VGOM November 2013 by Vermont's Great Outdoors Magazine

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ermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine has been a great source of promotion for our business. Our first month of advertising yielded a wonderful response and really increased our business presence in regions of Vermont that had been largely untapped until that point. The price is unbelievable for the volume of readership. Darren has taken great care of us and has helped promote our product, website and Facebook page. We would highly recommend Darren Marcy and Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine for your advertising needs! We are so pleased with the results, that we have just committed for the next six months! Victoria & Glenn Co-Founders At Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine, we want to be part of the solution for you business. Our goal is to help you be successful. Our rates are affordable and will deliver your message to more than 3,000 outdoor enthusiasts every month (average).

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

Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine www.VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com November 2013 • Volume 1 • Number 11

Features 18 Ski

Season

The snow is falling as lifts spin to life for another year on the slopes.

Publisher & Editor Darren Marcy News/Marketing Assistants Maya Marcy & Camilla Marcy

28 Road

Trip

When the Vermont trout season closes many Vermont anglers hit the highways.

40 Cathy’s

Moose

A Vermont woman’s lifelong dream comes true and her dad is by her side for it all.

Contributors Jeremy Baker, Bradley Carleton, Bob Shannon, Evan Chismark, Wayne Laroche, Emile Willett, Kathy Ehlers, Dalton Harben, Dan Deforge, Melissa Carll, James Vladyka and Brian Lang. Article & Photo Submissions editor@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com Press Releases, Letters news@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com

52 Naturally

Rich

It’s not about what you have, but how much you enjoy what you have that matters.

More Inside 5. Editor’s Note 6. Photo of the Month 7. Wool E’ Bugger 8. Outdoor News 16. Tracking Dogs 18. Skiing 20. Hiking 28. Fly Fishing

32. Fishing 46. Tree Stands 52. Sacred Hunter 56. Family Outdoors 62. Shed Antlers 70. The Great Artdoors 72. The Outside Story 74. LCI

Advertising ads@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com Phone (802) 331-0130 Like us on Facebook VermontsGreatOutdoorsMagazine

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

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

Editor’s Note:

Youth Hunters

On the Cover

ost of us are introduced to the outdoors by adults. For me, it was my mom and dad, although there were plenty of aunts and uncles and extended family around on our outdoor adventures. I grew up hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and exploring in familial groups. November is a great month because, to me, November is about family. Not only Thanksgiving one of best family oriented holidays, but the month is full of outdoor fun that is full of family connections. November for me In my teenage years meant road trips for pheasants in Kansas with dad, an assortment of uncles and cousins. In Vermont, we start off with the youth weekend, most often accompanied by a family member, followed by deer rifle season just before Thanksgiving. Just as often as a group of guys heading to deer camp, there are families gathering at the family camp, or grandpa’s house for a family deer drive. The memories made extend well beyond any deer that may end up hanging from the porch, tree limb or game pole. In fact, most of the memories are made around the table the night before, or over breakfast in those predawn hours that are so filled with excitement and potential. And for a youngster waiting his or her first hunt, opening day can’t come soon enough. It’s a beautiful feeling that can’t-sleep kind of anticipation that is only rivaled by the night before Santa. There’s a pretty good chance that no matter how many years have passed since you experienced that excitement, you still remember those days. There are very few times in a young hunters life that rivals that first hunt. That’s why VGOM is proud to support the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s Youth Hunting Memories Contest. We encourage everyone to enter. You don’t have to kill a deer to enter. The Fish & Wildlife Department has changed the rules this year to make it more fun for the kids and make it seem less like school work, although we have to admit we will miss the essay contest. But it’s a brave new world out there and if we can engage kids in ways they are more comfortable than writing essays, than a drawing, photography and video contest is a good thing. So, check out the new rules and then get your youngster busy getting his or her entry prepared. Can’t wait to see them.

Young Bear Hunter This month’s cover shot is by Dan Deforge, who captured this photo of Kerigan Disorda with her bear dog Bella and her 215-pound sow the pair harvested. Kerigan is 12 years old and has committed to hunting bears with dogs. She trains Bella herself and gets up at 4:30 a.m. on weekends to run her on a bear track. She is being tutored by some experienced bear houndsmen including Joe, who is pictured here. This bear is Kerigan’s second Vermont bear. You’ll be reading more about Kerigan in a future issue of VGOM. Have a great photo you want to share? Whether it’s a fish, a summit, a sunset or just a little family time. Please send it in. You might find it on the cover of the next Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine.

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Photo of the Month:

Tommy Baker, 12, of Rutland poses with his first buck. Read about the hunt in Shed Antlers in this issue of VGOM.

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Wool E’ Bugger:

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Outdoor News: broken into in Lincoln at the Battell Hiking Trail parking area. Magdelana Dale, 34, of Montpelier reported a broken RUPERT — Vermont State Police reported that a window and several items and cash missing from her man died after rolling his ATV in Rupert while getting vehicle at the trailhead. a deer out of the woods. Anyone with information should contact police at Police say Maurice Thompson, 76, of Manchester (802) 388-4919. was helping his son get a deer out of the woods Oct. 13 when his ATV got hung up on a log. 2014 Fish & Wildlife calendar Thompson was thrown off the back of the ATV and is now available he landed on a log with the ATV on his back. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and Vermont Life Magazine are announcing the release of Police investigate vehicle the colorful 2014 Fish & Wildlife calendar. break-ins in New Haven The new edition of the calendar is larger in size and Vermont State Police are investigated the break-ins includes inset images, matching the format of Vermont of several cars Oct. 6 near Middlebury. Life’s other popular calendars. Two vehicles were reported broken into near the The new Vermont Fish & Wildlife calendar is filled Breadloaf Campus in Middlebury and one car was with spectacular photos of Vermont wildlife and

Man dies after rolling ATV while dragging deer

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

Outdoor News: striking scenes of people enjoying the state’s vast fish and wildlife resources. The calendar includes hunting, fishing and trapping season dates for each month – the perfect gift for any hunter or angler. These calendars usually sell out early, so get your copy today. Vermont Fish & Wildlife calendars can be ordered online from Vermont Life’s website at www.VermontLifeCatalog.com or by phone (800) 455-3399.

Vermont State Police reported Stephen Kaplan, 56, of New Orleans, La., was hiking in the area of Putney Mountain when he became lost. Kaplan called authorities with his cell phone about 7:15 p.m. Using GPS coordinates from his phone, dispatchers were able to direct troopers and Putney Fire Department crews to the scene and a command post was established. Members of the fire department traveled into the woods on trails in the area toward the position Kaplan's phone reported as its coordinates on a six-wheeler. Once in the woods, the searchers used a siren on the six-wheeler allowing Kaplan to follow the sound while Visitor loses way in woods a trooper helped Kaplan over the phone. before authorities help him Kaplan was able to follow the sound of the siren and A man visiting from New Orleans became separated walk out to members of the Putney Fire Department from the rest of his party and ended up lost in the woods around 9 p.m. near Putney on Oct. 8. Kaplan was not injured and refused medical

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Outdoor News: treatment. Kaplan told State Police that he had hiked Thanksgiving. in the area years ago but quickly became disoriented Due to the late date for Thanksgiving this year, these deer seasons begin later than usual. Nearly two weeks as darkness approached. will have elapsed between the close of archery season and youth weekend this year. Normally the gap is less Deer hunters reminded of later than one week. season start dates in 2013 “We have received calls from hunters who are The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is confused about the dates,” said Col. David LeCours, reminding deer hunters that Vermont’s youth, rifle, and head of law enforcement for the Fish & Wildlife muzzleloader seasons fall on relatively late dates this Department. “Hunters should be sure they have the year. correct date before heading out. The Fish & Wildlife Youth weekend is Nov. 9-10 and rifle season begins Department calendar, the law digest, and the on Nov. 16. Both seasons are beginning one weekend department website all contain the correct dates and we later than normal. Muzzleloader season begins Dec. 7. encourage hunters to reference these materials.” Vermont’s November rifle deer hunting and youth The Vermont Fish & Wildlife website is weekend dates are set by law and revolve around www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

Want to reach us? Email: news@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com Phone: (802) 331-0130

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

Outdoor News:

Boaters reminded to wear flotation vests The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding Lake Champlain anglers and boaters that New York State boating laws require all persons aboard motorboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats and sailboats less than 21 feet in length to wear a personal flotation device while on New York waters from Nov. 1 to May 1. New York implemented this PFD law in the fall of 2009 after a spate of deaths involving people who were not wearing life jackets while boating during spring and fall cold water temperatures. Sudden immersion in cold water after falling overboard or capsizing,

particularly at water temperatures below 68°F, can overcome even the strongest swimmers. It may lead to sudden cardiac arrest or gasping and inhalation of water, the loss of swimming ability and grip strength, and eventually hypothermia and unconsciousness. “Warm fall sunshine can often give boaters a false sense of security,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry. “The reality is, water temperatures are dropping quickly, and people can find themselves at risk of exposure, hypothermia, or worse, if they suddenly find themselves capsized or in the water.”

“We encourage late fall anglers, duck hunters and all boaters to be cautious and safe while on any watercraft at this time of year,” said Berry. “Wearing a life jacket, no matter what the season, is the single best way boaters can keep themselves safe on the water, and it can significantly improve their chances of survival if something unexpected happens while boating.” Vermont Fish & Wildlife also reminds anglers and boaters that children younger than 12 years old must wear a Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device at all times while boating on any Vermont water body.

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

Outdoor News:

Interior proposes expansion of hunting, fishing on Silvio O. Conte WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to expand fishing and hunting opportunities throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System, opening up new hunting programs on six refuges and expanding existing hunting and fishing programs on another 20 refuges. The proposed rule also modifies existing refugespecific regulations for more than 75 additional refuges and wetland management districts. Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is slated to expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

“Sportsmen and women were a major driving force behind the creation and expansion of the National Wildlife Refuge System more than a century ago and continue to be some of its strongest supporters, especially through their volunteer work and financial contributions,” Jewell said. “Keeping our hunting and angling heritage strong by providing more opportunities on our refuges will not only help raise up a new generation of conservationists, but also support local businesses and create jobs in local communities. Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the Service can permit hunting and fishing along with four other types of

Want to see your news in VGOM? Email it to news@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com

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

Outdoor News: wildlife-dependent recreation where they are compatible with the refuge’s purpose and mission. Hunting, within specified limits, is permitted on more than 329 wildlife refuges. Fishing is permitted on more than 271 wildlife refuges. “Hunting and fishing are healthy, traditional outdoor pastimes deeply rooted in America’s heritage and have long been enjoyed on hundreds of national wildlife refuges under the supervision of our biologists and wildlife managers,” said Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “After careful consideration and review from the service, this proposal represents one of the largest expansions of hunting and fishing opportunities on wildlife refuges in recent years.” National wildlife refuges generate important benefits from the conservation of wildlife and habitat through spending and employment for local economies.

According to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, published every five years by the service, more than 90 million Americans, or 41 percent of the United States’s population age 16 and older, pursued wildlife-related recreation in 2011. They spent more than $144 billion that year on those activities. Nearly 72 million people observed wildlife, while more than 33 million fished and more than 13 million hunted. The service manages its hunting and fishing programs on refuges to ensure sustainable wildlife populations, while offering historical wildlife-dependent recreation on public lands. Other wildlife-dependent recreation on national wildlife refuges includes wildlife photography, environmental education, wildlife observation and interpretation.

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

Page 13 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

Outdoor News:

Stay Safe: Wear Hunter Orange Last year was the safest year ever for Vermont hunters. There were no hunting-related shootings of any kind in any of Vermont’s hunting seasons. So far, 2013 is also accident-free and smart hunters can help keep this new hunting tradition going by choosing to wear hunter orange. “2012 was a fantastic milestone for Vermont’s 70,000 licensed hunters,” said Chris Saunders, Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s hunter education coordinator. “Credit goes to both the hunters and our 380 volunteer hunter education instructors. However, we can’t rest

on our laurels. Every year should be accident-free, and wearing at least hunter orange hat and vest can go a long way to ensuring that.” Hunters moving into the line of fire of other hunters and mistaking other hunters for game are two of the three most common causes of hunting-related shootings. Both types involve visibility problems, and both underscore the need for hunters to be seen, especially during the November rifle and December muzzleloader deer seasons as well as the rabbit, hare and upland bird seasons. Nationwide, data support this.

For instance, a New York study found that 94 percent of hunters involved in mistaken for game accidents were not wearing hunter orange. This statistic is even more startling when you consider that 81 percent of New York hunters do wear hunter orange. Concerns that deer are scared by hunter orange are unfounded. A deer’s vision is based on movement, patterns and color variations. Unlike humans, deer do not have multiple color receptors in their eyes. They can see color, but their

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

Outdoor News: spectrum is limited. This means deer must rely heavily on their ability to detect movement over the ability to interpret color variations and patterns. Regardless of how well they see it, ample anecdotal evidence suggests they aren’t bothered by it. Yearly deer harvests in many of the states that require hunter orange exceed the size of Vermont’s deer herd. Hunting is obviously very safe in Vermont, but it could be even safer in the long term if all hunters choose hunter orange. A hunter orange hat and vest should be considered the minimum for hunters afield.

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

Leashed Tra for Recover

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department fied leashed tracking dog owners who wi have been shot during hunting season bu

The leashed tracking dog owners must pa Fish & Wildlife in order to be certified an

Vermont’s second archery deer season da

Jeremy O’Neil Arlington 802-37 Chris Peacock Burlington 802-6 Jess Monago Burlington 607-76 Tina Mollison Chittenden 802-3 Ronald Martin Enosburg 802-9 Zack Hill Essex Jct 802-578-312 Kenneth Douglas III Fairfax 802 Sally Marchmont Fletcher 802Kristy Wheel Grand Isle 802-37 Laura Nichols Granville NY 518 Tim Nichols Granville NY 518-6 Travis Nichols Granville NY 51 Doug des Groseilliers Hardwick Ashley Buffum Island Pond 802 Justin Goulet Island Pond 802-6 Ben Broe Jeffersonville 802-598 Christine DiPietro Jericho 802-8 Tom DiPietro Jericho 802-899Tom DiPietro Jr Jericho 802-89 Jeff Adams Milton 802-893-437 Rene’ Bugnon Mount Holly 802 Chris Knox Northfield 802-793 Kevin Shea Shelburne 802-985 Marvin Ainsworth St Johnsbury Daniel Myers Troy 802-988-43 Dennis Roberts Troy 802-988-9 Leon Prevost Jr Underhill 802-3 Greg Ruetzler Warren 802-583 Tom Harvey Waterbury 802-24 Kelli Raymond West Rupert 80 James Lober Westminster 802Robert MacNeil White River Jct Mark Powling Williamsville 802 Wannetta Powling Williamsvill Ken Yearman Worcester 802-2

acking Dogs ry of Game

t is providing the following list of certiill help locate deer bear or moose that ut not yet recovered.

ass an extensive exam administered by nd licensed to provide their services.

ates are Dec. 7-15.

75-6718 or 802-447-1732 658-3423 65-0945 353-6257 933-9134 29 2-849-6591 -849-9304 72-4741 8-642-3012 or 518-932-6506 642-3012 18-642-3012 or 518-932-6505 k 802-472-6177 2-673-3969 673-5988 8-1235 899-4479 -4479 99-4479 75 or 802-324-6316 2-259-2363 3-2224 or 802-279-4427 5-2887 y 802-748-8627 370 or 802-309-2504 9632 or 802-673-5061 310-6210 3-1339 44-1458 02-394-7862 or 802-394-7820 -722-4889 t. 802-281-9340 2-348-6678 le 802-348-6678 229-1057

Skiing & Snowboarding:

Vermont Ski and Ride: What’s Vermont ski and snowboard resorts think about winter all year long. When a season wraps up they wonder: How can we improve our resort and deliver an even better product next season? From snowmaking upgrades to new lodges and hotels, skiers and riders can be sure that the successful 2012-13 season means big have investments to continually improve the Vermont mountain experience.

Add that to the $4.7 million invested last summer for a two-year total that includes 445 HKD tower guns, 150 energy efficient land guns, 20 Super Pole Cat fan guns and seven miles of new snowmaking pipe. These improvements allow Stowe to operate with greater energy efficiency, increases potential for more early season terrain, increases overall snow quality and allows mountain operations to resurface the mountain quickly.

Jay Peak Resort will unveil $43 million in improvements for the 2013-14 winter season. Projects include a new 80,000-square-foot Stateside Hotel and base lodge with restaurants and locker rooms, a rental center, 84 new mountain cottages, and a complete revamping of the resort’s entrance.

Bolton Valley is replacing 6,000 feet of snowmaking pipe for the 2013-14 season. The new pipe will help to ensure smooth operations all season long. Bolton is also updating one-third of the ski and snowboard rental fleet with new equipment from Rossignol and Burton.

Mad River Glen’s goal is to maintain and Burke Mountain will see plenty of change preserve the experience rather than over the next few years. Phase I (a $98 million investment) will see overhaul or upgrade it. The ability of Mad River Glen to construction of two hotels modeled after the consistently reinvest in the mountain’s Tram Haus Lodge at Jay Peak. infrastructure is a testament to the success Following an investment of more than $1 of the Cooperative. Both the skier-owners and the million in snowmaking enhancements last winter, Smugglers Notch Resort will management understand that skiers come The Single Chair at Mad River Gle incorporate 100 high efficiency tower guns to Mad River for the unique combination of legendary terrain, sense of community, into the fleet this season. 15 SV1020 tower guns The new guns will allow more snow to be low skier density and intimate atmosphere. Ongoing glade work made at a wider temperature range, improving Sugarbush has added two new groomers to will increase accessible early and late season coverage and in-season coverage, with greatly reduced energy costs. its fleet for the 2013-14 season, helping lay and riding. out great corduroy for skiing and riding Rikert Nordic Cen Stowe Mountain Resort’s continued pleasure. The resort has also invested $300,000 in the snowbike fleet this yea investment in state-of-the-art snowmaking Snowbike rentals an operations includes an additional $3.4 million purchase and installation of 70 low energy will be available thro in new equipment and upgrades for the 2013- HKD tower snowguns. season. 14 winter season, which consist of 120 HKD The Snow Bowl is upgrading its tower guns, four Super Pole Cat fan guns and Killington Resort an snowmaking system with the installation of miles of new snowmaking pipe. Page 18 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

Skiing & Snowboarding:

new for the 2013-14 season?

proud to announce more than $11 million experience. The Ski & Snowboard school is adding a investment in capital improvements for the backcountry offering for JETS, its premier 2013-14 winter season. children’s seasonal program, an exciting The Quechee Ski Area is a new Vermont addition to the all-mountain and freestyle Ski Areas Association member for the groups. 2013-14 season. Skier-sourced funding via the Magic It is a great beginner mountain with an outstanding ski school and friendly staff Faithful Club helps Magic continue to invest that offers an affordable way to get hooked in expanding its snowmaking system to improve coverage, open earlier and extend the on skiing & riding. All trails are covered with snowmaking season even longer. Fifteen to 20 new high efficiency mobile and grooming to a high standard. tower guns will be purchased this fall and an For the 2013/2014 ski season groups can additional trail (Sorcerer) will be brought now own the 100-acre Suicide Six ski online to bring snowmaking coverage to 75 mountain for their next company outing of percent of Magic trails. In addition, there will be enhancements to up to 200 people. the beginner area’s lift service and there will Okemo announces Operation Snowburst: be a new, highly visible location for Magic’s A nearly $1 million investment in Okemo's terrain park and free-ride area. Also, Magic’s youth training program will snowmaking system that will include the purchase of 225 HKD SV tower guns and be adding snowboarding to its freeskiing will allow Okemo to maximize its water- offering. pumping ability and snowmaking potential Stratton has invested $6 million in the from the very start of the season. Under favorable conditions, Okemo will mountain and resort experience, including open multiple trails from the summit to the snowmaking, lodging, on-mountain dining and Village food, drink and fun. base on opening day in November. en. The resort has added three new snowcats, Okemo is also opening another new glade this year and partnering with two new trails, and new double-black glade, s on Allen and Ross. Killington, Pico and Mount Sunapee to offer the Squirrel’s Nest, bringing total woods runs and trailside trimming a new season pass, 4.0 The College Pass. to nearly 150 acres. e surface area for skiing Mount Snow replaced more than four miles Bromley continues to invest first and foremost in the snow surface, putting another of snowmaking pipe over this past summer, nter is rolling out a $250,000 into snowmaking improvements that which will improve the already stellar ar to add to the fun. include new guns, new pipe, a new air system’s efficiency and output. nd bike specific trails compressor and a new groomer. Mount Snow has also invested more than oughout the 2013-14 Bromley is continuing the base lodge $250,000 on brand new rental equipment and renovation on the second floor this season, has performed a complete renovation of the brightening, refreshing and adding more Clocktower Building to streamline the rental nd Pico Mountain are seating to improve the overall guest experience. Page 19 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

Hiking:

The Remnant Walking Sticks It’s good to marvel at the little things some times. One of those small things that never fail to make us wonder: the collections of remnant walking sticks. We find them everywhere, usually after a weekend, or a busy week day. Birch, maple, oak. In multiple sizes. Two foot sticks for the pint-size hikers, and taller walking sticks for the more mature visitor.

They collect in front of the welcome sign. They lean up against the side of the Visitor Center, and of the Harwood Barn. Even random tree trunks are decorated with them. Sometimes there is even a stash in or outside of the outhouse. Gosh knows, some probably have been hucked down into that murky hole (but, I won’t be looking there). Tom and Kathryn usually just shake their heads, “Why do they leave them here?” But they say it with a smile. Most of the time, we just toss the sticks back into the woods … probably to be discovered again at a later date. I like to think that the hiking stick

repositories are something more. That each stick was left with good intentions by the people that enjoyed spending an hour, or a weekend, exploring Merck Forest. Those remnant walking sticks are badges of time well-spent. They are small tokens anonymously

conferred from one visitor to the next; an invitation, saying, “Here, go explore. It’s beautiful out there.” Melissa Carll is the Communications Coordinator at Merck Forest & Farmland Center. Learn more about Merck Forest at www.merckforest.org.

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Wool E’ Bugger:

Kathy “Wool E' Bugger” Ehlers is a native Vermonter from Ludlow. A nickname that stuck from earlier years teaching fly casting and fly tying at the Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort. She was a cartoonist for an outdoor magazine for three years that featured her “Wool E’ Bugger” cartoon block. Her sense of humor and passion for hunting and fishing have combined with her artistic side to create smiles. She says her job will not be done until everyone is smiling. :)

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Fly Fishing:

Time for a Road Trip

As we enter the month of November, fishermen from Vermont are faced with the sad reality that many of their favorite Vermont trout streams are closed until April of next year. In order to satisfy the fix of feeling a fish tugging on the end of your line many opportunities are afforded to anglers, both in Vermont and the surrounding states. In December, I will discuss the increased opportunities on Vermont’s waterways for anglers as

we enter the 2014 angling season, but in the meantime let’s tackle opportunities that are within a short drive of the Green Mountain State. Each November for the past 20 years I have made my annual

pilgrimage to western New York’s Lake Ontario region to access some of the best Trophy Fishing in the world (in short, the land of giants). For spin and fly fishermen alike, this region offers world class fishing opportunities for a variety of species. As the daylight hours shorten in the fall, Pacific chinook and coho salmon migrate up Lake Ontario’s tributaries for the annual fall spawning run. Hot on their heels is a strain of Western Steelhead introduced to the

Page 28 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

Fly Fishing: Great Lake Region and reared in the Salmon River Hatchery located in Altmar, N.Y. The steelhead start entering the river systems in mid- to late-October (depending on water levels) each year to feed on the millions of salmon eggs and decaying flesh of the spawned out fish. The steelhead is entering the river to FEED. As the fall water temperatures cool these giant rainbows are susceptible to a variety of fishing and fly fishing methods. The most effective and commonly used method of steelhead fishing is to use egg sacks or egg fly patterns to entice a strike. However, what most fishermen visiting this region don’t realize is

that these fish can be caught with a variety of techniques to satisfy any fly fishing method you wish to use. Only recently have I shared with my clients the opportunities of targeting fall migrating fish with dry fly, streamer and traditional nymphing methods. Over the past five years I have hooked several fall steelhead on dry flies, much to the surprise of the region’s most seasoned fly fishing anglers. Prime fall water temperatures for this opportunity range from 42 degrees to 55 degrees. While water temperatures fall within this range, fly anglers each day can target fish with these three methods. In the fall, steelhead will generally

be in faster pocket water or riffle water. Productive steelhead water can be found along the banks of the Salmon River from the Pineville Bridge at the Mid-River point upstream to the Altmar fly-fishing zone. This section of the river provides excellent spawning habitat and thousands of salmon each fall use this gravely section of the river to perform their spawning rituals. I typically start and end each day in pursuit of aggressive feeding steelhead with dry flies. Steelhead are more likely to respond to surface flies at low light levels. As the day progresses and the light levels increase I switch my tactics to mid-day streamer and

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

Fly Fishing:

nymphing methods. So for those looking to pursue all three approaches lets first begin with our dry fly fishing methods. Fall fly patterns include Parachute Adams, Stimulators, Caddis Patterns, Wulffs, Bombers, and traditional salmon wet flies, (Silver Doctor, Green Butt Black Bear, Green Highlander, and Blue Charm are some of my go to salmon flies) all fished on the surface. So for any fly fishermen tying their own flies be sure to use hooks of a heavy wire gauge over the use of traditional dry fly hooks since

steelhead can straighten or break hooks easily. Prime lies for targeting fish with dry flies would be the heads of each run and all current seams surrounding fast water sections of the river. With the warmer fall temperatures steelhead require heavily oxygenated water and prefer faster current regions where food is funneled to them. If dead drifting your fly doesn’t produce any interest, consider skittering or skating your dry flies across these prime lies.

Steelhead have not entered the fall waters to feed on dry flies so sometimes a waking fly catches their attention and produces a violent surface strike. Except for the last few days of spring these are the only time of the year that steelhead anglers can pursue these fish with surface flies. Fall streamer fishing for steelhead will produce for many anglers the most aggressive strikes you’ve ever experienced. Steelhead gain lots of protein from the nutrient rich salmon eggs and decaying flesh from the graveyards

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

Fly Fishing:

of the spawning areas. Flesh fly streamer patterns tied with bunny zonker strips in natural brown and white color patterns produce excellent streamer fishing opportunities. Various colors of Marabou Tube flies provide other options as well. Remember if fishing on the Salmon River, a single hook point only regulation applies in that region. Nymphing patterns for the midday down n’ dirty anglers include Hares Ears, Prince Nymphs, Black Stone Flies and a variety of Caddis Larva imitations.

No fly box is complete without bringing a variety of egg patterns to complete your nymphing fly box selection. If you’re too busy preparing your deer stand for this upcoming deer season, don’t panic, river steelhead fishing that begins in mid-October will not end until the spring spawning migrations is over. Great lakes steelhead fishing is a winter sport as well, but is generally limited to nymphing methods only. However, if standing in liquid water during sub-freezing temperatures with frozen guides and

numb fingers is not your idea of a fun day of fly fishing, you’ll have to wait until the warm days of late April to see steelhead poke their noses out of the water to eat your dry flies. Bob Shannon is the owner and head guide at The Fly Rod Shop in Stowe. He has more than 25 years of experience teaching fly fishing and is a member of the St. Croix Pro Staff as well as an ambassador for Simms Fishing Products. He currently serves on the board for Lake Champlain International and is on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife board.

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Fishing:

Fall Fishin Autumn provides some of the year’s best fishing opportunities in Vermont’s streams, rivers and lakes, and you may just have the water all to yourself. Hot temperatures in July and August can make fishing difficult for many species like trout, salmon, pike and walleye. But once the water starts to cool down in the fall, these fish start biting again. “ R i v e r temperatures are hovering around the mid-50s, which is the optimal temperature for fishing for rainbows, browns and brookies,” said Jud Kratzer, fisheries biologist for the Fish & Wildlife Department. “Anglers who troll for rainbow trout and salmon are usually successful right until the season closes.” Many Vermont waters also receive much less fishing pressure during the fall with summer vacations over and kids back in school. “Fall is the perfect time for anglers who enjoy solitude to get out and fish,” said Kratzer. Fall fishing hotspots include fishing for walleye on the Connecticut River and fishing for landlocked salmon on the Clyde River. Several stretches of rivers in Vermont have recently been opened for year round catch and release fishing opportunities. Page 32

ng Frenzy The Lake Champlain region is also a great destination for late-fall fishing, as the water cools down more slowly than in other areas of the state. The high quality landlocked salmon fishing on Lake Champlain makes getting out in cooler fall weather a worthwhile venture. Late season tributary fishing is often overlooked and can produce salmon and steelhead through late fall, as well as continued steelhead fishing right through the winter as river conditions and regulations allow. Fishing for salmon and trout on Lake Champlain in the late fall is much like fishing for them in early spring. “Deep trolling equipment is not necessary, but can sometimes be used to anglers’ advantage,” said Kratzer. “The fish will sometimes feed near the surface, where the action can be spectacular when trolling streamers with a fly rod or spoons with spinning tackle.” Anglers interested in tributary fishing for salmon should try the lower sections of the Lamoille and Winooski Rivers. For specific regulations on different waterways and more information on fishing in Vermont, see the Fish and Wildlife Law Digest and Guide at vt.fishandwildlife.com. Page 33

Fishing:

When the snow Harben can be the top of Verm untouched pow Skis, a Middlebu co-owns. But u falls, Harben spe second pursing rod. These fish a in the last week trout season a October.

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piles up, Dalton found hiking to mont’s hills to ski wder on Worth ury company he until the snow ends every extra trout with a fly all came to hand k of the Vermont at the end of

Page 35 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013 Bunch of workds

Hunting:

Kathy’s Moose

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Hunting:

here is no question this morning whether to wear my long johns. A cold crisp air has settled in to the Northeast Kingdom the night prior. Times were tough, a recent job layoff and the passing of a family member weighed heavy on my mind. I hoped my luck had changed with the drawing of my name in the moose lottery after an eight-year pursuit. Weeks later more good news followed – landing a job with the Postal Service. I was reluctant to inform my boss-to-be of my scheduled prioritized moose hunt. Honestly, I think I saw her sigh of relief, after all, a moose hunter is perfect for this outdoor, in-all-types-of-weather job. A quick knock at the door and a former co-worker, Bob Godbout, steps in with a chipper, “Good Morning,” and sits down to my mom’s cinnamon rolls and a fresh cup of coffee my dad brewed. Our 50 hours of prior scouting had not yielded anything Saturday or Sunday – the first two days of the hunt. My hopes were high after our combined scouting effort turned up nine moose, seven of which were bulls, one cow and one unknown. Imagine our disappointment upon seeing

six pickup trucks already at the place we chose to hunt the first morning. Not a sole was seen except for a couple footprints in the soggy soil in the prior months' scouts. Amazingly everyone dispersed and we saw only two other hunters once we were in the field. Over the weekend only one set of shots had been heard near us. This hunt granted me an opportunity to spend time with my dad. Closing in on 79, I had hoped to be drawn soon so he could accompany me as the second shooter. He is a generous, family man. A retired carpenter by trade still crafting fine outdoor furniture that adorns many homes throughout Vermont. At the age of 9, he’d let me tag along on his hunts. My little legs struggled to keep up with his long gait. I remember on one hunt tapping him on the shoulder pointing down at a doe sleeping 6 feet off the trail, he had just walked by unnoticed. I whispered, “Isn’t that what we’re looking for dad?” grinning from ear to ear. We sat down a short ways away to watch as she awoke.

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Hunting:

Minutes later, a twitch of her ear then she cautiously stood, her nostrils sifting the air for a hint of our scent. Tail lifted high she pranced off into the comfort of the woods. Forty-three years have passed and here we are traipsing through the Northeast Kingdom looking for this huge, gangly creature of the north. I had only seen a bull moose from the photographs dad had at the camp prior to our scouting. Our guide, Bob, was key – giving us maps, showing us what to look and listen for, as well as accompanying us to some places he knew. I did not know Bob personally before the hunt but it didn’t take long to see that he lives for the hunt. I can say without doubt that he is the best moose caller in the state. I had heard stories of Bob wearing his Hawaiian shirt to company meetings and green Crocs shoes. I have to

admit I’ve never known another woodsman to wear Crocs. This could be interesting. Upon hearing my name drawn on the radio I immediately called my husband, Buzz, to give him the news. A beep revealed Bob waiting on the other line to offer his guide experience. Having never been drawn himself he had accompanied others on successful hunts. I knew dad and I would need all the help we could get. In my 40 years of deer hunting I have only bagged four deer. Dad holds a similar record. One thing I do have is patience and persistence. Combine that with a well-planned hunt and the best moose caller in the state could prove to be deadly. Today we would turn our hunt to a different location – an area Bob was more familiar with. Finishing our coffee we venture into the night to get

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

Hunting: to our preferred spot hopefully before anyone else. Each time we drive along Route 105 I’m nervous that we will hit a moose driving to our hunt. We have seen one bull and two bear cross in earlier weeks. Along the way we pass by a skidder sitting on a flatbed trailer ready to help with the haul. A local logger, Mike, contacted my dad when he learned my name had been drawn. Mike kindly pointed out some prime land and a name to contact for permission. People were just as friendly and helpful during our scouts in other towns as well. Offering directions, equipment, coffee, you name it. I could feel the excitement in the air of the coming moose season. I’m not so sure I would have been so open to strangers learning of one man’s camp being vandalized. Dad and I had driven out to a nearby swamp. We stopped to view fresh moose tracks in the road. Our first glimpse of moose sign. Getting back into the truck dad joked, “I guess we don’t need our seat belts way out here, five miles from civilization.” Around the next corner a state trooper approached stopping his cruiser. “Strange place for a speed trap,” he said with a grin. We agreed, and, after a brief chat, he moved on. We laughed how funny it would have been if he had ticketed us for not wearing our seat belts. Slowly we bumped along the rutted road. The darkness was now starting to give in to the dawn. My thoughts were wondering if this would be the day.

This is what they look like.

After seeing the skidder all ready to go, awaiting my call and everyone so willing to help, I wondered if we were too prepared. Knowing all too well it never rains when you bring a raincoat. Things generally happen when you least expect it and are least prepared. Suddenly the truck stops. The

headlights reveal a moose spinning around in circles, its head cocked looking sideways at the sky. Her hindlegs buckling under her stressed body half falling down. I had read about whirling disease and the brainworm that caused it. We wanted to put her out of her misery but understood we couldn’t.

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Hunting:

A couple of bachelors seen during scouting.

Passing by her was difficult as we continued on while nature took its course. A few minutes later the truck came to a stop. We were at our destination. A pickup truck pulled in beside us and two hunters emerged eager to begin their hunt. A short conversation ensued of the whirling cow below, their effort to find two bulls they had seen yesterday and where we will go to avoid intruding on their hunt. A 15 minute walk up an old slab strewn wood road takes us to the perfect spot Bob has picked out for us. My dad hangs below making sure to stay in view, Bob in the middle and I above overlooking two partially open areas to my right and left.

Obvious signs of fresh moose tracks and chewed off maples line the wood road. The importance of logging for the survival of the moose population was clearly evident standing amid this slashy bog. I wonder how many moose this parcel of land can support? Five minutes pass before Bob makes his signature moose call that echoes through the woods. Excitement wells up inside me, I can hear a bulls faint reply just like Bob had instructed. A branch snaps, there’s an “umph” sound with each step of the approaching bull. My heart feels like its pounding so hard the moose will hear it. About 20 minutes pass of this cat and mouse game. Bob softens his call luring the huge

creature closer. I click my safety off. A flash of its brown back, a brushpile cracks beneath its staggering weight, a flicker of antlers in the morning sun. No matter how well planned, the sun shining directly in my scope was not part of my hunt planning. Searching for what seemed like forever, a hazy silhouette of the large bull appears stopping in my crosshairs 50 yards away. The borrowed .308 sings, breaking the morning silence. I am confident with my shots, no crosswinds. Dad and I had joked about the crosswinds effecting both our shots the week before. Twenty clicks of scope adjustment brought my shot up about a foot. The

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Hunting:

Kathy and her moose.

most critical aspect of the whole hunt had almost been overlooked. A moment of silence follows with the bulls final breaths and the tug of war with every hunters feelings. Paying homage to this majestic animal all the while trying to put my heart back into my chest. The bull lays 30 feet from my first shot. The sun glistens off its 4x4 rack as I stare in disbelief. Bob and dad approach, dad unselfishly comments he’s glad I shot it and not him. Bob looks on, pleased that his call had worked today, while my dad

reveals he has converted to a believer in the call now. I had been confident all along. Bob quickly offers to dress out the moose while my dad goes for help. No cell service here. About an hour and a half later a tractor emerges with Joe at the wheel. We had met Joe a month earlier offering his help if needed. He made quick work of transporting the moose to dad’s truck. Stories unfolded of Joes plight with the moose ripping down his sap lines and damaging the complete side of his truck two days prior … for the second time.

Controlling the population of the moose was fresh on his mind. On the drive out we ran into Tom and Dave, nearby camp owners who had also offered a friendly hand and coffee during the scout. On the way in to the weigh station I was able to phone my husband. “Did you get the message?” I asked. “No,” he replied. “I got a moose!” I shrieked. “I’m at the weigh station,” he said. Vermont is a small state and word travels fast. The weigh station was a two hour drive from our home in Ludlow. Good thing the state trooper didn’t have his speed trap set up on Interstate 91. My bull weighed in at 644 pounds. My husband quickly skinned it and the head will be mounted by the local taxidermist, Walter Driscoll. We took the meat to the butcher in Irasburg that evening. This hunt has been a group effort from beginning to end. Hunting with my dad and Bob the moose caller is a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget. The generosity and kindness that still exists in the hills of Vermont is refreshing. A moose permit offered me the chance to take time away from the every day grind and immerse myself in Vermont’s beautiful landscape once again. I am thankful for that. And this moose is a gift, giving its life for food for our table. The mounted head on my wall will be a treasured reminder of this hunt and the memories I will cherish forever. Kathy Ehlers is a native Vermonter from Ludlow.

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Old Tree Stands

Hunting:

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Hunting:

silently poked my way along the old logging road in the wet foliage; the tall grasses in the overgrown corridor of forest soaked my pants below the knees as I scanned the woods around me for any sign of deer. It was a new area I had never been in before, and my interest suddenly jumped when I came across a heavy deer run that crossed the old path in front of me. The fresh hoof tracks pressed into the mud and ran in a well defined groove down the gentle slope to the west. I turned to follow it and see what information I could gather and

maybe spot some buck sign. I went only about 20 yards when I spotted a big spruce tree next to the deer trail. At eye level I noticed some branches that had been cut off in a straight line. It was not recent work; the cut ends were old and slightly rotten, leaving the bark to begin peeling off the dead stump of wood. I glanced up to make an appraisal of the tree in its entirety and spotted the remains of an old permanent tree stand directly over my head.

It was a rotten tangle of boards propped among the limbs and it blended perfectly with the wet, black bark of the spruce. I glanced around at the terrain and realized that from that vantage point there was a great view of the heavy runway heading up toward a stand of heavy cover. It takes a fairly drastic change in the environment for deer to change their habits, and I realized this must be a travel corridor for many generations of deer, and that this could be as good a stand now as it may have been when its creator put that platform up in the tree years ago. Whenever I find an old tree stand

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Hunting:

in the woods I suddenly feel as though I am being watched, and have suddenly gone from explorer to intruder. I also get excited. Somebody here before me spent the time to build the stand because they thought it was a good spot. I immediately look around and wonder “Why here?” What kind of stories could be told about this spot by the hunter who had sat in that elevated perch? Maybe someone shot their first deer here, or perhaps a giant buck that rewarded the lucky hunter with their picture in the local paper in front of the woodpile, smiling broadly between the long tines of the rack. I try to imagine who could have

built it. It could be a hunter long gone, or possibly even someone you know who just hasn’t been there in a while.

Whenever I find an old tree stand in the woods I suddenly feel as though I am being watched, and have suddenly gone from explorer to intruder. Each stand is unique, dictated by the trees and the materials the hunter had available. They range from elaborate fortresses with walls and maybe a roof, to the simplest of platforms with one or two boards. One large tree on my own

property was cut down some time ago, and in a large fork is a single board jammed in place, having begun to grow into the wood, and really would not have been noticeable from the ground. Sometimes your only clue may be a lone board barely clinging to a tree trunk, once having been the step of a ladder. Rusty nails poke out twisted at odd angles, and grey weathered planks that were once horizontal now dangle, pointing forlornly toward earth. These were the days before climbing steps and safety straps. Some stands are very high; much higher than I would be comfortable in, even with modern safety gear. The hunters would sometimes

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Hunting: scramble up the limbs like a kid climbing a big tree in their back yard, probably carrying their gun. Other times they would build a simple ladder from planks or limbs fastened to the tree. Unlike finding a modern portable tree stand, you have a chance of being the only hunter in the area to have stumbled upon the spot. As long as it is clearly an old and unused stand the spot should be available to hunt. Take a close look around at the terrain and cover. Unless there was some major change to the landscape, or houses and roads built extremely close, there is a good chance that the deer still relate to the area the same as they did when the stand was built. Look for something creating a funnel through the area. Trees grow over time, so if the spot is to be used by generations of deer it is most likely related to the topography. Of course, these stands should never be climbed at all. Even if some portions look to be intact, it is never safe. It doesn’t really even have to be a tree stand to be a good spot, either. An old, collapsed ground blind or just an old chair in the woods can have the same significance and provide clues as to the travel habits of the local deer. I found another old stand in a natural terrain funnel on the side of a ridgeline. I have seen many deer move through the area, but never found any distinct trail. One early morning, in the gray light of dawn, I hiked to this spot. Less than 50 yards from the old

stand, I stood placing a scent dispenser for my morning hunt when I spotted two large does moving cautiously in front of me. They were moving on a course that would have them passing

directly beneath the stand. I froze and got a good look at them, but a moment later they became suspicious and trotted back the way they came. I hung my scent and positioned myself at my stand

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Hunting:

overlooking the area. Less than an hour later, I heard a deer moving below me on the other side of the tree stand in some thicker cover. After a few minutes of starting and stopping, the deer approached close enough so I could just barely make out a deer body through the brush. I only got glimpses of bits and pieces of the deer as it raised its nose into the air, flashing the white underside of it throat and smelling the scent drifting through the trees. As it moved along cautiously, not

quite comfortable enough to come any closer, I glanced up into the trees and spotted the weathered gray wood of the old stand, almost directly above the deer. Of course, some stands may not be hot spots. Maybe the hunter who built the stand never saw a deer and chose a poor spot in the first place. But if you evaluate the surrounding terrain closely and look for even subtle deer sign, you may have found some past hunters’ favorite stand. So the next time you’re out in the

woods and spot an old stand, or even just notice a rotten, decaying board in the leaves, take a closer look around you, you may have just found a great new spot, and have it all to yourself. Brian Lang lives in Reading with his wife Michelle and two spirited children, Megan and Ben. He is most at home in the outdoors, and is always looking forward to the next trip. He loves a good story, and writing about his experiences has become a fulfilling way to share the memories. He can be reached at Bclang78@gmail.com.

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Sacred Hunter:

Natural

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Sacred Hunter:

lly Rich M

any of the problems in my life have been the cause of a poor relationship to money. When I was young I never learned the value of working hard for commensurate remuneration (I never had to “earn” anything.) All I had to do was beg or be stubborn and I would get what I wanted. Let me say that this set me up for a significant struggle. When I got in trouble financially I believed that someone would come along and “bail me out.” I don’t fault my father for this. He was the 10th child of a very poor coal mining family in Pennsylvania. All he wanted was to give his children everything he could not afford. He was very successful in his early business career and the family was perceived by many to be “rich.” I based my entire self worth on what my family could afford to lavish on me. This was to become one of my greatest challenges in life. In my teens I began to hunt and the first thing I learned was that it didn’t matter how much money my family had, nature treated everyone equally under the same conditions. I was 30 years old before the lesson hunted me down and presented itself in a way that I could no longer ignore. As they say, “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”

My father, through his magnanimously naïve nature had made several poor business decisions and managed to lose all the income he had created. He could no longer support the delusions of grandeur that I had created. This was to become the starting point for my sacred path. Hunting, fishing and foraging were to become my teachers. To quote Red Cloud, a late 19th century Sioux Chief, “…I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love.” This struck me one day as I stood weeping for my condition. What was it that I wanted? What did I need to feel like I was worthwhile? My answer came to me as I hunted. I thought I was hunting for deer, squirrels, turkey or rabbits, but what I was unconsciously seeking was my need to feel as though I had value in the world. Since I had equated “value” with monetary measures, I did not find what I was looking for externally. I tried guiding for waterfowl for a little more than a decade and it seemed that taking money for providing clients with a chance to

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Sacred Hunter:

shoot a limit of ducks or geese seemed to diminish the value of what I was striving to exchange. It almost seemed that the birds became a commodity that had an assigned value that could be purchased with currency. It felt demeaning after a while. But during that time I also discovered that what I was searching for all along was the “meaning” behind what I enjoyed so much. It was the beauty of a wood drakes’ herringbone patterned flank feathers, the iridescence of a redlegged drake’s crown, the inimitable cupping of wings of a lone Canada goose dropping in from the heavens after a long migratory journey. I wanted to share the love of his lonely her-onk in the moonlight. I felt drawn to communicate the exquisite aromas of wood smoke, decaying nuts, and the majestic display

of a tom turkey strutting for attention in the early morning light of the spring woods. I found myself speaking of the impending arrival of fiddleheads, ramps and wild asparagus as the earth warmed up to 63 degrees in the spring. I languished over the taste of fresh brook trout with nothing but some lemon and butter in a pan over an open fire. More than anything I had known before, I wanted to share my love and my experiences with others. As I became aware of what I wanted, I began to realize that my values were shifting away from material possessions and a consumptive lifestyle. I wanted to, at least partially, support myself and my wife with food that I had grown, foraged or harvested. As my values shifted, so did my self-image. Over time I began to feel wealthy. Rich, even.

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Sacred Hunter:

I was filling my freezer with nutritious food. I was growing my own vegetables and finding my own mushrooms. I was eating pure, natural, local food. My household grew to include chickens to provide us with eggs. I didn’t even eat eggs before I had chickens, now an omelet starts off my day three mornings a week. When we have guests over for dinner, it is a production. I cook venison backstraps in a plum pepper sauce and we celebrate our feast with a good bottle of merlot. All of this has led me to the conclusion that despite my lack of monetary income, I have learned that true riches, which I believe is better described as “wealth,” comes not from how new my truck is, nor what cell phone I use, but the abundance of natural elements in

my life and how conscious I am of all that is available to me. With this, my definition of wealth has changed and my self-image is now based on how much love and gratitude I have in my life. So the next time you are feeling poor or are not sure how you define value in your life, I would propose that you pick up your gun, your fishing rod or a basket and walk into the woods. Nature provides us with all the riches we need. Bradley Carleton is Executive Director of Sacred Hunter.org, a non-profit organization that is being formed to educate the public on the spiritual connection of man to nature and raises funds for Traditions Outdoor Mentoring.org, which mentors at-risk young men in outdoor pursuits.

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Family Outdoors:

Pay It Forward

Every year with the changing colors that surround those of us blessed to live in this beautiful place, many of us “experienced” hunters begin pawing through their totes of hunting gear tucked away in the basement. I use the term “experienced” as a synonym for older, veteran, or 2013 will not be our first rodeo. perhaps, even seasoned – but suffice “There are more than a few of us it to say for many of us Opening Day with gray in our beards,” a customer

told me one day and I could not agree more. The whitetail hunter in Vermont is not getting any younger. I recently heard a question on the radio asking, what will become of the future of Vermont’s hunting tradition? The answer to that question lies within us old guys, and it is up to us to be sure the answer is a positive one.

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Family Outdoors: At some point in the lives of each one of us, there was an “old guy,” a father, grandfather, uncle, neighbor or close friend who introduced us to the hunting life. For me it was my father. I am fortunate to come from a hunting family and the Friday night before deer season was like Christmas Eve. The season that was to come would be so full of promise, the expectation of what could be around the next bend or over the next ridge was what and still does get me out of bed before daylight to chase the gray ghosts of Vermont. My father is gone now, and for me the hunting season is bittersweet. Sure even before his passing it had been several years since we hunted together, due to his failing health, but every evening after returning home I would call him or he would give me a ring to grill me on what I saw, and “did it have horns?” I miss those days.

Today, I have new hunting buddies, my children Brooke and Connor. Brooke is a sophomore and much of her time these days is spent on homework, and friends. 2013 will be her last youth hunt, and it will be abbreviated due to school commitments. I am confident she will continue her hunting adventures during the regular seasons, and has informed me that a sheep hunt would be a great high school graduation present. Brooke harvested her first deer a couple of years ago and to this day it is one of the greatest moments of my life. She has hunted and harvested turkeys, and like all of us has tasted the bitter pill of disappointment. That is the hunting life, no guarantees. Connor is 100 percent pure boy. He is happiest when he is doing something and fortunately that something is usually with me. He began his hunting career in 2012 as a 9-year-old and we have many youth and regular seasons ahead of us.

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Hunting: He harvested his first turkey in the fall of 2012 and we have already spent several hours running our German Shorthair Pointer, Oakley, hoping to get him is first partridge. Connor has two loves, baseball and hunting, and as a matter of fact as I am writing this, he is sitting with me watching our beloved Red Sox in the World Series while playing a hunting game he downloaded on my iPhone. Baseball and hunting – really, does it get any better? My kids and my wife have embraced the hunting life. Karen, my wife and best friend, is as we say here in the house, a game snob and only wants to hunt moose. She had her opportunity a few years ago however was unable to fill her tag – a result she is quick to blame on the guide, and you can guess who that might be. I am a blessed man. My family not only supports my lifestyle, but takes part in it. We enjoy the fruits of therhunt, but even more so the participation, and the privilege. I am fortunate to have children and a wife to introduce

to the hunting life. I like to think they are equally fortunate to have someone to bring them hunting and teach them the lessons handed down to me by my father, and his father before him. I titled this month’s article “Pay It Forward,” because I truly believe that when we take a child hunting, that is exactly what we are doing. Remember, not every child has someone and not every someone has a child. Pay It Forward – remember if your someone had not done so, what would you be doing every fall?

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Hunting:

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Hunting:

Vt. Youth Deer Hunt Weekend is Nov. 9-10

A youngster’s first hunt can mark the beginning of a lifelong passion for the outdoors and a commitment to wildlife conservation. There is no finer time to begin this journey than during Vermont’s upcoming youth deer hunting weekend Nov. 9-10, before the rifle deer season opens. “Vermont’s special youth deer hunting weekend helps ensure that young hunters get the quality training and experiences they need for lifelong participation,” said Fish & Wildlife Hunter Education Coordinator Chris Saunders. “By design, the youth weekend hunt reinforces the route of initiation that is critical in recruitment -- learning through the family.” Anyone, resident or nonresident,

who is 15 years old or younger on the weekend of the hunt and who has successfully completed a hunter education course may purchase a hunting license and obtain a free youth deer hunting tag. The requirements apply to all interested young hunters, including the children of landowners. The young hunter must be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 years of age who holds a Vermont hunting license. The adult may accompany up to two young hunters. The law requires the adult to have direct control and supervision of the young hunters, including the ability to see and communicate without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars.

Landowner permission is required in order to hunt on private land during the youth deer hunt weekend. The young hunter may take one deer of either sex. The antler restriction that applies for other Vermont deer seasons does not apply for youth deer hunting weekend. Violation of the youth deer hunting law can result in a doubled fine that is assessed against the adult who accompanies the youth. A 2007 survey showed that Vermont’s youth hunting seasons for deer, turkey and waterfowl work. Current youth hunters, past youth hunters and their mentors were highly satisfied with their

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Hunting: experiences, and this translated into an increased desire to hunt in the future. Perhaps most telling of all, the youth hunting weekend was the first hunting experience for 69 percent of all surveyed youth hunters. Youth deer hunters who get a deer on youth deer hunting weekend can help Vermont’s deer management program by reporting their deer at a biological check stations. “The information collected from deer during the youth deer hunting weekend is vital to deer management in Vermont,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s Deer Project Leader Adam Murkowski.

“Our ability to assess the health of local deer herds increases with the number of deer that are examined at biological check stations.” The Vermont fish & Wildlife department will have personnel at the 23 biological check stations. “Managing for deer herd health means monitoring the physical condition of individual deer to ensure they are healthy,” said Murkowski. “The Youth Deer Weekend is our best opportunity to assess the physical condition of individual deer and examine the demographics of the deer herd as youth hunters are allowed to harvest any deer without sex or antler restrictions.”

Barre, R & L Archery; Eden Mills, Ingall’s Market & Deli; Bakersfield, Bakersfield Village Market; Irasburg, Bob’s Quick Stop; Jericho, General Store; Pittsford, Keith’s Country Store; Pawlet, Mach’s General Store; Bennington, Marty’s Sports & Gunsmithing; North Hartland, Steve’s Bait Shop; Island Pond, Northern Wildlife; Danby, Otter Creek Campground; Hardwick, Riteway Sports; Swanton, St. Marie’s; Springfield, Fire Department; East Randolph, Middle Branch Market and Deli; Middlebury, Vermont Field Sports; Bradford, Bradford Bottle Shoppe; Newport, Wright’s Sports; McIndoes Falls, Paul’s Whistle Stop; Concord, Barnie’s Market; Stowe, Fly Rod Shop; Orwell, Buxton’s Country Store; West Brattleboro, Paradise Farm Surgarhouse.

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Hunting:

Horns O

y early November, most whitetail fanatics are waist deep into the hunting pool. I am no different, so before I plunge into the deep end I will take a brief

pause, catch my breath and give thanks. Thanks to the people, places and things associated to my lifelong pursuit of this passion.

I could start at the beginning, my childhood, but due to this morning’s events, I prefer to remain in the moment. Today was the opener of the 2013 Youth deer hunting season.

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Hunting:

O’ Plenty

My son Tommy (age 12) and I headed out into the predawn hills of Mendon with a solid plan in place. We were poised to sit for twohour stints in four areas that we had

determined would provide opportunities to see and hopefully shoot a deer. Just 20 minutes into our second two-hour watch, I noticed movement up the ridge to our left and immediately gave Tommy a nudge “Deer coming, get ready.” I glassed the movement and was pleased to see that it was a small buck. The buck was moving along at a good clip so my son’s ability to quickly focus on the animal with rifle shouldered and scope full of brown was going to determine the outcome. After a few tense moments and the deer’s last second decision to turn and head straight for us, my son counted to three – very quietly, but aloud – and squeezed off a shot. The buck struggled to make it 40 yards in a few bounds and together, we watched him expire. It all happened quickly and left me speechless. The following words from my son will never escape my memory ... “Dad, I love you so much! I am so excited and so happy. I can’t believe it, I got a buck ... I love you Dad.” My son loves me. He makes a tremendous shot on his first buck and the first words out

of his mouth are “Dad, I love you.” You can’t stuff that and put it on the wall. Hunting allowed us to have that moment. Just me and my boy out in the woods... I am thankful that he is following in my footsteps, proud that he is genuine in his pursuit of deer. Together we will deliver steaks to the landowner that granted us permission. We will thank him once again for allowing us access to his land. It is not posted but private nonetheless. This buck is among many deer and wild turkeys that we have taken from his property. Additional thanks go out to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department for its tireless efforts to encourage, support and promote our youth hunters creating seasons specifically for them. The opportunity to hunt in advance of the traditional November firearms season has been somewhat controversial but the dividends paid will benefit future generations. These experiences will inspire them to defend and maintain their right to hunt. My wife ... my poor abandoned and for three months neglected wife.

Page 63 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

Hunting:

I better thank her not only in print but in person. My hunting obsession creates marital “strife” beginning in September and ending just before her birthday on Dec. 13th. And somehow she manages to

tolerate all of this year in and year out. Back to where this all started, my childhood in southern Vermont. Without mentors like my Uncle Tom, My grandfather Thomas Dockum and my Aunt Jeanne, I

wouldn’t even be writing this article. My aunt and uncle received texts of a young man with his first buck today moments after the kill. It reminded them of earlier hunts with me in tow; dressed in wool, wearing Sorel pack boots, and

Page 64 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

Hunting: lugging my .243 rifle making as much noise as ... well my son Tommy did today. Through the years I have hunted with some outstanding people. Some have turned into lifelong friends, creating a tradition that plays out each fall in the Southern Adirondacks or Green Mountains. Others have come and gone for various reasons. I have either hunted deer with them resulting in friendship or already had that relationship, which led to a hunt or several hunts together. And finally … the Whitetail. They are hands down the single most unique, graceful and intriguing animal worthy of pursuit. No two deer are the same. They do things you never thought possible making every moment in the woods an opportunity to experience something new and amazing. So thank you friends, family, landowners and deer. You have provided me with so many opportunities to share and experience. Jeremy Baker chases whitetails passionately with friends and family throughout the Green Mountains and Adirondacks of New York State. Feel free to send him an email: jeremyrbaker@comcast.net.

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The Great Artdoors:

‘Foot B

EvanChismark.com Facebook.com/EvanChismarkArt

art of my daily routine involves taking the dogs for a walk in the woods. The walk is usually about an hour, generally along the same path, and at roughly the same time each day. Our daily walks aren’t just for the sake of getting the hounds some exercise; it’s also the time when I turn my brain off, let the peace of my surroundings pervade my unconscious and allow my creative juices to recharge. It sounds counter-intuitive, but each day when I head out, I make a concentrated effort to turn off my brain so that I can allow all of the latent creative thoughts that have been lying dormant to emerge from the ether. It’s oddly ironic that the best way for me to inspire creativity and come up with solutions to the artistic and other challenges in my life is to stop thinking. I’m sure there’s some psychological reason that this works, but I try not to question these things. Anyway, a few weeks back I was waiting for an important phone call

and I broke the No. 1 rule of our daily walks and brought my cell phone with me. I told myself I’d put it to good use and take some pictures, maybe get some video of the dogs playing in the

leaves. Instead, I ended up taking multiple calls, responding to text messages and ignoring what was happening around me. Not cool.

Page 70 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

Bridge’

inch, pen and ink on archival sketch paper.

So the next day I decided that in order to atone for my sins of the previous day, I’d bring my sketchbook and stop and do some sketching. After wandering for a while I

found myself at the small wooden bridge that is the subject of this month’s piece. This is a bridge I’d walked and ridden across countless times. But stopping to take a good look at it

with sketchpad in hand gave me a new perspective – literally and figuratively. The logs that form the span of the bridge and the rough-hewn planks that create the walking surface are at home among the trees and river, but at the same time have been inalterably transformed into something altogether unnatural. I ended up working on the sketch a bit more when I got back to the studio, adding some detail and adlibbing the background a bit. It has a distinct look that’s at once cartooney and also realistic. Simple, but still deep. I like it. It’s a break from my usual overly detailed and hyper realistic work, but I think that’s what makes it aesthetically pleasing. This drawing awakened my senses and all of a sudden I was looking at the usual landmarks along my walk with a new perspective. So yeah, from now … the phone stays at home. Evan Chismark is an artist, environmentalist, and overly opinionated lover of the outdoors. He holds a master’s degree in environmental law from Vermont Law School, has a hard time sitting still, and is a sucker for a good IPA. He and his wife and their two hairy, four-legged children live in Stowe. To purchase any of the work featured in this column, check out EvanChismark.com, or email the artist at info@evanchismark.com Or if you just want to prove your social media savvy, like him at Facebook.com/EvanChismarkArt.

Page 71 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

The Outside Story:

Chipmunk Game Theory 101 Two chipmunks vie for seeds on our front lawn. One lives directly underneath the bird feeder. Another hails from the far side of the house, address unknown. The chipmunks appear identical to me: same size, same stripes. Same interests, namely seed hoarding, aggressive chittering, jumping into the bushes and back out again, and brazen stifftailed standoffs with the dog. However, some aspects of these chipmunks’ behavior are probably distinctive. Experiments have demonstrated that a chipmunks’ choosiness about what food they collect, how fully they stuff their cheek pouches, and even how quickly they stuff food in there all relate to the distance between a foraging site and a home burrow. The eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus, is a central place forager. This means that, similar to the beaver and the honeybee, the chipmunk carries food back to a central location. This time of year, that location is the chipmunk’s winter burrow. It’s an impressive feat of earthworks that includes a bedroom, bathroom, several tunnels to the surface, and multiple larders.

In late autumn, the chipmunk retreats to its bedroom, tucks its tail over its nose, and sinks into a deep sleep. However, unlike many other hibernating mammals, the chipmunk doesn’t sleep the winter away. Because it lacks fat reserves, it has to wake up frequently to feed. In other words, chipmunks have good cause for their hoarding obsession. But their intense foraging activity has a cost. The time and energy that a chipmunk spends obtaining and hauling food from a particular site, be it a birdfeeder or a patch of forest floor, represent precious calories invested and other opportunities sacrificed. As established food sites are depleted, chipmunks have to go out and look

for new ones, and this is an energy gamble. Long distance foraging may offer access to more desirable food sites, but it requires more travel time and increases the risk of predation. Then there is the “loading curve” consideration. In general, the more food a chipmunk stuffs in its cheek pouches, the slower its subsequent stuffing, and therefore the greater its overall risk of predation. Nor is every food item created equal. In addition to issues of durability and nutritive value, some food is simply easier to harvest and stuff than other food. As if all these factors weren’t enough to worry about, chipmunks have another problem to manage: other chipmunks. Chipmunk territories average about 5,000 square meters (a little more than an acre) and they overlap. This means that rivals lurk nearby, poised to Hoover up food at a forage site, or even steal from undefended burrows. So how does all this play out underneath the bird feeder? Fortunately for the inquisitive, there has been extensive research in central place foraging over the past few decades, and the chipmunk has been the protagonist of numerous scholarly papers. Some of these veer

Page 72 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

The Outside Story: to the unintentionally funny. My favorite example, a paper out of the Université du Québec, describes an experiment assessing chipmunk reactions to sunflower seeds that had toothpicks stuck to their shells with Advanced Formula Instant Krazy Glue. Out of all this research emerges what might be called the guiding rule of chipmunk game theory. Chipmunks have evolved to be energy maximizers. They seek to strike the optimal balance between the energy gain per cheek pouch load and the highest possible number of trips back to the burrow. In the absence of other variables, a chipmunk that is near its burrow will have smaller pouch loads and make more frequent trips than a chipmunk from a distant burrow, which will stuff its cheeks full before heading back home. Of course, chipmunks’ lives teem with other variables, and studies show that chipmunk behavior adapts to take many of them into account. Here are some basics from what might be called Chipmunk Game Theory 101. If another chipmunk is making a lot of noise, it might be fussing at you, but it also may have spotted a hawk or a weasel. Slow down pouch stuffing and look out for predators. If food is low quality and far from home, seek another foraging site. If a site has a dwindling supply of food, or if the food requires extensive handling time (i.e, seeds covered with toothpicks and Krazy Glue), take time during your return trip to explore alternative sites. If a dominant chipmunk temporarily vacates a food site, spend more time there and stuff all you can. If

another chipmunk is at the food site, slow down stuffing and keep an eye on them. If a subordinate chipmunk is intruding on your territory, chase them. Sure, it will cost you energy, but it will cost them energy too, and maybe they won’t come back. Of course, it’s easy to imagine more factors: weather, steepness of terrain between burrow and foraging site…how about pouch fatigue? My small primate brain boggles at the complexities. It’s enough to make me want to chitter aggressively, jump into the bushes, and jump back out again. Elise Tillinghast is the publisher of Northern Woodlands magazine. The illustration for this column was drawn by Adelaide Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: wellborn@nhcf.org.

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

Want to reach us? Email: news@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com Phone: (802) 331-0130 Page 73 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2013

Lake Champlain International:

Thermocline The “thermocline” is a relatively thin layer of water lying in between warmer surface water and deeper, cooler water in lakes as well as the ocean. A thermocline can be found in many parts of Lake Champlain during the summer. Water temperature decreases rapidly from the top to bottom of this thin, thermocline layer that develops during summer as sunlight warms surface waters causing them to become less dense and lighter. The warmer water rises while cooler water sinks, thus creating separate warm and cooler layers. Differences in water density work to limit mixing of the warmer surface water layer with the cooler waters below the thermocline. The depth of the thermocline varies depending upon clarity of the water. Lakes or parts of lakes that are rich in nutrients will tend to have greater productivity and algal growth that decreases the clarity of the water.

The thermocline will be deepest in lakes or portions of lakes that have the clearest water. In extreme cases, light may be unable to penetrate much more than 6 feet below the surface of the water when extreme algal blooms occur. This can cause a very shallow thermocline to set up. On the other hand, the thermocline may occur at depths down 40 meters or more in lakes having very clear water. In shallow lakes or parts of lakes exposed to high wind and large waves, water may be mixed all the way to the bottom preventing the development of a thermocline. In Lake Champlain, the thermocline in the main lake is typically found at between 20 and 30 meters deep. It varies constantly as the lake’s seiche and wind driven waves cause it to oscillate. The difference in water density at the thermocline allows it to be detected by sonar/depth finders. This comes in handy for anglers because fish move and respond to differences in oxygen and food

organisms associated with the thermocline. Knowing the location of the thermocline can definitely influence the success of a fishing trip. Wayne Laroche is the staff scientist for Lake Champlain International.

Lake Champlain International (LCI) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization actively involved in shaping the future of Lake Champlain's water and fisheries health for the well-being of the people who depend on it today and tomorrow. To protect, restore, and revitalize Lake Champlain and its communities, LCI educates, advocates, and motivates to ensure that Lake Champlain is swimmable, drinkable, and fishable, understanding that healthy water resources are essential for a healthy economy and a healthy community.

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Happy Thanksgiving From all of us at VGOM