven’t made it there yet, but it will probably be a road trip one day with my grandson.

Another time I was scouting for moose just before the season in early October. I worked my way uphill through a hid-

good amount of water flowing in them. Curiosity got the best of me, so I walked over and looked at the water through the alders. Soon I saw the cause of the water splashing. There were several 12-inch brook trout struggling to make their way up the ditch. I guess they thought it might be a good place to spawn. When I walked further down the road, I came to a small brook crossing the road.

These trout were making their way up from that

den clear-cut. As I crested the hill, white tails were bounding in all directions forty yards in front of me.

As I gazed from one to the other as they made their way across the cut, those tails belonged to five bucks all in that one group. The biggest was a ten pointer and I was dumbfounded to say the least. I had never before or since seen five bucks in a group in the big woods. Needless to say, that area was a top priority (Outdoors cont. pg 48)

As I gazed from one to the other as they made their way across the cut, those tails belonged to five bucks all in that one group. The biggest was a ten pointer and I was dumbfounded to say the least. being outside in the warm spring sunshine is good for the soul. When I get into the woods in the spring, I start to reminisce about past hunts in whatever area that I am in. Sometimes, I try to patch together what I call the missing pieces of the hunt. I may have passed through a certain area following a buck, without learning too much about it. If I get back into the area in the spring, I want to find out why the buck went through there. I also want to find out more about the “why” he went there. No matter what I’m going into the woods for at any time of

between animals, birds, plants and trees. As a hunter, it is to your benefit to learn these relationships.

The woods are alive with sights, sounds and smells.

By learning, the meaning of them will help you blend in and be a part of it. Most hunters enter the woods as an outsider, meaning that they don’t fit in. By that I mean, they walk into the woods in a casual walk as though they were walking down the street to get to the corner store. This type of walking is foreign in the woods and draws the attention of most animals.

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may get sidetracked if I see a buck rub or other buck sign. I may spend some time trying to figure that buck sign out. Conversely, if I’m out scouting for deer, I may stumble upon a moose antler and turn to moose scouting for some time. I may also stumble on a place that has a lot of partridge or maybe a stream with brook trout in it. Sometimes I may just take a walk for the day into some obscure piece of woods that I have never been in before. Some of the best hunting and fishing spots that I have found, I did so while just ambling around the woods and following the sign that I was

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Canoeing in May

I thought that an Allagash canoe trip would be a fitting windup for my students after two years with me in my conservation class. Because May was near the end of their high school career it seemed to be the best month for our purposes; reasonable weather and close to graduation time. The reasonable weather later came into question, however.

When we reached our put-in point the sun was bright and the weather was warm. We all had stripped down to tee shirts as we loaded the canoes and prepared to set off. Fully loaded, I made one last trip to the truck to be sure nothing was left behind. A student went along with me. As we walked back to the canoes the student remarked that he was going to leave his coat in the truck, the weather being what it was.

I immediately made him go back for it. I am sure he must have thanked me for that later on.

That May canoe trip turned out to be the coldest, snowiest and most winterlike of any I had ever been out on. It snowed several times and the weather was chilly enough that our coats were needed most of the time. May can be a tricky month!

As unfriendly as the weather was, the group still had a good time and I

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learned something myself that I had never thought about before. I found that I knew my students better after that one week on the river than I had learned of them in all the time we had spent together during the past two years. I later discussed this with the di-

Northwoods Voyager

water and the Carrabasset river offered the kind of challenge we were looking for. It had plenty of class two rapids and some near to class three.

On one trip we took along a couple of people who were new to white water, but wanted some experi-

Page 43

by Gil Gilpatrick, Brunswick, ME boulder. I pulled the canoe to one side and thought we would slide by it, wrongly expecting my inexperienced partner to pull the bow over as we neared the hole. He failed to do as I expected and we slid into the hole and upset into the

My inexperienced partner learned something that day and so did his experienced partner.

Gil Gilpatrick is a Master Maine Guide, and is the first living recipient of the Legendary Maine

He failed to do as I expected and we slid into the hole and upset into the very cold spring water. I grabbed the upset canoe and made sure my partner did the same.

A very cold May morning on the Allagash. Snow on the ground and frozen water in our pails. rector and it was decided that from then on the seniors would take their trip in the fall so I would have them for nearly a whole school year after the trip.

This worked out well and continued until I retired years later.

Through the years we learned to be careful in picking our days to go spring canoeing. Several of us were enthusiastic about getting to the white

ence to prepare them for an upcoming Allagash trip.

We found the water was a little higher than expected, but decided to go anyway.

A lot of the rapids we normally ran were inundated with high water and offered only strong current but no whitewater.

As our canoe moved through one of the strong currents I saw a hole in the water ahead where the current flowed around a

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very cold spring water. I grabbed the upset canoe and made sure my partner did the same. We rode the current down to a spot of slow moving water where one of the others grabbed the canoe and helped us ashore.

A fire was quickly put together and we took dry clothes out of our waterproof bags and we slowly warmed up and carefully finished our days trip to our pre-planned take-out point.

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

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 44

Warden’s Words

by Game Warden Kale O’Leary, Ashland, ME I am long overdue in writing about a very special event that I was able to be a part of during the summer of 2022. During 2022 spring meeting of the Maine Warden Service, retired Warden Phil Dumond was awarded the 2022 Legendary Maine Game Warden Award. In August

from school to enlist in the United States Air Force.

Upon serving his nation and returning home, Phil Dumond took the test to become a Maine Game Warden and was thrilled to have been offered a job as a Game Warden. Phil’s first assignment in 1956 was the Mount Desert Island

May 2023

Phil Dumond: Legendary Game Warden

later in 1995.

The Estcourt District in 1958 was as rugged and remote as any area in the Northeast and during one of his first winters in the district, the area only had 8 miles of plowed roads, confining his travel by vehicle and forcing Warden Dumond to rely on his trusty pair of snowshoes. At one

intent on catching these violators and not taking no for an answer. Warden Dumond was talked about in whispers among the poaching community who often spoke about how he would simply step out from

was also the second Game Warden ever to be named Game Warden of the Year by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in 1976. Warden Dumond is long overdue in receiving the Legendary Game

behind trees in places no one ever dreamed of seeing a Game Warden, which always kept the violators on their toes and looking over their shoulders.

The remote location and ruggedness of this vast district, often put Warden Dumond alone with these violators, hundreds of miles from back up or even radio communications. Warden Dumond’s exploits with intentional violators have been written about in books and magazines. These dangerous encounters include having a firearm pulled on him one night by Canadian poachers until Warden Dumond could de-escalate the situation with his words before the situation ended tragically.

In conclusion, Warden Phillip Dumond became a Maine Game Warden in 1956 and served the fish and wildlife, along with the people of the State of Maine for 39 years, retiring in 1995. Warden Dumond

Warden award and is as humble a person as you will ever meet. Many Wardens who have received the award, state that Phil Dumond taught them how to be a Game Warden, and without his guidance, advice, and tutoring would not have been the Warden they became. Phil Dumond embodied during his career and in his retirement, the passion and drive that has made the Maine Warden Service one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the world.

Warden Dumond is a living legend of the Maine Warden Service and deserves this honor for his nearly 40 years of waging unceasing war against intentional fish and game violators.

These dangerous encounters include having a firearm pulled on him one night by Canadian poachers until Warden Dumond could de-escalate the situation with his words before the situation ended tragically. of 2022, a special ceremony was held at Crosswinds Residential Care facility in Fort Kent where active and retired Game Wardens came to present Warden Phil Dumond with the award and to honor the legacy and impact Warden Dumond made on the Maine Warden Service and the resources of the district he protected for close to 40 years. Below is a short excerpt from the award I wrote to nominate Warden Dumond for the award and a picture from the August ceremony, presenting him with the plaque to honor the occasion.

Before becoming a Warden, Phil Dumond left Soldier Pond, Maine and his family after graduating

patrol where he worked for 6 months. Phil missed his home in Aroostook County and the landscape of Mount Desert Island did not feel like his home in the woods and waters of the North Maine Woods.

Phil transferred to the Allagash District after legendary Game Warden, David Jackson retired. Phil described his time with this district as a “trial by fire” of sorts where no one spoke out against other families and all the violations he encountered had to be detected by a keen eye and by sharpening his investigative senses. Phil took the Estcourt Station patrol in 1958 and would stay in this district until the end of his career, 37 years

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point, this district consisted of nearly 40 townships from Estcourt Station to St. Pamphile, and over 1,000 miles of unpaved logging roads. Not just any person, even a Game Warden, could survive and thrive in this district like Phil Dumond did for so long.

Warden Dumond quickly learned the importance of being self-sufficient along with many “tricks of the trade” that he would pass on to younger Game Wardens who revered Warden Dumond as a living legend of the Warden Service for his cleverness and perseverance. Warden Dumond wrote the book of how to be an old-fashioned “Woods Warden”.

The job of a Maine Game Warden was not an 8 hour a day task for Phil Dumond, with down time in the evenings or days off to simply relax. Warden Dumond often spent several days and nights in a row sitting on illegal bear traps, poached moose, hunting camps or other forms of illegal activities,

Kale O’Leary is a Maine Game Warden who has served since January of 2016. He covers the Masardis/Oxbow district in central Aroostook County.

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 45

Guided Bear Hunts

The hunt you have impatiently waited for the last ten or twelve months suddenly has you losing sleep as you anxiously toss and turn all night. You’re leaving for this highly anticipated spring black bear hunt in a few days or weeks sometime at the end of May or early June. I don’t know you and therefore can’t tell

hunt, I would have actually looked elsewhere and gladly paid a little more money. Really, I would have and wish I did. What’s done is done!

You just never can tell until you arrive. Then again I have been on one guided spring black bear hunt where I had the time of my life and the total cost including the guide’s tip was less than $3,000 dollars. It pays to do thorough research before booking a “once-ina-lifetime” guided bear hunt. Learn everything you possibly The author with one of his can about the spring bears. outfitter and if you have ever been on a the accommodations proguided bear hunt or if this vided. Try your hardest will be your first time. to find the truth about the However it may be, success rates. You are payI’m sure it’s all you think ing thousands of dollars about all day long. This for this experience. Make hunt has got you all messed darn sure it’s where you up as you are the most wholeheartedly want to go excited you have been in a before finalizing. There’s long time. I hate to be the no turning back once you bearer of bad news but you make that non-refundable must know the truth, which deposit and have a set-inis that you get what you stone itinerary. paid for. You might already I’m going to briefly know this. Sometimes it’s share a little about the least good to learn about an expensive guided black other’s perspective and bear hunt I’ve been on. It’s opinions. my hope that my experiI can’t tell you what ences will help you with to expect on this guided your decision making. I spring black bear hunt want you to make happy since I don’t know what the lasting memories. expenses are. I’m going to The one guided black assume that you will have bear hunt I went on for only spent over $2,500 dollars $2,000 dollars was alright, for this hunt when it’s all but could have been betsaid and done. Back when ter. Luckily for the guide, I paid for my first guided I like to rough it out in the black bear hunt, if I had wild. The rickety cricket, known what I was getting run down, caved in roof into before booking the and musty smelling cabin I

had to sleep in didn’t bother me all that bad. Now on the other hand... What about the other guys in the other run-down cabins? I never asked and they never once said anything ill about it.

The one good thing was the food was great. The guide’s wife was a phenomenal cook. The cabin we had to eat our meals in was outdated and looked like it was falling apart. Nonetheless it was kept clean and we never complained about the food. Once we all got in the woods after black bears we were at peace.

On The Prowl

by Justin Merrill, Cherryfield, ME room with a cozy wood stove. We had a view of a large river. The guides that drove us to our stands were extremely knowledgeable about black bears. The success rate was phenomenal.

Out of maybe eight hunters six black bears were shot that week. This particular guided black bear hunt boasts something like a 90% harvest and nearly a 100% bear sighting suc-

drink water on stand.

I had so much fun on this second guided hunt.

I saw lots of black bears and harvested one. I never starved either. We just all took turns cooking and helping to clean dishes.

I only paid $500 dollars more than that previous guided black bear hunt!

Wouldn’t you rather pay a few hundred more dollars to ensure a successful

Back when I paid for my first guided black bear hunt, if I had known what I was getting into before booking the hunt, I would have actually looked elsewhere and gladly paid a little more money.

We had to inspect our beds at night for creepy crawlies. Also, only one black bear was shot out of six hunters for that week.

Again, I can’t stress it enough that you get what you paid for.

That other affordable guided spring black bear hunt I went on where I had the time of my life only cost me around $2,500 dollars. I paid about $500 dollars more than the previous hunt and about $300 dollars extra for the guide’s tip. It seems the more you pay the better experience you will have. That was the case for me. On this guided black bear hunt I did harvest my biggest black bear to date with my bow and have this hunt up on my YouTube channel, “SPIKES and GILLS”. I also have videos on my channel explaining, “What to Expect on Your First Guided Bear Hunt”.

The sleeping quarters were alright. I did have to share a bedroom and a bathroom. The lodge I slept in had a spacious living-

cess rate. It’s insane how many black bears I actually got to watch and film.

The one downfall of this guided hunt was the meals weren’t cooked or prepared for us. We had to fend for ourselves when it came to cooking or preparing any meals. How it worked was all of us hunters went into town to help the guide pick up all the food to bring back to the lodge. At the end of the week we never wanted another peanut butter and jelly sandwich for at least a real long time.

Our lunches were eaten on stand in the woods as the guides wanted us in place at the bait sites quite early.

We would eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and

funfilled hunt?

Justin is a Biological Wastewater Treatment Operator and has the pleasure to work right where deer, turkey, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, foxes and moose live. He has over 30,000 acres of land to hunt on. He is a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association (NEOWA). Currently he has two published books called, “THE SIT SPOT – Discovering the Forest Near You” and “WILD MAINE OUTDOORS – Hunting Tactics, Tricks & Secrets”. He is the owner of the YouTube channel, “SPIKES and GILLS”.

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Page 46

Maine Tails

Northwoods Sporting Journal

By Jonah Paris, Scarborough, ME As I write this, the wind is gusting hard out of the west, and pine boughs dance outside our windows. NOAA issued a gale warning this morning from Cape Elizabeth, ME to the Merrimack River, MA, but I know that kinder weather lies just ahead. What is left of the snow in the yard won’t last long. According

lin, Maine, and powered by a 3208 Caterpillar. Since I started working the back deck of the Teazer in 2016, I have developed an appreciation for the less glamorous bottom dwellers of the Gulf of Maine.

Although we spend many days offshore chasing sharks and tuna, groundfishing remains the

Gearing up for Groundfish

Harbor. In fact, we recently discovered that many nearshore humps and ledges within 8-10 miles of Portland Head Light hold an abundance of keeper-sized redfish. For anglers looking to venture out beyond the bay, acquiring proper safety gear and permits, choosing your days, and organizing a “buddy boat” is imperative.

Rods The term “cod rod”

Although we spend many days offshore chasing sharks and tuna, groundfishing remains the “bread and butter” of the charter operation. Everybody likes a sleek striped bass smashing a topwater plug, a mackerel flashing on a diamond jig... to the weatherman, this week will hit 50 degrees in Southern Maine. Soon it will be time to return to the ledges.

I was recently chatting with Capt. Pete Morse about the upcoming charter season. He mentioned that the “splash date” for the Teazer was on schedule for mid-May. The Teazer is Capt. Pete’s 35-foot Downeast-style fishing boat. She is a Duffy, built in the sleepy town of Brook-

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“bread and butter” of the charter operation. Everybody likes a sleek striped bass smashing a topwater plug, a mackerel flashing on a diamond jig, and a giant bluefin tuna hanging at the dock - but who wants to seek out the big, slimy, bewhiskered hake?

I do! Haddock, pollock, cod, cusk, hake, whiting, redfish, monkfish, halibut - we like them all aboard the Teazer.

Groundfishing in Maine is not exclusive to “big boats.” Center consoles and smaller bay boats in the 20-25 foot range have plenty of opportunity to enjoy the fishery; we see quite a few of them out there when the weather is right. If your goal is to return home with a smiling crew and enough fillets for a dinner or two, making the long run out to Jeffreys Ledge or Platts Bank is not necessary. Small boat anglers can study the maps and locate productive groundfish bottom well within 15 miles of Portland

May 2023

conjures up images of a stiff five foot fiberglass blank with a wooden handle and rubber butt cap, paired with a large conventional reel, perhaps an old Penn or Garcia Mitchell, and loaded with 60 or 80 pound dacron or monofilament. I like collecting and using vintage fishing gear more than most, but casting a midcentury Pflueger Medalist and a glass Orvis rod for brook trout at the pond is very different from trying to fish in 250 feet of water 20 miles offshore with grandpa’s gear. No doubt the “broomsticks” of yesteryear can still catch fish, but anglers will be more comfortable and successful if they update their gear. Whether fishing bait or jigging artificial lures, rods with a strong backbone, sensitive tip, good flex, and many eyelets are recommended. We have found that the Trevala Jigging Rod by Shimano is a quality tool for the job.

Reels A decade ago, most

Part I

charter boats targeting groundfish in the Northeast, including the Teazer, were running a set of red Penn 113 Senators. But since then, we have rotated through five or six models of reels from the industry’s top manufacturers - Shimano, Daiwa, Penn, Avet, and Okuma. Many reels ini-

in 250 feet of water, with a 10 knot wind blowing against the tip of your rod, in 2-4 foot seas. Braided lines have made this possible. Aside from sensitivity, braid has further benefits.

The reduced diameter allows you to drop down a bait or jig faster due to less resistance in the water.

Destined for the dinner table, this big haddock was caught aboard the Teazer.

(Photo courtesy of Jonah Paris.)

tially fished smoothly, but after a few trips, began to deteriorate quickly. Despite constant rinsing, cleaning, and oiling, saltwater charter fishing with the public is not easy on gear, and that’s a fact. We eventually landed on a reel that has stood up to several seasons of everyday abuse, and exceeded expectations, the Penn Fathom Lever Drag.

The most important feature to study when selecting a reel for deep water bottom fishing is the “recovery rate,” or how much line is recovered on the spool per rotation of the handle. A fast recovery rate will save your wrist and allow for more fishing time. Weight of the reel is another factor to consider. Line capacity, while important, is less so than a generation ago, due to the introduction of braided lines.

Line Sensitivity is key when fishing deep water.

You need to be able to feel a haddock nibbling the bait

Secondly, the reduced diameter allows one to spool a reel with more line, and that of a higher pound test.

Most sources state that 65 pound braid has roughly the same diameter as 16 pound monofilament. 65 pound PowerPro, which we spool on all groundfish setups, is dental floss diameter compared to the dacron lines of days past. Though braided line is relatively expensive, a 300 yard spool will run you about $30, and lacks the same degree of abrasion resistance as monofilament, the benefits for those groundfishing are unmatched.

To be continued… groundfish baits, jigs, and more next month!

During the summer, Jonah is first mate aboard the Teazer in South Portland, Maine. A four-season outdoorsman, Jonah lives in Gorham, ME with his fiancée, Ashley, and beagle, Aurora. He can be reached at jonaheparis@gmail.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 48

May Hotspots on the Connecticut River

New Hampshire Outdoors

by Peter St. James, Warner, N.H. If I could only fish twice a year, it would be that period between September 15 th and October 15th and the entire month of May. Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my time on the water all season long, but those two-time frames have seasonal temperatures (both air and water), a multitude of hatches and often less crowds lined up around the pools or tailwaters that I want to fish. It’s not that I’m anti-people… well, maybe a tad. But unless I’m fishing with one of my kids or a friend, I truly enjoy the solitude of the sport. It gives me a chance to really focus on my casting and mending, matching the hatch, reading the water and just being in tune with what’s going on around me, which helps me become a better angler. When I have

May 2023

to concern myself with someone wading above me who’s sending silt and foliage down my way or a person on the other side of the river who’s trying to cast into the same water path as me that has a large boulder at the end of it where I know there’s a nice brown or a rainbow holding right in front it, well, it just drives me bonkers.

And it makes me conjure up some very un-Christianlike thoughts. And that is neither the time or the place I want to be spending time thinking those thoughts! I can do that at work. Not when I’m on the Pemi, Swift, Saco, Androscoggin or Wild rivers!

Fortunately, “those people” are few and far between. But, I still like to avoid groups of folks if I can. Take the trophy stretch

bridge, and various spots in the Connecticut River from the Route 145 bridge to the dam in West Stewartstown are just some of them.

My point is, you don’t have to be where everyone else is just to catch fish or have a good time. A good four or five weight, 8’6” rod and some waders can get you into your next favorite spot!

Now, for those that are thinking that I’m giving turkey hunting short shrift, think again. Turkey season runs statewide from May 1st to May 31st. Turkey hunters may take one (1) male or bearded turkey during the Spring season and a second turkey of either sex during the Fall seasons, OR hunters may take two (2) male or bearded turkeys during the Spring season.

One spring turkey can be taken statewide and one must be taken in WMUs

of the Connecticut River in Pittsburg for example.

I’ve fished Judge’s Pool and Jury Box, Junction Pool and Skating Rink for over forty years and I love it. But, there are others out there that don’t know quite what they’re doing or where they should be doing it. Sometimes, I’ll take the time to make some approach, fly selection, casting or mending suggestions to them. Other times, I’ll just let them be. Hey, we all had a learning curve too if you’ll remember.

But, I seek out the waters where others aren’t.

And in Pittsburg, that covers a lot of territory. Scott Brook, Perry Stream, Indian Stream, Moose Pond Flowage, the Connecticut River between 2nd Connecticut Lake and 1st Connecticut Lake, the Connecticut River from Murphy Dam to the Route 145

Millinocket Historic logging site dating back to the 1880’s.

Located in the foot hills of Mt. Katahdin on Pemadumcook Lake.

Offering full housekeeping cabins with the most affordable rates in the region. $65 per night with discounts for kids!

For more info; Call or Text Bill and Linda Ware Phone: 207-745-5116 Email: whlcamps@aol.com Facebook page @ Whitehouse Landing .com

Peter St. James is a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, Outdoor Writers Association of America and is a licensed NH Fishing Guide. Reach him at : 99.7stjames@gmail.com

Outdoors

White House Landing Camps

* Off Grid Homestead experience with farm animals, gardens, wild berries and apple trees. * Small and secluded with only four cabins. * Heated shower house with flush toilets. * Large groups of friends, family reunions, or company outings, take the entire place with use of the main lodge kitchen for preparing the main meal.

• 17 miles from Millinocket • 13 miles from Baxter State Park.

H1, H2, J2, K, L, or M. The first turkey must be legally registered before the second Spring turkey can be taken. Turkeys in New Hampshire is a great success story. Fish and Game began transplanting wild turkeys into the state in in 1969-70 (that initial effort failed), then again in 1975. Today the population is estimated at upwards of 25,000 with turkeys being present in every county in the state.

So, casting or blasting? If it’s May in New Hampshire…you can do both!

• Excellent fishing for salmon, lake trout, brook trout and smallmouth bass.

• Free use of canoes and kayaks • Hike nearby Appalachian Trail in the 100 mile wilderness.

• Climb Mt. Kathadin • One of a kind driftwood decor on display in the lodge.

(Cont. from pg 42) a few weeks later when deer season began. That was about 25 years ago, and I still spend some time there every deer season.

Well, get out there and enjoy the spring and all the activities that go with it. You never know when you’ll find your next hot spot. Until next month, good luck on the trail!

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

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 49

Best Spring Trout Flies!

My dear friend, Bill Bowdoin, a longtime fly fishing buddy from Brewer, now long-since passed away, was a more avid trout caster than I---and that’s saying something! It’s a

fly creations , and followed his patterns to a tee.

Take for instance the tiny Slim Jim fly. That fly, from my understanding, is an old Aroostook County trout fly that origi-

Apparently these fly patterns imitated a very small, early-hatching Mayfly species, that hatched around mid-morning, or so, when conditions were favorable. These imitations of dry flies were assembled on #16 dryfly hooks, and cast with delicate rods and

“Just Fishing”

by Bob Leeman, Bangor, ME man.)

Aroostook River was also an evening destination, as well as the Madawaska River, and many other sites. On the road, in the

are pictured with dressings, along with many of “Our” favorite fly-fishing locations in my aforementioned book, published by “Maine Outdoor Publications”. See

Aroostook River was also an evening destination, as well as the Madawaska River, and many other sites. On the road, in the off season, we would tie up some favorite fly patterns, at hotels and motels, as our salesman efforts allowed.

long story how we met, too long for this article. But after we continued to fly fish together for brook trout, we became solid buddies for many memorable years.

Bowdoin was an eager fly fastener, as was I, but his interest in the tying was a few that attract brookies to the strike, and reduced his creations down to less than a half dozen. Those included: Bill’s Hopper, Picket Pin, Slim Jim, Black Gnat, and occasionally something else---but not often. Bill was very meticulous in his

nated when and where, no one could tell me. Bowoin would just say, “It’s just an old County fly pattern, I guess. But it catches fish, and that’s what matters.”

Boy! Did it catch trout. And best, he found out, during early spring.

Even as early as mid-tolate April, in central Maine weather, that is. Up north, that’s different---and so is the spring season. Like May or early June before the early trout season begins up in that country! A vast difference that central Maine.

flylines.

The Black Gnat fly has been around forever, it seems, creator unknown as far as I recollect. When the fly fishing for brook trout weather warmed, we shifted our casting efforts to Aroostook County from the more central locations. The months of June and even into July were the prime times up there.

Some of our concentrations up there were mostly at River DeShute and Prestile Stream. I could write a book on those locations and trips. (Actually, I already have---namely “Fly Fishing Maine Rivers, Brooks, and Streams”, by Bob Lee-

off season, we would tie up some favorite fly patterns, at hotels and motels, as our salesman efforts allowed.

We stayed together a lot in the now defunct old “Oak Hotel” in Presque Isle, Maine. It was our headquarters for evening fishing opportunities after a day of work in the area, which included a few trout ponds.

Let me not forget one other favorite fly of Bill’s--the “Hopper” patterns. This creation of his was quite simple in construction, but became a great attractor for brookies during the warmer months. I simply named it “Bill’s Hopper”.

All of these fly patterns

ad in this publication.

Bob Leeman is a Master Maine Guide, outdoor writer, naturalist, book author, and a co-host of MAINE OUTDOORS radio program on Sunday evenings from 7-8 p.m. His three books, “Fly Fishing Maine Rivers, Brooks, and Streams”, Trolling Flies for Trout and Salmon,” and “Salesman Angler”---are all available, in soft cover only, at several bookstores and fly shops, or directly from him. For information, see ad in this publication or call 207-217-2550.

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Page 50

Outdoors In Vermont

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Gary W. Moore, Bradford, VT It is spring! The grass is green, the leaves are out and the waters are at normal levels. That means it is time to fish and to hunt turkeys.

Turkey hunting starts May 1 and continues all month statewide. The bag limit is two bearded turkeys. Believe me, Vermont has a lot of turkeys all the way from the Massachusetts border north to the Canadian border.

Vermont’s population of turkeys is estimated at close to 50,000, that is an amazing number considering there were none prior to the stocking of 31 birds in 1969 and 1970 down in Rutland County.

As shooting hours end at noon, we have the whole afternoon and evening to fish or pursue other activities, even to do spring chores we didn’t get done in late April. Trout and salmon fishing opened April 8, but cold high waters often made fishing

difficult. By May the conditions are much better.

Another benefit is that the crowds that arrive Memorial Day weekend are not yet on the water so we can fish without much competition nor worry about speedboats. Walleye fishing opens May 6 and many of us will target the delicious eating fish.

Most of us have not shot a rifle since November or December and may need to hone our marksmanship.

Woodchuck, those furry critters that dig burrows in fields and pastures, are often what we hunt in May. Farmers welcome us as they consider woodchucks pests at best and dangerous in many cases. Having a very expensive dairy cow step into a woodchuck hole and break a leg, or dropping the front end of a tractor into a collapsing burrow resulting in the farmer being thrown from the seat have a lot to do with the animosity.

May 2023

May Means Fishing and Turkey Hunting Sometimes I just like to take long walks with my St. Bernard as I search for antler sheds before they are eaten by mice, squirrels and other critters. We also will spend some time picking fiddleheads, or at least I will while our dog wanders around.

Lake Trout Stocking Reduced in Lake Champlain The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative, a working group of fisheries professionals from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service, announced the plan to reduce the number of stocked lake trout released annually in Lake Champlain by 50 percent. The decision was prompted by a continued increase in natural reproduction and the documentation of multiple age

Vermont

classes of wild lake trout in the lake.

Current Lake Champlain stocking levels of other salmonid species including landlocked Atlantic Salmon, brown trout, and steelhead will remain the same. Increasing wild lake trout production in Lake Champlain is good news and a positive sign for the future of the lake’s ecology. It also bodes well for those of us who fish the big lake.

Fish and Wildlife Proposes To Issue 180 Moose Permit The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has proposed issuing 180 moose hunting permits in Wildlife Management Unit E. As was the case last year, all permits are for the northeastern corner of the state.

The herd reduction is hoped to continue the effort to reduce the impact of winter ticks on moose in that area. No permits are

recommended for the rest of the state as the moose population in those areas is much lower.

The proposal was given initial approval by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board and is now available for public comment.

“Moose are abundant in WMU E with significantly higher population density than in any other part of the state,” said Nick Fortin, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s moose project leader. “Winter ticks only thrive on moose, and higher moose densities support high numbers of winter ticks which negatively impact moose health and survival.”

The Fish and Wildlife Department partnered with University of Vermont researchers to conduct a study of moose health and survival in WMU E. The results of this study, in which 126 moose (36 cows, 90 calves) were fitted (May cont. pg 53)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

Entering Prime Time

south and west to limestone and spring creeks in PA and NY, or tailwaters in southern New England.

Trout in these types of environments are much

The author and client with a quality rainbow caught on a float trip during the second week of May. Very warm temperatures last spring meant the river fishing was good for most of the month.

May in the North- wading. ern New England, still east, probably the most With so many fantas- means cold and high water. anticipated month on a tic opportunities, I have at Your best bet for consistent fly fishers calendar. As I times found myself over- fishing will be lakes and tell all of my prospective whelmed trying to fit guide ponds. Fish will generally clients, this is the time to trips, fly fishing competi- be shallow searching for book a trip! There is so tions, and my own fishing food anywhere the water is much to look forward to into one short month. Here warmest. Look for shallow this month that it can be a is how I tackle the month bays and shorelines that little overwhelming. Lakes of May to maximize prime heat up quicker and you and ponds are fishing great time in the Northeast. will find fish. with trout feeding all day As the calendar turns River fishing in early right up near the surface, from April to May things May will be inconsistent bass and pike are shallow are changing rapidly. Wa- until the first round of bugs and aggressively feeding ter levels and temperature begin hatching AND river pre-spawn, and of course are the biggest factors to temps rise into the 50’s, but the river fishing is quite lit- consider when heading generally will be getting erally heating up, whether out with a fly rod. Early better day by day. This is from a drift boat or while May, especially in North- also the time I like to head

NATIVE VERMONT TROUT Now Taking Orders For Brook, Brown & Rainbow Trout For Pond Stocking For Pick Up or Delivery

by Ben Wilcox, Essex, VT

mont, is when I spend the vast majority of my time on rivers trout fishing, save from a few days on Lake Champlain chasing smallmouth. Most of my clients

more active in cold water and can provide very good river fishing before things pick up in Northern New England.

As we transition into mid May, warmer than average weather will kick off “primetime” and Colder than average weather will prolong the early May pattern. Let the weather and water temps determine what to fish for and where.

Keep in mind, the further North and East you are, the more delayed prime fishing conditions will likely be.

Prime Time, during the last 2-3 weeks of the Month in Northern Ver-

understand this is the time to fish and my guiding schedule is full. This is also the time of the year to float some of the bigger rivers (Time cont. pg 52)

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The Walleye season opens on Saturday, May 1, marking the return of some of the best walleye fishing in New England courtesy of Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

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As the calendar turns from April to May things are changing rapidly. Water levels and temperature are the biggest factors to consider when heading out with a fly rod.

Greg reminds you that the Vermont Turkey Season is May 1st. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife says.

"Vermont boasts the best wild turkey season in New England"

SHREWSBURY, VT

Page 51

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Call for details Ray’s Market (802) 658-7928

Page 52

Time

(Cont. from pg 51) in the area before water levels drop. Again let the stream thermometer help you dictate where to fish.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

For example, if mountain streams are still cold from snowmelt, look for lower elevation rivers where the water will be warmer. As river temps range through the 50’s and into the low

60’s trout will be extremely active throughout the day as they are at their peak metabolic rate. Concurrently, the greatest number of mayfly, caddis and stoneflies are found in the drift at this time.

The challenge later in May is no longer finding active fish, it’s figuring out the daily puzzle. With so many species of bugs hatching in late May, trout

are seeing all colors, sizes and behaviors of insects and while trout feed opportunistically, there are days or times when trout will key into specific insects, life stages, or even colors.

For instance, a few years ago I had back to back float trips on the same stretch of river, with the same conditions both days. After my two clients caught 30-40 trout on natural pheasant

May 2023

tail nymphs on a Monday, my Tuesday clients could not seem to get even a bite to start. Finally we pulled up to a run and I ran through a ridiculous number of patterns, committing to figuring out the puzzle before floating over anymore fish. Finally I tied on the same pheasant tail but with a fluorescent collar, aka the Frenchie, and we proceeded to catch trout one after another for the rest of the day. When I figure out why an entire river of trout needs a fluorescent orange collar on their pheasant tails on a particular day, I’ll be the best guide the world had ever seen! One last quick tip for late May, swing all of your nymphs at the end of the drift. Dead drifts are great most of the time, but some days trout want a moving fly.

May surely lives up to its hype as prime time to fly fish in the Northeast, but it is an intense time of change on our waterways.

To capitalize on the best fishing opportunities and increase your catch rate, let the weather, water temperatures and river flows dictate where you fly fish and what tactics you employ.

Ben Wilcox is owner of Maple Country Anglers, located in Northwest Vermont. He is a current member of the USA Fly Fishing Team. He is a registered Maine Guide and graduate of the University of Maine. He also owns a large Maple Sugaring Business, Amber Ridge Maple.

These occupations allow him to be in the woods or water nearly every day of the year. He can be reached at maplecountryanglers@ gmail.com

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

What Really Matters

I was both surprised and flabbergasted by what the man on the other end of the phone line said to me: “I’ve been told that you’re the best turkey hunter in Vermont,” he said to me. He was serious.

I pondered what the man

I go into this story because, well, think of it. If I had agreed with the businessman, I clearly would have profited from it, probably by way of a big batch of free merchandise.

The decision for me was a simple one. While I

good daily newspaper can be depressing, particularly after one covers issues such as child abuse, sexual assault, the effects of poverty on those who live it on a daily basis, drug abuse and much more. Sometimes the stories run for

The decision for me was a simple one. While I am no saint, I have tried to be the kind of editor, newsman and outdoor writer beholden to no one. That is, there are no sacred cows in this writer’s barn. said to me for perhaps four seconds.

“I’m sorry. I do not know who told you that but I am not the best turkey hunter in the State of Vermont. I don’t even rank in the top 10. Maybe, I don’t know for sure, I might be in the top 100.” That is what I told him.

I had a pretty good idea who had passed that information to this guy, who had recently introduced a brand of camouflage clothing. He is a businessman, you see, and he was looking to get me to endorse his new clothing to the hunting community. It is truly amazing how a rumor can spread to the point where, to some people, the rumor becomes the truth.

May

(Cont. from pg 50) with GPS tracking collars, showed that chronic high winter tick loads caused the health of moose in that part of the state to be very poor. Survival of adult moose remained relatively good, but birth rates were very low and less than half of the calves survived their first winter.

“Research has shown

am no saint, I have tried to be the kind of editor, newsman and outdoor writer beholden to no one. That is, there are no sacred cows in this writer’s barn. That was my mantra during my 37 years as a newsman for two really good newspapers and for the 51 years as an outdoor writer.

One bright writer, who went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for the Boston Globe, once asked me about the business of a newspaper.

While I tried my best to recall the conversation, I could not. But he did. “One thing you must know about working here, at a daily newspaper: This business will break your heart.” That is what he said I told him.

The business of a that lower moose densities support relatively few winter ticks that do not impact moose populations,” said Fortin. “Reducing moose density decreases the number of available hosts which in turn decreases the number of winter ticks on the landscape.”

The plan is to issue 80 either-sex moose hunting permits and 100 antlerless moose permits in WMU-E for the moose seasons this October. This is expected

days. Only a cold human would be unaffected the stuff that one writes day after day.

But then, once a week, my job would change to writing and editing the Outdoor Page. That was my real escape from the drudgery of the daily newspaper. Now we get to write about the things that hit home. We will write about spring turkey hunting, fishing for stripers off the coast of Maine, drifting slowly down the Connecticut River for big, hungry smallmouth bass, pushing the wood of October for flocks of turkeys and the challenge of the archery season, setting out for the biggest event of the year, the Vermont buck season to result in a harvest of about 100 moose, or about 10 percent of the moose population in WMU-E.

Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore is a life long resident of Vermont and a former Commissioner of Fish and Game.

He may be reached by email at gwmoore1946@ icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.

Page 53

Vermont Ramblings

by Dennis Jensen, Vermont and then taking one last shot at a deer during the December muzzleloader season.

In truth, sometimes the issues I covered for the Outdoor Page would duplicate the ugly events in the daily paper. We covered those stories, we went deep into them, and it was not uncommon to get mail that was deeply critical of what we reported. Such is life.

But I would not trade those long years, since 1974, when I wrote my first outdoor column. This

was a side of my trade that made me the writer than I am today. I am truly grateful for all of the big stories that came my way and hope I did justice to that work.

Dennis Jensen is a freelance writer living in Vermont. Contact him at d. jensen62@yahoo.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 54

May 2023

Why Do a Soil Test?

By Mike Farnham

Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of articles about how to manage food plots for wildlife.

A lot of people will throw on a little 10/10/10 fertilizer or whatever they can find at the local farm and garden store, but it’s not that simple. Yes, you can make an educated guess based on the type of seed you’re planting, but there are many variables that need to be taken into account. With a soil test however, you’ll have the macronutrient, micronutrient, and pH levels for the soil you’re planting in.

These levels will help you determine what fertilizer best suits your soil and seed.

While you could forgo the soil test and just make an educated guess, playing the guessing game isn’t a surefire way to success.

Another issue regarding the guessing game is use of lime in your soil. In my personal experience and observation, the average plot in Vermont requires a minimum of two tons per acre of lime for two years

in a row. Most people do not know this, thus they do not put enough lime into their plot. While two tons of lime for two years may sound like a lot, if you have micro plots with good measurements, it will save you money in the long run by not guessing on size. I use

need. But this doesn’t mean you’re doomed. Sandy soil can be corrected by things like planting other plants that produce organics for the soil, or even spoon feeding the soil fertilizer throughout the season. The list goes on. But without a soil test, how are you sup-

But what if your soil quality is somewhat poor? Sandy soils with low organic matter won’t hold nutrients that your plants will need. But this doesn’t mean you’re doomed. a Garmin Rino 650 with the area finder app. Without proper pH levels, things don’t grow well, and it locks up the availability of what’s called phosphorus.

You could also over-feed the nitrogen or potash within the soil and end up with an abundance of weeds in your plot. Your soil could be low on sulfur or boron, or even high in aluminum, which can be corrected with, you guessed it, lime.

But what if your soil quality is somewhat poor?

Sandy soils with low organic matter won’t hold nutrients that your plants will

Greenville

posed to know? Another good source is you can buy a tractor trailer load of ground up newspaper with lime and fertilizer from Casella Organics. You will need to add an extra test called C:N ratio.

In order to obtain a proper sample, check out my website www.morewildlife.net , click on services and info, soil tests, click the blue word link, to get to UVM lab site for multiple forms, from there click on forms, then scroll down and click on the desired form.

(For food plots click on Forage & Grain Crops Soil Test Submission Form and Print.) Additional codes are found under Nutrient Management Guidelines under Nutrient Recommendations for Wildlife Food Plots in Vermont. Please follow instructions on their

website for payment and shipment of sample. When obtaining soil for sampling, it is best to get an average by digging three to four separate holes about a foot deep in different locations.

The next step would be to scrape the side of the hole with a small spade and let dirt fall into it, in case the shovel was dirty. Then clean the spade off and take three scoops of dirt from the side of each hole four inches down, placing the sample into a clean plastic pail. Then mix the samples, making sure to remove any sticks, roots, or stones.

Then take a cup to cup and a half of the soil and put into a clean plastic Ziploc bag. On both the Ziploc bag and paperwork, put the size and name of your plot and code from the back of the sheet based on what you are planting, and then mail to Agricultural & Environmental Testing Laboratory (ATEL, Univ. of Vermont, 262 Jeffords Hall, 63 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT. 054051737).

If you need help figuring out what fertilizer you need after you get your results back, send us an email with a copy of your test at morewildlife@hotmail.com and we will give you a hand.

Mike Farnham has years of experience in food plots and soil management. He operates a soil consulting business: More Wildlife.

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

May Madness

Page 55

Against The Current

by Bob Romano, Rangeley, ME

April 1 st marks the official opening day of Maine’s fishing season.

Those in southern New England are casting flies to eager trout, while those in the northwest corner of Maine must drape themselves in layers of fleece and wool, pull on their neoprene waders, and tramp out to the few rivers free of ice where they will chuck weighted nymphs to sleepy-eyed fish.

For this reason, I prefer to spend the month of April beside the woodstove. My feet in fleecelined moccasins, I inspect my fly rods, clean fly lines, and check leaders and tippet material. There are flies to tie and others to purchase. For me, the true start of the fishing season will not begin until after the ice leaves the lake, usually sometime in mid-May. That is when the region’s native brook trout and wild landlocked salmon, ravenous after their long winter slumber, follow smelts, western Maine’s principal baitfish, as they leave the lakes and enter the streams and rivers on their spawning run. Not long afterward, suckers will also spawn. All this commotion stirs nymphs

from the river bottom, providing an additional food source this time of year when an angler has a real opportunity to catch a trophy fish.

Now, I’m a bit of a loner, preferring to cast my flies away from the madding crowd. This is why I purchased a cabin built on a knoll overlooking a lake where there are no electrical lines, and where cell phone and internet services are not available. So, I was disheartened to learn that this time of year, anglers from near and far descend upon the river entering the lake less than a mile above my camp.

There are twenty- and thirty-somethings, mostly from away, who monitor their iPhones and computers for the first sign that fish have entered the river.

Other anglers, usually a bit older and with some money, book time at one of the traditional sporting camps while some hire a guide to better their odds. Dressed in patched neoprene waders over long underwear, thermal sweatshirts with hoods draped over wool caps and fingerless gloves protecting their fingers, locals add to the crowds.

I’ve seen fathers with their

flies in a pool previously when a fish breaks off, the fished by another and still selflessness of a stranger have success. This allows offering a tyro a fly, and for plenty of action no mat- another reeling to offer assistance of a long-handled ter the crowds.

Each morning, red- net. Perhaps most of all, the tipped embers of a camp- recognition of a grizzled fire burn hot as a few men grin, if not the name, of a gather around. Groggy fellow brother of the angler.

By June, the snowfrom sleeping in their vehicles, they sip coffee from melt has dissipated, the sons, husbands with their tin cups fortified with a spring-spate slowed. The wives, and whole families, nip of this or that. Later in brook trout and salmon with two and sometimes three youngsters lined up It is not a time for dry flies or emergers.

The action is below the surface. Many between their parents, dads patiently dislodging flies of us strip traditional streamers like a from brambles while mothBlack Ghost to imitate the smelts ... ers teach their daughters the afternoon, the smell of have fallen back to the how to cast with grace. sausages and hot dogs rise lake. There are no longer Each May, this rag-tag from the tailgate of at least vehicles parked on either army of anglers congregate one of the trucks parked side of the bridge. I have along the shores of the along the sides of the log- the river to myself, with river. I’m not sure when, ging road at either end of only black flies, mosquibut at some point, I decided the wooden bridge that toes and no-see-ums to to chill out and enjoy the crosses the river. keep me company! carnival-like atmosphere I admit, that over the that develops around this years, I’ve learned to enjoy Bob will be signing type of gonzo fishing. the camaraderie of this type copies of his books at the It is not a time for of fishing—the cheers ris- Second Annual White Nose dry flies or emergers. The ing when an angler’s rod Pete Fly Fishing Festival action is below the surtrembles with an especially held in Rangeley, Maine on face. Many of us strip tragood fish, and yes, that June 17, 2023. Information ditional streamers like a twinge of jealously that it’s about the festival can be Black Ghost to imitate the not my fly the fish struck, obtained by contacting the smelts while others cast sympathy for those who Rangeley Region Sports golden yellow egg pathave gone fishless, groans Shop. terns to entice those trout and salmon holding below RIVER FLOWERS - by Robert J. Romano, Jr. suckers as they release their "Lyrical, poignant, and sometimes fantastical angling tales from the Maine woods and beyond, eggs. Some work wet flies, written in the great storytelling tradition of Sparse both fixed-wing and softGray Hackle and Robert Traver..."Stephen Sautner, hackled, while still others author of A Cast in the Woods and Fish On. Fish rely upon nymphs.

Off. The pods of trout and FOR A LIMITED TIME: readers of Northwoods Sporting Journal can obtain salmon working their way an autographed copy, with free shipping and a five-dollar discount from the retail price of $25.00. Send your check in the amount of $20.00 made up from the lake do not re- payable to West River Media to Andora and Romano, 15 Essex Rd., Suite main in one place for very 406, Paramus N.J. 07652. For more information go to forgottentrout.com long. Instead, they tend to rest in the various runs and pools before moving upriver. For this reason, an (See page 49) angler can cast his or her

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 56

May Question Of The Month

May 2023

Aging Hunters: When Does the Rifle Not Come Down?

By Bob Mercer I, like a number of others, have reached an age when things are changing.

I have always been athletic and also enjoyed the out of doors. But alas, things change. The athletic part ended when a head first slide into second ended as a belly flop, seeing stars and a loss of wind.

Out-of-doors activities filled the void. I had

The years passed and I began to mellow and really began to enjoy things.

As Chief Supreme Court Justice Douglas is reported to have said when asked why he like trout fishing so much, “I like where trout live”. I came to really love the woods and streams.

Gone was the competitiveness. It was replaced by an appreciation for the game

Then it happened. I got all dressed in the legal blaze orange. I had my gun and headed for the door. Just as I reached for the door knob, it hit me like a lightning bolt. always enjoyed hunting, both duck and deer, and brook fishing. I threw myself into these out-of-doors activities. The difficulty was I took my competitive nature with me. It was kind of like people from away bringing away with them to Maine. If I didn’t shoot more ducks, catch more trout or bag the biggest deer the experience was not as much fun.

and the places the game lived. Being there was more important than the bag limit.

Years pass and the enviable changes continue.

Duck hunting was now in a blind instead of traipsing the shore jump shooting.

Deer hunting became sitting on a stand as opposed to beating the brush. Finally brook fishing meant not wading much over the

Get Hooked on the Sporting Journal!

All deer hunters carry memories of these moments.

They get better with age. (Illustration by V. Paul Reynolds) knees and a fight to stay dry for the door knob, it hit when at their best satisfy and upright. me like a lightning bolt. my needs. Writers like Then came a fatal day Do you want to deal with Paul Reynolds and Randy when hunting went more a dead deer today? The Spencer for example. Writor less into the past. I was emphatic answer was NO. ers that when they describe at my camp for three days Well, I will just take a walk sitting around a camp fire, at Thanksgiving and had up the road. Nope! If I do make you smell the smoke. not hunted much that fall. that sure as God made little Folks that make your gut I was determined to hunt green apples, a dumb one churn with nervousness for those three days. Then it will walk right out in front when they write of hearing happened. I got all dressed of me and I will be dealing the crunch in the fall leaves in the legal blaze orange. I with a dead deer. Away as a deer approaches. To had my gun and headed for went my gear and out came me it isn’t enough to state the door. Just as I reached one of my Louis L’Amour that these things happen, I novels. want to feel the excitement I am not completely and nervousness. devoid of hunting and fishOne could say I have ing activities but now I do gone from knowing that the much of it through read- top of the hill was coming ing. I want authors that to now seeing it in the rear can make me feel what view mirror. I find myself, they are experiencing. So instead of making memomuch of today’s writing is ries living them vicarireally reporting. We went ously through the writing here and did that. I migrate of others. Thank God for to the older authors that authors that awaken those wrote about Maine. Lou- memories. ise Dickenson Rich, Bill Geagan, Gene Letourneau, Bob Mercer lives in Edmond Ware Smith, Tom Hennessey. Also there are Bucksport. He loves to read some more modern authors about the great outdoors.

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Reveille of The Boss

I’m leaning against the trunk of one of my favorite trees just below the ridgeline. My eyes are closed. I am drifting in and out of consciousness. My breathing has slowed down to somewhere near the base line medium of a turtle in hibernation. Occasionally, I awaken myself with a gut-

from the roost 80 yards to my right. Every year, between 5:10 and 5:25 the first boss gobbler claims his domain by thundering a majestic throaty call that reverberates across the valley below. Not this year. I begin to doubt my plan for the day. I close my eyes again and as I take a deep

biological make-up, these same data points can be applied providing clues to the health of the turkey population as well. Even without food, turkeys can survive in zero-degree weather for about two weeks. If they have enough food, they can survive pretty much indefinitely in cold weather.

They brave out the cold and flock together in large groups for protection. If

Page 57

Green Mountain Report

by Bradley Carleton, Charlotte, VT vices such as hearing aids or eyeglasses. Landowner permission is required in order to hunt on private land with a youth turkey tag. All relevant game laws and regulations apply during Youth Turkey Hunting weekend, including the

All is silent. Just as I begin to surrender, the dawn is pierced by the commanding reveille of the boss. I look at my watch. It is 5:26 a.m. I whisper a subtle roosting purr. He screams back at me. The game has begun.

tural snore. I can feel the ridges of the old oak bark pressing into my upper back. I look at my watch and its numerals glow gently. 3:35 a.m. There is a gentle breeze drifting in off the lake from the west, carrying the fragrance of someone’s woodstove last exhalation. My nose now awakened, I breathe in the scent of decaying acorns and hickory nuts like I was savoring a fine Cabernet. I hear the soft arhythmic pattern of a creature walking in the darkened woods. A twig snaps and my heart jumps. I drift back to sleep, monitoring my breathing and keeping my ears tuned for the sound that sets us all on fire this time of year. I awake to the chipping of a nuthatch flittering in the bushes behind me. It is now 5:14 a.m. Legal shooting time but not a sound

breath I lose my faith for just a moment. All is silent.

Just as I begin to surrender, the dawn is pierced by the commanding reveille of the boss. I look at my watch.

It is 5:26 a.m. I whisper a subtle roosting purr. He screams back at me. The game has begun.

By my own personal reconnaissance, it appears to me that the winter was overall, a pretty mild one. The actual numbers haven’t been released yet for the Winter Severity Index (WSI) for the recently departed season. Typically, the WSI team gathers data between December 1 and April 15. Volunteers record one index point for each day with at least 18 inches of snow on the ground, and one point for each day the temperature reaches 0°F or below. Although there is a significantly different

there are fields where the wind blows off snow to reveal bare ground, turkeys are able to forage for nuts, seeds and the occasional insect. From my own observation, birds here in the Champlain Valley fared well. I was seeing flocks of 50-100 in March and the first few days of April.

Turkey season’s Opening Day is Monday, May 1 and licensed hunters with a spring turkey tag may take two bearded birds during the season which ends May 31. Youth and Novice weekend is April 29-30. When hunting, the youth hunter must be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 years of age who holds a valid Vermont hunting license. The adult may accompany no more than two youth hunters at any given time. The adult must have direct control and supervision, including the ability to see and communicate with the youth hunter without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars, except for medically necessary de-

prohibition on baiting and road hunting. Landowners are not exempt from the requirement to purchase tags to hunt on their own property on youth weekends.

On Wednesday, May 10 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., there will be an in-person public hearing on revisions made to the Baitfish Rule. The meeting will be held at the ANR Annex, 190 Junction Rd, Berlin, VT. An overview of the revisions are as follows: The amendments to the rule include a technical correction to the terminology that de-

scribes those waters where the use and transport of bait is restricted, for greater accuracy. Note that the technical correction does not change the meaning of the rule. The amended rule also updates the list of waters where baitfish are not allowed to be used and reflects updates from biologists on waterbodies where a pond trout fishery is being sustained. Beck Pond; Newark, Cary Pond; Walden, Lake Pleiad; Hancock, Mud Pond; Hyde Park. West Mountain Pond, and Maidstone were added to the list of waters where bait is not allowed. The use of baitfish on these waters could undermine the trout fisheries. The rule is also amended to allow bait on McIntosh Pond, Royalton because there is no sustainable trout fishery there.

Bradley Carleton is the founder and Director of Sacred Hunter LLC, which teaches the public respect and empathy through hunting, fishing and foraging.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 58

Show Up!

By Brian Bialas

Woody Allen famously said that “80% of success is showing up.” Sounds easy, right? Yet it’s not: everyone fails to “show up” sometimes, not only for things we don’t want to do, but also when we think the things we want to do will be hard. I finally overcame my own excuses last year to start hunting again, and

to me on my 13th birthday, and my grandfather put my picture with that buck on his desk.

Two years later, I was off to college and then law school in Boston. I was busy with school and work and didn’t think much about hunting. My dad brought me with him on the first day of buck season

May 2023

know where to hunt.” “I don’t remember how to field dress a deer.” “I don’t know New Hampshire’s rules and regulations.” “I need a rifled barrel for my shotgun” (New Hampshire permitting only shotguns and handguns near my home in the southeastern

ment Areas open for public hunting. I read books, pamphlets, and the New Hampshire Hunting Digest to remember strategies and techniques and learn the local rules. A new rule for the 2022 season allowed deer hunters to use leveraction, pistol-caliber car-

and wait.

A week later, November 19, 2022 was a clear, crisp day. In the dark, I mistakenly headed in the opposite direction of my “spot” and wandered around for an hour looking for it. Stopping for a moment, I heard leaves

corner of the state). This went on for seven years!

My wife finally told me: “You always talk about hunting, but I’ve never seen you actually go.” She was right. No more excuses. It was time to go!

I started solving my “problems” one by one.

In an atlas, I found stateowned Wildlife Manage-

bines, so my Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum – another birthday present, this time from my dad for my 16th birthday – would work just fine. I scouted a few local areas, saw deer in one, and headed there when the season started to find my second buck.

That first day was rainy. While I walked in at first light, two does quickly darted up a hill. That was a good sign. I continued walking slowly for three hours but didn’t see another deer. Wet and a little cold, I headed back to my car.

Near the same place where the two does galloped away in the early morning, a startled doe bolted from me. This was the right spot.

I vowed to return soon to sit

rustle behind me. A doe ran from my left to my front, then another, followed by a massive 11-point buck.

The buck paused broadside about 30 yards away. I put the crosshairs just behind his shoulder, fired, and had my second buck.

I was very fortunate that day. Most days don’t end that well. Even so, with Woody, my advice for hunters who haven’t been hunting is simple: Show up! Get past your excuses and get into the woods.

That’s the hardest part. And once you’re there, like me, you just might find a big buck.

My wife finally told me: “You always talk about hunting, but I’ve never seen you actually go.” She was right. No more excuses. It was time to go! the result was a beautiful 11-point whitetail buck – my second buck ever and my first in 23 years.

I shot that first buck, an atypical six-point, in 1999 when I was 17. My dad took me hunting a lot back then in and around the Allegheny National Forest in Northwestern Pennsylvania. He and my grandfather were so proud of me that day. I used the Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08 that my grandfather gave

every year, but that didn’t yield another buck. Even those outings stopped when my dad had health issues.

Then in 2015, my wife and I moved to New Hampshire. Now out of the city, this was my chance to start hunting again! I joined my local range. I went to the outdoor stores to gear up.

I read hunting magazines.

I even talked to my wife and friends about hunting.

But then . . . I didn’t go. I had many excuses: “I don’t

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May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 59

Backwoods Beaters

Memories were made in them. Songs have been written about them. “Long May You Run” by Neil Young comes to mind. We might have been young and living hand to mouth, but thanks to whatever rust bucket we could keep on the road, we were able to get to our favorite hunting and fishing haunts and get back home again–most of the time.

My brother ’s Jeep Wagoneer was poetry in motion. The whole steering wheel assembly had long since broken and fallen apart so that only the center nut attached to the steering shaft was exposed. To this, he attached a sizelarge vice grips enabling him to steer the vehicle, deftly, with one hand. The accelerator peddle had disintegrated to the point that all that was left was a spindle poking through the fire wall in the floor.

To this he attached––you guessed it––another set of vice grips, and voila! A new accelerator peddle! The vehicle had roll-up windows. Remember those?

Well, the handle for rolling up the window on the driver’s side had gone the way of the steering wheel and accelerator peddle. So, vice grips number 3! This vehicle traveled off-road more than once with vice grip-assisted drive to get to brook trout streams in May

that only he and a handful of others knew about.

All of my friends were in the same boat. Well, the same truck, or same kind of truck, to be precise. We all worked at something or other, but nobody had a late model anything. Everybody had a beater and none of us were strangers to Bondo and baling wire. Of course cab corners rusted out, mufflers fell off, and, everybody’s favorite––

by the majority of states nationally. Abandoned because study after study has shown that there is no correlation between state vehicle inspections and highway safety.

There is, however, a correlation between automotive businesses and required inspections, namely, that the latter is a revenue stream for the former. Another correlation exists between expired stickers and

The Singing Maine Guide

by Randy Spencer, Grand Lake Stream, ME a barrel. They’ll tell you that if you get into an accident driving a vehicle that shouldn’t have passed their inspection, they’ll be fined $25,000. Under the current system, could you potentially take your vehicle to five different garages and get five different diagnoses and estimates? Most defi-

a sticker. I wanted to leave my, “Sorry, We’re Open” sign on their front door.

Time to stop the madness and repeal mandatory state inspections. Maybe more than ever, backwoods beaters are the only option for many younger outdoorsmen who can’t possibly afford the cost of today’s new

Sadly, the sun has set on those halcyon days of being able to drive whatever you could afford. At least it has in the last sixteen states that still require state inspections. Yes, Maine is one of those states where it is prohibitively expensive to keep your backwoods beater on the road. ball joints––wore out. But on the Golden Road, the Stud Mill Road and worse, those derelicts got us to our sporting destinations.

Sadly, the sun has set on those halcyon days of being able to drive whatever you could afford. At least it has in the last sixteen states that still require state inspections. Yes, Maine is one of those states where it is prohibitively expensive to keep your backwoods beater on the road.

The inspection-sticker-as-cash-cow racket is woefully misplaced in Maine, one of the 15 poorest states in the U.S. according to median household income. Misplaced because it is the poor who are disproportionally punished by an antiquated law that has been abandoned

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the state police, creating one more revenue stream.

No surprise then, that it is lobbies representing these two interests that show up in force each time the archaic law comes under review.

Have you ever had a state trooper take a knee to measure your brake calipers? Or pop the hood and hook up a computer to look for error messages?

Of course not. But the inspection garage that does these things has you over

nitely, you could. All for a $12.50 sticker.

This year, I was told I had to replace all four tires on my Ford truck to pass inspection. I took another look at them, shook my head, and went to a major tire retailer which had a much different opinion after taking the measurements. They even put it in writing and signed off on it, and they’re in the business of selling tires! I went back to the inspection garage and they still refused me

or late model vehicles. For them, state inspections are a dreaded, annual, breakthe-bank day when all they want to do is get to work, or to the stream, or to the turkey roosts of May. Randy Spencer is a working Master Maine guide and author. His three award-winning books are all available on Amazon.

Reach him at: randy31@ earthlink.ne or via www. randyspencer.com

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Page 60

On Point

by Paul Fuller, Durham, N.H. You now have that well-bred, genetically proven blood line puppy.

It’s the puppy you’ve wanted for many years. A puppy that will eventually be your upland hunting partner.

And, you’re anxious to see it do something to suggest its potential as a pointing dog.

You’ve seen social

I do know bird hunting guides who live in wild bird country and never show their puppy a penraised bird. Wild birds for training are great, however, very few of us have that opportunity. So, we use pen-raised birds in the beginning. Introduction to birds should begin around 12 weeks of age.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

Gundogs: Teaching Steadiness

of the puppy, it could become seriously bird shy.

This could take much more work to get it interested in birds.

The first step your author has always taken is, even earlier than 12 weeks, is to allow the pup to chase butterflies and song birds in our yard. This helps the pup get used to things that fly.

We should remember the

then reach in the crate and release the bird. The puppy is restrained from chasing.

It’s important that nothing negative is done here. No screaming at the puppy or jerking on the lead. Keep

can often catch a pen-raised quail. We do not want chasing and then catching. Catching at a young age will promote chasing rather than pointing. That’s not what we want. I release

the exercise positive.

Some trainers feel the pup should not be restrained from chasing at 12 weeks of age. They feel a pup should be allowed to be a puppy. To have fun. I believe I’ve accomplished this by allowing the puppy to chase butterflies and song birds before being introduced to a live game bird.

The next step is to allow the puppy open access to game birds. We do it with chukar. Quail have a nice scent; however, pups

four or five chukar around our bird pen. Pups will flash point and then chase.

However, they don’t catch chukar. Once the pup learns he can’t catch the chukar, he elongates the point.

The elongation of the point is exactly what we want. It’s the beginning of a pup that will become steady to the flush. There are now two steps forward. One step is to release a few chukar in a field. A field with cover tall and thick enough so the pup can’t see the bird.

(Gundogs cont. pg 65)

A well thought out training schedule for your young puppy must include introduction to live birds. I do know bird hunting guides who live in wild bird country and never show their puppy a pen-raised bird.

media posts with the puppy owner flipping a wing-ona-string in front of a puppy.

And, the puppy hesitates before chasing. It’s fun and looks good, however, I recommend you only do it once or not at all. The wing-on-a-string can promote sight pointing which we don’t want. A pointing dog points scent, not the bird.

A well thought out training schedule for your young puppy must include introduction to live birds.

Introduction to birds must be done with caution. A negative experience could have a lasting effect on a young pup. I recently watched a YouTube video of an individual introducing a puppy to a bird using a launcher. When the puppy came within about two feet of the launcher, the bird was launched. The noise of the launcher and the wings of the bird flapping hard made the puppy flinch and jump backwards. Depending upon the temperament

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old adage: Prevention is far better than later correction.

At the 12 week mark, I introduce a pup to a bird by using a small mesh crate. I put a live quail or chukar in the crate. I then cover the crate lightly with grass… but just a little. I then allow the pup to run around the yard until it finds the crate. The pup is pulling a light four or five foot lead.

Once it finds the crate and becomes seriously interested in the bird, I have a helper pick up the lead so the puppy can’t chase. I

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May 2023

News

(Cont. from pg 14) page gets updated several times per week,” said Good. Visit this link https:// anrweb.vt.gov/FWD/FW/ FishStockingSchedule. aspx and click the “See What’s Been Stocked” button to stay informed as the spring progresses.

Anglers who like to fish and release their catch don’t need to wait for opening day. Nearly all waterbodies are now open year-round to catch-andrelease fishing for trout in Vermont. Check the 2023 Vermont Fishing Guide and Regulations which is available free from license agents, and it is on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website at this link: https://www. eregulations.com/vermont/ fishing/ A helpful overview of the fishing regulations can be found at: https://vtfishandwildlife.com/new2022-fishing-regulationsoverview The department reminds anglers that in almost all cases regulations have been simplified. For any river, stream, lake, or pond not listed in the Index of Rivers and Streams or Index of Lakes and Ponds go to General Fishing Regulations on page 52.

New Hampshire Moose Lottery Open

New Hampshire’s 2023 moose hunt lottery is now open. Enter today for your chance at the adventure of a lifetime—hunting moose in the rugged woods of the Granite State. The lottery entrance fee is $15 for Granite State residents and $25 for nonresidents.

To participate in the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery, visit www.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

huntnh.com/hunting/ moose.html where you can enter online or print out a mail-in application.

You can also pick up an application at any Fish and Game license agent, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department headquarters, or at Fish and Game regional offices.

Moose hunt lottery applications for 2023 must be postmarked or submitted online by midnight Eastern Standard Time on May 26, 2023, or delivered to the Licensing Office at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, NH, before 4:00 p.m. that day. Winners will be selected through a computerized random drawing and announced on June 16.

Applicants can enter the moose hunt lottery once per year. A bonus-point system improves the chances for unsuccessful applicants who apply in each consecutive year. Each point translates to a chance in the drawing. As an example, last year the overall odds of a resident applicant being drawn were 1 in 96, and resident applicants with a total of 19 points had a 1 in 33 chance of being drawn.

For nonresidents, the odds were 1 in 410 overall and 1 in 157 for applicants with 19 points.

In 2022, 6,033 people entered the lottery for the chance to win one of 40 permits. More than 1,190 people continued to accrue bonus points because they submitted an application for a point only, in order to not lose their accrued points. Hunters from five other states won permits in the 2022 lottery.

While people travel from all over the country to take part in the New

Hampshire moose hunt, the majority of permits (almost 85% in 2022) are awarded to Granite Staters.

The number of permits available to nonresidents is capped, based on the prior year’s sales of nonresident hunting licenses.

The number of moose hunt permits that will be offered for this fall’s hunt has not yet been determined as harvest and survey data are currently under review.

Final numbers will be released later this spring.

“While permit numbers may change in 2023, your chance of being drawn and offered a permit in the lottery will be improved if you rank all wildlife management units on your

application,” Wildlife Programs Chief Dan Bergeron noted. “You will have the option to decline a permit if you are drawn for a unit you would prefer not to hunt.”

New Hampshire’s nine-day moose hunt starts

the third Saturday in October. This year’s hunt will run from October 21–29.

New Hampshire has had an annual moose hunt since 1988, when 75 permits were issued for a three-day hunt in the North Country.

The state’s current moose population is estimated to be about 3,000 animals.

The availability of moose hunting permits is made possible by careful monitoring of moose populations. The resulting annual harvest of moose also provides valuable information on the physical condition and productivity of moose and offers a unique recreational opportunity.

Learn more about moose hunting in New

Page 61

New Hampshire’s large lakes, which are managed for landlocked salmon, including Big Squam Lake, Lake Sunapee, and Lake Winnipesaukee. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department also manages 11 other waterbodies for landlocked salmon, including Big Dan Hole Pond, First and Second Connecticut, Conway, Francis, Merrymeeting, Newfound, Ossipee, and Winnisquam Lakes. Pleasant Lake in New London is also managed for landlocked salmon, but is classified under designated trout ponds, with a 2023 opening date of April 22.

Winter finally decided to show up in March, with multiple significant snowstorms blanketing the Lakes Region, and below average temperatures.

However, recent mild days have begun the meltdown, and areas of the large lakes such as “The Broads” on Lake Winnipesaukee barely gained ice cover this winter—which should lead to an earlier than average ice out. Substantial open Hampshire at: water leads and significant www.huntnh.com/ pockets are already preshunting/moose.html ent on lakes such as Winnisquam. Regardless of NH Salmon Lakes ice conditions or location Open within the state, please note April 1 marks the of- the last day for ice fishing ficial start of the open- on lakes for landlocked water fishing season on (News cont. pg 67)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 62

SAM News

by David Trahan, “Executive Director” Testimony in Opposition LD 814, An Act to Restrict the Daytime and Nighttime Killing of Coyotes Before the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Presented by David Trahan, Executive Director of the SAM-Institute for Legislative Action Monday, March 27, 2023 Editor’s note: David Trahan, executive director of SAM, delivered this testimony in opposition to a proposed law that would drastically shorten Maine’s season on hunting and trapping coyotes. See this month’s editorial in the Sporting Journal.

Senator LaFontaine, Representative Landry, members of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee my name is David Trahan and I am testifying in opposition to LD 814, An Act to Restrict the Daytime and Nighttime Killing of Coyotes. Maine has a 51-year legacy of year-round coyote hunting.

Proponents of LD 814

want us to believe that coyote hunting during the pup-rearing period is inhumane. They ignore the reality that nature is raw and brutal whether man is involved or not. Survival of the entire litter is rare among coyotes even where humans are absent.

Coyotes are not capable of self-awareness; that is a human trait. Hence, they cannot perceive “persecution”. Coyotes react to their environment instinctively. Their own actions should not be considered intentionally cruel when they take a deer down by ripping apart a hindquarter and feeding while the hapless deer bleeds out.

Nor should we assign a cruelty motive when a coyote pounces on a newborn fawn in hiding, crushing the fawn’s head and neck with its powerful jaws. A coyote will do what a coyote will do.

Simply put: Nature can appear cruel at times.

And it will remain that way with or without people in the mix. We should not allow emotional arguments to dictate wildlife management decisions.

May 2023

SAM Opposes Coyote Hunt Ban

Legislative intent is, and has been to use hunting to address negative impacts of coyotes on wildlife, livestock, and pets.

Coyote hunting was never intended to be sport hunting, like our partridge or hare seasons. It is coyote damage control using hunt-

protection advocates who served on the coyote planning committee in 2021 and 2022.

Few Mainers agree with this extreme pro-coyote philosophy. Based on recent (2020) public input, over 70% of the public in Maine support manage-

Coyotes predation on deer is substantial in spring and summer. ers as the control agents. As ment of coyotes (DIFW in Maine, 45 other states Furbearer Plan). currently allow year-round LD 814 is the wrong hunting of coyotes for the policy for Maine. It reverses long-standing legislative same reasons.

Political animal rights intent to reduce the damagactivists and their friendly ing effects of coyotes. The biologists, like those be- loss of coyote hunting from hind this bill, attempt to April through September gain support for protecting ensures that coyotes cannot coyotes by creating the be managed for the public image of coyotes as gentle good. Hunters will see less creatures, exploiting the deer hunting opportunity. modern public disconnect DIFW will be hampered with the realities of the in its efforts mitigate the negative impacts of a grownatural world.

The real agenda be- ing coyote population. The hind LD 814 is to fully average homeowner and protect coyotes in Maine, farmers will be dealing allowing this “Song Dog” with more conflicts with to increase to its own bio- coyotes. And Maine’s huntlogical carrying capacity. ing economy will experiAnd when coyotes come ence a net loss. Finally, into conflict with people, DIFW’s new program to well then people must sim- restore deer in northern ply adapt and live with the Maine through purchase consequences. This ex- and management of DWAs tremist anti-human agenda would be jeopardized by was directly communicated their inability to manage to DIFW by two coyote coyote predation.

814

Please Oppose LD

Fact Sheet Hunter participation is strong and growing Hunters overwhelmingly (87%) support predation management (2020 DIFW Coyote Plan) At least 40% of SAM’s 7,000 members hunt coyotes using one method or another (SAM member surveys).

DIFW annually issues 7,000 to nearly 10,000 night-hunting permits for coyotes (2020 DIFW Coyote Plan).

Coyotes’ impact on deer hunting Coyotes and hunters compete for available deer.

More coyotes mean lower deer harvests.

DIFW has had to reduce antlerless deer harvests to compensate for coyote kills of adult deer and newborn fawns.

Since 1986, antlerless deer harvests have been reduced by thousands statewide. In the northern 2/3 of Maine, doe hunting has been practically nonexistent.

Lower harvests mean less economic activity from deer hunting.

Thousands of deer never make it to our family tables.

Cascading negative consequences of LD 814 Reverses the Legislative mandate to control coyotes and replaces it with an ineffective sport hunting season.

Reduces hunting opportunity by 60% and bans coyote hunting when it has the greatest impact on coy(Coyote cont. pg 65)

May 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Maine Moose Lottery

Page 63

Cracker Barrel

by Homer Spit apples? What about us octogenarians? Do we get a permit, points or no points, just for being above the sod?

The deadline for making your application to be entered in the June permit drawing is May 15th. Don’t forget that, now! Mark your calendar. You must apply

The deadline for entering the Maine Moose Lottery is May 15th.

The Maine Moose Lottery, if you are a hunter, is the Power Ball of big game hunting in the Pine Tree State. Every hunter, who enjoys the October challenge and the chance to fill a freezer with prime wild meat, goes through the application process this spring and then crosses his or her fingers in hopes of getting lucky come the June moose- permit drawing event.

This year the expectation is that there will be 3,530 moose permits issued. They break down like this: 2,600 bulls and about

(Photo by Paul Huston)

900 cows. Ninety percent of the permits will be for Maine residents and eight percent to non-residents.

Two percent of the permits will be reserved for Maine hunting lodges. There will also be 550 cow permits allocated for the Special Adaptive Unit, which is an experimental culling of moose designed to study tick infestations.

The Adaptive Hunting Units are in the Northwest Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) with special seasons that break down like this: October 1st week, October 2nd week and No-

vember 3 week. Adaptive Units hunt permits are issued to those applicants who checkoff the elective box and are unsuccessful in the traditional moose permit draw. Hunters who bag a cow moose during this special hunt are required to bring the critter’s canine teeth and ovaries to the tagging stations with their moose.

There is good news for us older folks, too.

If you are 65 and older and have accumulated 30 points with DIF&W, you are guaranteed a moose permit. What about them rd

Once you are selected the price for the actual hunt permit is $52.00 for residents and $585.00 for nonresidents.

Like any lottery it is a game of chance, but the odds for success are far better than Power Ball. If past is prologue, one out of 12 resident applicants

There is good news for older folks, too.

If you are 65 and older and have accumulated 30 points with DIF&W, you are guaranteed a moose permit. online at the MDIF&W website; no more hard applications are mailed. In the application you will have to make some choices: 1) cow or bull 2) indicate your preferred hunt area (WMD) and season choice. 3) If you want to be included in the special draw for a cow in the Northern Adaptive Units.

The application fee is $15.00, non-refundable.

will get drawn for a permit.

Of course, non-residents face much tougher odds.

However, non-residents with deep pockets can up the odds by purchasing as many non-resident chances as the family budget will allow.

To apply simply go to the MDIF&W’s website: www.mefishwildlife.com and click on moose lottery.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 64

THE BACK SHELF

From the files of the Northwoods Sporting Journal The best hunting and fishing columns going back 25 years!

By their very nature backshelf articles, resurrected from our archives, may contain information or facts that have been altered or changed by the passage of time.

By Matt LaRoche

Smelting is one of the rites of spring for many diehard outdoorsmen and women. I certainly enjoy getting out there and dipping a few of the silvery beauties each spring. Dip-

of smelt commonly sought by the sporting community.

Sea run smelt, that grow to maturity in the ocean and run up freshwater streams to spawn. These are usually caught by hook and line, in a shanty along the

May 2023

Dipping Smelts to a couple weeks, depending on the waterbody. Peak activity typically only lasts for a few days to a week.

Usually, the bigger the lake, the heavier and longer the smelt run. It has been my experience that the smelt run occurs at or just before ice out in the lakes of northern Maine.

I can still remember the first time I ever went dipping smelts. I was work-

hours by the brook without seeing a single smelt! The next night, we did the exact same thing. On the third night, the brook had several jack smelts 6 to 8 inches

you could catch a quart in one dip!

My brother Mark came up a few days later to go fishing. We decided to try our luck at McNally

Usually, the bigger the lake, the heavier and longer the smelt run. It has been my experience that the smelt run occurs at or just before ice out in the lakes of northern Maine. ping smelts is not for the faint of heart, because often the trip turns out to be waiting beside the brook for a couple hours with the harvest of only a handful of smelts to take home. Last year, I hit the smelt run just right and was able to dip two quarts in about an hour.

It was truly a fun time!

There are two types

tidal sections of rivers and streams. The second type of smelt and focus of this article, is the landlocked smelt- commonly called the rainbow smelt.

The rainbow smelt grows to maturity in freshwater lakes and ascend tributaries to spawn in the spring. The spawning run can last from a couple days,

ing at Chamberlain Bridge in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW).

Dwayne Larry, who worked for Great Northern Paper Company, picked me up at about dusk. We drove as close as we could get to McNally Brook, on the Arm of Chamberlain, then we bushwhacked to the brook. We waited a couple

long in it and we were able Brook, and to our surprise, to get enough for a feed. On there were large schools the fourth night, there were of smelt swimming in the so many smelt in the brook (Smelts cont. pg 65)

Maine: Register Turkeys Online!

New for the 2023 spring wild turkey hunting season, hunters may now self-register their wild turkey online OR register the turkey in-person at a registration station.

To self-register a turkey online, hunters may use a phone, computer, or any electronic device with internet connection.

If a hunter has poor internet connection, they must attach a transportation label (with their name, license number, and address) and drive to a location with better internet connection. Once self-registered, hunters will receive a seal number via email to confirm the wild turkey was registered. The confirmation can be saved to the

device or printed. There is no fee to self-register a turkey online.

Hunters will need the following information to self-register a turkey online: MOSES ID (found on your hunting license) Last name Date of birth Current hunting license Current turkey permit if not included in license Current email address The link to self-register a turkey online will be

available at mefishwildlife. com/tagaturkey beginning on youth day.

Hunters who prefer to register their harvest in-person at a registration station are encouraged to do so.

For more information on how to register wild turkeys in-person or online and how MDIFW uses harvest data to manage the State’s wild turkey population and set bag limits, visit mefishwildlife.com/tagaturkey

May 2023

Coyote

(Cont. from pg 62) ote populations.

Coyote survival will improve, and their population will increase statewide.

Newborn fawn survival will decrease, more adults will be lost during winter, both leading to declining deer numbers and harvests statewide.

DIFW’s new program to restore deer in northern Maine through purchase and management of DWAs would be jeopardized by their inability to manage coyote predation.

Coyote depredations on livestock, and companion animals will increase.

DIFW will need to divert more staff resources to accommodate increased complaints from the public.

Lower deer harvests will lead to further losses in rural Maine’s deer hunting economy.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Gundogs

(Cont. from pg 60) They must locate by scent.

The second step is to work on steadiness using a place board. Bring the puppy on a lead onto a place board.

Make it stand still either with the whoa command or simply with a stay command. After the pup has been trained to stand still (for at least 60 seconds) on the place board, have a training partner throw a quail or chukar in the air.

Make sure the pup remains still on the place board.

Now the creme de la creme. Expose the puppy to wild birds. Wild birds will teach the pup much more than you can teach. You’re on your way to a life-long hunting partner.

Paul and Susan, his wife, are hosts of the TV show Bird Dogs Afield.

Past episodes can be seen on their website: www. birddogsafield.com Contact: paul@birddogsafield. com

Smelts

(Cont. from pg 64) brook in broad daylight.

We had a trout net with us and were able to catch all the smelt we wanted with that small net. It was fun because the schools of fish would move when they saw our silhouette. We got soaked getting a limit of smelt. While we were chasing the smelts around, we noticed several big fish jumping and swirling in the brook feeding on the smelt.

We weren't smart enough back then to hook a smelt on a line and throw it out in the mouth of the brook.

When I was working on the West Branch of the Penobscot, dipping smelts at Ragged Stream (now closed) was a spring ritual. One year, I took my two older kids, Anna and Levi smelting at Ragged.

They were too small to handle the smelt net, but the run was so heavy that they just grabbed them

Page 65 by the handful. It was fun watching the kids shriek with excitement, as they grabbed handfuls of the slippery little fish.

Cleaning smelts is not much fun, as a matter of fact- once I have cleaned two quarts, I don’t really want to eat any that night.

I have a friend, Steve Day who doesn’t bother cleaning his smelts- he just fries them heads and all. I have eaten them cleaned and uncleaned and there really isn’t that much difference.

But my wife likes them cleaned, so we clean ours before cooking.

The traditional method of cooking smelt is to mix flour, corn meal, and Cajun seasoning in a plastic bag. Put enough of the silvery little fish in the bag to fill the frying pan, then shake the fish in the bag until they are well coated with the mixture. Drop the smelt into a skillet of hot cooking oil and fry until they are cooked, then scoop

them out of the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, serve hot.

My wife’s recipeuses the the same mix as above, but instead of frying them- she places them on a cookie sheet and drizzles butter over the seasoned fish. Then they are cooked in the oven at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes. They are best when eaten hot, right out of the oven. I eat them just like french fries, except I don’t eat the tails.

At the end of the meal, I have a nice little pile of fish tails on the side of my plate.

For ice conditions, or general information on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, go to: www. maine.gov/allagash for an information packet call 207-941-4014, or write to the Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands, 106 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401.

Northwoods Sporting Journal Offers A FREE DIGITAL COPY to All Active Duty Military Personnel Worldwide!

IVE ACT O T Y E FRE ILITAR M

In these troubled and divisive times for our country, we at the Northwoods Sporting Journal remain proud to be Americans. We still stand for the National Anthem and thank our lucky stars that we live in the land of the free.

And we still salute our military men and women, who have served and continue to serve their country, here at home and in faraway lands. To them we owe our gratitude and appreciation for what they do, and for safeguarding our American way of life, which we value deeply.

As a way of saying thank you, we make the digital versions of the Northwoods Sporting Journal past and current - available online to service people around the world. If you have a loved one or friend now serving on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, or anywhere else, please let them know that they have free access to our digital magazines at: www.sportingjournal.com

Page 66

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Blackpoll Warblers

The Bird Perch

by Karen Holmes, Cooper, ME The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife wants to amend the current list of endangered species. This is being suggested in a bill LD 57 in the current Maine legislature. It would add to the list Blackpoll Warblers, Bank and Cliff S w a l l o w s , B i c k n e l l ’s Thrushes and the Saltmarsh Sparrows.

Bicknell’s Thrushes are found usually at about 2,700 feet of mountain tops or ridges with spruce and fir forests. Saltmarsh Sparrows are found in narrow bands of salt marsh habitat along the coastline. Both of these species use highly specialized habitats and you have to really search persistently to find them.

But I have noticed to my dismay that there are fewer swallows every year here in Cooper. I love watch-

May 2023

ing them swoop, glide and pivot in the air while chasing and consuming small insects. It is not easy to find any Bank and Cliff Swallows here. Cliff Swallows are also listed as threatened in New Hampshire

and widespread of American wood warblers.” My battered and trustworthy Field Guide to the Birds by Roger Tory Peterson and my 2017 Birds of Eastern North America by David Sibley both state they are a

Ocean, a distance of 1,200 miles to South America.

Are the wintering habitats there diminishing? The North American Breeding Survey states that a decline of over 2% per year

This is a sad thing to contemplate. Let’s all support adding Blackpoll Warblers, Cliff and Bank Swallows, Bicknell’s Thrushes and Saltmarsh Sparrows to the Maine’s Endangered Species List. and Bicknell’s Thrushes and Bank Swallows are on Canada’s list of threatened species.

But what I am really alarmed about is the proposed inclusion of Blackpoll Warblers. I confirmed from my 1959 copy of the Natural History of American Birds Of East and Central North America that they were once considered “the most abundant

common species. So what is happening? They always have arrived to breed in the spring and summer using remote boreal forests of North America for nesting.

Is increased logging causing problems for breeding?

Are more than usual adults and juveniles no longer surviving the non-stop fall migration from North America? They fly for over 88 hours over the Atlantic

has caused a cumulative decline of 71% from 1966 to 2019. Partners in Flight estimates that if current trends continue, an additional 50% of the Blackpoll Warbler population will be lost in as little as 16 years.

This is a sad thing to contemplate. Let’s all support adding Blackpoll Warblers, Cliff and Bank Swal-

lows, Bicknell’s Thrushes and Saltmarsh Sparrows to the Maine’s Endangered Species List. This would hopefully extend for them more protection/management practices. Also in LD 57 proposes changing from eight to four or even two years the list to be reviewed and updated. Significant and drastic climate/weather changes seem to be accelerating and quick responses are becoming more and more necessary.

Karen Holmes is a naturalist and conservationist who lives with her husband Ken in Cooper, Maine. She has been keeping records,doing volunteer wildlife surveys for over 50 years. She hopes the increasing number of the younger generation in Maine who care about the environment will help bring about needed and vital changes in the years ahead.

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SPACE CALL 207-732-4880 OR EMAIL: info@sportingjournal.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

May 2023

By Joel Tripp

Uncle Ralph was a side gunner on a Navy Bomber in World War II. As a kid I really didn’t understand what that meant but Ralph was by far the most successful hunter in the family and when he told a story we soaked it up like a biscuit with bean juice.

Page 67

Raisins

ways seemed to be into the deer. On this particular day they were planning to hunt Hogfat Hill in Sebago. Territory that was well known and productive early in the season.

There had been an early snow and it had come off warm so the fog was

etery Gordon went uphill towards Hogfat and Ralph planned to go down along the pond. Within three steps the red wool coats disappeared from each other in the fog and Ralph decided it would be prudent to stay on the road until things cleared a little. Gordon moved up a trail then backed into some hemlocks to wait for the fog. Hanging his gun over

last deer looked back and was dispatched through the neck. Gordon laughed to himself; Ralph would be buying the liquor when they got back to camp.

Gordon then realized that he had dropped his raisins.

He looked down and there was the box with the raisins scattered on the damp oak leaves. He scooped them back into the box carefully and tucked the box into a

upended the box to his mouth and took in most of them. One second later raisins spewed everywhere and Gordon was retching up his breakfast. Turns out that when Gordon scooped those raisins back up he got a liberal supply of deer droppings mixed in.

Gordon coughed and spit all the way back to camp. They hung the deer then headed into camp for

The last deer looked back and was dispatched through the neck. Gordon laughed to himself, Ralph would be buying the liquor when they got back to camp.

Ralph and his good friend Gordon hunted together and had a professional rivalry about who would shoot their deer first.

Ralph never missed with the .308 but Gordon al-

thick as they nosed up Back Nippin Road. The beavers had damned the outflow of Brown’s Pond along the road so they parked and walked in. When they got up to the Brown’s cem-

News

fishnh.com/fishing/salmonpledge.html

(Cont. from pg 61) salmon is March 31. Landlocked salmon may never be taken through the ice.

To ensure the future of high-quality landlocked salmon and other fisheries, anglers must take extra care when releasing salmon, as the percentage of hook-wounded fish continues to be a problem.

Hook-wounded fish are significantly shorter and in poorer physical condition than non-hook-wounded fish of the same age. Using rubber nets, proper release techniques, and other considerations can minimize the negative effects of hook wounding, thereby increasing the number of qualitysized salmon available in the future. For more information, please visit www.

Maine Outdoor Writer Passes

Longtime Maine outdoor writer and editor Ken Allen, 76, passed away in early April at an Augusta hospital. Allen, a graduate of the University of Maine and a former high school English teacher, was best known in the Maine outdoor community for his outdoor column in the Kennebec Journal titled “Allen Afield,” which ran for 40 years.

his arm Gordon broke out a box of raisins and started snacking.

Within minutes a deer ghosted out of the fog and walked down the trail not three feet away.

As he watched two more followed. After the last went by Gordon raised his gun and whistled. The

pocket.

Twenty minutes later the deer was dressed and in the road. Ralph walked up as Gordon was putting his coat back on. Gordon pulled his salvaged raisins out of his pocket and teased Ralph “it’s all about the raisins Ralph, all about the raisins”. With that Gordon

a late breakfast of liver.

Ralph poured three fingers of bourbon and handed it to Gordon. Gordon took a swig, rinsed and spat then drained the glass. “My god Ralph” he said “never eat raisins in the fog”.

Allen, an avid fly fisherman, hunter and naturalist, authored two books, “Cooking Wild” and “Guide to Upland Bird Hunting.”

Allen served as associate editor of the Maine Sportsman for many years.

Will Lund, current editor of the Maine Sportsman, said of Allen: “He held himself to high standards in his own writings, and held his writers to the same high standards. Ken had a vast knowledge of the outdoors, and a great deal of experi-

ence publishing books and writing articles for national publications. Ken loved fly fishing, birding, good food and good wine, and those interests showed though in his work. He will be missed by family, friends and coworkers.”

Finally, the fishing book that you've been waiting for...drum roll, please...

FLY FISHING MAINE RIVERS, BROOKS AND STREAMS - By Bob Leeman Sporting Journal columnist Bob Leeman, a Master Maine Guide and ardent fly fisherman, has written a book whose chapters capture the experiences of a lifetime of fishing Maine. This book not only tells where to go to catch brook trout and landlocked salmon in rivers, brooks and streams, but locates wadeable waters and canoeable waters. Certain pools, secretive springs, slow water, beaver ponds and fast water pocket holding places are located in words and detailed map illustrations. For the fly fisherman, this is a useful, practical, "how-to" angling manual, unmatched for its thoroughness, originality and authoritative advice.

Bob shares his own fly creations along with recipes and striking color photos of each fly.

125 pages Maine Outdoor Publications

"If your passion is flyfishing Maine's remarkable rivers, brooks and streams, you'll learn so much from Bob's book. It's good. Very good!" - V. Paul Reynolds, NWSJ Send a check for $21.95, plus $4.00 postage and handling, along with this ad to: Bob Leeman, 22 Alan-A-Dale Rd., Brewer, ME 04412.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 68

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

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Northwoods Sporting Journal P.O. Box 628 Main Street Machias, ME 04654

SUNRISE REALTY

Office Tel. & Fax: (207) 255-3039 Email: anitaj@midmaine.com Website: www.sunlist.com Anita Johnson

EAST MACHIAS: This home sits on 5.46 acres and is on the Chases Mills Road. The owner started working on the home so all rooms need work but there is a nice two bedroom apartment on the end with its own garage that you could live in while working on the main house. The apartment is lived in at this time. The main house also has its on garages. It is close to Gardner Lake and the public boat landing. The price is only $175,000.00 EAST MACHIAS: This beautiful move in ready home sits on 1.08 acres and has three large bedrooms and the master has 1/2 bath. Nice large laundry room. Also nice kitchen and living room. Home is in move in condition except for some floors and you can choose the type of floor coverings you want in each room. Large dry basement and a two car garage make this a super nice home to live in. The price has just been reduced to $245,000 and the owner said they will listen to reasonable offers.

May 2023

ST. JOHN VALLEY REALTY CO. 8 East Main Street Fort Kent, ME 04743

834-6725

www.stvrealty@hotmail.com www.sportingjournal.com

SELLERS LANE BUYERS ROAD

REAL ESTATE SELLERS LANE BUYERS ROAD

Judd Goodwin Well Co

"We Do It Right The First Time"

Complete Well & Pump

Installation, Service and Repair Residential • Commercial Camps • Cottages

P.O. Box 17 Greenville, ME 04441 Office: 207-695-3645 Cell: 207-280-0923 goodwinjudd@yahoo.com www.juddgoodwinwell.com Member Maine Groundwater Association

PAID FOR BY THE NEW ENGLAND CONVENIENCE STORE & ENERGY MARKETERS ASSOCIATION