The New Silver Bullet - Copper Fall Fishing

Transcription

The Maine Sportsman – September 2014 – 1
September 2014 • $4.70
Fall Fishing
Tactics
The New
Silver Bullet Copper
Page 23
2 – September 2014 – The Maine Sportsman
Coming to Grips with
Nature’s Harsh Reality
Last month’s cover photograph showing a black bear carrying away a fawn generated responses from our readers, samples of which are included in this month’s
Letters to the Editor on the next page.
We did not make the decision lightly to
run the photo, which depicts the reality of
survival for wildlife, as reflected in the saying, “Every living thing eats – and is eaten
by – something else.”
Good news for the bear is bad news for
the fawn. The bear had recently emerged
from a winter-long hibernation and was
hungry. If it had not found enough food, it
would have starved to death.
The lifestyles of the people of our state
and nation have changed greatly from the
pioneer days, when settlers often bred,
raised, butchered and ate their own cattle
and domestic animals. And they hunted,
killed and dressed out and ate wild game.
We are losing sight of the fact that every cut of meat and poultry or piece of hamburg, shrink-wrapped at a meat counter or
served at a fast-food restaurant, was once
part of a living, breathing animal.
The upcoming bear hunting referen-
dum is a passionate battle based in part
on emotional arguments about hunting
methods. The stakes for hunters are very
high, involving much more than just just
bear-hunting methods, since the principal
sponsoring organizations have declared
their intent to end all hunting.
We believe that if current bear hunting methods are outlawed, the number of
bears taken by the remaining “fair chase”
options will be minimal, and the bear population will become a problem.
We urge our readers to speak to their
friends and neighbors regarding the issue,
and when someone states they favor limiting hunting to “fair chase” methods, ask
them politely how many bears they have
seen in the woods long enough to have
taken a fair shot. An honest answer from
most people would be “very few.”
Welcoming
New Hampshire
Last month’s debut of Brian Emerson’s
“Northern New Hampshire” column illustrates The Sportsman’s growing relationship with the Granite State.
Our newest advertising representative,
Nancy Carpenter, refers to New Hampshire as Maine’s “sister state,” and for good
reason. The two states have a lot more in
common than we have differences.
Geographically, we share Umbagog
Lake and the Androscoggin River. Quite a
few sportsmen own property on both sides
of the state line. Many fishing and hunting
guides living along the border hold licenses
from in both Maine and New Hampshire.
For Mainers to get to Bosebuck Mountain
Camps, they must drive on Parmachenee
Road through a portion of New Hampshire,
then back into Maine, in order to reach the
spot where Bosebuck sits on Aziscohos
Lake.
Our staff has traveled to Berlin, Gorham, North Conway and Errol, and from
Colebrook to Danbury to Hooksett to Errol,
meeting with readers and with businesses.
We’ve learned that Mainers share many
interests and causes with folks in New
Hampshire.
Both states feature lottery moose hunts
and black bear hunting over bait, as well as
great fishing, hunting, hiking, ATVing and
snowmobiling. We also face the same obstacles, including ticks, maintaining landowner relations and ensuring access to
trails. In fact, Mainers can learn from approaches used in New Hampshire, including that state’s opening of 1,000 miles of
ATV Trails through a program called “Ride
the Wilds.”
In Lancaster, we met a New Hampshire
resident who owns 5,000 acres in Maine.
He said he must purchase an out-of-state
license just to hunt deer on his own property in Maine.
Reciprocal snowmobiling licenses? It
used to happen. Is it time to bring that program back?
Once inside a sporting camp, can you tell
if you are in Maine or New Hampshire? The
stories from the old-timers are the same,
regardless of which state you’re in – short
summers, long winters, the fish that used
to be heavier years ago, the deer that had
bigger antlers, and the hilly hunting trails
that have now inexplicably become steeper.
We welcome New Hampshire readers
and businesses to our pages.
Fall Sporting Auction
Saturday, September 27, 2014
ISNN 0199-036 — Issue No. 504
www.mainesportsman.com
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We are currently accepting Consignments and/or Purchasing Single
Pieces to Entire Collections for this Fall 2014 Sporting Auction Event.
Space in this Sporting Auction Event is Limited.
PUBLISHER: Jon Lund
EDITOR: Ken Allen
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ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Will Lund
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– TABLE OF CONTENTS –
Almanac by Ken Allen................................................... 13
Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie................ 38
Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves....................... 64
Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia...................... 68
Bowhunting In Maine by Chris “Bubba” Johnson.......... 71
Capitol Report by George Smith....................................11
Common-Sense Fly Fishing by Ken Allen..................... 33
Editorials.......................................................................... 4
Jackman by William Sheldon........................................ 57
Jottings by Jon Lund...................................................... .6
Katahdin Country by William Sheldon........................... 61
Maine Bicycling by Lou Zambello.................................. 42
Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour.................................... 20
Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose................................ 37
Midcoast Report by Tom Seymour................................ 66
Mid-Kennebec Valley by Shawn Simpson..................... 72
Moosehead by Tom Seymour........................................ 51
Northern New Hampshire by Brian Emerson................ 40
Quotable Sportsman by George Smith......................... 19
Rangeley Region by William Clunie.............................. 47
Saltwater by Barry Gibson............................................. 35
Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth........................ 54
Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews................... 35
Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard.............................. 44
Southern Maine by Cathy Genthner.............................. 32
Sporting Environment by Will Lund................................. 9
The Allagash by Don Eno.............................................. 69
The Silent Places by David Miller.................................. 50
Trading Post.................................................................. 76
Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour...................................... 60
Upcountry Journal by Ken Allen...................................... 7
Washington County by Steve Vose............................... 74
– SPECIAL SECTIONS
Shooting Sports - Sighting by William Clunie................ 22
Shooting Sports - Copper Bullets by William Clunie..... 26
ATVing by Cathy Genthner............................................ 28
Miss Maine Sportsman Series by Cathy Genthner....... 73
Kudos on August Cover
To the Editor:
Kudos on the black bear
cover photo and editorial in the
August issue! It’s great to see
The Maine Sportsman fighting
back against the out-of-state interests on the bear referendum.
Nope, these are not teddy
bears. Don’t buy the hype from
the other side -- let the biologists from Maine’s Department
of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
continue their current wildlife
management practices.
Vote “No” on Question #1.
Heidi Spurling
East Pittston
About that August Cover...
To the Editor:
I just saw your most recent
cover photo of the Black Bear
carrying a fawn in its mouth.
I am a licensed forester,
logger and avid hunter here
in Maine who spends at least
4-5 days a week in the Maine
woods year-round, and that
has to be one of the most
misleading attempts at swaying public opinion I have ever
witnessed.
I mean, COME ON ...
really??
Erik Carlson
Edgecomb
Happy About 21st Century
Landlocks
To the Editor:
I just wanted to say how
much I enjoy Ken Allen’s
writing. Since semi-retiring, I
fly-fish with a vengeance, and
his “Upcountry Journal” about
landlocks 100 years ago and
landlocks now heartened me.
Anglers back then actually
caught fish that wouldn’t eat an
arm and a leg.
I dream of catching a wall
hanger every time I go. (Maybe
when I figure out how to do it
right, I will.) But last week
and the week before on two
separate evenings, totaling four
hours of actual fishing on a
remote pond tucked against the
Canadian border, I caught and
released 53 native brook trout
– all on dry flies because to me
the thrill is the strike…gotta’
see it!
These trout were nothing to
brag about in size – the largest
was 14 inches and most were
in the 10- to 11-inch range. But
on an Orvis Superfine Touch
#3 (trademark), what a blast.
I have read about Allen’s
trips in the past and seriously
wish I had spent more hours
at the office…Ha! Now, I am
playing catch-up as a senior
citizen. Thanks for the tips and
stories that make for pleasant
daydreams.
Craig Poulin
Palermo
Enjoys and Values The
Magazine
To the Editor:
As an avid fly fisherman, I
enjoy Tom Seymour’s monthly
trout columns as well as Ken
Allen’s “Common-sense Fly
Fishing.”
Maine is a great state to
get outside and enjoy, and The
Maine Sportsman always provides me with ideas of where to
go and some great techniques
to use. I appreciate good tips
on tying new flies and how
best to present them to the fish.
The knowledge and experience
offered by your writers have
really helped me grow as a fly
fisherman over the years.
Keep up the good work!
Antonio Sirabella
Auburn
Russell’s Taxidermy
North Yarmouth, ME
Right on Rt. 9, North Yarmouth
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‘You Gotta Pay Your Dues’
To Be an Angler
Trout rose all around us,
feasting on a hatch of bugs so
tiny we couldn’t identify them
in the brisk wind and chop. But
it didn’t matter, because trout
were smashing any likelylooking fly that we tossed out.
The wilderness pond featured
a 2-fish-bag and slot limit.
I was fishing my own
version of a fly I had bought at
the Rangeley Fly Shop years
ago. The name may have been
a Hay Ray or maybe Hey Ray.
I’ve described the pattern
in past columns. This small
streamer features a teal wing
and hair from a gray-squirrel
tail – my go-to fly. It is
satisfying to catch trout on a
fly I have tied myself, given
my limited fly-tying skills.
Fish had chewed this
particular fly so badly that its
body was shredding and half
the wing had disappeared. But
the fish kept on hitting it, so I
didn’t want to change flies.
I like the long shank of
the small streamer because
with the barb bent down, it is
easy to unhook a trout, usually
without touching the fish,
by holding the fly body with
fingers or forceps and turning
it upside down.
My fishing partner Jym
used a variety of dry flies,
fished wet. The pattern didn’t
seem to matter. These were
hungry,
country-bumpkin
trout. Their slim bodies
suggested to me that the
pond had a limited supply of
nutrients.
Our anchor line allowed
the canoe to swing back and
forth, so we could cast over
a wide area. I felt a twinge of
guilt at the excellent fishing
we were enjoying until I
remembered three earlier trout
fishing trips of the season,
all of which yielded little or
no success. I remembered a
saying among Atlantic salmon
anglers: “You gotta’ pay your
dues,” which is a crude way of
saying that fishing for Atlantic
salmon is a chancy business,
and predicting success is
difficult, if not impossible.
A Miramachi salmon
guide and outfitter once
told me that some clients or
prospective clients will call
and ask him when will be the
best time to come. In other
words, “When can I be assured
of success?” This guide is a
superb diplomat and didn’t
tell me how he answered the
question.
I’d made an earlier trip
this year to a wilderness pond
in hopes of hitting the famous
Hex hatch. By chance, I had
witnessed it some years ago
on that pond shortly after the
Fourth of July. At nine at night,
the water surface had come
alive with these huge mayflies
popping out of the water in
every square yard of an area as
big as several house lots. They
were so many hefty trout rises
that I gave up trying to chase
the rises and cast blind with a
fat grasshopper fly and took a
memorable trout.
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I figured the late spring
would mean the Hex hatch
would be somewhat later this
year. An angler on the pond
suggested I was about five
days late. We saw a grand total
of two Hex mayflies and no
frenzied onslaught of trout.
...Another classic case of
“You shoulda’ bin here last
week.”
Bass That Think Trout
My son, Mike, reported
that he’d fished a nearby bass
venue and enjoyed a flurry of
bass action. He said a mass
of dragonflies flew over the
water, prompting bass to
believe they were trout, and
they had leapt into the air to
nail the dragonflies. Mike
claimed it didn’t matter what
kind of lure he used. The
largemouths hit any lure. He
had two stretches of trebles –
three casts, three hits.
No, I’m not identifying
the water. And neither will
Mike, most likely. You gotta’
pay your dues.
Loon Report
For the first time in the last
three years, loons have nested
successfully on a nesting float
on the marsh behind our camp
on Cobbossee Lake, producing
a chick.
Two years ago, the first
chick hatched out and swam
around the float – ’round and
’round. One loon went away,
and the second loon climbed
back onto the float and tried
to brood the
second egg,
ignoring the
chick circling
the float. The
second
egg
did not hatch,
and the chick
did not survive.
Last year, the loon pair
brooded an egg for over a
month and a half that appeared
to be not viable.
Third Try Success
We saw the little ball of
fuzz shortly after it hatched,
and it too swam around the
float, and the parents fed it
a few pieces of vegetation.
One parent climbed back on
the remaining egg for a few
minutes. But this was a most
vocal chick and gave out
a series of shall peeps that
apparently awoke parental
instincts in the parents.
They began to feed it and
have continued to feed the
chick, which started diving
underwater within a week.
Occasionally, the chick
can be seen riding its parent’s
back, but after a day or two, the
family moved out of the marsh
and onto open water, where
the parents feed the chick a
diet of yellow perch and white
perch, which are plentiful in
our area of Cobbossee.
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Let’s Hope Living Off Land Doesn’t
Become a Necessity to Survive
When I grew up in Maine,
this state had 375,000 fewer
residents, and since then,
most of those additional folks
landed in the state’s bottom
third where I live, making it
much more crowded these
days.
The world felt larger in
my youth, and we seemed
far removed from places like
Africa or Southeast Asia.
Like other rural areas of the
world, though, my family
ate seasonally off the land
without thinking about it – just
as folks did in far, povertyplagued continents. Our food
was just different – northern
veggies from our garden, wild
apples, berries, fiddleheads,
dandelions, venison, grouse,
squirrel, hares and bear.
A recent blurb in the
July 2014 issue of Harper’s
magazine started me thinking
about how a single person can
negatively affect masses of
people on this globe, and it
may only get worse.
The Harper’s article told
of an Ethiopian billionaire,
who got the bright idea to sell
a million tons of rice to Saudi
Arabia last year. In fact, he sold
enough rice for each Saudi to
have 70 pounds of grain each.
In the future, probably sooner
than later, we’ll see more
extremely wealthy people and
corporations cornering food
markets like the Ethiopian rice
business.
One statistic about rice
flabbergasted me. A single
acre of rice requires 1 million
gallons of water to grow to
maturity, illustrating that
the story of future rice (or
any plant) needs will be
inextricably tied to water use,
often where it is scarce, say
the American Southwest or
Africa.
until the following year’s
crops ripened.
• Deer, bear, woodcock,
grouse and squirrel became
part of my protein needs
(mostly venison), while trout,
salmon, white perch and
ocean fish species like stripers,
We can live off the land. It’s a challenge,
but it’s doable. It’ll always be less expensive to grow food than buy it, and if corporations and multi-billionaires succeed in
cornering food markets, we may be forced
to take a chapter from our forefathers and
feed ourselves from scratch.
In
the
Ethiopian
billionaire’s case, he took
water from the Nile and
flooded an area the size of
Belgium to grow rice to sell to
the Mideast. So, he flew rice
in airplanes over the starving
heads of Africans. ...No
shame.
Back to Maine
When I first graduated
from college, I had made up
my mind to be a writer and
decided that a man with my
gardening, fishing, hunting
and wild-food-gathering skills
could raise crops, gather wild
foods, shoot big and small
game and catch fish.
• I soon planted three
gardens – one 40 by 60 feet,
another 30 by 20 feet and a
third 10 by 60 feet – lots of
work, but my farming pursuits
provided enough fresh, frozen
and stored vegetables to last
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Fly-fish, spin-fish, icefish or troll for Brook Trout,
Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon and Bass.
mackerel and bluefish added
to the diet.
• Fiddleheads, wild apples,
berries,
wild
asparagus,
mushrooms, groundnuts and
potherbs were also in the meal
plan.
Much to my surprise,
this regimen worked. I filled
a freezer and root bins with
garden
vegetables,
wild
plants, deer and fish, and
even purchased an additional
freezer for added capacity.
However, my lifestyle
offered
two
dining
inconveniences:
First, I became tired of
eating abundant foods such
as frozen stringed beans
(frenched), summer squash,
broccoli, fiddleheads, Brussels
sprouts, venison, woodcock
and Atlantic salmon. To this
day, I dislike fiddleheads
without hollandaise sauce or
I often prepare venison and
salmon with an exotic recipe.
That’s what eating 60 pints of
fiddleheads and too much deer
and Atlantic salmon per year
does to a palate.
Second, living off the
land is a full-time job. When a
writing deadline approached,
it seemed one or more of the
following events transpired:
1) wild rice ripened on
Merrymeeting Bay; 2) apples
hung lusciously in abandoned
orchards; 3) a cold front
moved deer plenty (and a
moving deer is a vulnerable
deer); 4) woodcock migrated
from Canada and northern
Maine; or 5) stripers and
mackerel invaded our coast –
we all know how this goes.
We Can
But if we want to, we can
live off the land. But make no
(Continued on next page)
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Upcountry Journal
(Cont. from previous page)
mistake – life can be tough
for folks choosing subsistence
living. It’s seldom easy, and
it feels like a 40-hour-a-week
job.
Back in the old days,
after about three years of
feeding myself off the land,
I figured out a salient point.
It was easier to make money
at a job such as writing and
teaching than it was to work
like a slave, trying to gather
all my food, while pinching
pennies to pay for necessities
such as gas, heating, clothing
and ammunition. So I worked
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at a full-time job while still
supplying part of my food
needs from gardens and the
wild.
Folks need not gather 100
percent of their food from the
land, but as Robert Kimber, a
wonderful Maine writer, once
wrote in his classic book about
country life, appropriately
named
Upcountry,
it’s
important to at least raise or
gather part of our annual diet –
the secret to a happy, fulfilling
life.
Many of us follow
Kimber’s regimen just for
satisfaction, but we may be
doing it from necessity. We’re
lucky to be living here where
it’s possible – if corporate
greed makes it necessary.
Yes, We Can
We can live off the land.
It’s a challenge, but it’s
doable. It’ll always be less
expensive to grow food than
buy it, and if corporations and
multi-billionaires succeed in
cornering food markets, we
may be forced to take a chapter
from our forefathers and feed
ourselves from scratch.
The Harper’s article
reminded me of a long-held
question: Will billionaires and
big corporations make food so
expensive that Mainers will be
forced to garden and gather
wild meats and fish from our
woods and water because of
prohibitive food prices, just
to live? We continually see
rising food prices in markets –
incremental increases to stave
off the pitchfork brigade.
If rich business people and
huge corporations succeed in
cornering food markets and
jacking prices up, folks living
in the country in Maine can
make do, but it’s not easy. I
know; I have been there. But
it’s great that we have the
option.
But we’d need to gather
more home-garden foods,
hunting animals, fish and wild
plants to eat. It probably won’t
come to that, but if it does,
outdoors types have the skills
to accomplish this goal.
Cruising Errors Along the Maine Coast –
A Cautionary Tale of Two Basins
Recreational
boaters
plying the north edges of
Casco Bay’s coastal waters
cannot relax. As they head
east, they encounter long,
narrow peninsulas, islands and
ledges carved by the glacier at
the end of the ice age.
A glance at the chart
reveals geology of massive,
irregular gouges – some 10
miles long or longer – as if
a giant monster had dug its
hand into the shoreline near
Brunswick and then dragged
and scraped its fingers and
claws out toward the bay
in a northeast-to-southwest
direction.
Merepoint
Neck,
Harpswell Neck, Orrs Island
and Bailey Island parallel each
other above the waves, while
the deep seawater trenches
among them form Middle
Bay,
Harpswell
Sound,
Merriconeag Sound, Quahog
Bay and New Meadows
River. Low tides reveal the
colorfully-named
toothy
ledges in between, including
Whaleboat Ledge, Lumbo
Ledge, Saddleback Ledge,
Buttonmold Ledge and Fuller
Rock.
Boaters face danger if
they attempt to cut crosswise
through Quahog Bay and the
New Meadows River, and
cautious cruisers frequently
see vessel owners and crew
waiting impatiently for tow
boats from Boats U.S. or
Sea Tow to pull them off the
ledges.
These days, most boaters
have electronic chart-plotters
and sets of paper charts. But
they must supplement those
tools with local knowledge
and common sense. The sea
holds many traps for the
unwary.
Mistakes Happen
The Maine coast has been
fooling boaters for centuries.
For example, take False
Whitehead Harbor near South
Thomaston and Spruce Head,
named by a mariner who
erroneously thought he was at
Whitehead Light near Tenants
Harbor.
Or Bailey’s Mistake, a
small village seven miles
west of Lubec, was founded
180 years ago, when a certain
Captain Bailey believed he
was sailing safely into Lubec
Narrows. In fact, he’d made a
seven-mile navigational error,
which landed him – and his
ship – onto what’s now known
as Bailey’s Ledge.
Our friend Carolyn, an
experienced boater, had heard
great things about a place
called The Basin. Hank and
Jan Taft, in their Cruising
Guide to the Maine Coast,
describe it as “what many
yachtsmen dream about when
they ponder the ultimate safe
harbor,” with its “deep, narrow
entrance” leading to a “broad
sanctuary beyond.”
Carolyn was cruising near
Harpswell when she spotted
a reference to “Basin” on her
chart. Eager to impress her
friends, following in their
boats, Carolyn led a parade
of large vessels into what
she thought was The Basin
in Phippsburg with its deep,
fjord-like opening.
In fact, she had brought
them into Basin Cove, in
Harpswell, a water body with
an entrance so narrow and
constricted that because of the
dramatic effects of the tides,
folks call it the “reversing
falls.”
Confusing Names
It’s easy to make errors
along the Maine coast, in part
because so many islands and
other points of interest have
similar or identical names.
There are 20 Bar Islands in
Maine, 12 Birch Islands, 11
Burnt Islands and 25 Crow
Islands.
...Trying to rendezvous
with another boater and all
800-670-7531
www.penobscotrivercabins.com
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Forestry Mowing – Land Clearing
Excavation – Site work
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Sporting Environment
you remember is that the chart
designation for the meeting
spot relates to alcoholic
beverages?
Good luck.
Could be Scotch Island, in
Cutler. Or how about Drunkers
Ledge, Doubleshot, Bartender
Island near Deer Isle, Nightcap
near Addison, Grog Island or
Whiskey Rock?
Careful sailors can access
Basin Cove in Harpswell.
Head into Potts Harbor, pass
by the excellent Dolphin
Marina and restaurant and
continue north and west. You
will come to the underwater
remains of a gristmill that
operated in the mid-1800s.
Finestkind
Boatyard
offers complete and cautious
directions through the narrow
opening, located on the shores
of Basin Cove:
When you’re abreast of
Interstate Wharf, turn to port.
You will see the entrance
to Basin Cove. Where the
entrance narrows, you will
see a metal pipe and blue flag
sticking out of the water. Keep
this pipe 6 to 8 feet off your
port side.… Go past the pipe
and turn starboard. Stay in the
center of the channel on your
way through.
And this final caveat:
PLEASE BE ADVISED
– We strongly recommend
planning passage through the
channel at high water slack
tide.
“I haven’t actually seen
the reversing falls,” said
Sheri Feeley, who works at
Finestkind. “However, I have
ridden in a small dinghy
over the outgoing waterfall
that rushes toward the sea at
low tide. Local knowledge is
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in diameter and one foot thick.
The mill ceased production
in 1885, and a great storm in
1919 destroyed the building.
Reliance on the tides’
schedules made for interesting
work hours. Most days have
two high tides and two low
tides, but the times of those
tides advance each day. If the
first high tide is at 8 a.m., the
and barley into meal and flour,
and a “carding” mill, where
sheep’s cleaned and fluffed
wool was to be spun into yarn.
extremely important.”
Today, The Basin and
It was not high water slack
its shores in Phippsburg are
tide when our friend Carolyn
home to calm, warm waters,
went through, and she and
nesting ospreys and a network
her fellow boaters “stubbed
of hiking trails. Fortunately,
their toes” (their vessels’ keels
the area will remain much the
touched the rocks lightly) as
same for years to come, thanks
they passed over
to an anonymous
the remains of the
donor who in 2006
gristmill dam.
Our friend Carolyn led a parade of gave The Nature
Tidal Mills
1,910
large vessels into what she thought Conservancy
But even had
acres
of
forest,
Carolyn
known was the Basin in Phippsburg, with including more than
more about the
four miles of The
its deep, fjord-like opening.
history of The Basin
Basin’s coastline.
(Phippsburg)
and
Even
the
Basin Cove (Harpswell), second will be at close to 8:30 beautiful and calm Basin in
she might have remained p.m., and the following day’s Phippsburg has its secret – a
confused. Mill owners had high tides will be at 9 a.m. big turtle of a boulder that
harnessed tidal power for and 9:30 p.m. In the words emerges quietly at moon-low
mills in the 1800s there, and of historian George Carleton, tide. On many of our cruising
the remains hide below the Sr., writing in “Tide Mills of trips we’ve seen sailors
surface.
rowing over in their tenders
Maine and Beyond,”
The gristmill at Basin To be efficient, these mills to glimpse the huge rock.
Cove (Harpswell) actually depended on the ebb tide for “Pass either north or south
used turbines, invented by the power; thus, the hours of of it, but not over it,” advise
mid-1800s. They were more employment varied from day the understated authors of A
efficient than water-wheels.
Cruising Guide to the Maine
to day and night to night.
According
to
Peter
Coast.
Phippsburg’s Basin
Hutchinson, writing for the The Basin in Phippsburg Local
knowledge
is
Harpswell Historic Society, was home to a great number extremely important when
“The mill [building] was 45 and variety of tidal-powered plying Maine’s coastal waters.
by 50 feet, three stories high, operations. In 1816, for
and would accommodate three example,
three
separate
turbines. [The mill] could facilities were along its banks
grind 600 bushels of corn – a lumber mill (with a huge
daily [with] three pairs of “up and down” saw blade),
granite mill stones each 8 feet a gristmill for grinding corn
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Lots at Stake for Sportsmen in
November’s Election
It’s not all about bears.
Yes, Maine voters will decide
the fate of bear baiting, hunting with hounds and trapping
on November 4, and we all
have a stake in that decision.
But we’re also electing a new
Legislature, a Governor, two
members of Congress and one
U.S. Senator, and deciding important bond issues, including
one that is critical to all of us
who spend time outside.
We’ll take a detailed look
at the governor’s race now,
along with that important
bond issue. Next month we’ll
examine the bear referendum.
Gubernatorial candidates
Mike Michaud and Eliot
Cutler have given me their
completed 2014 Sportsman’s
Alliance of Maine candidate
questionnaires, with SAM being the only major statewide
organization of sportsmen
that quizzes the candidates,
gives them grades, and makes
endorsements. The SAM survey is very important, and the
candidates put a lot of thought
into their answers. SAM’s endorsement and support matters.
SAM’s 2014 survey includes questions about firearms, deer, coyotes, wolves,
fish hatcheries, recreational
use of public lands, access to
private lands, a proposed national park near Millinocket
and the bear referendum.
The really good news is
that all three gubernatorial
candidates, including the incumbent, Governor Paul LePage, oppose the bear initiative
on the November ballot. So I
guess those who want to end
bear baiting will have no one
to vote for in the governor’s
race!
Unfortunately, Governor
LePage did not respond to my
request for a copy of his 2014
SAM survey, but I have his
2010 survey answers, and will
use that information in this
report. Some of the questions
are the same or at least similar.
So when I refer to Governor
LePage’s survey responses,
I’m using his 2010 survey.
DIF&W Funding
Probably the most important
question involves public funding for Maine’s Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife,
so let’s start there. SAM provided a bit of background on
the issue – focusing on the fact
that sportsmen pay all the bills
while the public receives millions of dollars worth of services from the agency. Game
wardens, for example, spend
about half their time on police
– not wildlife – work. The survey asked candidates if they
would support 1) a Constitutional amendment that allocates General Fund tax dollars
to DIF&W; 2) a straight General Fund appropriation; or 3)
another approach.
Interestingly, both Michaud and Cutler noted that
Governor LePage broke his
promises about funding for
DIF&W. LePage promised to
fund 20 percent of DIF&W’s
budget with General Fund
money, and to veto any budget
that didn’t include that. He did
neither.
Rep. Michaud has a long
track record on this issue. I
worked with Michaud when
he was on the Legislature’s
Appropriations Committee,
when he obtained $400,000 of
public funding for technology
upgrades at DIF&W. He also
worked to bring the Warden
Capitol Report
Service’s retirement benefits in line with those of State
Troopers.
His answer on this question was very thoughtful. “I
recognize that IF&W is underfunded and has increasingly
been asked to do more with
less,” he wrote. “If the Legislature were to pass a reasonable Constitutional provision
to fund IF&W, I would sign it.
However, given the volatility
of the sales tax and the need
to get our state’s budget under
control, I would also want to
work with SAM, the Department and legislators and leadership from both sides of the
aisle to look at other ways to
make sure IF&W has the resources it needs to do its job.”
Cutler also put some thought
into his response. “I do not
believe the Constitution is
the right place to appropriate
funds,” he wrote. “I refused in
2010 to make promises to anyone about any particular budget item or appropriation matter, and I won’t do so now…I
do agree that it is unfair and
unwise to fund public services
– like many of those performed
by the staff at DIF&W – with
revenues collected from only
a portion of those who receive
the benefits of those services. I
will commit to work with leg-
islative leaders and members
of the Appropriations Committee to create a budget for
DIF&W that includes significant support from all Mainers
for the important work of the
agency.”
Landowner Relations
Given that we’re losing access to a lot of private land
year after year, I looked at the
answers to this issue closely.
SAM asked if candidates opposed reverse posting, an issue
we defeated about 15 years
ago and that has not been a serious concern since then. But
the attitudes and positions on
private land ownership and
recreational access of all three
candidates are enlightening.
Governor LePage wrote that
he thought the agency that
governed private lands in the
unorganized territories “needs
less power and strength.” He
reported, “I support private
ownership over public ownership of natural resources,”
and, “Large landowners did a
far more efficient job managing Maine’s resources than the
State is currently doing.”
“I believe current laws
and rules are too restrictive
and adversarial to good private
stewardship of sustainable resources,” wrote LePage. And
he has certainly governed that
way. DIF&W’s landowner
relations program has been a
low priority for the Governor.
The landowner relations position at DIF&W was left vacant for a year, and was then
moved recently to the Maine
Warden Service as a part-time
position.
Cutler wrote that “maintaining our traditional privilege of access to and recreational use of private land is
definitely a continuing challenge. I will work aggressively
with small and large landowners to assure that the privilege
of public access is maintained.
To help do that, we will create
and I will support a vigorous
landowner relations program
as a partnership among state
agencies and the groups that
represent outdoor recreationists, environmentalists, and
sportsmen.”
Michaud reported that
“the continued loss of access to private land for public
recreation is a serious problem, and one that demands a
comprehensive and effective
landowner relations program
in which all of us participate.
Landowner relations will be a
priority of a Michaud administration and the team I put in
place at DIF&W.”
Deer Herd
Governor LePage has
focused on the challenges
of rebuilding Maine’s deer
herd, including the creation of
Maine’s Game Plan for Deer.
Michaud’s and Cutler’s answers on the deer questions
were supportive of this goal,
although Michaud noted at
least one problem.
Regarding the Game Plan
and coyote predation control
project, Michaud wrote, “I
would evaluate the current
program and increase its effectiveness, knowing the program fell short of its goals. It
concerns me that DIF&W has
been paying more than $200
for each coyote terminated – a
level of expense that is unsustainable – but has not come
close to spending the $100,000
allocated to protect deer from
coyote predation. We can, and
must, do better.”
Cutler noted that “protection of feeding and wintering
areas…needs to be a priority. I recognize that a strong,
healthy and sustainable deer
herd is important to Maine,
and I would support the recommendations of experts in
this area.”
Fisheries
The changes in SAM’s
survey from 2010 (the last one
I handled as SAM’s then-executive director) and this
year’s survey is notable in
some cases, including fisheries. The 2010 survey asked,
“Should DIF&W’s fisheries
staff focus on habitat protection and enhancement, to cre-
Maine Sportsmen Are Under Attack…
We Need Your Help!
If ever there was a time to donate to protect your hunting rights, this is it.
The Washington DC based Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has committed to spend
$3 million to convince to ban bear hunting with dogs, using bait and bear trapping. They say
they’re just after these three things, but they’ve got more up their sleeve. They oppose all hunting.
Here’s what HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle really thinks about hunting:
“We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States… We will take it species by species
until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state.”
“If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would.”
(The Kingman Daily Miner. December 30, 1991)
“Our goal is to get sport hunting in the same category as cock fighting and dog fighting.” (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, October 8, 1991)
THIS FIGHT IS NOT JUST ABOUT BEARS!
Maine hunting organizations are uniting to defeat this issue and protect your hunting rights. Make a contribution today to protect your hunting
rights in the future. Help us send the anti-hunting lobby packing.
Please send your contribution to: Maine Wildlife Conservation Council, 205 Church Hill Road, Augusta, Maine 04330
Find out more or donate online at www.savemainesbearhunt.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/savemainesbearhunt.
Authorized by Maine Wildlife Conservation Council, 205 Church Hill Road, Augusta, Maine 04330. Don Kleiner, Treasurer.
ate self-sustainable fisheries,
rather than on hatcheries and
stocked fish?” Candidate Paul
LePage answered yes, writing, “Frankly, private hatcheries and habitat protection
and enhancement will get us
there quicker.” I’m not aware
of anything he did to move in
that direction, however.
This year’s survey posed
the fishery question this way:
“Would you support a conservation bond issue that would
be presented to the voters of
Maine to bring our hatchery
system into the 21st century
and greatly enhance the economy of rural Maine?”
Michaud and Cutler said
they would, and Cutler elaborated. “Maine’s hatcheries
turn out an exceptional product, but we have never made
the investments necessary
to compete with other states
that spend tens of millions of
dollars growing and stocking
fish. I plan to bring together a group of anglers, guides,
DIF&W fisheries staff and
others, to create and implement a plan for a vigorous
hatchery program, to stock the
fish in the best and most appropriate areas, and to expand
our research and management
of native fisheries and fish that
thrive without stocking. Further, and critically, I will identify this program as a priority,
long-term capital investment
in one of Maine’s important
competitive advantages, and
I will give serious consideration to bonded indebtedness
to support that investment.”
Bond Issue
I end this column with a
referendum-related request:
Please support the $8 million
bond issue on the November
ballot that will be used to construct a diagnostic lab at the
University of Maine in Orono.
Among many other capabilities, the lab will be able to test
ticks for Lyme disease. Today
those tests can only be conducted out of state. And any
delay in identifying the possibility of Lyme disease threatens your health. And yes, I do
mean you.
Tips of the Month
Top September Salmonid
Nymph
Huge nymphs tied on a size 4 or 6, 8x long
This Month
Maine Has Changed for Baby
Boomers
During their youth, baby boomers remember
when September passed as a sleepy month
with a little shooting, particularly deer rifles,
but a handful of folks busted clay targets. The
smoothbore crowd was just as apt to blast empty
beer cans, though. If someone could blister a
can enough to make it spin through the air, that
was good enough for hitting a pa’tridge.
...Woodcock? Back in the 1950s and ’60s,
we’d ask, “What the heck is a woodcock?”
Trollers for salmonids often spent one
weekend a month, fall fishing at places like
Moosehead or Rangeley lakes. There were
exceptions in the angling world, but that’s what
they were – exceptions.
How times change!
September fly fishing in Maine has it all.
(Photo courtesy of Sue Motley)
These days, September is hopping:
• Moose hunting is the big news this month,
but it involves a small percentage of hunters,
because it is a lottery hunt.
• Folks fish for fall salmonids with a passion
as they head to lakes, ponds, rivers, streams
and brooks. Northern Maine brook trout and
salmonid rivers draw angler mobs, often fly
rodders.
• Bassing booms, particularly from Bangor
south. Folks work bottom structure now, and the
knowledgeable ones do well with jigs and deepdiving crankbaits.
• Saltwater species such as stripers, bluefish
and mackerel bring folks to the coast to cast on
empty beaches, hoping to tangle with feisty fish
like blues and stripers.
• Hunters shoot rifles to perfect trigger
squeeze, blast shotguns to polish mount, and
swing and practice with bow and arrow to get
the “big three” right: 1) consistent anchor point;
2) crisp release; and 3) steady bow arm.
• Photographers work hard now to take
advantage of September’s sweet, clear light.
• Gardens produce root veggies such as
potatoes, carrots and parsnips, winter squash,
fall Brassicas like cabbage, Brussel sprouts and
cauliflower – the staples.
• Hiking, auto camping, canoe tripping,
kayaking, backpacking, bicycling, running and
more exercise compete for attention.
Some folks go from bow-hunting for deer
in the expanded archery zones to shooting
shorebirds such as rail and snipe, but these
sports have few participants.
weighted hook have a place in fall fishing in
Maine. Two black biots or a clump of black
hackle for the tail(s) and a black, fur-dubbed
abdomen with copper ribbing begin this
dynamite pattern. A black primary feather
section for a wing case and a peacock herl
thorax create an attractive mouthful for a
trout or salmon. Tie six or eight peacock herl
in front of the abdomen, twist them lightly on
a waxed thread loop and wind on wet cement
(light coating) for the thorax, before covering the
herl with the wing case. Finish it with a blackhackle collar and coat the wing case and head
with three coats of cement. On cold days when
nothing is hatching, this fly bounced on bottom
can keep a bend in the rod.
September Light
September’s sweet, pellucid light adds so
much to landscape photos this month, reason
enough to get a camera out to shoot the best
sights that Maine offers. Before taking a photo,
decide what should be perfectly exposed (a
blossom, wildlife critter, rock wall, bright-green
ferns) and spot meter off it to make sure it is
neither too dark nor blown-out. Also, strive for
texture in a photo – objects such as a stratified
ledge or an old cedar shingle.
It’s a great month to be out and around, trying
to shoot photos that make the photographer feel
like the second coming of Ansel Adams.
Maine’s pellucid September light creates
spellbinding photos.
Where the Action Is
September Salmonid Angling
Each September, folks find lots of
landlocked-salmon and brook-trout action in
the Rangeley Region in the Kennebago River
(DeLorme Atlas, Map 28, D-3) and Rapid River
below Middle Dam (Map 18, B-1). Dawn fishing
can rock on these two rivers. They have flyfishing-only regulations.
downstream of Big Falls, where brook trout
often stack up in pocket water. To access Big
Falls, motor along the river’s west shore through
the campgrounds and past Portage Brook.
Continue until arriving at a spot where the road
has a 90-degree turn left. There, walk down the
woodland trail to Big Falls.
News and Tidbits
North American 2014 Duck
Population Strong
In 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and Canadian Wildlife Service’s annual duck
survey in North America covers 2 million square
miles of habitat across the continent and
estimated the population at 49.2 million birds,
an 8 percent increase over last year’s figure of
45.6 million ducks, and 43 percent above the
long-term average.
• The U.S. and Canada estimated 10.9
million mallards – similar to 2013’s 10.4 million
figure.
Kennebago River scene to warm the heart. • The blue-winged teal estimate was 8.5
(Photo courtesy of Rangeley Sports Shop)
million, 10 percent above 2013’s 7.7 million, and
75 percent above the long term average.
The Kennebago and Rapid have crowds, • Northern pintail was 3.2 million, close to
though. For solitude and brookies, the Cupsuptic the 3.3 million estimate from the year before.
River (Map 28, D-3) or South Bog Stream (Map Bean’s Hot Nymphs, Streamers
Nymphs and streamers prove effective for
28, E-4) offer smaller (or no) crowds.
Three common access points on the fall trout and salmon, and the L.L.Bean catalog
Cupsuptic excite me, and my top spot is offers ideas for top choices:
The first five nymphs in Bean’s 2014 nymph
fly list goes in this order. 1) Sizes 16-20 Barr’s
Flashback Emerger; 2) sizes 14-18 Flashback
Pheasant Tail; 3) size 12-18 Barr’s Copper
John; 4) size 12-18 Tungsten Hot-wired Prince;
and 5) sizes 12-18 Gold Bead Prince.
The first five streamer choices lead off with
two Maine creations: 1) sizes 6-10 Black Ghost;
2) sizes 6-10 Gray Ghost; 3) sizes 6 and 8
Barr’s Slump Buster; 4) size 8 McKnight’s Pig
Pen Leech; and 5) size 6 Jannsen’s Minnow. A
black or olive, size 6-10 Wooly Bugger came in
a sixth place.
Common Meadow Vole
Meadow voles rank as one of the most – if
not the most – numerous mammal species in
Maine. They breed six to 17 times every year,
and each time may initially produce up to nine
young – a good thing. Seventy percent of them
die soon after birth, and 50 percent of each litter
will not live through the first year; however, up
to 17 breedings with as many as nine offspring
each time, amount to a lot of critters annually –
a possible 153 meadow voles every 12 months!.
White-tailed Deer Size
A white-tailed deer measures much smaller
than casual observers with untrained eyes
may realize, because this deer looks tall at the
shoulders. On average, a whitetail stands 39
inches at the shoulders, measures 72 inches
(six feet) long and has a 12-inch tail. Bucks are
one-third heavier than females.
Why White Bellies?
Why do so many mammals have white
bellies? Several years ago, a tidbit in a naturalhistory magazine caught my eye and offered a
theory that made sense. Each animal could see
fleas or ticks easier against the white; hence,
mammals evolved this way.
White hair on animal belly shows parasitic
insects better. (Photo courtesy of Jeremiah
Blatz)
Deer are shorter than people realize.
Common meadow voles are Maine’s most
abundant mammal.
General Regulations for Freshwater Fishing
In lakes and ponds in York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, Kennebec, Lincoln, Waldo, Penobscot, Hancock and
Washington counties as well as in the southern half of Oxford County, general law allows Maine anglers to fish in open water 12
months per year or on ice anytime that it’s safe enough to traverse.
In Franklin, Somerset, Piscataquis and Aroostook counties as well as in the northern half of Oxford County, the general season
for open-water fishing runs from April 1 through Sept. 30. Open-water angling closes from Oct. 1 to Mar. 31, unless a special
regulation on individual waters states differently. Check the regulation booklet for details. Fishing seasons in the northern counties
are generally consistent with old regulations in existence for decades.
Check the Maine Open Water & Fishing Ice Fishing Laws and Rules April 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2014 booklet for details on the
salmonid bag limits.
The general daily bag of 13 fish includes five brook trout, including splake and landlocked arctic char (the latter also called
blueback or Sunapee trout), two landlocked salmon, two lake trout, two brown trout and two rainbow trout. Depending on the time of
year, this salmonid bag limit is 10 to 12 more fish than the legal limit for black bass!
In rivers, brooks and streams statewide, the new law prohibits year-round fishing unless an S-reg allows it.
On lakes and ponds in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc,
Waldo, Washington and York, the limit is two brook trout daily.
Black-Bass Regs
From April 1 through June 30, the daily-bag, black-bass limit is one fish at least 10 inches long. This season no longer has an
artificial-lures-only regulation.
From July 1 to Sept. 30, the daily-bag black-bass limit is three fish at least 10 inches long with only one exceeding 14 inches.
Oct. 1 through Mar. 31: The daily-bag, black-bass limit allows one black bass at least 10 inches long.
Other Freshwater Fish Species
Pickerel
10 fish daily bag limit; no length limit.
Whitefish
Three fish daily bag limit; no length limit.
Smelts
Two-quart daily bag limit. The fishing-regulations booklet shows specific rules this small fish species.
American eel
Fifty fish; 6-inch minimum length.
A deer track imprinted in the mud or snow
requires little knowledge to identify it – a split
heart shape. What could be easier? One that
measures as wide as four fingers on a big man’s
hand is indeed a huge buck
Elephant Poaching Lesson
If meat, horns, antlers or other body
parts from an animal increases in value to an
abnormally high price, then poaching pressure
can rise astronomically. Right now, prices for
ivory from African elephants have risen from
$750 per kilo four years ago to $2,200 per kilo
(about 2.2 pounds).
This has led to huge problems for elephants:
In 2011 alone, poachers killed 25,000
elephants for the ivory – 70 elephants per day,
or an average of three an hour. Since then, an
additional 45,000 have died – 10 percent of the
population. How long can elephants withstand
the slaughter? Will African elephants be extinct
by the next generation?
In 2011, poachers killed allegedly the largest
elephant in Africa, which carried 200 pounds
of ivory. That translated into big bucks for the
poachers of that one animal – about $250,000.
Groundnuts Crucial in Colonial America
One early spring when I was 24 years old,
my best boyhood friend Dave Brann and I were
running white-water on the Sheepscot River
below Head Tide dam. We were drifting my old
rib-and-plank, 18-foot canoe along the outside
bend of a steep bank on the Route 218 side
of the river, where spring flooding had washed
away clumps of grass, vegetation and also rich
loam, exposing strings and strings of groundnuts
(Apios americana), which often grow along rich
floodplains.
That was my introduction to groundnuts,
thanks to Brann, an expert in wild-plant
gathering. In fact, he taught a unit in school on
foraging for wild foods and medicines. As we
raked off little tubers with our hands, connected
by veins, two or three at a time, he explained
how early settlers depended on groundnuts for
sustenance.
Make no mistake folks. This root veggie was
crucial to some families in the 1600s. These
days, most folks pay no notice to this plant.
Snapping Turtle Eggs
When snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
eggs hatch in late summer, the early emerging
turtles measure 1inch long and are often a few
hundred yards from mud-bottomed water from
which the mother originated, because the female
snapper travels a long distance from a pond or
river. The tiny snappers look remarkably similar
to the parents, so one who knows snappers
would question the species of the newly hatched
turtles.
Goldenrod Not Always ‘Golden’
Like goldenrods, silverrod (Solidago bicolor)
belongs to the sunflower family, and its range
stretches from southern Ontario to Nova Scotia,
down to Georgia and Arkansas and west to
Wisconsin. This plant inhabits dry soil – say
abandoned fields – and very open woods.
Silverrod is the only goldenrod species with
white rather than yellow rays. It’s blooming now.
Snapping turtle eggs.
TideTable
September 2014
Portland, ME
Date
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Day
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
High
AM
3:56
4:48
5:46
6:50
7:54
8:57
9:55
10:49
11:41
12:05
12:57
1:50
2:43
3:38
4:36
5:36
6:38
7:39
8:34
9:24
10:07
10:46
11:21
11:55
12:13
12:48
1:24
2:03
2:46
3:34
PM
4:16
5:09
6:08
7:11
8:15
9:17
10:16
11:11
12:31
1:21
2:12
3:03
3:57
4:55
5:55
6:56
7:56
8:50
9:39
10:22
11:02
11:38
12:27
1:00
1:36
2:15
2:59
3:49
Low
AM
10:00
10:51
11:49
12:36
1:40
2:42
3:40
4:35
5:27
6:17
7:07
7:56
8:47
9:41
10:37
11:36
12:22
1:24
2:21
3:12
3:56
4:36
5:12
5:45
6:17
6:50
7:25
8:03
8:46
9:35
PM
10:36
11:33
12:52
1:56
2:59
3:59
4:55
5:49
6:42
7:35
8:28
9:23
10:20
11:20
12:38
1:39
2:35
3:25
4:10
4:50
5:27
6:02
6:37
7:13
7:51
8:33
9:21
10:13
When settlers first arrived in New England,
groundnuts (tuber) became a staple as this
vegetable had been with Native Americans.
Maine Timber Rattlesnakes?
Does Maine have any timber rattlesnakes?
...A good question.
This species is scarce in New Hampshire,
and several years ago in New England Monthly,
a classy magazine now defunct, an article
claimed all of New England had 2,500 timber
rattlers, raising a question. If a rattler lived – say
Sunrise
Sunset
September 2014
Date
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Rise
AM
6:02
6:03
6:04
6:05
6:07
6:08
6:09
6:10
6:11
6:12
6:13
6:15
6:16
6:17
6:18
Set
PM
7:15
7:14
7:12
7:10
7:08
7:06
7:04
7:03
7:01
6:59
6:57
6:55
6:53
6:51
6:50
Date
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Rise
AM
6:19
6:20
6:22
6:23
6:24
6:25
6:26
6:27
6:29
6:30
6:31
6:32
6:33
6:34
6:36
Set
PM
6:48
6:46
6:44
6:42
6:40
6:38
6:37
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:29
6:27
6:25
6:24
6:22
in Freedom, New Hampshire – would it slither
up to the Maine border, stop, and think, “I can’t
go there because experts say none of us live in
that state.”
For Whom Do Manufacturers Develop New
Cartridges?
In 1892, the .30-40 Krag came out as a
military cartridge, and with a 150-grain cartridge,
it stepped along at about 2,400 feet per second.
Hunters quickly saw the potential for big-game
hunting – say deer, moose and bear. Before
World War II, this caliber was popular in Maine
as a hunting cartridge.
In 1903, manufacturers introduced the .3003, which was quickly followed in 1906 by the
.30-06. In a 150-grain cartridge, this projectile
flew along at about 2,800 to 2,900 feet per
second – an impressive 108 years ago, and still
today.
In 1920, 18 years after the .30-40 Krag
introduction, Savage introduced a dynamite
cartridge to the hunting public – a .300 Savage
with a muzzle velocity around 2,500 feet per
second in a 150-grain projectile. Hunters jumped
on it.
Twenty-two years later in 1952, the .308
Winchester (7.62mm NATO) came out with a
150-grain projectile speed of 2,700 to 2,800 feet
per second at the muzzle.
In those years, lots of folks questioned
why this cartridge was any better than the .300
Savage. This leaves questions: Are there that
many differences between a .300 Savage and
.308 Winchester? We can throw velocity figures
around, but they’re close. The one dominant one
in the four is the .30-06 Springfield, but they’re
all close enough.
However, so many gun owners are
collectors, and manufacturers see the sales
potential of adding new cartridges – even ones
that duplicate others.
Maine’s Awful Paved Roads
Those of us who hunt and fish must travel
Maine roads and won’t be surprised by recent
figures from the National Transportation
Research group, which claims 1) this state has
the 8th worst roads in the country; and 2) nearly
one in three (28 percent) of our highways are in
disrepair. Avid road bicyclists with 23 mm tires
know about these rough roads firsthand.
Bird of the Month
Panicked Wilson’s Snipe
Cries, “’scape! ’scape!”
In the last half of the 18th century and
first decades of the 19th century, hunting for
shorebirds such as sora rail and Wilson’s snipe
(Gallinago delicata) proved extremely popular
along the Eastern Seaboard, and hunters
with flat-bottomed skiffs, poles for propulsion,
standing wooden decoys, and shotshells
with small pellets (size 9 and smaller) chased
Wilson’s snipe.
These days, few folks bother shorebirds,
though they are abundant enough in Maine
marshes when folks learn where to find them.
Wilson’s snipe
A friend of mine knew he could shoot several
snipe every September along a pasture brook
with alders on the banks. When hunting, it
was difficult not to step on a cow pie.I consider
snipe a perfect quarry, because when flushed, it
often calls, “’Scape! ’Scape!” Guidebooks often
spell this panicky call as “scaip” and say it is a
“rasping” sound. ...Good description – rasping –
but the spelling misses the obvious association
with “escape.”
According to Peterson, this snipe has a song
like this: “Chip-a, chip-a, chip-a, chip-a.”
When I was a kid, scientists called Wilson’s
snipe “common snipe,” and the scientific
name was (Capella gallinago). These changes
become more difficult to keep up with as we
grow older, and this one has another wrinkle.
Twelve years ago, a friend bought me an
Audubon bird guidebook, copyright 1994, at
Borders in South Portland, and the text called
this bird a common snipe, too, but the scientific
appellation was Gallinago gallinago. That’s at
least three different Latin names in my lifetime.
A Wilson’s snipe is brownish overall with
solid cream stripes on the back, barred-over
whitish flanks and long bill. When it flushes
away, observers can note a short orange tail.
This snipe measures 10 1/2-inches long,
sports an 18-inch wingspan and weighs
3-3/4-ounces. That may sound small, but it is
almost as big as a 6-ounce male woodcock or
an 8-ounce female. Two male woodcock for a
meal with side dishes is enough for a hungry
diner. Surely, three rails should suffice.
This snipe, essentially a solitary bird, may
flock into groups of up to 10, according to
Sibley. Because of this solitary behavior part of
the time, successful snipe hunters find hot spots
that attract these birds in small groups. Without
luck, it can take years to find such places, but
with luck, folks can have a snipe feed or two
each year.
Good spots to start are freshwater marshes
with shallow water, where a hunter can push a
boat or quietly walk along wetland edges – or
like my friend, sneak along the right brook. This
writer has hunted snipe but thinks they are poor
eating – strictly a personal opinion. Some folks
relish the bird.
Wilson’s snipe build a nest on tussocks in a
marsh and lay four, pale-olive eggs spotted with
black. This number suggests a high survival
rate, and the parents are very secretive, which
must help survival of the chicks. (Ken Allen)
Do You Know?
Breeding Quirk of Brownheaded Cowbird
Do you know what breeding quirk a brownheaded cowbird uses as a survival tactic to
perpetuate the species?
Book Corner
Brook Trout Forest – Great
Mood Book!
Reading Brook Trout
Forest by Kathy Scott
(Alder Creek, Hastings,
Michigan) left two huge
impressions:
First, I didn’t want the
book to end; and second,
Scott’s work left me with
thoughts that will rattle
around my head for life.
What more can a reader
want from a small Brook Trout Forest
investment in money by Kathy Scott
and an outlay of time?
Here’s one example of the latter:
Scott quotes a quick scene from Jim
Harrison’s Legends of the Fall. Someone asks
why a young person should learn new things,
and a person (Col. Ludlow) in Harrison’s novel
was somewhat taken aback and said, “Why to
live a richer, fuller life, of course.” Amen.
The book begins with an anecdote about a
secret northern Maine brook-trout stream, and
offers a little folklore about how friends and
acquaintances respect a hidden trout bonanza.
When someone divulges such a spot – and
certainly in Scott’s life it works this way – the
new knowledge remains a secret forever. Scott
and her husband respected that promise as if it
were in the Bible, and the stream remained just
that – secret.
The scene on the stream took place on
Sept. 30, cold along the Canadian border, and
the fishing was slow. Finally, Scott catches a
6-inch brook trout on a fly and a “kyped-jawed
Hunting Season Dates
EXPANDED DEER ARCHERY SEASON:
Sept. 6 to Dec. 13
STATEWIDE ARCHERY SEASON
Oct. 2 to Oct. 31
YOUTH DEER DAY
Oct. 25
REGULAR FIREARMS – RESIDENTS:
Nov. 1 to Nov. 29
REGULAR FIREARMS – NONRESIDENTS:
Nov. 3 to Nov. 29
MOOSE
In WMDs 1 through 6, 11 and 19: Sept. 22 to
Sept. 27
In WMDs 1 through 14, 17 through 19, 27
and 28: Oct. 13 to Oct. 18 In WMDs 1 through
4 and 19: Nov. 3 to Nov. 8
In WMDs 15, 16, 22, 23, 25 and 26 (Resident and non-resident hunters): Nov. 3 to Nov.
29
Maine Residents-Only Day – in WMDs 15,
16, 22, 23, 25 and 26: Nov. 1
UPLAND BIRDS
Ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail and pheasant:
Oct. 1 to Dec. 31
Fall Wild Turkey (bow and arrow, and shotgun)
In WMDs 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
and 28: Oct. 2 to Oct. 31.
In WMDs 12, 13, 18, 26 and 29: Oct. 2 to
Oct. 31
GRAY SQUIRREL
Oct. 1 to Dec. 31
SNOWSHOE HARE
Oct. 1 to Mar. 31
SNOWSHOE HARE ON VINALHAVEN
Oct. 1 to Feb. 28
BOBCAT
Dec. 1 to Feb. 14
FOX
Oct. 20 to Feb. 28
RACCOON
Oct. 1 to Dec. 31
SKUNK AND OPOSSUM
Oct. 20 to Dec. 31
COYOTE NIGHT HUNTING
Dec. 16 to Aug. 31
CROW SEASON (SECOND HALF)
In WMDs 1 to 6: April 15 to Sept. 20
In WMDs 7 to 29: Mar. 31 to Sept. 20
COYOTES
Coyotes have no closed season during daylight hours except on Sundays, and the coyote
night season runs from Dec. 16 through Aug.
31. 2014.
WOODCHUCKS, RED SQUIRRELS
Woodchucks and red squirrels have no
closed season and no bag and possession limit. Woodchuck hunting was far more popular 40
years ago, but housing development around
fields has discouraged participants in this sport.
TRAINING HOUNDS
Dogs may be trained on foxes, rabbits and
raccoons from July 1 through Mar. 31. It’s legal
to train on Sunday.Training Bird-Dogs
Dog handlers with bird dogs can train canines year-round. (Turkeys are off-limits to
hunting with dogs or rifles.) Training dogs on
Sunday is legal.
marauder” grabs her fish but does not swallow
it.
In short, a staunch fly rodder ends up
bait fishing. We’ve all been there, and this
reviewer remembers a similar incident when an
Atlantic-salmon parr grabbed my fly and then a
largemouth bass in the 4-pound range grabbed
the little fish – bait fishing with an endangered
species in Maine.
Scott’s book reminds me of Pleasant River
(which I’ve read over a dozen times) by Dale
Rex Coman, which takes place Down East circa
the mid-1960s. Coman’s work is all about Maine
Atlantic-salmon fishing but covers the setting
and all that entails.
In Brook Trout Forest, Scott talks about
building bamboo rods, and that keeps the good
times rolling. She writes with reverence about
other bamboo-rod builders.
In the last 20 years, a group of respected
fly rodders in this state refer to bamboo rods
as “wimpy” for casting, but bamboo rods can
be powerhouses. I have an 8 1/2-foot, 9-weight
that I used through the 1970s and early ’80s for
Atlantic salmon on the Gaspe, and it could reach
the far banks of rivers. Folks who think bamboo
rods can’t reach out just don’t know, and a lot
of rods that don’t cast far have great accuracy,
built for close casts. Bamboo rods need great
respect, and those who pooh-pooh them often
just don’t know.
I once taught in the same school as Scott,
and she had an upbeat personality second to
none. How upbeat? If someone sent her a box
of horse manure, she’d figure they just forgot to
send her the horse.
As the book comes to a close, Scott talks
about brook-trout fishing in Labrador, and this
part of the book provides dynamite fishing
scenes that offer great tension, because this
province’s fishing might not offer success. It
was possible. Readers will worry how the days
turn out.
As a reviewer, I try not to touch upon topics
that are already covered in the dust cover writeup, but suffice to say this book has lots of folks
worked into the pages from start to finish. Yup,
we see Maine and some of its people. (Ken
Allen)
Innocent Bystander
Brain Faster Than Hands –
Eventually!
My two daughters are in their mid-20s and
talk about writing for publications – but not as
a main occupation. They’re somewhat serious
and write extremely well, but they do have a
problem with getting into freelance writing, a
problem that I encountered in my early 20s.
My daughters are unsure of what to write
about. I understand the dilemma well and say,
“Write what you know about and feel comfortable
covering?”
They both fly-fish but lack confidence to
write about it, and in my long writing career,
young outdoor writers shy away from doing
how-to articles.
Many folks reading this essay in this
publication are hunters, anglers and hikers, so
a grand topic would be anything in the outdoors
that the doer feels a sense of accomplishment
in performing. For me at their age, it was flyfishing, deer-hunting, bird-hunting and camping.
Many folks worry about what to write, and
for most of us, our hands move much faster
than our brains anyway – once we figure out
what to write about. That’s the beginning of a
long career.
At The Maine Sportsman, we have a need
for “how-to” articles by new writers (for us) who
know about fly-fishing, saltwater fishing (not just
cunner, harbor pollock, wolffish, tommycod or
any species with limited interest), deer-hunting,
bear-hunting, moose-hunting, shooting, icefishing, snowmobiling and ATVing. In the last
two categories, how-to and where-to are good.
Forget sending mood pieces unless they are
superbly written, but quality how-to writers will
find a place in many issues, because we need
the above topics slanted toward readers who
want to know more about how to enjoy outdoor
sports.
Don’t send a complete article – we might
already have it or worse yet, not want the topic.
The professional approach begins with sending
a 3-paragraph query on one page (snail mail
Outdoor-sports folks close to the land notice
a common quirk during September:
The month begins like more of summer, with high temperatures and sticky humidity,
but near mid- or late month, depending on latitude and elevation – particularly around full
or new moons – dawns and evenings have a fall-like feel that shouts to folks listening,
“Fall’s coming!”
In Portland along the southern coast, the average high and low temperatures hit 67
and 47 degrees Fahrenheit, and in Caribou in the North Country, those temperatures are
64 and 44 degrees. (Take note on how close these temperatures are to one another.)
Also, please consider this:
To have average low temperatures of 47 and 44 degrees, just think how low the thermometer must drop on some nights. By the same token, to average 67 and 64 degrees,
think how high the thermometer must rise to average those figures.
In short, the ninth month usually begins like more of summer, but ends with a definitive touch of fall, making folks think of buttoning up houses and stacking wood inside for
winter.
or e-mail), and the first paragraph is the lead
paragraph for the article, the second ’graph
summarizes the article and the third tells the
writer’s qualifications for doing the piece.
Lately, wanna’-be writers here send
complete articles, many of them amateurish,
and worse yet, they want “a quick answer of yes
or no” so they “can send it elsewhere.” Never,
ever say that. It guarantees a rejection 99.9
percent of the time. Approach an editor as if he
or she is a picky customer – because they are –
and the writer is a salesclerk.
It wouldn’t hurt to read a good book on getting
into freelancing. I just read a jewel to recommend
to new writers – Handbook of Magazine Article
Writing, a Writer’s Digest publication. It lays the
groundwork for at least having a semblance of
professionalism. (I read a Jacob Hayes’ book
in my early 20s that jumped me ahead in the
freelancing business two or three years.)
I’d like to hear from you. Yes, this is a good
market, and many of The Maine Sportsman
writers jump from here into national publications
and create a good life for themselves (Ken Allen)
their sport in a land of reds, yellows, oranges
and golds with smatterings of purple and brown.
Photographers are enthused about the
colorful foliage, but October means critters are
moving as thermometers drop and chances for
wildlife images excite that crowd. September
does have sweet, clear light, but so does
October, so in addition to all the bright colors,
folks with cameras know such perfect light helps
them big time.
Gardens produce root veggies, winter
squash and Brassicas (including broccoli,
cabbage, Brussel sprouts and cauliflower) in
late September and early October. We live for
this month with small game, upland birds and
ducks to fill our bellies at dinner.
Panning or dredging for gold in rivers and
streams will become more popular, thanks to
the rising price of gold, and a television “reality”
show promoting this pastime. (When I was a
Answers to “Do You Know?”
Answer to “Do You Know?”
Ornithologists rank brown-headed cowbirds
(Molothrus ater) as brood parasites, because
the females lay their eggs in the nests of other
birds, so the “foster parents” will raise the
hatchlings.
At first, this tactic may strike folks as
questionable for cowbirds to leave chick
We’ve been giving out tickets to people who don’t
store their food properly. We really want to get on top
of it.
– Colleen Mainville, spokeswoman for the White
Mountain National Forest, where encounters between
campers and bears have been a problem this year.
Associated Press story, Kennebec Journal, June 28, 2014.
Next Month
It’s All Happening in October
White-tailed deer, black bear, moose, ruffed
grouse, woodcock, gray squirrels, varying hares,
raccoons, puddle ducks, sea ducks, Canada
geese, Wilson’s snipe, common rail and more
offer sport now, some of these critters far more
popular targets than others.
Fishing in October attracted scant numbers
in the 1950s and ’60s and in fact wasn’t legal
in most places, but now brook trout, landlocked
salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout,
white perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth
bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, sunfish, eel
and more draw attention.
October is the busy month for sportsmen,
and deer hunting much of the month means
bow and arrow, but guess what? – lots of folks
are bending bows these days. And waterfowl
and upland targets flourish in the state, so folks
take advantage/
And certain sports that excited folks in the fall
are getting popular. Lots of folks love bicycling
this month in a kaleidoscope of color. Hikers,
canoeists, kayakers and runners also love to do
kid, gold was $35 per ounce. Now it’s a 4-digit
dollar figure.) This endeavor can also raise
havoc with the environment, although panning
is much more benign than dredging.
Late fall camping, backpacking and canoe
tripping when nights are cool, days warm
enough and bugs scarce make this a perfect
time of year for campers.
Hydrilla, it turns out, is probably even more
threatening than variable-leaf milfoil. They spend a lot
of money trying to control this plant in Florida.
– John McPhedran, Department of Environmental
Protection, who is working to help residents of Jefferson
deal with the discovery of hydrilla in Damariscotta Lake.
Chris Chase story, The Coastal Journal, July 10, 2014.
The purpose of these cameras is to observe the
natural process of nesting eagles. And that natural
process includes fledglings dying, starving to death,
being killed by their siblings, adults stopping feeding
them if there’s not enough food, and sometimes it does
involve a happy ending with both birds surviving.
– Eryn Call, DIF&W wildlife biologist and raptor
specialist. The agency was besieged by calls from viewers
of the nest cam, demanding they help a young eagle who
did not appear to be getting fed by its parents, after the
youngster had killed its sibling. John Holyoke story,
Bangor Daily News, June 25, 2014.
We just made it through a horrible winter for
winter ticks (killing moose). We’re extremely concerned
with what the future holds.
– Lee Kantar, moose biologist for Maine’s Department
of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Deirdre Fleming story,
Portland Press Herald, June 14, 2014.
Research shows the more moose you have, the
more hosts the ticks have to feed on [and] the worse the
problem.
– Mark Scott, Wildlife Director for Vermont’s Fish
and Wildlife Department. Same Deirdre Fleming story.
After 3,000 miles in the Northern Maine woods
from Jackman to Fort Kent, I saw firsthand the effect
of the harsh winter and tick infestation. Maine’s moose
and deer herd did a lot of dying this winter.
– Bert Corrigan of Smithfield. Terry Karkos story,
Lewiston Sun Journal, June 22, 2014.
Geese eat a lot so they go to the bathroom a lot…
We did surrender them to the state in the hopes things
would look a little better for the birds.
– Peter Nielsen, Oakland Town Manager, where
bearing to strange birds, but brown-headed
cowbirds flourish. When I was participating in
the Christmas bird count in central Maine, one
farm kept a partner and me counting as we tried
tabulating flocks of them.
Some brood-parasitic species choose a nest
that belongs to a bird with similar eggs, but not
the brown-headed cowbird. The species lays
eggs helter-skelter with little regard for the looks
of eggs in strange nests. One documented case
even showed a cowbird egg in a hummingbird
nest; however, that incident did not result in a
chick.
Research shows that 144 different bird
species have successfully reared cowbird eggs.
An Audubon guidebook theorizes that cowbirds
evolved as brood parasites because they were
following bison herds and had no time to stay in
one spot. Now, cowbirds flock around domestic
bovine herds.
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Service
gathered up 18 geese who were messing up the town’s
beach area, and in consultation with a DIF&W regional
wildlife biologist, killed all of them, much to Nielsen’s
surprise. Matt Hongoltz-Hetling story, Kennebec Journal,
June 24, 2014.
When I first got in the club, we had all kinds of
help. Kids would help us. Families would help. It’s
been pretty much just me for a number of years.
– Mike Brissette of the Vassalboro Snowmobile
Club, one of a number of clubs having trouble attracting
volunteers to maintain the trails in its area. Jesse Scardina
story, Kennebec Journal, June 22, 2014.
Many popular fisheries, not necessarily this one,
but many are collapsing because they are harvested
unsustainably. That’s something that you guys… are
going to have to deal with.
– Steve Coghlan, University of Maine freshwater
fisheries ecology instructor, at Maine Trout Unlimited’s
annual trout camp for teens on the Kennebec River at
Evergreens Campground in Solon. Rachel Ohm story,
Kennebec Journal, June 27, 2014.
Conservation biologist Geri Vistein presents
“Coyote – America’s Songdog,”… at the Thompson
Free Library.
– Dover Foxcroft presentation, reported in the “Things
to Do Outdoors” section of the Bangor Daily News, July
12, 2014.
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Maine
Wildlife
by Tom Seymour
Eastern Phoebe
The same thing happens each spring – a flash
of gray just on the periphery of my vision, as much
imagined as real, and quickly dismissed.
The next day, another flash seen through office
window, prompting me to get up and go outside
for a closer look. And there, fluttering near the
eaves of my garden shed/greenhouse, is a phoebe.
I keep track of first-sighting dates for phoebes,
and on the average the birds arrive during the
middle of the second week of April. The date may
differ in exceptional years; for example, in 2012 a
phoebe arrived in late March, but that year made
history for its many unusually-early plants, birds
and insects.
Eastern phoebes belong to a group of birds
that sit perched on vantage points, watching for
flying insects. From there, they lunge out and
capture their prey. Sometimes, when clouds of
insects congregate just off the ground, phoebes
will flutter as they dart about, picking off one
flying insect after another. For those who dislike
mosquitoes and other biting insects, phoebes are
welcome visitors.
Phoebes have the ability to hover, and that
flash of gray that I see in spring happens when
a phoebe momentarily hovers just outside my
window. This hovering enables the bird to pick
stationary insects such as spiders and ticks from
foliage. Also, phoebes hover when building or rebuilding a nest. Phoebes often use the same nest
year after year.
Nuisance Habits
Phoebes often use manmade structures as
places to site their nests. The nest just beneath
the overhang on my greenhouse stands as a good
example of a perennially-occupied location.
Sometimes, though, phoebes will build, or attempt
to build, a nest in a high-traffic area. This can pose
problems.
For instance, some years ago I engaged in a
long-lasting battle of the wills with a phoebe who
insisted on building a nest just above my back
door. This door leads out to a deck and in the warm
season, my deck gets lots of use. When a phoebe
manages to construct a nest in such a place, it’s
bad news for her young, since every time the door
opens, the mother bird flies off, disturbed by the
human activity.
Even worse, phoebes often use mud and clay
as an adhesive with which to attach their nest
to a structure. The phoebe that tried building its
nest above my back door was not an especially
neat mud-spreader, and she had several feet of
boarding, plus much of my back door, splattered
with mud. This would not do, and every so often I
was compelled to go out and remove the partiallybuilt nest.
But each time, the phoebe returned to the task
of spattering the side of my house with mud as
she set out building her nest anew. For a while,
it seemed as if the bird would win the battle. But
then I recalled seeing a roll of poultry netting in
my shed. If properly installed, in a sort of cage
fashion, this prevents the phoebe from building
her nest. It worked, and the bird begrudgingly
turned to a little nesting platform I had erected in
another location more to my liking.
In addition to the myriad mosquitoes phoebes
consume during the course of a day, they also eat
other, larger insects. This, in some cases, diminishes
their value slightly. For instance, phoebes often
nest near water, and there they display the same
diligence in hunting dragonflies and damselflies as
they do when seeking mosquitoes. But dragonflies
and damselflies eat mosquito larvae, and as
such perform a valuable service. Besides that,
dragonflies, like phoebes, catch mosquitoes while
airborne. It would be good if somehow these two
species could work in tandem, but nature doesn’t
always operate that way.
Phoebe Facts
The eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe, exhibits
a drab coloring, a kind of grayish-olive on the back
and sides with a lighter-colored belly. A phoebe
has a small but very noticeable crest. When raised,
the crest makes the bird appear rather unkempt, as
if it had gotten out of bed and forgot to comb its
hair.
Also, eastern phoebes have distinctive eyes,
made all the more prominent by virtue of a lack
of an eye ring. Instead, the small, liquid, jetblack eye shines brightly against a field of gray.
Were the drab coloring, rough crest
and flashing eye the only means of
identification, that would certainly
be enough. But phoebes have another
trademark feature and that becomes
evident while the bird sits atop
its perch. While perching, eastern
phoebes pump their tails down and up
continuously. Even when seen from
afar, the size (about 7 inches long)
coupled with the tail-pumping habit
should suffice to provide positive
identification.
Phoebes don’t appear to have
much fear of people. (If they did,
they probably wouldn’t build their
nests over doors on houses.) Phoebes
will occasionally perch on a person’s
head or shoulder, only to leap off
to catch an insect and then return.
A person sitting completely still, in
close proximity to a phoebe, may find himself or
herself serving as a perch for a phoebe. While a
rare occurrence, it does happen.
Depending upon where they perch, phoebes
can cause quite a mess as a result of their copious
white droppings. In my case, phoebes require me
to take caution regarding where I park my car. If
the car is parked under the power line from the
barn to the house, the parts of the car directly
under the line will quickly get befouled with
phoebe droppings. This necessitates a quick rinse,
because once the droppings dry they are difficult to
remove, and in fact the acid in them may damage a
car finish.
The real kicker, though, happened one year
when a phoebe decided to use the little mast
antenna on my car as a perch. As a result, my rear
window became covered with droppings. I was
ready to drape some kind of protective covering
over the antenna but then realized that the thing
might unscrew. It did. I removed the mast, the
phoebe was ticked off but none the worse for wear,
and my radio continued to work just fine, except
that it didn’t get as clear a signal from one of my
favorite talk radio stations. That was a bearable
loss in return for no more phoebe droppings
plastered on the roof.
Phoebe Friends
For me, phoebes are like friends. They are a
regular part of my life outside and since they are
among the earliest-returning birds in spring and
the last to leave in fall, they grace me with their
presence for a long time each year.
For those who don’t have phoebes around but
would like to encourage them, just put up a small
ledge under the eaves of a building. This will serve
as a base for a phoebe nest, and once occupied, the
birds will put a new nest on top of the old each
year.
Waiting for and spotting the first phoebe of the
year plays a big part of my springtime ritual.
SMILIN’
Sportsman
THE
“How’s the fishing?”
“Great! I took 10 trout out of this stream yesterday,
and the season isn’t even open for another week.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“No, who?”
“I’m the new Warden.”
“Hmmm. Do you know who I am?”
“No, who?”
“I’m the biggest damn liar in the entire State of Maine!”
Quad Corner – ATV Humor
t
Question: Where do you find an ATV with no wheels?
Answer: Right where you left it.
They say it’s always darkest before the dawn … so if you’re going to do donuts
t with your ATV all across your neighbor’s garden, that’s the time to do it!
t Confucius say: Never test the depth of a water hole in the ATV trail at 45 m.p.h.
t If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of installment payments on your ATV.
When it comes to learning how to ride an ATV, good judgment comes from bad
t experience – and a lot of that comes from bad judgment!
The Warden suspected Jack was poaching fish, but he could not figure out how, so
he invited himself aboard Jack’s small boat
and they went out together onto the pond.
Jack reached into his backpack, pulled
out a stick of dynamite, and lit the fuse.
The Warden yelled, “Jack! It’s illegal to
use dynamite when catching fish!”
Jack handed the lit stick of dynamite to
the Warden, and asked, “Well, are you going to help me fish, or are you just going to
keep on talking?”
Both the plane’s engines were on fire, and soon the aircraft would be plunging to the ground. On board were four people: the pilot, a Boy Scout, a minister
and The World’s Smartest Man. Trouble was, there were only three parachutes.
The pilot emerged from the cockpit, quickly strapped on one of the parachutes, and said, “I’m a pilot. I must live to fly another day,” and he jumped
out the bay door.
Next was The World’s Smartest Man. Strapping on a pack, he said, “I’m The World’s
Smartest Man. It’s very important that I survive, so I can bestow my vast wisdom on the
people of the world.” And out he jumped.
The minister turned to the Boy Scout. “I’m an old man,” he said, “and I’ve lived a full life.
You represent the future. You take the last parachute; I’ll be alright.”
“Not to worry!” replied the Boy
Scout.
“The World’s Smartest Man just
Send us your favorite family-friendly
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Email: [email protected] or mail: 183 State Street,
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All items may be edited.
AXLES
Photo by John Benson
Check out the Maine Wildlife Quiz on page 37!
Sighting System
to set up a deer-hunting rifle
with a proper-sighting system.
I found the stand my
father had made for me and sat
down, and then just as I settled
in, a huge buck walked slowly
toward me – poking down
the trail just as my father had
predicted.
When the deer stopped
30 yards away behind a
gnarly brush patch, I raised
my newly-scoped rifle and
waited for the animal to walk
into a clear area. When the
deer took his first few steps
into the opening, I tried to
line the high-powered scope’s
What I hadn’t prepared
for was shooting at targets
less than 100 yards – and
particularly a lot less – and
that oversight came back
to bite me on that morning.
When I squeezed my left eye
shut and aligned the crosshairs
on the deer moving into the
clearing, all I could see in the
scope turned out to be a bunch
of brown fur.
Even with the 3-9X scope
turned down to its lowest
setting, I couldn’t focus on
one particular spot in relation
to the rest of the deer’s body.
For all I knew, I could be
aiming at a hindquarter, a leg
or tail – not an ethical option
for pulling the trigger on a
game animal.
As I squinted and
crosshairs on his vitals.
High-Powered Scopes
I had just mounted a new
scope on the .270 Winchester
bolt-action in a Ruger model
and had it dialed to hit three
inches high at 100 yards. With
the cartridges that I had handloaded, the projectiles would
return to the center of the
bull’s-eye at 240 yards – quite
a flat-shooting round.
I had practiced shooting
that rifle at longer ranges than
I had been accustomed to
shooting, because I knew the
rifle and scope combination
worked well at those extended
distances.
squirmed to get a better sight
picture at a mere 30 yards, the
big buck crossed the stream
and slowly vanished into the
thick woods. At that range, it
felt as if I could have reached
out and whacked the buck
with the end of my rifle. I
really wanted to heave that
fancy scope into the stream.
Proper Scope
Of course, I shouldn’t
have blamed the scope for my
dilemma. If I had practiced
at closer ranges, I would
have discovered the potential
problem. Even when dialed
down to 3X, powerful scopes
make sighting on a specific
part of a game animal at
less than 50 yards a difficult
proposition.
Reddog
Guide Service
Upland, Waterfowl, Deer (zones 22, 17 and 14)
and Moose Hunting (zones 5, 6, 14 and 17)
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CONGRATULATES YOU!
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Leupold’s excellent Scout Scope in a mount that
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— Tom & Raelyn Hamilton —
— The Maine Sportsman —
TAXIDERMIST DIRECTORY
DELAITE’S TAXIDERMY
Shooters can clearly see the target and objects
around the target when shooting with the Scout
Scope system. (William Clunie photo)
Revolutionary New Sighting System
Works for Maine Big Game
By William Clunie
My father walked ahead
of me through thick hemlock
and cedar, until reaching a
spot in the woods. He pointed
to a stream about 50 yards to
the west and told me how to
get to my stand that he had
built months before.
“Follow that creek for
about 200 yards and look for
the big pine tree on the hill
that overlooks a little tributary
feeding into this stream,” Dad
said. “You can watch the trail
that follows the stream. See
you at the truck at noon. Good
luck.”
Most hunters remember
every detail about their
successful hunts, but how
many of them can recall
the particulars of a failed
hunt? I remember all of the
components of this specific
hunt – a great time spent
hunting with Dad, a failed
attempt at taking a big buck
and an excellent lesson in how
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Sighting System
In addition, closing one eye
and squinting with the other
eye through a scope cuts off
half of a hunter’s vision. Add
the fact that a high-powered
scope really limits the field-
of-view (what a hunter sees
in the scope) at these close
ranges, and a failure to obtain
a clear sight picture becomes
an obvious reality.
Through
the
aging
process, my own vision has
become less than desired – to
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Sabattus Deer
Processing
the point that I have scoped
every rifle I own except one
lever-action .22 rimfire. The
scopes that I have mounted
on my rifles, not the regular
high-powered variety, provide
me with a magnified view of
distant game animals and a full
field-of-view at close ranges –
the best of both worlds.
The scope system, called
the Scout Scope, has an
extremely long eye relief
(distance of scope to the eye)
that allows a shooter to keep
both eyes open when aiming.
The Scout Scope concept
really works great for shooting
at both long or short distances,
letting a hunter see a magnified
picture of the game animal
through the glass and also an
unlimited field-of-view on
both sides of the animal.
With both eyes open, a
hunter can easily place the
crosshairs of the scope on a
precise area of a game animal
at extremely close ranges.
Even with both eyes open, the
Sighting System
Illuminated circle in this scope’s reticle clearly points
out the target at a great distance.
magnification still provides
long distance capabilities –
hunters just need to practice
shooting with both eyes open
to become accustomed to this
practical method of shooting.
Modern Scopes
Most hunters note the
advent of illuminated reticle
on scopes as a leap into the
future of shooting. One reason
contributes to this logic – it
allows hunters an extra visual
edge in fading light near
dusk or dawn. The lighted
crosshairs or dot in the scope
gives a clear reference point
for shooters in poor light.
Hunters
with
an
illuminated reticle in their
scope also have an unexpected
plus when it comes to aiming
their rifle. Scopes with an
illuminated
crosshair
or
aiming dot can be easily
used with both eyes open, as
described above.
When looking through
a scope with an illuminated
reticle, the lighted sight
appears
as
a
sort-of
“holographic” image that can
be easily superimposed on the
vitals of a game animal. With
a little practice, hunters can
learn to aim faster and shoot
quicker with this easy-to-learn
system.
A completely detailed
explanation
of
shooting
this problem with their BAC
line of scopes that utilize an
illuminated reticle or dot for
effectively aiming and hitting
near and far targets.
mount must be used.
with both eyes open can be This mount places the Remember, scopes with
found by a computer search scope further away from the an illuminated reticle or
for Bindon Aiming Concept eye than a regularly mounted lighted aiming point don’t
(BAC), a system developed by system – a feature that must need to be mounted forward
to take advantage
Glyn Bindon (1937
of this rifle-sighting
to 2003), the founder
What I hadn’t prepared for was concept.
of the Trijicon scope
Hunting
shooting at targets less than 100 company. Type in the
situations
can be
address bar “Bindon yards – and particularly a lot less –
likened
to
a
combat
Aiming Concept,”
even
or go to trijicon. and that oversight came back to bite encounter,
though
the
actual
com and click on the
me on that morning.
targets
remain
BAC link.
completely different.
I’ve shot rifles
Both
situations
can require
be
employed
to
use
the
special
with both illuminated and
a
long-distance
shot where
feature
of
a
non-illuminated
non-illuminated Scout Scopes
the
powerful
magnification
and prefer the illuminated Scout Scope.
types – as long as the scope’s Most scope manufactures of a quality scope can aid in
illuminated reticle appears as now offer some type of accurate shooting.
a very fine image. I find that an Scout-Scope design, as well At times though, a target
illuminated reticle with a large as the rings and mounts to can pop up at a very close
dot or thick crosshairs cover accommodate the forward distance. Acquiring a clear
too much of an animal at long mounting system. Two of my sight picture in a high-power
favorite scope companies, scope at close range can be
distances.
Leupold and Burris, both offer made even more difficult if the
Fine Points
To take advantage of a well-designed mounting target moves – very possible
this helpful scope-sighting system for their scout designs. in both combat and hunting
system, shooters must make Trijicon also has jumped scenarios.
one modification to the rifles on the scout concept from Hunters with eyes that
they intend to mount with the beginning with their require the use of a scope
a scout-style scope (non- line up of scopes for the should consider the scout
illuminated reticle). In order military. Magnification in a system. Others that prefer
to accommodate the extremely military scope, necessary at using a scope to take advantage
long eye relief associated with certain times, hinders closea Scout Scope, a forward up accuracy. Trijicon solved
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207-576-9759 • 207-375-4581
Certified Weigh-in Station for Biggest Bucks in Maine Club
Saturday, October 11, 2014
9am - 5pm
Dana Larrivee of Buxton shot this 8-point,
224.8-pound buck on
November 12, 2013 in
Roxbury.
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August 23-24, 2014
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August 30-31, 2014
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of long-distance shots might
look at Scout Scopes, too. If I
had been using a Scout Scope
in the story at the beginning of
this article, I would have one
If you are looking for an ultra light weight,
deadly accurate hunting rifle, look no further
than Forbes.
or shop
at
www.forbesriflellc.com
www.forbesriflestore.com
207-899-3254
Copper Bullet Technology Satisfies Big-game
Hunters in 21st Century
By William Clunie
Earlier this year, the
Environmental
Protection
Agency (EPA) pushed and
passed legislation to shut down
the last bullet-producing, leadsmelting plant in the United
States by the end of 2014.
Some hail this as a great
victory, believing that lead
bullets and the manufacturing
of these projectiles cause
enough of a toxic impact on
our environment to warrant
this
heavily-restrictive
regulation.
Others claim this move
provides another way for the
U.S. Government to control
and limit gun ownership
across the nation. Bullet
manufacturers
will
now
have to purchase lead from
foreign countries, a costly
alternative that may force
the price of ammunition to
skyrocket. This could limit
access to ammunition to those
individual gun owners, who
can afford paying the higher
costs.
Extremists within the progun control movement have
been touting this scheme of
making ammunition expensive
beyond the purchasing power
of the average gun owner
– as a way of crushing the
American citizen’s right to
gun ownership.
Law-abiding gun owners
and hunters who use lead
bullets will – of course –
comply with new laws and
figure out a way to move
beyond this inconvenience.
The big question remains –
what can hunters and gun
owners do now that this law
has been put into effect?
Copper Bullets
Fred Barnes, a Colorado
entrepreneur, began working
with copper bullets in 1932.
His first attempts used a bullet
with a heavy copper jacket
around a lead core, inspiring
him to open the Colorado
Custom Bullet company in
Montrose, Colorado.
The company did fairly
well. It exchanged hands a
few times and then in the
early 1970s fell under the
management of its presentday owners, Randy and Coni
L.L.Bean Hunting & Fishing Store
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Brooks. For a handshake
and a $1 bill, the Brooks duo
purchased rights to the bullet
with Barnes’ name.
For years, Randy Brooks
had noticed his hunting
friends complain of a lack of
solid copper bullets selections
for hunting dangerous game in
Africa, so he set out to produce
a bullet that offered more.
Barnes rejected the roundnosed designs and created a
solid-copper, pointed bullet
with a hole in the tip. In 1986
he took one of his new bullets
with him on a hunting trip and
dropped a 9 1/2-foot Alaskan
brown bear like a sack of
potatoes.
After initial problems
with copper fouling, Barnes
added three bands to the rear
of his all-copper bullets and
called the new creation the
“Triple Shock X Bullet.” By
the 1990s, several ammunition
manufacturers,
including
Federal, Weatherby, PMC,
and Sako, offered hunters
premium loads using Barnes
projectiles.
Choices Expand
Today, other ammunition
companies also offer the
Barnes choice in their
premium-bullet line. A few
companies have even jumped
on the bandwagon, producing
their own line of non-lead, allcopper bullets.
The Hornady GMX,
the Nosler E-Tip, and
Remington’s Copper Solid all
use similar bullet designs with
only copper – no lead. Most
feature a Barnes-inspired,
solid base with a tip that
expands to create sharp petals
that lead to an effective wound
channel. Usual terminal results
show full penetration on game
animals with plenty of energy
expended within even the
toughest game.
The first bear I ever
personally killed weighed 150
pounds, and it immediately
went belly-up from a 150-grain,
hand-loaded, Barnes .308 Win
X Bullet. The projectile went
right through the bear’s chest
cavity, delivering enough
energy to the insides of the
animal to create a devastating,
one-shot kill at 70 yards.
Since then, I’ve taken
several deer with light-forcaliber, all-copper Barnes
bullets, and the animals
dropped in their tracks at the
shot. One bullet took the deer
in the spine, just behind the
shoulder, breaking a huge
portion of the backbone and
ripping up some of the liver.
Needless to say, even thought
the shot hit too far behind the
heart-lung area, the animal fell
directly in its tracks.
I’ve watched several other
hunters drop moose, bear
and deer with Barnes bullets.
As a guide, I had a firsthand look at the performance
of several calibers, using
all-copper bullets. In each
case, the non-leaded bullets
The all-copper, non-leaded Barnes TSX bullet; unfired and fully expanded
versions shown. (Photo
courtesy of Barnes)
performed perfectly, almost
always dropping the animals
immediately upon being hit.
Copper Works!
Hunters can complain all
they want, but the fact remains
– lead happens to be on the
way out and copper bullets
really work. I imagine in the
near future that folks could
purchase lead bullets from
overseas or make their own at
home.
I’ll probably continue
shooting some type of lead
bullets, but copper bullets
from the manufacturers above
will surely be with me in the
hunting field. However, I like
shooting solid lead balls out of
my muzzleloader, even though
all-copper bullets with a sabot
Copper Bullet
can be easily purchased.
Of all the game animals
that I’ve seen dropped with
copper bullets, one feature
has always inspired me to
go completely copper. When
this projectile hits an animal,
its efficiency has completely
amazed me every time. The
projectile makes a complete
pass-through. How many
hunters felt disappointment
when discovering extensive
meat damage by bullets
designed to expand and stay
within the animal?
The expanding bullets
do drop animals but can also
disrupt surrounding tissue
enough to ruin lots of meat.
Supposedly, this expanding
bullet theory claims that all
of the bullet’s energy gets
“dumped” into the game
animal rather than in the dirt
behind the animal.
I would suggest that
hunters go to Barnes Bullets
website (barnesbullets.com),
or YouTube (youtube.com/
user/BarnesBulletsLLC)
to
watch several slow-motion
videos of the devastating
effects of copper bullets fired
through ballistic gelatin. It
really baffles me – how can
a bullet that has such great
penetration still deliver the
extreme internal shock that
these copper bullets create
without tearing up the meat?
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Email: [email protected]
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OPEN 7 DAYS
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Greg Provost • 207-576-9759 or 207-375-4581
435 Middle Road, Rt. 9, Sabattus, ME 04280
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or Nancy Carpenter at 207-357-2702
today!
Same
diameter
bullets driven at identical
speeds show Barnes
all-copper bullets expand effectively at any
speed or range. (Photo
courtesy of Barnes)
Shock Waves
In the videos, viewers
can clearly see the extreme
disruption of the ballistic
gelatin surrounding the path of
the copper bullets. The front
of the bullet opens to create
sharp pedals of copper that cut
a hole completely through a
game animal – a unique feature
of the Barnes Bullet design.
The expanded pedals usually
stay with the remainder of the
projectile and exit the animal,
even if bone gets in the way.
With
a
traditional
jacketed-lead bullet, the front
of the bullet opens up in a
similar fashion but usually
separates from the lead core –
this more rapid expansion and
fragmenting causes the bullet
to stay within the animal. The
pieces of lead and copper
fragments violently diverge
from the path of the bullet,
especially if bone or solid
matter (like tendon, ligament,
or cartilage) gets in the way –
often the case.
I still do a lot of hunting
with Nosler Partitions, a
copper-jacketed,
lead-core
bullet, and find it perfectly
capable of downing Maine
black bear, big whitetailed deer and moose. This
premium-lead and copperbullet design holds together
well enough to penetrate
and drop the toughest game
animals in Maine.
If I had a chance to go
to Africa or Alaska and hunt
dangerous game, I certainly
would be packing all copper
bullets for obvious reasons – I
wouldn’t want to risk having a
lead core bullet expand rapidly
and fall short of completing its
path through the tough animals
that roam that continent.
In hunting situations,
hunters may inadvertently
or deliberately take marginal
shots, because not every
animal presents a perfect
broadside target. Traditional
copper-jacketed,
lead-core
bullets designs just don’t have
enough penetrating power to
handle the job properly.
Let’s just take a quartering
away shot for instance, where
the hunter inadvertently hits
the hindquarter. The weak
design of a traditional jacketed
bullet would expand too
quickly and expend all of its
energy in the hindquarter of
the animal – without reaching
the vitals. It happens.
Further Reading
The final words on this
subject – far from being
considered complete – is still
out there somewhere. Each
hunter has to come to their
own conclusion – to use or not
use lead bullets.
One study from the
Minnesota Department of
Natural
Resources
(dnr.
state.mn.us/hunting/lead/
index.html) shows that lead
fragments can travel up to 14
inches from a bullet’s path
when fired into game animals,
using rifle calibers common to
hunting.
To avoid getting lead
in meat from game animals
taken with a rifle, hunters
turn to all-copper, non-leaded
bullets. Personally, I use the
all-copper bullets because
of their devastating terminal
performance – this choice
really get the job done when it
comes to dropping an animal
quickly.
I have also used hardcast bullets that perform in a
similar manner. The special
hard-cast lead alloy retains its
shape and weight, even after
passing through an animal
from end to end. The hardcast bullet won’t leave lead
fragments in the meat either,
so there won’t be the worry
Copper, nonleaded bullets not only perform well
after they hit the target
– they’re extremely accurate, too. (Photo courtesy
of Barnes)
of contaminating wild game
steaks and burger.
The cost of lead bullets
will surely increase with the
recent legislation, banning
lead-bullet
manufacturing
companies here in the United
States. Turning to copper
might be the only solution,
so hunters should become
familiar with shooting copper
bullets now – and at the
same time continue working
to reverse legislation that
extremely limits the amount
of shooting the average gun
owner can afford.
VARNEY’S CLAY SPORTS
Wing Shooting Instructor
NESCA, NRA & State Certified
Over 45 Years Instructing Experience
Home of “Have Gun - Will Teach”
Shooting School
Sporting Clays • Skeet • Modern Skeet
Super Clays - “The Hunter’s Game”
Lessons and Shooting by Appointment or by Invitation
502 Langdon Road, Richmond, ME 04357
Brad Varney: 207-737-4993 • www.varneysclaysports.com
ATV
After the Shot, ATVs Help Get
Big Game Out of Woods
By William Clunie
The perfect shot at a game
animal happens to be one that
drops the target relatively
close to a hunting vehicle, but
downing an animal often takes
place far from the beaten path.
LANCASTER, NH
F. B. Spaulding
244 Main Street
(603) 778-2281
fbspaulding.com
GORHAM, ME
Wescott & Sons
500 Ossipee Trail
(207) 839-4500
www.wescotts.com
One of the biggest
nightmares a Maine hunter
can think of would be shooting
a moose and then having it
run off into a huge swamp,
miles from the truck. Another
nightmare right up there on the
list would be trying to recover
a heavy, trophy-sized black
bear from deep in a swampy
and distant forest.
After guiding bear and
moose hunters in Maine for
several years, I’ve developed
GORHAM, NH
Absolute Power Sports
461 Main Street
(603)466-5454
absolutepowersportsnh.com
TOPSHAM
Woody’s Performance
70 Topsham Fair Mall Rd
(207) 729-1177
www.woodysyamaha.com
MILO, ME
C.C. Polaris & Cabins
83 Park Street
(207) 943-2686
ccpolaris.com
FORT KENT
Fort Kent PowerSports
377 Caribou Road
207-834-3607
fortkentpowersports.com
Offers good on new and unregistered units purchased between 7/1/14-8/31/14. *On select models. See your dealer for details. Rates as low as 2.99% for 36 months. Approval, and any rates and terms provided,
are based on credit worthiness. Fixed APR of 2.99%, 5.99%, or 7.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Other financing offers are available. See your local dealer for details. Minimum Amount
Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Offer effective on all new and unused 2008-2014 Polaris ATV,
RANGER, and RZR models purchased from a participating Polaris dealer between 7/1/2014 and 8/31/2014. Offer subject to change without notice. Warning: The Polaris RANGER® and RZR® are not intended
for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers must be at least 12 years old and tall enough to grasp the hand holds and plant feet firmly on the floor. All
SxS drivers should take a safety training course. Contact ROHVA atwww.rohva.org or (949) 255-2560 for additional information. Drivers and passengers should always wear helmets, eye protection, protective
clothing, and seat belts. Always use cab nets or doors (as equipped). Be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never drive on public roads or paved surfaces. Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive
speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Check local laws before riding on trails. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. Polaris
adult models are for riders 16 and older. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing, and be sure to take a safety
training course. For safety and training information in the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887. You may also contact your Polaris dealer or call
Polaris at (800) 342-3764. ©2014 Polaris Industries Inc.
a fairly simple method of
game retrieval using an allterrain vehicle (ATV). Hunters
who might want to use an
ATV in similar game-retrieval
situations can follow the
simple instructions here and
never worry about shooting
a prized game animal too far
back in the woods.
The modern utility ATV,
built for heavy loads and
working situations, can handle
any retrieval chore – as long as
the rider knows how to work
with the machine.
In
game-retrieval
situations, hunters with an
ATV might be faced with
one of three major obstacles
– sometimes all three at the
same time. Let us continue by
covering what can be the most
difficult obstacle.
Water No Problem
The only utility ATV
that can go through water
like a boat, the ARGO
(argoatv.com), might just be
the ultimate game-retrieval
machine known to this writer.
Hunters can drive this ATV
right into the water and it
floats. Riders can also slowly
power the machine through
the water with the accelerator.
Hunters who don’t own
an ARGO can utilize another
method for retrieving game
animals from water, like a
small pond or swamp that
can’t be reached by boat. Let’s
say a hunter shoots a moose,
and it runs off into the middle
of small pond where it expires.
The first consideration
happens to be how to get the
rope out to the moose. A lot
of moose hunting takes place
around water, so the “forwardthinking” guide should have
a canoe that can be roped and
dragged into the pond location
with the ATV; otherwise,
somebody must take a cold
swim.
William Clunie, the author, said the ideal is to shoot
a moose in the road.
(Cont. from previous page) From there, it becomes a
matter of attaching one end of
the rope to the moose and the
other to the ATV or the ATV
winch, and then hauling the
big game animal to the shore.
The actual effort of pulling
the moose off the water goes
smoother than dragging it on
land.
Some items that make the
water retrieval job easier or
more comfortable would be
a good set of waders or hip
boots, lots of dry towels, and
a warm campfire for drying
out after the operation. In any
case involving water retrieval,
somebody’s going to get wet.
Land Retrieval
So now, let’s say the
hunters have pulled the big
moose to the shoreline, and the
navigation of a few hundred
yards of dense woods remains.
A few quick maneuvers at the
beginning of the land retrieval
make the rest of the process
much easier.
Take a roll of bright
colored flagging tape and
carefully and thoughtfully
mark out a path to the nearest
destination accessible by
truck. Even if a hunter marks a
route that goes a short distance
out of the way, it doesn’t
matter, because the clearest
way out will be the best way
out.
ATVs can go through
tough stuff, but when it comes
to dragging a big game animal
out of the woods, wise hunters
make the chore as easy as
possible by choosing a path
that detours around deep mud,
thick brush, big rocks, stumps,
etc.
The best method for
attaching a moose to an ATV
– critical for maneuvering
through dense tree growth and
thick brush – involves more
than simply tying the moose
to a rope and dragging it. Have
two muscular hunters lift the
moose head above the level
of the rear rack. Hunters may
also be able to drag the moose
to a mound of dirt or riverbank
to attain this elevated position.
Back the ATV under the
moose head as far as possible
and secure it in position with a
good set of ratchet straps. Try
and maintain a position where
the animal’s head rests in the
rear rack and the shoulders
of the moose appear to be off
the ground. This will ensure
a smoother drag and make
going around obstacles so
much easier.
I hauled an 800-poundplus moose out of the woods
once, using a big 700 Polaris
with the bull’s rack secured
as described above, keeping
the shoulders off the ground
as much as possible. At
AUBURN
Wallingford Equipment
2527 Turner Rd
207-782-4886
wallingfordequipment.com
GREENVILLE JUNCTION
Moosehead Motorsports
13 Moosehead Industrial Park
207-695-2020
mooseheadmotorsports.com
LINCOLN
Lincoln Powersports
265 W. Broadway
207-794-8100
lincolnpowersportsme.net
BREWER
B&D Marine, Inc.
432 Wilson St.
207-989-3347
bndmarine.com
COLEBROOK, NH
Lemieux Garage Inc.
161 Main St
603-237-4377
lemieuxgarage.com
JACKMAN
Jackman Power Sports
549 Main Street
207-668-4442
jackmanpowersports.com
FORT KENT
Fort Kent PowerSports
377 Caribou Road
207-834-3607
fortkentpowersports.com
LEEDS
Reggie’s Kawasaki Ski-Doo
255 US HWY 202
207-933-4976
doitatreggies.com
The hunter has shot meat
for the year, but now the
work begins to get it out
of the woods.
North Maine Woods Guide Service & Lodging
BEAR - MOOSE - DEER - FISH
Modern Log Cabins
• Fully Equipped
Kitchen
• Satellite TV
• Wireless Internet
• Cell Service
• Washer & Dryer
Near by...
• Marina & Beach
• Restaurant
• Gas Station
• Eagle Lake
• Convenience
Stores
Master Maine Guide - Ron Ricciardi
PO Box 123 - Eagle Lake, Maine • 207.444.6108
WWW.NMWGUIDESERVICE.COM
©2014 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. Offers valid in U.S.A. only, from August 1,
2014 to October 31, 2014. See an authorized BRP dealer for details. The conditions may vary from state to state and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice. †Rebates up to $2,000 on select models
: Rebate applicable to new and unused 2012 to 2014 Can-Am ATVs and Can-Am side-by-side vehicles. Rebate amount depends on the model and model year purchased. Dealer may sell for less. While quantities last. See a participating
BRP dealer for details. ‡ Up to 2-Year Extended Warranty : Eligible units are new and unused 2012 to 2014 Can-Am RenegadeTM and Outlander ATV models (excluding X® mr models), as well as new and unused 2012 to 2014 Can-Am Commander and
MaverickTM side-by-side models (excluding X® mr models). The buyer of a 2012, 2013 or 2014 unit will receive the 6-month BRP Limited Warranty plus an 18 month B.E.S.T. extended service contract subject to a $50 deductible on each repair. Exception
for Florida residents who will receive the 6-month BRP Limited Warranty plus an additional 18-month BRP Limited Warranty. See your participating BRP Can-Am dealer for all details and to receive a copy of the BRP Limited Warranty and B.E.S.T. contract.
∆ FINANCING OPTIONS: Low financing rates are available on eligible units, including new and unused 2012 to 2015 Can-Am ATVs and Can-Am side-by side vehicles. Subject to credit approval. Approval and any rates and terms provided are based on
credit worthiness. Multiple financing offers available. Minimum Amount Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. Financing promotion void where prohibited. BRP is not responsible for any
errors, changes or actions related to the financing provided by the financial institutions. See an authorized BRP dealer for details. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment
without incurring obligation. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887.
ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: always wear a helmet, eye protection, and other protective clothing. Never carry passengers on any ATV not specifically designed by the manufacturer for such use. All adult model Can Am ATVs are Category G ATVs (General Use Models) intended for recreational and/or utility use by an operator age 16 or older. For side-by-side vehicles (SxS): Read the BRP side-by-side Operator’s Guide and watch the Safety DVD before driving. For your safety: wear a
helmet, eye protection and other protective gear. Fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Operator must be at least 16 years old. Passenger must be at least 12 years old and able to hold handgrips and plant feet while seated against the backrest. ATVs
and SxS are for off-road use only; never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speed and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Ride responsibly
ATV
one point, I couldn’t go
anywhere else but directly
over the top of a three-footthick trunk of a downed
tree. Mike Dombrowski, my
Pennsylvania moose-hunting
client that year, watched in
amazement as I powered the
ATV over the base of the huge
downed tree with his huge
moose firmly attached to the
rear rack of the machine.
Thick Underbrush
In the fall, most of the
underbrush dries and falls to
the surface of the earth, so
pulling an animal out of the
woods during this time doesn’t
involve navigating a dense
ground cover of tall grasses,
sedges and ferns.
When bear hunters hit
the woods in late August and
early September, they often
find the Maine woods covered
with a dense, thick layer of
underbrush. In some places,
the heavy, tall vegetation
completely
covers
big
boulders, stumps and holes,
making navigation through the
heavy ground cover difficult.
I remember one particular
bear hunt where I had to use
the big Polaris and plenty of
navigation skills to haul out
a 200-pound bear for Ken
Sargent, a seasoned hunter
from New Hampshire.
Sargent had dropped the
bear over a bait site in a thick
Jayne Leslie Dyke
National Champion Taxidermist
Enchanted with Nature
Taxidermy Studio
207~683~2448
154 Brown Rd.
Harmony, Maine 04942
EnchantedWithNature.com
Enchanted with Nature on Facebook
GORHAM, NH
Absolute Power Sports
471 Main St.
603-466-5454
absolutepowersportsnh.com
JACKMAN
Jackman Powersports
549 Main Street
207-668-4442
LEWISTON
Central Maine Powersports
845 Main Street
207-689-2345
centralmainepowersports.com
OAKLAND
North Country Powersports
907 Kennedy Memorial Dr.
207-465-2513
northcountrypowersports.net
RANGELEY
Rev-It-Up Sports
Rt. 4
207-864-2452
revitupsports.com
TOPSHAM
Woody’s Performance Ctr.
70 Topsham Fair Mall Rd.
207-729-1177
woodysyamaha.com
NORWAY
Ken’s Yamaha
78 Main Street
207-743-8256
kensyamaha.com
ATVs through most anything.
Practice around the home
with various landscaping
projects to become familiar
with how the winch works.
After a few game retrievals,
most hunters become real pros
– so much so that some have
used their newfound skills to
help others haul game animals
out of the woods. Helping
other is not such a bad idea,
and it makes for great practice.
See us During Deere Season
for the Deere of your dreams!
An ATV gets a harvested moose to a road or field where hunters can transfer it to
a vehicle to haul to the tagging station.
ATV
instructions from the fellows
as I maneuvered the heavyladen ATV up the hazardous
ridge to the main trail.
Which Winch
A good winch mounted on
the front of the ATV comes in
real handy when dragging a
heavy load out of the woods.
cable with a sweatshirt or
jacket – this stops the cable
from dangerously snapping
back with full force if it
ever broke loose during the
swamp, and the ride down to
winching process.
the lowland from the elevated
After the winch pulls the
ridge through a heavy layer
ATV out of the tight spot,
of thick ferns and grasses
retract the cable back into the
couldn’t have been
winch and continue
more hazardous – it
the game animal
seemed as though When bear hunters hit the woods in retrieval. If the ATV
every 10 feet, I late August and early September, they gets stuck again,
would have to stop often find the Maine woods covered repeat the procedure.
and re-route around
with a dense, thick layer of under- R e p e a t e d l y
a
vegetationusing the winch
brush...that completely covers big to get out of tight
covered boulder or
stump.
boulders, stumps and holes....
spots during the
After loading
retrieval might, at
and
strapping
times, seem fruitless
Sargent big boar to the rear When the ATV bogs down, – just persevere. A good
rack, I had the rest of the pull the winch cable out and winch works slowly, but does
hunting party use flagging tape secure it to a tree trunk in an eventually pull the heaviest
to mark a path up the steep, advanced position from the
boulder-covered ridge to the ATV.
nearest logging trail. Even With a little throttle, start
though the group tried to beat creeping the ATV forward with
down the vegetation as much the power of the winch. Be
as possible, I still needed close careful to cover the winching
0% APR for 36 Months*
on new
GATOR™
UTILITY
VEHICLES
F. B. SPAULDING
Lancaster, NH
244 Main Street
603-788-2281
www.fbspaulding.com
HALL IMPLEMENT CO.
Windham, ME
1 John Deere Rd.
207-892-6894
www.hallimplementco.com
CHAD LITTLE OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT
Scarborough, ME
Brunswick, ME
385 Main Street, Unit 3
181 Pleasant Street
207-775-3964
207-729-6716
www.chadlittleoutdoorpower.com
Offer available August 1, 2014 through October 31, 2014. 0% APR for 36 Months on new Gator™ Utility Vehicles
(excluding TX Turf and ProGators.). Prices and models may vary by dealer. Dealer may sell for less. Prices and
savings in U.S. dollars. Taxes, setup, delivery, freight and preparation charges not included. Attachments and
implements sold separately. Shown with the optional equipment not included in the price. Offers available on new
equipment and in the U.S. only. See your dealer for details.
**Advertised programs apply to online purchases.
Choose Your Own Path
UXV 700I HE
The Outdoorsman’s choice!
• 695cc 4-Stroke SOHC 4-Valve Liquid-Cooled
• Electronic Fuel Injection
• CVT Automatic H-L-N-R-P with Differential
Lock
• Shaft Drive with On Demand 2WD/4WD
• Backlit Digital Dash (fuel gauge, speedometer,
odometer, trip meter, high beam indicator,
neutral/reverse light temp light)
• Standard 2” Receiver Hitch
• Dual A-Arm Front with Fully Independent Rear
Suspension
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dual Disc Front/Single Disc Rear Brakes
Manual Hand Parking Brake
Mesh Driver & Passenger Doors
Front Brush Guard and Hood Rack
1/2 Windshield and Hard Roof
C.A.R.B. Certified with USFS-Approved Spark
Arrestor
• One-Year Limited Factory Warranty
• KYMCO Rider-Training Instructional DVD
George Haley of Perham bagged this bull moose
with a black-powder rifle on September 24, 2013
in Perham. This moose had a 52-inch spread and
weighed 956 pounds.
AUBURN
Ames Sport Shop
84 Littlefield Road
207-782-4917
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JACKMAN
Jackman Power Sports
549 Main Street
207-668-4442
SOUTH PARIS
Colby’s Arctic Cat
202 Park Street
207-743-0886
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September Trout Fishing Offers Varied
Fly-Rodding Situations
Scarborough Marsh Offers Us
One Last Brush with Summer
September offers summertime
activities
without
sweat and heat, and one top
spot in southern Maine for
fishing, hiking, canoeing,
photographing and bicycling
is the 3,000-acre Scarborough
Marsh, owned by the
Department of Inland Fisheries
and Wildlife (DIF&W). After
Labor Day, summer traffic
slows considerably, offering
visitors a more relaxed feeling
in southern Maine’s outdoors.
A 3-mile section of the
Eastern Trail winds through
the marsh and treats all the
senses. Wanderers can see a Recreationalists can see blue herons and other birds
blue heron nestled among the from the Eastern Trail, which runs through the Scarmarsh reeds, hear the piercing borough Marsh.
cries of bickering gulls, smell
salt air and feel a late-summer Trail Alliance. “You can come president of the Eastern Trail
ocean wind, brushing their by on any given day and see Alliance. “The marsh changes
birders, bird hunters during every hour as the sun goes
faces.
Late-fall fishing includes hunting season, fishermen, across the clouds. It is just a
runners
and beautiful place.”
pulling in a striper or two canoeists,
The trail through the
before these migratory bass bicyclists.”
Wildlife
Galore
Scarborough Marsh is one
head south for the winter.
Fishing this exciting saltwater Visitors may spot seals section of the 65-mile long
swimming under the bridge trail that runs from Kittery
species excites Mainers.
DIF&W officials allow that crosses the Dunstan River to Portland, taking in eight
hunting in certain sections on the trail just off of the Pine lighthouses along the way.
of the marsh during the legal Point Road. Folks also spot It is part of the 3,000-mile
hunting seasons. The area eagles along with an extensive East Coast Greenway that
stretches from Calais, Maine
draws waterfowl hunters to list of birds.
this popular marsh, which is “People come from all to Key West, Florida. The trail
around the world to take in the traversing the marsh begins
easy to canoe and kayak.
“We think it is a unique habitat. There are countless on Eastern Road (off of Black
experience that one can birds and seals. It is a wildlife Point Road) in Scarborough
encounter while on the most sanctuary protected by the and runs for three miles to
popular and visible section of state of Maine. It is dust Pine Point Road and then to
the trail,” said Bob Hamblen, free, smoke free and fumes Old Blue Point Road.
a vice president for the Eastern free,” said John Andrews, the Parking lots for vehicles
and kiosks lie where the
trail intersects public roads.
Planners constructed the
trail over the abandoned
Sponsored by the Windham Gorham Rod & Gun
railroad, originally built in
1841. Ownership of the land
Sept 20th - Gorham Municipal Center - 9am to 4pm
spanned more than a century,
• Maine Inland Fisheries
• Weaponcraft Training
and the Portland, Saco and
• Reynolds Sports Equipment
• Lakeside Archery
Portsmouth Railroad first
• Cunningham Security
• Treestump Leather
operated the line, followed
• All Season Power Equipment • Ernie’s Cycles
by the Eastern Railroad, and
• Natures Voice Game Calls
• Forbes Rifles
• Hearts and Horses
• JT Reid’s Gun Store
lastly, the Boston and Maine
• Boy Scouts and more and more and more
Railroad until the end of
World War II.
Adults $5.00 Children 12 and under FREE
the greater
portland sportsman’s show
“It is great for families
and the trail is flat. It is on
the old eastern rail line and
consists of an improved gravel
surface. Any kind of bicycle –
or bicyclist – can handle the
trail,” said Hamblen. “You
can be five or 75 years old and
have a great time, riding on
that trail.”
Largest Marsh
The Scarborough Marsh
is the largest tidal marsh in
Maine, and hundreds of years
ago, Sokokis Indians hunted,
trapped, clammed and fished
in the marsh.
When European settlers
arrived in the 1600s, they
harvested salt hay as food
for cattle and sheep. At one
point, more than 40 farmers
owned portions of the marsh
for harvesting of salt hay. The
farmers piled hay on chestnut
supports to store for winter
feed. Some of the old chestnut
wood is still here, because
saltwater and saltwater worms
don’t readily destroy it.
Forty years ago, the
attitude of folks often leaned
toward filling in the marsh,
because many people in the
area considered it wasteland.
Or more specifically, a
wasteland designed to handle
waste. There was even a
proposal to use the marsh as
the municipal dump for the
town of Scarborough.
Thankfully, not everyone
felt that way. The marsh now
has protection from further
development. DIF&W began
acquiring the marsh over a
20-year period that began in
1957.
In 1972, Maine Audubon
converted a clam shack on
the edge of the marsh into the
Scarborough Marsh Audubon
Center, located a half-mile
from the trail. People can
come to the center and put in
their own boats, rent a canoe
from the center or just walk or
bike on nearby trails.
Rare Wildlife
The nutrient-rich tidal
flow in the marsh generates a
lot of food for its vast diversity
of wildlife. The marsh attracts
shorebirds, such as sandpipers,
plovers and willets; wading
birds including blue heron,
egrets and glossy ibis, and
waterfowl such as American
black ducks, which nest in the
marsh. Scarborough Marsh
attracts common loons in the
wintertime.
“The marsh is one of the
few places in the world where
both the Nelson’s sharp-tailed
sparrow and the saltmarsh
sharp-tailed sparrow occur.
For birders, this is a very
special spot with a very rich
habitat,” said Eric Hynes, a
staff naturalist for the Maine
Audubon Society.
In September, some birds
may be getting ready for a
flight south, but many stay
through winter.
Spending
time on the trail is also a way
to get away from it all without
being all that far away from
Portland, Maine, Portsmouth,
New Hampshire or even
Boston, Massachusetts. When
folks hike on trails, they can
see an almost uninterrupted
view of the marsh in practically
any direction. It is difficult to
believe Portland lies only a
short drive away.
“I am so happy when I
see people out there enjoying
the trail. It is quiet and you
can enjoy the outdoors
without pollution and without
polluting,
“said
Bruce
Wakefield, a trustee of the
Eastern Trail Alliance. “This
is not our trail. It belongs to
the people who use it.”
For more information and
to obtain maps visit:www.
easterntrail.org or www.
etmaps.org
September offers riverine
fly rodders many options,
depending on latitude and
weather. In trout waters with
fresh, cool currents, bluewinged olives (BWO) may
hatch daily from 10 a.m.
until shortly after noontime
or from 2 p.m. to about 3:30
p.m., depending on genera and
species. Folks get out 4-weight
fly rods and cast size 20 to 24
dries and emergers.
Juvenile alewives may be
swarming back to the ocean
from upstream ponds and
lakes, and salmonid fry will be
in spawning rivers. If baitfishsized trout and salmon prevail,
a larger fly rod and maybe
streamers or bucktails tied on
size 4, 8x hooks or any size
to imitate the length of the
juveniles may suffice to catch
game fish. Huge, weighted
nymphs on a size 4, 6x or 8x
long hook are another choice
for fly rodders with larger fly
rods
Sometimes, the fly-fishing
gods offer us a minor hatch
that comes off like a blizzard.
One of my many memories
is a mayfly emergence that
occurred afternoon after
afternoon one September
in 2001, and a size 12 or 14
Quill Gordon tied in a classic
Catskill style – of all choices
– kept my rod doubled over. I
say “of all choices,” because
we typically associate this
pattern with early spring – not
the ninth month.
My Quill Gordon dressing
looks a tad offbeat to astute
observers, but my adaptation
makes all the difference.
If the tier uses dark-olive
thread instead of black for the
wrapping on the shank under
the quill, it makes the pattern
look more buggy to trout.
Olive on the head doesn’t hurt,
either.
Wire ribbing over the
quill creates a more durable
body and adds flash, and I use last choice has great merit, the wings have just unfolded patterns but works poorly for
gold for tannin-stained water and crayfish flies remain – à la Ernest Schwiebert’s big, weighted options.
and silver for crystal-clear underutilized in Maine. ...Just caddis-nymph design.
I like an 8-weight rod
rivers. The ancient aphorism avoid the exact-imitation One last go-to choice is for giant, weighted nymphs
of matching gold or silver versions that seldom work as similar to the rust pattern but and Clouser Minnows, but I
to water color works in any well as rough, hairy crayfish.
with a creamish body, tan head have never felt abused by a
season.
Little Tool
and silver or gold beadhead.
6-weight choice. The 8-weight
What happens when we When nothing obvious For sure in September, often surprises others, but it
have a weekend to fish, and is hatching, my favorite salmonids fatten for winter makes casting the big stuff a
nothing
hatches
and often want to cinch.
and baitfish remain ...at times the action is so fast we lose eat everything in Occasionally, I carry two
inactive – what do
track of the numbers of trout caught. sight from micro rods onto the water, but it
we do then?
invertebrate
to makes me feel self-conscious
Some solutions have attractor pattern in a micro big, juicy baitfish and nymphs. – kind of like the man who
worked for me, and trial and size surprises folks but works It’s little wonder that the ninth carries two compasses into
error with a little knowledge perfectly on a 3- or 4-weight month excites us so much. Yes, the woods – except everyone
from experience produced rod. The fly is a size 18 to 24 we do have fish-less days, but can see the rods and not two
success. As I grow older, CDC Caddis Emerger with an at times the action is so fast we compasses. Days come and
I can never underestimate olive body, sparse medium- can lose track of the numbers go, though, when I cannot
how much experience helps, dun CDC collar with barbules of trout caught.
make my mind up on which
which often leads the way the length of the shank, and When warm sun prevails rod to take.
to consistently catching fish a slightly bulbous head made and winds stay somewhat The really oversized fly
when less-experienced folks from orange thread.
calm, dry flies and emergers rod can throw size 4, 8x long,
go fish-less.
This
CDC
Caddis keep us right into the action, weighted hooks incredible
The Equipment
Emerger works when fished and on unseasonably cold days distances to reach a distant
In brookie waters with on the surface. It also produces with wind, those big baitfish river shore. A size 4 weighted
little foraging activity, I rely strikes, even during BWO and huge nymphs work their fly on an 8x hook can really
on one of two plans that emergences, despite the CDC magic.
tax even a fly rod.
require 1) a larger fly rod; or 2) Caddis missing a tail to match
Big Tool
But it’s September, and
a much smaller slender wand. this appendage on a mayfly. In mid-spring and again we can have fun – lots of fun
I keep both in my vehicle all I begin with this pattern by in September, rod choice each to think back on through a
month. More on these two fishing it in the surface film, day often gives me pause long, Maine winter.
tools later.
which may bring trout topside. for thought. A 4-weight rod
In a typical Maine trout If that pattern generates perfectly casts micro flies
water, three fly choices please zero interest, I try an old- and smaller, medium-sized
me for my bigger rod:
fashioned presentation: Before
• The first imitates small casting, I make sure the CDC
brookies – a Slaymaker’s collar is wet enough to sink.
Little Brook Trout on a size 4 Then, I cast quartering across
or 6, 6x or 8x long hook. This and downstream, let the CDC
pattern can consistently fool Caddis Emerger swing in a
trout in waters with lots of tight arc, and then retrieve it
brookie reproduction.
by rolling the line over my
We carry everything for your fresh and
• A large nymph on a size fingers on the line-retrieving
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4, 6x or 8x long hook with a hand. When nothing obvious
blackish or brownish abdomen is emerging, another favorite
Quality gear from Sage, Scott, Winston, Echo, Hardy,
and thorax or a peacock- micro-pattern has often taken
Rio, Royal Wulff, Hatch, Ross, Lamson / Waterworks,
herl thorax (or whole body) fish for me – a size 18 to
Nautilus, Tibor, Simms, Redington, Fishpond
body provides a large, meaty 22 Beadhead Caddis. This
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mouthful that brookies cannot pattern has a gold or silver
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imitation.
This situated low on the side as if
Hunters Must Stick Together on Bear
Referendum This November
in a big election year. We need objecting to. These people The quality of the hunt
to convince hunters to get out are not worried about the lies in the eye of the beholder
tortured souls of hunters who – and no Maine hunter is in
and vote no.
“unfairly” shoot a bear over a position to throw stones. If
Defining ‘Fair-Chase’
We can’t let non-hunters bait – it’s the bear they are the referendum were seeking
to ban the use of bait in all
define what “fair chase” is for concerned with.
freshwater
fishing,
us.
Maine arguably has the best ongoing wouldn’t fly rodders
It’s like asking a
5-year old to define bear research in the nation, and the turn out to vote
sex.
Even
well- science tells us that we should be har- against it? I sure hope
intended non-hunters vesting more bears – not fewer bears. that’s the case.
Science Rules
who feel strongly
Maine arguably has the
about the issue have no basis
A Quality Hunt
for deciding what a “fair” In 2013, almost 11,000 best ongoing bear research in
method to kill 3,000 Maine hunters decided that the the nation. And the science tells
bears might look like. Folks methods for taking bears us that we should harvest more
who have chosen to remove currently allowed by Maine bears – not fewer. Regulations
themselves completely from law provided them with a on hunting methods must be
the natural cycle of life and quality hunting experience. adjusted based purely on the
death are ill-equipped to pass You and I might not agree strength of the resource – not
judgment on those of us who with that, but those same bear on somebody’s idea of what
still participate.
hunters might also look down “fair chase” might be. This is
Non-hunters can easily their noses at us cruising the reason we have the anyconvince themselves that the logging roads during the deer permit system and the
any method that is effective moose hunt. Or maybe they moose-permit system.
referendum
in causing death to a wild think that turkey hunting with The
animal is unfair. Because it’s a shotgun instead of a bow is proponents claim that huge
the animal’s death and not not the most sporting way to amount of man-placed bear bait
in the woods has inflated the
the method they are really bag a bird.
bear population. The scientific
fact, however, is ironclad:
The amount of natural food
(mostly mast) available during
that preceding summer and
fall is the only true indicator of
successful bear reproduction
in any given year. The folks in
favor of the referendum have
• Bear Snax - Sweet Cherry
a right to their own opinions,
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but they do not have a right to
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their own facts.
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Canoe Shuttles
• Convenient 40 Lb. Bags
Those of us who camp,
Black Be ar Hunting: A t radition as old as Maine itself
hike, canoe, fish or hunt for
other species besides bear
Farmington Farmers’ Union
Woodsome’s
in northern Maine probably
244 Front St
Feeds & Needs
I’m not a bear hunter.
Like most Maine hunters,
I’ve never killed a bear or
even hunted for one. In fact, I
have passed on perfectly legal
opportunities to shoot bears
while deer hunting.
As the bear hunting
referendum
draws
near,
sportsman like us need to
speak up, but we shouldn’t
simply parrot the arguments
from 30-second television
spots aimed at non-hunters.
We need not talk about
hungry, overpopulated bears
snatching kittens and kids
from backyards. And we don’t
need to demonize the people
in favor of the referendum.
Instead, we need to explain
to other hunters like us, who
don’t shoot bears, why the
referendum question must not
fail.
Maine issues licenses to
over 200,000 hunters each
year. That number alone is
almost half the voter turnout
Bears everywhere are sitting up for
Ames Supply
447 Bath Road
Wiscasset, ME
207.882.7710
Farmington, ME
207.778.4520
Brook’s Feed & Supply
86 Union St
Brunswick, ME
207.725.5462
Metcalf’s Trading Post
218 Maple St
Cornish, ME
207.625.4994
Ellsworth Feed & Seed
Company
19 Merrill Lane
Ellsworth, ME
207.667.4751
RZR Hardware
3533 Atlantic Highway
Waldoboro, ME
207.832.4481
262 Main Street
E. Waterboro, ME
207.247.5777
know someone who will lose a
job if this referendum passes.
In an ideal world, the bear hunt
would represent only a small
part of the annual income to
northern Maine’s outdoor
industry, but in the real world,
it is an irreplaceable, large
percentage of their economy.
Senator Angus King has
commented that the bear hunt
is not just a wildlife issue –
it’s also an issue of economic
justice. Nobody can vote
yes on this referendum and
assume that their favorite
canoe shuttle service, camp
operator or restaurant will still
be in business the next time
they visit.
In 1983, Mainers fought
off a referendum seeking
to repeal the newly enacted
moose-hunting season by a
comfortable margin of 60
percent to 40 percent. In
2004, voters rejected the last
referendum to ban baiting,
trapping and use of hounds by
only 57 percent to 43 percent.
Both attempts illustrated what
happens when misinformed
folks decide that the hard
facts of biological research
and game management should
take a back seat to emotional
decision making. It’s fair to
say that this year’s referendum
will be even closer.
Hunters must start by
talking to other hunters.
It’s
September,
and
Maine’s
sharking
action
remains in high gear until at
least mid-month and often into
early October.
All indicators earlier this
season – such as large schools
of herring and mackerel over
the offshore banks and ledges
– point to a decent showing of
blue sharks available for catchand-release, plus a sprinkling
of makos, porbeagles and the
occasional thresher to add
a little zip to late-summer
sharking.
These four species can
be taken from well-equipped
boats in the 22-foot and up
class, and tackle that anglers
already own will probably
work just fine.
Sure, entire books have
been written on how to catch
sharks, so I won’t attempt
to re-invent the wheel here.
Instead, I’ll share a few basic
tips and tricks I’ve picked up
during my many seasons of
pursuing sharks as a charter
skipper.
Chum ’Em Up!
Years ago we’d deploy a
5-gallon pail of frozen, ground
herring by turning it upsidedown into a plastic milk crate
that we’d suspend over the
side of the boat by four ropes
attached at its corners, an
awkward arrangement, to be
sure
Now we use a chum
bag, which solves all but one
problem. When we get to the
shark grounds in the morning,
we slide the frozen chum out
of the pail and into a strong
mesh bag with a drawstring
top, similar to the ones used
by seafood restaurants to
steam clams and lobsters.
We cinch the top closed,
tie on a length of rope and drop
the bag over the side. It won’t
damage the hull, and when we
want to run to a new spot, we
simply lift the bag aboard and
set it inside the pail the chum
came in. ...Slick and neat, but
not tooth-proof. If a shark
grabs it, anglers must quickly
pull it into the boat to prevent
it from being destroyed.
By the way, there’s a new
product on the market called
the Chunk Bucket. It’s a plastic
bucket with a variable-speed
12-volt DC motor and grinder
installed in the bottom.
Simply drop in whole
baitfish such as herring and
mackerel, and it will grind
them up and push them out a
large tube and over the side of
the boat. No mess, no fuss.
It cost $249, but perhaps, it’s
a good investment if anglers
plan to get serious about
sharking. Check it out at www.
southofnomans.com.
Shorter Leaders
We used to use long wire
leaders for sharks, but this
resulted in a lot of wasted
wire and occasional cuts on
our hands, when trying to rein
in a thrashing 100-pounder at
boat-side.
We eventually went to
a 2-part leader, consisting
of eight or 10 feet of 200- to
300-pound mono as a “top
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shot,” and then attached 18
inches of #10 single-strand
wire via a snap-swivel crimped
to the mono. A haywire twist
attaches the hook to the wire.
We make up a dozen or
so of the short wire sections
(with the hook on one end and
another haywire twist loop in
the opposite end) in advance.
When we release a shark,
usually by clipping the wire
as close as safely possible to
its jaw, we unsnap the old wire
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Saltwater
and snap on a new one. The
heavy mono is much easier
on the hands and will last all
season.
Light Line, Smaller Hooks
We now fish sharks with
much lighter gear. Sixteen- to
50-pound class conventional
outfits spooled with mono or
super-braid are the norm, and
we’ve found that 20-pound
spinning outfits can be a blast
on blue sharks.
In short, a beefy combo
capable of taking big stripers,
bluefish or bottomfish will
provide maximum sport with
just about any shark under 150
pounds that Maine anglers
encounter, but it may be a tad
light for an outsized thresher
or mako. In fishing, there’s
always a trade-off.
We also use much smaller
hooks now. Inexpensive, mildsteel O’Shaughnessy models
(the faster they rust, the better)
in sizes from 5/0 to 8/0 work
fine with light tackle, and
no doubt deteriorate faster
in a sharks jaw than larger
plated or stainless hooks.
Barbless models from Eagle
Claw, Mustad and others are
available in this size range as
well.
Fresh Bait
We also used to think that
any old frozen fish made dandy
shark bait. ...Not so. Fresh,
well-presented baits prove far
more effective. Mackerel or
herring jigged up on the way
out or on the shark grounds are
top-notch offerings. There all
sorts of ways to cut them, but I
like a fillet.
Hook it carefully so that it
flutters enticingly in the water
as the boat drifts. A whole
fresh squid also makes a great
bait and makos in particular
really go for it.
For added visual attraction,
try dressing a shark bait with a
Saltwater
bright-colored, plastic trolling
lure skirt. They’ve been doing
this off New Jersey for years
with great success, especially
for makos.
Make a Move
If shark anglers don’t get
any action after an hour or
so, consider moving. There
are often large tracts of water
seemingly devoid of sharks;
yet, a move to another spot
a mile or two away where
the water temperature is a bit
warmer or cooler can make all
the difference.
Any spot where there’s a
temperature break of as little
as a few tenths of a degree can
hold sharks, especially blues.
Anglers should set up their
drift so that they cross the
New England’s Premier
break, since many times, all
the action will be on one side
of it and not the other.
Shark Permit!
To fish for and possess
sharks in federal waters,
anglers need a 2014 National
Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) Highly Migratory
Species recreational permit,
which costs $20. It can be
purchased on line with a credit
card at www.nmfspermits.
com.
Also, bear in mind that
there are now high minimum
sizes and restrictive bag limits
for most game sharks we catch
in the Gulf of Maine. Details
can be found on the NMFS
website.
Sports Travel Consultant
Fishing Charter Directory
BATH/BRUNSWICK/MID-COAST
FREEPORT/CASCO BAY
MAINE EXPERIENCE GUIDE SERVICE
• Saltwater Striper, Blue & Ground Fish,
4hrs/$325 & 8hr/$450
• Kids Mackerel/Pollock Marine Life 3hrs/$225
• Ocean & Lighthouse Tours $225
• Trout, Pike, L.G. Mouth & River Small Mouth
4hrs/$250 & 8hrs/$375
• Fully Guided Fall Ducks, Whitetail Deer &
Red Stag (book early for good dates!!)
207-215-3828
www.MaineExperienceGuideService.com
KEY:
+
Active Duty
Military get a 10%
discount on all
trips
Stripers
Bluefish
Light Tackle
Fly Rod
Fishing the Mid-Coast area including
Kennebec, Sheepscot and New Meadows Rivers
Tackle Provided • Full & Half Day Trips
Bluefish • Striped Bass • Mackerel • Offshore Fishing
Capt. Hank DeRuiter, U.S.C.G. Licensed, Registered Maine Guide
KEY:
207-882-4086 • 207-442-7958
+
[email protected]
KEY:
207-324-9274 • 207-432-7286
[email protected]
OBSESSION CHARTERS
Light Tackle and Fly Fishing Lower Kennebec Area
STRIPERS, BLUEFISH, & SMALLMOUTHS
OFF-SHORE TUNA & SHARKS
Departing Kennebec Tavern and Marina, Downtown Bath
Capt. Dave Pecci
Orvis Guide of the Year Award Recipient
Quality Fishing Experience Since 1991
KEY:
Call 207-841-1444
www.obsessioncharters.com • e-mail: [email protected]
Penobscot Bay Outfitters
KENNEBEC & PENOBSCOT RIVER TRIPS
Captain
Tim Tower
• Charters
Also Available
• Rods & Reels
Provided
207-646-2214
KEY:
+
Perkins Cove • April 1–November 15th Daily
For Info Write: Tim Tower, PO Box 837F, Ogunquit, ME 03907
www.bunnyclark.com • e-mail: [email protected]
KEY:
+
D
KEY:
PORT CLYDE
~ Captain Dave Sinclair ~
Custom Schedule, Personalized Charters
Commercial Diving/Salvage • Recreational Dive Trips • Island Cruises
Offshore & Inshore Fishing
Credit
KEY:
Cards Sharks, Giant Bluefin Tuna, Mackerel, Bottom Fishing
+
Accepted
207-685-4693 • dave@divefishmaine.com
www.DiveFishMaine.com
879 Post Road Wells, Maine 04090
Fly Fishing - Bait & Tackle - Offshore
Striped Bass - Blue Fish - Cod - Haddock - Blue Fin Tun - Mackerel
Rods & Reels Provided
Your Capains
Phil Breton - Dan Bothwell - Matthew Soucie
U.S. Coast Guard License & Registered Maine Guides
For Reservations: 207-646-4255 • www.bretonsfly.com
YORK/KITTERY/PORTSMOUTH, NH
Stripers, Bluefish & Mackerel • Ground & Shark Fishing
KEY:
Credit
24’ Boat with Bathroom Facilities
Cards
Full Day Trips • All Tackle Provided
Accepted
Capt. Todd Jackson, Registered Maine Guide
207-338-1883 • Cell: 322-7919 • [email protected]
PORTLAND/SOUTH PORTLAND
SHOALS FLY FISHING & LIGHT TACKLE
Deep Sea Fishing aboard
BOOTHBAY HARBOR
Offering both Cod Fishing and Mackerel Fishing trips
Tackle and Bait Included
Departing from Long Wharf on Portland Harbor
USCG Lisc. • Registered Maine Guide
Striped Bass • Tuna • Bluefish
23 ft. Mako • Furuno Radar-GPS • Furuno Color Fish Finder
Fly Casting Instruction • Family Trips Welcome
Sport Fishing aboard the
BLACKJACK
Specializing in Shark Fishing
Striper • Tuna • Cod • Haddock • Mackerel
Full & 1/2 Days Starting at $75.00 per person
KEY:
207-380-5445 • www.mainestriper.com
+
“ODYSSEY”
KEY:
+
Captain Peter A. Whelan
Wentworth Marina, Newcastle, NH • 603-205-5318
[email protected] • www.shoalsflyfishing.com
207-775-0727 • www.odysseywhalewatch.com
KEY: How Many Anglers Per Trip
1 or 2
Up to 4
6+
+
Providing classic adventures world-wide
on 3 continents for 28 years!
RICHARDSON’S
BOAT YARD
Windham, ME
207-892-4913
richardsonsby.com
ROCKLAND HARBOR
LAKE & SEA
MARINE
BOATWORKS
Warren, ME
Bar Harbor, ME
207-596-0706
207-288-8961
rocklandharbormarine.com www.lakeandsea.com
Gimme Six Extended Protection offer applies to new (unused, not previously warranty registered) Suzuki DF25A through DF300AP 4-stroke outboard motors. Promotion applicable to
eligible stock in inventory which is sold and delivered to buyer between 7/1/14 and 9/30/14 in accordance with the promotion by an authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental
US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Within 60 days of purchase date, customer should expect to receive an acknowledgment letter
with full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection. If an acknowledgment letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki
Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing at 714-996-7040, ext.2242. The Gimme Six Promotion is only available for recreational, non-commercial use. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Not redeemable for cash. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time without notice or obligation.
This promotion can be used in conjunction with other Suzuki offers.
©2014 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual.
MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ
NOR’EASTER
207-646-3758
www.noreasterfishing.com
Maine • Labrador • New Brunswick
Quebec • Newfoundland • Chile • Africa
Carroll & Lila Ware • Skowhegan, ME • 207-474-5430
[email protected] • www.finsandfursadventures.com
SEA FISHI
P
NG
EE aboard the
Captains Michael & Steven Perkins
Sea Ventures Charters
World-Class Hunting
& Fishing Adventures
WELLS
DEEP SEA
FISHING
on
• Full & Half Day
Fishing Trips
Sharks
Cod
Tuna
USCG Licensed
100T Master
Fully Insured
Captain John L. Nowinski • 207-831-2922
75 Farmview Lane, Freeport, ME
www.northcreekguideservice.com
Departs Camp Ellis
KENNEBUNKPOR/OGUNQUIT
Marsh River Charters
Credit
Cards
Accepted
Kennebec River
Casco Bay
Full/Half Day
Tackle Provided
SACO/OLD ORCHARD BEACH
Eastern Phoebe
In 1804, the eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
became the first bird in North America to be
banded. John James Audubon attached a short,
silver wire to an eastern phoebe’s leg in order to
track its return to the nesting site the following
season, and the bird did return the following year.
Phoebes inhabit most of the United States
and central Canada east of the Rockies, and they
winter from Virginia to the Gulf Coast. Phoebes
breed in the northern United States, migrate south
for the winter in September and early October and
typically arrive back in Maine during mid-to-late
March.
Phoebes heads appear much too large for a
bird of its relatively diminutive size. Evolution
blessed the phoebe with a short thin bill, perfectly
adapted for catching their favorite food of insects
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
and grubs. The head – typically the darkest part of
the small bird – lightens to a brownish-gray body
that fades into a dirty gray breast and white throat.
The phoebe lacks distinct eye rings and wing
bars, making it easy to distinguish
from other flycatchers. Phoebes also
wag their tails up and down when
perching, making them easy for novice
birdwatchers to identify. The phoebe
gets its name from its sharp fee-bee
chirp that frequently echoes through
the Maine woods.
Phoebes are adaptable and prefer
open woodland and farmland but will
occasionally invade suburbia and
nest on buildings and bridges. Nests
are comprised of mud and grass and
usually located in protected nooks.
Both male and female phoebes care
In what year did John James Audubon band the first bird in North America?
When do phoebes migrate south for the winter?
What is the favorite food of the phoebe?
What distinguishes phoebes from other flycatchers?
What do phoebes do while perching that makes them easy to identify by novice bird watchers?
and feed newly hatched chicks and often raise
two broods of 2-6 eggs every year. If successful
at avoiding predators, phoebes can live to be 10
years old.
Photo by Chris Luczkow
6. What sound or call does the phoebe make?
7. What materials do phoebes use to construct their nests?
8. How many broods do phoebes typically raise every year?
9. How long can a phoebe live?
Answers on Page 43
September Fishing on Androscoggin
River Ensures Relaxing Day
Half way through a day
of September fishing on the
Androscoggin River, my
client relaxed so much that he
just stared at the bottom of the
river as we floated by several
fishy-looking hideouts.
The client, a top-notch
attorney from Chicago, came
up to the Androscoggin
River Valley (ARV) to catch
smallmouth bass with his
brother and their two uncles.
The river happened to be full
of huge smallmouth bass that
year, and the group of anglers
caught one big smallie after
another – all ranging around
the 18-inch mark, and a few
closing in on 20 inches.
The
extremelyhyperactive angling attorney
started the day of fishing
with a business-as-usual,
fast-paced,
competitive
temperament. His brother,
a CEO in a high-pressure
business environment, also
had an air of intensity about
him that didn’t mix well with
a relaxing fishing adventure in
Maine.
I’ve seen it happen with
clients like this before – the
day starts out too fast, as if
the anglers were sitting in
their stressful, big-city office.
After vacationing anglers
finally slow down and catch a
few fish, they start to mellow
and open their eyes to all the
wonders around them.
When the angling attorney
I mentioned above finally
slowed down, he stopped
fishing and fixed his eyes on
the bottom of the river. I asked
if he might want to cast into
the deep eddy to our right and
his response cracked me up.
Retired Virginia doctor and octogenarian Ron Apter,
The abundant fresh air and knows how to relax and catch fish on the Androscoggentle waves had almost lulled gin River. (William Clunie photo)
him into sleep, but the relaxed
attorney quickly said, “I never hunting season this month, explore. Watch out for the
realized how beautiful a river but September happens to strong current where the Wild
be a wonderful month for River meets the main body of
can be.”
fishing, too. Anglers in the the Androscoggin River.
Androscoggin River
downstream,
A lot of folks gear up for know search for salmonid that Moving
seek spawning beds in streams the Pleasant River meets the
and brooks that pour into the Androscoggin near West
Androscoggin River from Bethel (Map 10, B-2). The
Gilead (DeLorme Atlas, Map green, rolling hills provide a
We Buy Guns
10, B-1) to Canton (Map 11, calming backdrop for anglers
A-4).
on this majestic stretch of the
Gunsmithing • Repairs • Sales
The Wild River rushes cool river.
water into the Androscoggin Sunday River and Bear
1206 Auburn Road, Route 4,Turner, ME
River from the south in Gilead River join the main body of the
207.225.2140
(Map 10, B-1), offering fish Androscoggin River between
plenty of deep and chilly North Bethel and Newry (Map
www.northeasternfirearms.com
hideouts that anglers can 10, C-1). Historic-looking
dairy farms dot the grassy
ATTENTION
OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS shoreline of this picturesque
section of the river.
AND ATV-ERS
Huge pools swirl in
“For a fun-filled weekend,
any time of the year, the
the Androscoggin River at
Western Mountains of
Rumford Point (Map 18, E-4),
Maine is the place to be!”
where the Ellis River forms its
Hope to see you at Coos Canyon
Campground & Cabins LLC.
junction. The rolling, pastoral
The Perfect Area for:
farms in this section create a
Rental cabins on a private 5 acre stocked trout
100 + miles of trails • swimming
horizon of scenic views along
Panning for Gold
pond in the Western Maine Mountains. Perfect
Wildlife Viewing • Sight Seeing
the riverbanks.
setting for a family getaway, fishing, hunting,
A small bridge on Route 2
COOS CANYON
hiking, biking and ATV riding. Weddings,
crosses over the Webb River in
reunions and company outings welcome.
CAMPGROUND & CABINS Dixfield (Map 19, E-2), where
Byron, ME • 207-364-3880
www.foxcarletonpond.com
the cooling waters of the
[email protected]
Webb mix with the more tepid
(207) 639-2538 • (207) 491-5865
www.cooscanyoncabins.com
waters of the Androscoggin.
Several pools formed by the
huge rocks under the bridge
offer a comfortable feeding
zone for big trout headed for
their spawning beds.
Moose Waters
Now, in this discussion
of September fishing water,
let us also keep water in mind
during the search for prime
moose-hunting territory in the
ARV.
In the past I’ve suggested
hunting away from the river
system in the lower elevations
within the ARV, but the perfect
location for moose hunting
still requires a water source of
some sort.
Hunters finding a clearing
with 2- to 5-year-old, newgrowth poplars in higher
elevations have located a
prime area to find moose –
especially if there happens
to be a good source of water
nearby.
Take a good look at
DeLorme Atlas and search
pages 10, 11, 18 and 19. Most
of the mountains have a water
source close by, and those
nearest the upper elevations
attract the most moose –
especially when loggers have
cleared big sections of oldgrowth timber near the water
source.
Some
of
the
best
mountainous water locations
don’t show up on the map.
Swampy portions of land
between peaks that contain a
nearby source of new-growth
browse creates ideal habitat
for hungry moose in the
breeding season.
Find areas like this in
the ARV and call at select
positions for a few days
before the opener to get the
bulls interested in a specific
location. Before the season, if
a hunter can call a bull moose
close without letting him catch
Western Maine
a whiff of human scent at the
calling site, he or she stands a
good chance of putting meat
in the freezer this year.
Whitetail Search
Two simple facts can lead
hunters to success in the search
for mature bucks that inhabit
the big woods around the ARV.
Big bucks like to hang out on
ridges that overlook their back
trail, and most hunters don’t
like climbing steep mountains.
Big, mature bucks enjoy the
security of spotting a predator
before it gets to them, and
they also prefer their bedding
area free of hunters – so they
situate themselves on elevated
ridges, where hunter invasions
remain extremely low.
Moose hunters scouting
old logging operations would
do well to also watch for bigbuck sign during their forays
into elevated, cleared areas
of the woods. I don’t know woods bucks.
near a reliable water source.
how many times I have found Also look around the Several ATV trails cut
excellent deer sign in elevated, ridges that cover the Mount through this region, but
2- to 5-yearbetter
hunting
old
choppings Before the season, if a hunter can call lies just beyond
frequented
by
4-wheeler trails.
a
bull
moose
close
without
letting
him
hungry moose.
A little hiking
T
h
e catch a whiff of human scent at the call- gets ambitious
mountainous
hunters above the
terrain along any ing site, he or she stands a good chance rest of the crowd
of the ridges that of putting meat in the freezer this year. and far from the
rise above the
majority of those
heavily forested
that hunt from
regions north of the Bryon/ Blue State Park (Map 19, roads and ATV trails.
Weld Road between Byron C-3) near the town of Weld.
(Map 18, C-5) and Weld (Map Concentrate on abandoned
19, C-1) contain new-growth logging operations that offer
habitat vital to survival of big- plenty of new-growth cover
Western Maine Mountains, Lakes & Rivers
Evan’s
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Boat Winterization
Shrink Wrap
Storage
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1843 Roxbury Rd.,
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Lisa’s Barber Shop JAKE’S GARAGE
178 Main Street
Mexico, Maine 04257
Lisa Cormier - owner
Walk-ins:
Tuesday - Friday
8:30 - 5:00
Saturday
9:00 - 12:00
closed Sun & Mon
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357-3824
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376 Swift River Rd., Byron, Maine
We’ve Got it!
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HOME, CAMP or OFFICE
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207-364-4900
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ATV Trail Access
right from
parking lot
Gallant’s
Discount Furniture
& Appliance Center
Swift River Pines is a Cozy Cabin sitting right
on the edge of the beautiful Swift River.
“Drive a little ~ Save a lot!”
Pet Friendly ~ Gold Panning
Hunting ~ Fishing
Access to ATV/Snowmobile Trails
Spectacular Fall Foliage Viewing
3 Night minimum stay
Mon-Sat 8-5, Sun 12-4
1132 Roxbury Notch Rd.
Roxbury, ME
207-545-2442
gallantsdiscountfurniture.com
•
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New Daily
Specials
starting at
$2.99
Gas & Restaurant
Groceries & Supplies
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Fishing & Hunting Licenses
207-585-2713
1255 Roxbury Notch Road
Roxbury, ME
MEXICO
TRADING POST
US Rt. 2 • 240 Maine Street,
Mexico • 207-364-3129
Open Mon–Fri 9am– 5pm & Sat
9am–12 noon
Maine Vue
Optics Scopes
Large Selection of New and
Used Firearms & Accessories
In Stock!
Hunters Find Solid Bear-Hunting
Adventures in New Hampshire
Black
bears
abound New Hampshire black bears, than in the expansive White
throughout the state of New they should focus efforts in Mountain National Forest
Hampshire, but just north of the above areas. Each year, (WMNF), especially during
Franconia Notch Parkway hunters in this area take bears the special hound-hunting
on Interstate 93, hunters and tipping the scales from 300 to season for bears.
wildlife watchers can find high 400 pounds with an occasional The area adjacent to
concentrations of
Franconia Notch
and north lies
them. Whether
A great deal of time, money, thought in the WMNF,
hunters
stillhunt, sit quietly
and effort went into creating Jericho which is open
to the public for
in beech groves
Mountain State Park for all OHRV hunting. Many
or take a stand
overlooking baits, enthusiasts, and it lies just northwest of U.S.
Forest
this area of New
roads
the city of Berlin, New Hampshire. Service
wind throughout
Hampshire offers
the WMNF, but
an
excellent
opportunity to take a black 500-plus pounder. Three of the officials restrict many to footbear.
Top-10 heaviest black bears travel only. There is a WMNF
ranger station located on
The towns of Franconia, came from Bethlehem.
Bethlehem
and
Carroll Most towns north of Harriman Road in Bethlehem,
annually report an excellent Franconia Notch host a healthy where hunters may gather
harvest of black bears. And if bear population, but hunting detailed information about
hunters are looking for once- pressure can be greater in the specific areas within the
in-a-lifetime,
trophy-class smaller pockets of private land Forest.
The hunting season for
bear in New Hampshire opens
on September 1 each year. A
limited season allows the use
of bait and also begins on that
same day. Later in the month,
hound hunters begin their own
special season for taking bears
with the aid of dogs. Be sure to
check federal, state and local
regulations for more detailed
information before starting a
hunt.
With a great deal of both
TAX FREE NH
Northern NH
access, and available parking
lies in the lot across the road.
In addition to awesome
fishing, anglers can enjoy
beautiful mountain scenery
all around the lake, including
the Presidential Range in the
distance. Many loons and a
few bald eagles inhabit the
lakes in this area.
Fall-foliage colors have
usually reached full bloom
at the end of September.
Regardless of whether folks are
coming here to fish or to paddle
canoes or kayaks around the
lake, they will definitely want
to bring a camera to capture
Conway Lake’s beauty.
Jericho Mountain
State Park
With the ever-increasing
interest in riding ATVs, UTVs,
trail bikes and snowmobiles,
also known as Off-Highway
Recreational
Vehicles
(OHRV), finding a place where
OHRV-owners could legally
enjoy using these machines
was becoming a challenge.
Although snowmobilers have
had a well-established trail
system for many years, the
“ATV crowd” has been less
fortunate in New Hampshire,
at least until the last year or
two.
The State of New
(Continued on page 43)
A scenic view from “The Warming Hut” located on
Jericho Mountain, where OHRV riders can ride seemingly-endless trails.
e
t
m
o
o
c
t
l
he
e
W
Lincoln Lakes Region
There’s no place
on earth like it!
www.welcometolincolnmaine.com
207-794-8071
The author shows off two smallmouth bass he caught
recently at Conway Lake.
public and private land opened
to hunting in this region,
hunters have an opportunity
to distance themselves from
others and can focus their
efforts on unmolested bears.
This area should be on any
hunter’s list of places to
consider for the next black
bear hunt in New Hampshire.
Fall Fishing
The clear, cold waters of
Conway Lake lie right next
to the Maine/New Hampshire
border, just minutes from
ABSOLUTE POWERSPORTS
& RV
603-466-5454
461 Main St. | Gorham, NH
downtown North Conway,
eastern New Hampshire’s
4-season tourist and shopping
mecca. Whether it’s largemouth
bass or smallmouth bass
anglers wish to pursue, this
lake offers a great opportunity
for spectacular fall-fishing
action.
Here,
smallmouths
average over two pounds
and largemouths closer to
three pounds. With both deep
and shallow structure along
with scattered humps, quiet
backwaters and lay-downs,
anglers can catch fish using
many different techniques. The
fish in the clear water, albeit
it’s a little tannic colored,
are
tremendous
fighters.
Chain pickerel of gigantic
proportions can be an added
bonus.
During summer and fall,
bass anglers hold a limited
number of tournaments on
Conway Lake, so fish do
not get as heavily pressured
as they do in some of New
Hampshire’s bigger lakes
more to the south. A concrete
ramp off Mill Street offers boat
www.absolutepowersportsnh.com
(just 25 miles west of Bethel, ME)
Bob & Tom’s
Gun Shop
Buy
Sell
Trade
207-736-7843
30 Willow Street
Mattawamkeag, Maine
If you would like to
advertise in the next
Lincoln frame, please
contact Nancy
Carpenter today!
207-357-2702
[email protected]
Open Monday-Friday
4-9 pm
CAMP LOTS ~ WOOD LOTS ~ WATERFRONT LOTS
Over the past 50 years,
H. C. Haynes, Inc. has offered:
• Timber Sales ~ Top Stumpage Rates
• A Team of Professional Foresters & Surveyors
• Timber Cruising & Estimates - Real Estate Services
• Master Loggers & CLP Certified Professional Loggers
• Direct Personal Service
• 50 Years of Forestry & Land Management Experience
2207.736.3412
207
0 736
36 3412
3412 ~ hhchaynes.com
h
~ P.O.
PO B
Box 96
96 W
Wi
Winn, M
ME
E 04495
04495
Monday - Thursday
Friday
Saturday
7:30am to 5:00pm
7:30am to 6:00pm Sales Only, 7:30am to 12pm
74 Main Street • Lincoln, ME
(800) 799-6522 • (207) 794-6522
www.ColeWhitneyFord.com
Logging Roads Offer Bicyclists Dynamite
Allures – but Occasional Pitfalls
...Logging roads. I am not
writing about sand and gravel.
I mean that biking on logging
roads always offers me fun,
is frequently exhilarating and
often is a means of discovery.
In
contemporary
lingo:
logging roads rock, and are
my favorite biking routes.
Why?
Reason 1: Wildlife viewing
and photography: I enjoy
observing the natural world;
sometimes identification of
the flora and fauna puzzles
me. On other occasions, it’s
my old favorites – such as the
iconic moose.
For obvious reasons, folks
see more while biking remote
logging roads than they do
when driving on paved roads:
remoteness, less noise, slower
pace and habitat encroaching
onto road shoulders. Biking
also beats hiking, because
pedalers can cover more
ground quickly and silently,
an aid in approaching skittish
wildlife.
I must have seen every
northern
New
England
mammal
while
riding
backcountry.
There
is
uncertainty, though, because
when small rodents like a
mole, vole, shrew, lemming or
mouse scurry across the road,
I may be uncertain which of
the 20 or so possible species
it might be. I also have never
spotted a mountain lion, but I
am still holding out hope.
Reason 2: No two logging
roads are alike: So, I never
get that “been there, done
that” feeling. Some roads are
log-transportation highways;
they have the width, grading,
and construction of major
thoroughfares. They just aren’t
paved. On the other side of the
Coasting down the Loop Road from Tim Pond feels
like flying.
only inches above acres of
mud, brown water, marsh
grass, cattails and alders. As
I ride along it feels as if I am
perched on an Everglades jet
boat, powering over the top of
water, muck and mire.
Of course, not every bike
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continuum are abandoned side
spurs almost reclaimed by the
surrounding woods, creating
a route that is more path than
road.
Illusion of Flying
Reason 3: The Experience:
Riding on some logging
roads doesn’t even feel like
biking. Certain roads create
the illusion that bicyclists are
flying in a small plane. When
I coast downhill on a road
that follows the ridgeline of a
clear-cut hill, I can see miles
of undulating green treetops
framed by purple edges of
distant hills. My perspective
changes every second, and
it feels as if I am riding in a
small plane, skimming over
treetops.
Sometimes a narrow
logging road will transect a
large bog or swamp, and the
road surface is seemingly
207-395-2059
trip is a magic carpet ride.
Logging roads have a few
pitfalls (I mean that literally
as well as figuratively). If
rain hasn’t recently fallen,
passing logging trucks create
temporary dust storms. Some
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Bicycling
riders
tie
handkerchiefs
around their necks, and place
them over their mouth to
breathe through when the
dust gets bad. Recent logging
activities can reduce certain
sections of road into a rutted,
wet morass of sticks, bark and
mud, requiring a walk-around.
The worst event, though,
includes an unfortunate rider
who wants to pedal along a
road that is being graded. If the
weather has been fairly dry, a
grading vehicle will transform
a hard packed road into a trap
of soft and powdery earth with
a multitude of upended sharp
rocks. (Imagine a freshly tilled
farmer’s field in Ireland.)
After several days of
vehicular traffic to pack it
down (and perhaps a rock
raking), the logging road will
be fine for cycling, but on day
one – no chance. Because of
that, whether bicyclists are
riding a loop or going from
point A to point B, they should
always have a contingency
plan and be prepared to
backtrack to the origin point.
Tim Pond Road
The logging roads around
Tim Pond (west of Eustis and
Stratton, DeLorme Atlas Map
28, C-5) are great choices
to bike in September, with
excellent leaf-peeping as
the trees start to turn. Any
bothersome insects died with
the first frost.
During the morning in the
Rangeley Lakes, fly fishers
can chase salmon and trout on
spawning runs up rivers and
Tim Pond Camps
from Route 27 in Eustis and
proceeds due west. Seven
miles in is the access road to
Tim Pond. Another 10 miles
or so brings visitors to Little
Kennebago Lake (good fishing
at the inlet
Riding on some logging roads and outlet).
An additional
doesn’t even feel like biking. 12 miles on
Certain roads create the illusion the Lincoln
Pond Road and
that bicyclists are flying.
Morton Cut-off
brings people
to Cupsuptic Campground
streams, and when the sun gets outside of Oquossoc.
high and the fishing slows,
Tim Pond Camps
they can take a quick car trip Tim Pond Camps is a
and then hop on a bike.
relaxing and picturesque
The Tim Pond Road, a place to spend the night, fish
major logging artery, starts and bike the loop trail around
Northern NH
(Continued from page 41)
Hampshire Parks Department
and the New Hampshire
Trails Bureau in conjunction
with other state agencies and
local advocacy groups saw an
opportunity to create a special
place – Jericho Mountain
State Park. A great deal of
time, money, thought and
effort went into creating this
recreational area for all OHRV
enthusiasts, and it lies just
northwest of the city of Berlin,
New Hampshire.
Jericho is a vast area
of rugged land, which has
recently seen large-scale
forestry practices carried out.
Utilizing the network of access
roads created for logging
purposes, Jericho offers a
grand riding experience for
those looking to spend several
hours, or even days, exploring
the numerous trails the park
offers. Along the way, riders
can encounter many scenic
vistas
with
breathtaking
views. The park offers more
than 75 miles of trails within
its boundaries as well as trails
that lead into the surrounding
towns, where riders can access
fuel and services. These trails
also connect to more than
1,000 miles of open trails in
Coos County.
In addition to riding
opportunities found at Jericho
Mountain State Park, officials
have created a day-use area,
including a campground that
has direct trail access. Jericho
Lake also lies within the dayuse area and offers angling
opportunities for bass, perch
and northern pike. Boat rentals
are available there as well.
Jericho Lake is also a popular
“swimming hole.”
Whether visitors want to
This lucky hunter is obviously pleased with his
trophy New Hampshire black bear taken with a bow.
the Pond. When pedalers
hop off the bike at the main
lodge, it feels as if they have
traveled back to a simpler
and more relaxed era. Tim
Pond Camps is supposedly the
oldest continuously operating
sporting camp in America
and believed to have hosted
hunters and anglers since
1851.
Another option is to bike
in from Eustis (or Stratton) on
the Tim Pond Road, have lunch
at the Tim Pond Camps and
bike back. A word of warning
though…. When visitors turn
onto the Loop Road (Tim
Pond access road), the first
mile ascends a substantial hill
before an easier second mile
continues to the pond shore.
Of course, the ride out is
nicely downhill. At my relaxed
cycling speed of about eight
miles per hour, it takes less
than two hours from Stratton
to Tim Pond, and the return is
a little shorter. Call ahead for
lunch reservations, so the staff
will know to expect you.
There is even an option
of going from sporting camp
to sporting camp. Visitors
can stay at Grants Camps on
Kennebago Lake, cycle to
Tim Pond for a night and bike
back. The round trip is about
28 miles.
There are countless miles
of logging roads in Maine.
Explore. Find a favorite.
Depending on age, you will
find it a blast, hip, groovy,
radical, sick, or maybe, if you
are older, the cat’s meow!
ride for the day or for the week,
Jericho Mountain State Park is
the place to start an adventure.
It is an area where OHRV
enthusiasts can enjoy riding
their machines, and unlike
many other remote areas in
New England, folks welcome
riders with open arms.
MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ ANSWERS
From Page 37
Answers
1. John James Audubon banded the first bird in North America in 1804.
2. Phoebes migrate south for the winter in September and early October.
3. Phoebes favorite food is grubs and insects.
4. Phoebes can be distinguished from other flycatchers by their lack of distinct eye rings and wing bars.
5. Phoebes wag their tails up and down while perching, making them easy to identify by novice bird watchers.
6. The phoebe makes a sharp fee-bee chirp.
7. Phoebes use grass and mud to construct their nests.
8. Phoebes typically raise two broods per year.
9. A phoebe can live up to 10 years.
Col. Allard Eats Humble Pie Before
Dining at Elegant Banquet
In my column two
months ago, the discussion of
Winchester’s 112-year-old .32
Special cartridges generated
more than the usual amount of
mail from gun writers, guides,
trappers and single-season
hunters here at “The Shooter’s
Bench.” They were all
staunchly loyal and uniformly
positive about the old-time .32
Special.
It gladdens the heart
to know that the upcoming
hunting season will once
again see a goodly number of
these fine old guns afield with
proud Maine owners. Another
generation of Maine hunters
stands poised to learn the great choices for this caliber is no action rifles.
values of a hand-me-down longer limited to 170-grain, This new bullet offers
enhanced performance and
soft-nosed projectiles.
rifle.
On a chance visit to Hornady now includes the new life for old rifles. Leaving
Marshall’s
Firearms
in .32 Special in their line called it out of my .32 Special
Boscawen, New Hampshire, “LEVERevolution.”
Using column failed to complete the
owner-and-friend
Brad something the company calls picture. Fans of the .32 Special
have even more
Marshall
i n s t r u c t e d The museum stands as a learning place, a reason to love
their old guns.
me that I had
place
of
magnificent
examples
of
all
manRoad Trip
left out an
the
i m p o r t a n t ner of firearms, but also as a place for con- During
ruminations
new
detail
of the .32 templating the firearm’s role in our society. concerning the
S p e c i a l
.32 Special, an
story. Thanks to the Hornady “Flex Tip Technology,” they opportunity came along to
Manufacturing
Company produce a 165-grain, ballistic- celebrate the national birthday
of Grand Island, Nebraska, tipped bullet specifically for in the nation’s capital. That
the .32 Special ammunition tubular magazines of lever- weekend, in discussing what
to do on a dry, sunny Saturday,
our host said, “We’re going
to take you to the National
Firearms Museum.”
In no way connected to
the government, the National
Firearms Museum exists as a
program of the National Rifle
Association (NRA), and the
public can visit seven days a
week, free of charge. Located
in Fairfax, Virginia, the
museum moved with the NRA
headquarters when the latter
left the District of Columbia
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in 1998. Its 15 galleries trace
the technological, historical
and purposeful evolution of
firearms in America from the
earliest days of exploration to
the present.
The offer to spend
a Saturday afternoon in
this pantheon of firearms
development came as a
surprise and a delight. Though
a
former
intercollegiate
competitive shooter, our host
is no gun enthusiast. His
politics fall decidedly to the
left of mine. His offer sprang
from a deep well of respect
and friendship dating back 30
years.
In the company of spouses,
we arrived to find an exhibit
hall that all Americans should
visit. America’s cultural,
social and physical histories
link inexorably to the firearm.
Maine enjoys some of the most
accommodating regulations
and environments for firearms.
Mainers especially ought
to experience the National
Firearms Museum.
The museum stands as
a learning place, a place of
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Shooter’s Bench
magnificent examples of all
manner of firearms, but also as
a place for contemplating the
firearm’s role in our society.
Rob Hardin wrote in the
online magazine Recoil, “If
you’re a gun enthusiast, it’s
one box you must check off
your bucket list.” However,
even non-enthusiasts can find
the displays engaging.
March of History
The Robert E. Peterson
collection forms the nucleus of
the exhibit, where the marriage
of steel and wood reaches high
art. Radiating out from there,
the galleries contain some of
the most significant firearms
used on this continent.
Dazzling artifacts seem
to float in glass display cases
and dioramas. Here resides
John Alden’s Italian-made
.50 caliber wheelock, which
came over on the Mayflower,
and two centuries later, was
discovered concealed within
the walls of Alden’s Plymouth,
Massachusetts home. It looks
nothing like the ridiculous
funnel-shaped
weapons
pictured in our school books.
Here also resides an
example of the 22-shot
Girardoni air rifle that
accompanied the Lewis and
Clark expedition as well as
pieces once owned by sharpshooter Annie Oakley, expertshot Bill “Buffalo” Cody,
abolitionist John Brown,
President John F. Kennedy
and gun-writer Elmer Keith.
Included are revolvers that
went up San Juan Hill with the
Rough Riders, and shotguns
formerly owned and used by
Hermann Goering and Dwight
Eisenhower, and a stunning
8-gauge behemoth belonging
to President Grover Cleveland.
The
Kentucky/
Pennsylvania
long
rifle
collection showcases early
American
craftsmanship.
Here, the unity of form and
function coming through a gun
maker’s hands equals anything
achieved by early New York or
Philadelphia furniture artisans
or Boston silversmiths. These
stylish yet highly accurate
pieces still define part of
the American heritage and
culture, and “lock, stock and
barrel” have earned a place in
our collective psyche.
On the lighter side, the
movie gallery features firearms
and weapons made famous
on the silver screen. Here,
artifacts include firearms used
by John Wayne, Tom Selleck
and Clint Eastwood, among
others. From the television
show “Bonanza” to Luke
Skywalker’s light saber in Star
Wars, this gallery exemplifies
the long relationship between
firearms, weapons and the
entertainment industry.
National Treasures
The National Firearms
Museum temporarily houses
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From my position in the
dining room of the fishing
lodge, I could almost hear the
conversation from the angler
at the next table – something
about a huge brook trout.
I came to bear-hunt at this
set of camps on a secluded
pond near the New Hampshire
border and left my fly rod at
home – a foolish mistake.
September rain can cool
water enough to get salmonid
running up streams to start
their spawning process, not a
good time to leave a fly rod
home.
I could hardly wait to
find out about the fishing
conditions, so after finishing
my meal, I walked to the table
and asked, “How was the
fishing today? Did you guys
have any luck?”
There were other anglers
in the dining room, so I kept
my voice low and noticed the
guide and client also respond
with hushed whispers.
The guide asked to remain
unnamed and pointed to the
excited client sitting next to
him and said, “He hooked into
several huge brookies today –
one almost 19 inches,”
The fishing client also
A European moose mount graces the cement memorial at the Height of Land scenic turnout on Route 17,
overlooking Mooselookmeguntic Lake. (William Clunie photo)
whispered but in a squeaky
sound, “I’ve never caught
such big trout or salmon, and
I’ve fished plenty of famous
waters in the past – today
topped them all.”
Late-Season Angling
I’ve mentioned in this
column before that I have
always been too busy hunting
or scouting in September
and have never taken the
opportunity to enjoy Maine’s
excellent late-season fishing –
I changed that last fall.
In 2013, I did a little
fishing during September
and October but failed to hit
several prime, late-season
locations for fishing in the
Rangeley region. This year,
I’ll be sure to branch out and
fish other locations I’ve never
encountered.
I fished Upper Dam
Pool (Map 18, A-2) between
Mooselookmeguntic
Lake
and Upper Richardson Lake,
a place that carries a crowd of
anglers during most any part
of the season – September
included. In 1924, Carrie
Stevens tied the first Gray
Ghost and fished with it here,
making history by effectively
marketing her fish-catching
patterns.
Access to this hallowed
water comes by way of a long
ride on a bumpy logging road
(Upper Dam Road) off Route
16. Then, once anglers have
driven the length of the road,
they must park the vehicle at
the red gate and walk a few
hundred yards downhill to the
water. I believe there may still
be construction going on with
the new dam, so beware of an
extra amount of traffic on the
gravel roads going in.
Stripping a streamer
through the famed pool takes
nostalgic anglers back to a
simpler time – a time when
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October upland bird hunts with dog
Openings available
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greenfarmguide.com
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207-570-8857
MAS
R
TE
Matt Tinker
Master Guide
MAS
R
TE
Shooter’s Bench
(Continued from page 45)
many firearms and other
personal items belonging to
the 26th President, Theodore
Roosevelt.
While
the
Roosevelt estate Sagamore
Hill undergoes extensive
renovations, the museum
provides a temporary home
and continued public access
to many of T.R.’s favorite
firearms.
Perhaps most moving of
all the many iconic pieces
housed and displayed at the
museum remains New York
City police officer Walter
Weaver’s service revolver.
Recovered from the rubble
of the World Trade Center, it
now rests in a small case near
the gallery exit, the pistol’s
battered condition offers a
reminder of the events of Sept.
11, 2001.
Yes,
every
shooting
sportsman ought to visit the
National Firearms Museum.
As part of a visit to Washington
or a stopover on the way
further south, no shooter will
quickly forget a few hours
spent among the finest, most
significant firearms from
American history.
Following our visit, while
grilling steaks under giant
tulip poplars, my wise friend
raised his glass and summed
up the day: “I’m glad we went.
I learned a lot.”
Hear, hear to that.
The 15 galleries of the National Firearms Museum in
Fairfax, Virginia offer a look at the roles all types of
firearms play in American history and is a worthwhile
visit for all shooting sports enthusiasts.
Rangeley
folks like Carrie Stevens tied
flies that attracted anglers
from around the world to fish
in the Rangeley region.
September Bear
Successful bear hunters
in the Rangeley region usually
hire a guide. Putting together
a successful bear hunt in such
big country can be a daunting
task – especially for hunters
who don’t live nearby.
The most secure way
of bagging a bear involves
setting up bait sites, and outof-area hunters just don’t have
the time or gas money to keep
remote bait sites effectively
loaded with bear food. Local
guides know the region
intimately and can check bait
sites more routinely to ensure
the best odds of success.
as one of the most challenging conducive to this type of
Using dogs for bear takes ways to take a bear. This hunting. Hunters hoping to use
a close second as an effective method of bear hunting works this method in the Rangeley
way of becoming a successful great in the West, but the region must scour the vast
bear
hunter
landscape
to
find
hillsides
in this region.
Successful bear hunters in the Rangeley
Guides using
that
have
region
usually
hire
a
guide.
Putting
togethdogs in the
been
opened
logging
R a n g e l e y er a successful bear hunt in such big coun- by
region
put
operations.
try
can
be
a
daunting
task
–
especially
for
their clients
The
Tim
Pond/Lincoln
onto big bear
hunters who don’t live nearby.
every year.
Pond
Road
Spot-andbegins at Route
stalk hunting for bear in this thick forest in Maine hardly 16 (Map 28, E-1) and cuts
region can be done and stands offers any kind of open areas (Continued on next page)
Revive your senses...
Rangeley Lakes Region
1-800-MT-LAKES • www.RangeleyMaine.com
Rangeley
through some of the most
scenic bear country in the
state. Spot-and- stalk hunters
would do well to glass the hills
that surround this logging road
from its beginning all the way
to the end at Route 27 near
Eustis (Map 29, B-2).
Moose Scouting
This month, lucky mooselottery winners prepare for the
hunt of a lifetime. Scouting for
moose in September pays off
big when the opener comes
around in October. Wildlife
Management District (WMD)
7 covers the Rangeley Lakes
region. For the 2014 season,
a total of 125 moose hunters
have been selected to harvest
North
America’s
largest
ungulates in this WMD.
For those lucky moose
lotto winners, hunting from
logging trails off the Lincoln
Pond Road produces huge
bulls every year. Follow
Lincoln Pond Road where it
intersects with Route 16 (Map
28, E-1) all the way to Eustis
(Map 29, B-2) on Route 27.
The well-used logging road
changes its name to Tim Pond
Road the closer it gets closer
to Eustis.
Moose change eating
habits during the fall from
chewing on aquatic vegetation
to browsing on the new growth
provided by a 2- to 5-year-old
clear-cut. Find a clear-cut of
this age that borders a swampy
bog to locate feeding cows
– feeding cows draw in rutcrazed bulls.
Any of the numerous
waterways in the Rangeley
region would be a good
start for a moose-scouting
expedition. Look for clearcuts in the mountains around
these ribbons of blue on the
map and then drive or walk
into areas to investigate.
Many small and remote
ponds that draw moose dot
the same landscape. Once
again, look for a body of water
surrounded by mountainous
terrain. Some of these places
only have grown-over tote
roads leading to them, but
when major logging roads
become filled with hunters,
these kinds of secretive
locations produce.
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Housekeeping Cabins
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207-486-9308
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Dave Describes Successful Trap Sets for
Wild Canines
As previously stated in
past columns, the trap size and
type preferred for the gray and
red fox is the size #1 1/2 and
size # 1 3/4 coil spring. These
traps have enough strength to
hold fox, are stable and bed
well when properly set.
Most trappers today prefer
traps with offset jaws and base
plated with central swiveling.
This guarantees good holding
while greatly reducing any
chance of injury. These are the
traps also used most often for
catch and release of fox during
research.
The Coyote
The size #1 3/4 trap is the
smallest I would recommend
for coyote because of this
animal’s strength, especially
our large Maine coyotes. The
trap should be fully modified
with base plate and center
swiveling, laminated jaws and
four coiled and have at least
one more swivel in the chain.
The preferred type would have
offset jaws.
The largest size coyote
trap that is practical in the lynx
zones is the size #2, and it may
require (depending on brand of
trap) inside lamination to make
it the legal 5 3/8 inch inside
jaw spread. The modifications
mentioned above are also
highly recommended.
Outside of the Maine lynx
zones, the preferred trap is
We legally buy bear galls, claws and teeth - Fresh or Frozen
Better prices
on larger
Quantities!
a bait or lure in the hole. A
dirt hole set replicates where
an animal has cached food to
eat later, and these dirt holes
can be all shapes and sizes. To
capture the targeted animal,
the set should be made where
the animal will likely travel
close by and downwind.
The basic dirt hole is nothing more than
a hole made in the ground with a trap
set in front of it to catch the animal as it
investigates a bait or lure in the hole.
Attention All Sportsmen!
Bear Gall
Prices
generally a size #3. These size
traps should also have center
swiveling and offset jaws.
All traps should be clean,
dyed and waxed. Don’t forget
to ensure they have your
personal identification tag on
them.
$15 per oz Any Size
We also buy large Deer capes
Honest Prices, Certified Scales
We pay shipping & handling • Serving upstate NY since 1979
Stone’s Smokehouse
67 Rabideau Street • Morrisonville, NY • (518) 293-7303
Trap Sets
The three sets described
here work for all canines and
are the ones most commonly
used. They are:
• Dirt hole
• Scent post
• Flat set
Remember - Maine law
requires that no bait is to be
visible from above.
The Dirt Hole
The dirt hole set can vary
in configuration, depending
how it is made. The basic dirt
hole is nothing more than a
hole made in the ground with
a trap set in front of it to catch
the animal as it investigates
The illustration shows
a typical dirt hole set with
natural backing. The small
rock in front gives the location
of the trap. Trappers put a
few drops of scent or a good
squirt of urine on the log by
the hole, and they put bait into
the bottom of the hole with
a covering such as a wad of
grass or a few leaves over the
bait in the hole.
The Scent Post
The scent post set is a post
or stick set vertically into the
ground. The trapper places the
scent post along a travel route
that canines use, and they
locate it in a typical manner
so any canine would urinate
on it. A trap is set out six to
eight inches from the base
of the post for fox and about
ten or twelve inches out for
coyote. Some natural backing
by the trap forces the canine
to approach the side where the
trapper has placed the trap.
The illustration shows
a typical scent post set. The
trapper buried the trap to the
left of the post.
The trapper squirted urine
on it about a foot above the
ground. A few drops of lure
may be placed on the post – if
desired.
The Flat Set
The flat set can be a
variation of sets where there
is no hole dug for the bait. In
my humble opinion, the scent
post is really a flat set type of
trap set. An object such as the
end of a log, a clump of grass,
an old cow skull, a large leg
bone, a rock or any object that
stands out can be used instead
of a vertical post.
The above illustration is
a typical flat set. The large
stick is laying by itself in a
travel lane along the edge of
a large field. Canines travel
these types of locations, and
the object is out of place there
and draws the attention of the
canine. The illustration shows
the trap bed dug. The stick
may have a small hole pushed
under it and a few drops of lure
placed in it to keep the canine
at the set. Or, it may be on
the edge of the log itself. No
matter how the trapper does it,
the canine will be looking for
the source of the odor.
This set shows a rock that
September’s Cooler Weather Improves
Fishing in Moosehead Area
Each September, they
where fish are biting and
head to Rockwood in droves
what they are biting on. Look
– fish, I mean. Specifically,
for Moosehead Lake on the
salmon and togue.
Delorme Atlas, Map 41.
The fish arrive in early- to
Warmwater Species
mid-September, in numbers
I wish to explain something
approaching those found in
about my recent “Moosehead
the spring. At first, they stack
Region” column relating to
up in the area near the mouth
how to catch smallmouth bass
of Moose River.
in Moosehead Lake. I don’t
By later in the month, the
personally fish for bass, at
salmonids have dispersed, and
least not by design. Salmonids
at that point they may show
are my preferred game fish.
up anywhere. Either way,
Also, illegal stocking of fish
compared to the hot days of
in any waters in Maine is a
summer, September sees a
grave offense and contrary to
big boost in fishing results on
the sane management of our
Moosehead Lake.
precious natural resources.
Trolling Pays
Offenders, when identified
The
same
trolling
and successfully prosecuted,
techniques that paid off in May John McMillan of Belfast holds a smallmouth bass caught in the Moosehead Lake should receive the fullest
and June bring strikes now. region. Tom says despite our dislike for how these non-natives arrived, we must penalties prescribed by law.
However, much still depends accept the fact that they are here and aren’t going anywhere any time soon.
Why people take the law into
upon water temperature, and
their own hands remains a
that means if cool weather should come equipped with temperatures are one factor effective on togue, not only on mystery to us all. But some do
arrives early in the month, fish one or two downriggers. that triggers this response, Moosehead but everywhere. just that and in this case, it’s
will stay nearer the surface. These devices allow fishing at but salmon also come near Salmon and trout also hit a matter of something being
If fall temperatures remain any depth, not just down to the the surface on rainy or foggy them, so make sure and have done that cannot be undone.
a few of these in the tackle So
moderate or even warm, cold drop-offs. Also, a fly rod days.
with
non-native
loaded
with
sinking
line
works
Frozen
smelts
work
box.
Bob
Lawrence,
a
longhowever, anglers must go
fish species like black bass
well when fish hold closer their magic now as always, time Moosehead Lake guide appearing in Maine in an
deeper in order to score.
The well-supplied boater to the surface. Cold water but frozen smelts are in operating out of Rockwood, ever-increasing number of
short supply. So a visiting makes regular use of Li’l waters, we have a real tragic
angler might try fishing with Jakes and with good results. situation on our hands. But
live golden shiners. Larry It was Bob who introduced despite our dislike for how
Farrington, a Moosehead Lake me to this fine lure. Find these these non-natives arrived,
fishing guide in Greenville great lures in fishing tackle we must accept the fact that
consideration: When trapping
Junction, uses shiners in outlets throughout the region. they are here and aren’t going
will be the focal point for any land animal, trappers
summer and finds that they While we cannot determine anywhere any time soon.
the canine as it looks for the should
always
consider
work very well. Larry fishes the
long-range
weather Therefore, now that bass
source of either urine or scent prevailing wind direction.
his shiners using the same forecast and therefore have no have been illegally introduced
used to attract the canine to Yes, wind shifts around, but
methods as with smelt, that way of knowing if fish will be to Moosehead Lake, people
the set. The urine would be on prevailing wind blows from
being without the benefit of holding deep or shallow, we who enjoy fishing for them
the rock, while the scent may the same direction a majority
flashers or dodgers. Just hook can accurately predict that that may as well have at them.
be on it or under it in a small of the time.
the live shiner up to a sliding fish will become more active And we can all hope that
hole.
The trap set should always
baitfish rig and troll. “Don’t in September. With spawning these spiny-rayed illegal
These sets are the basic be upwind of the animal’s
worry, Larry said, “the fish season just ahead, salmonids introductions don’t have any
sets that a trapper uses to expected travel lane. This
will find the bait.”
are hungry, and they are on the serious impact on our native
attract the animal desired ensures that most of the time,
Standard
hardware move.
coldwater game fish.
to the set location. All the the wind carries the scent
offerings work fine now too. If you’ve ever wondered And speaking of smallmouth
canines have the same basic from the set to the animal as it
For example, Li’l Jake Spin- what the fall fishing on bass in Moosehead, I was very
natural habits and will react travels through an area.
A-Lures continue to pay off on Moosehead is like, why not disappointed and saddened to
in a like manner. Trappers If an animal can’t smell
Moosehead Lake. These look come and try it this season? learn that, according to Bob
should think about what their the set, then the trapper will
like a shorter, thicker version Stop in at any of the local Lawrence, someone recently
dog does and let that guide never do well trapping land
of that old favorite, Super- fishing tackle outlets for up- caught a bass in Moose River.
them in attracting canines.
animals.
Duper. Li’l Jakes are especially to-date accounts of how and
Here’s
one
crucial
Trapping
Moosehead
And it surprised me even more
to learn that smallmouth bass
now swim in Brassua Lake.
Brassua sits upstream from
Moosehead, and Moose River
connects the two. Brassua has
always ranked as a fine lake
for salmon and brook trout. It
also holds lots of jumbo-size
yellow perch.
For those who enjoy bass
fishing, September rates as a
prime month. Fish are near the
surface and often hold along
rocky shorelines. Casting
standard bass lures takes fish,
but so does trolling. In lakes
that hold both salmonids and
bass, I often take bass while
trolling for salmon. And more
than once, a large fish has hit,
giving me a great thrill, only
to disappoint me later upon
discovering that a bass, not
a salmon, had taken my lure.
Brassua Lake on Map 40, A-4
and B-4.
Stream Fishing
While Moosehead Lake offers
great September fishing, the
call of flowing water continues
to hold me in its thrall.
Because I prefer spinning gear
While we cannot determine the long-range
weather forecast and therefore have no way
of knowing if fish will be holding deep or
shallow, we can accurately predict that that
fish will become more active in September.
With spawning season just ahead, salmonids are hungry, and they are on the move.
to flycasting tackle, the West
Outlet of Kennebec River has
become a regular September
destination for me. Here, the
law requires artificial lures
only, which suits me just fine.
Spinners of all types work
well, as do small trout jigs.
The Maine Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
(DIF&W) stocks West Outlet
with fall-yearling brook trout
each fall. These fish range
in size from 13 to 14 inches,
and sometimes even larger.
Again, depending upon water
Welcome to...
Moosehead
initiated a salmon-stocking
program several years ago,
and salmon are always present
in September.
temperatures, stocking may
begin in late September. But
even if it doesn’t, DIF&W
Lawrence’s
Lakeside Cabins
and Guide Service
Vacations - Modern Housekeeping Cabins
Fishing - Salmon, Lake and Brook Trout
Hunting - Moose, Deer, Grouse
BOB LAWRENCE,
MASTER GUIDE
AUBURN – BANGOR
BELGRADE – BOOTHBAY
BRUNSWICK – DAMARISCOTTA
FAIRFIELD – FARMINGTON
GREENVILLE – PEMAQUID
PORTLAND – SKOWHEGAN
Wilton
Toll-Free
www.hammondlumber.com
207-695-2921
www.lawrencescabins.com
Hunting Packages • Meals • Guide Service
The Best Hunting and Fishing in Maine
Historic Waterfront Housekeeping
Cabins in the Moosehead Region
Grouse - Moose - Woodcock - Deer - Hare
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Hunting Dogs welcome
A remote off-grid experience...
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spencerpondcamps.com
[email protected] • 207-745-1599
Katahdin Cruises
Sailing Late June thru Columbus Day
Narrated Cruises @ 12:30 pm Daily
Closed Sundays & Mondays
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mooseheadmotorsports.com
13 Moosehead Industrial Park
Greenville Junction, Maine
Celebrating 100 Years!
1-800-825-WILD
207-695-2716
www.katahdincruises.com
Greenville, ME
Waterfront Cabins &
Motor Boat Rentals
Rent nightly, weekly
or seasonally.
Fishing & Sailing charters on
Moosehead Lake.
Land-locked salmon, brook trout,
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~ Open Year Round~
161 Jackman Rd • Rockwood, ME
Wind Turbine
Solar Panel
Generator
Sales
Service • Installation
Great alternative sources of energy Give Moosehead Solar a call today!
1.800.471.8799
Now booking the
Fall Moose hunt
for Zones 4 & 8.
$40 per night, per person.
Group discounts available
Greenville frame,
please contact
Mike Moreau at
207-212-7670
or Nancy Carpenter at
207-357-2702 today!
207-534-7362
207-943-3815
www.GrayGhostCamps.com
Wilsons on Moosehead Lake
The Moosehead Marine Museum
Enjoy the natural beauty and
history of Moosehead Lake
aboard a 1914 steamship
Rustic Cabins, Luxury Private Home Rentals,
Yurts, Cabin Tents and New Kozy Cabins
Fish for Salmon, Togue and Brook Trout
Moose Cruise, Marina, Motor Boat Rentals,
Canoe & Kayak, Mountain Biking, Hiking
Raft the Kennebec, Penobscot and Dead Rivers
GRAY GHOST CAMPS
Full Service Pharmacy
Digital Self-Developing
Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain
Gifts & More
1-866-HAMMOND
Four Seasons of Recreation and
Relaxation on Moosehead Lake
[email protected] • www.birches.com
VISA/MASTERCARD ACCEPTED
MAYNARDS
THE BIRCHES
RESORT
PO Box 101, Rockwood, ME 04478
207-534-7709
Harris
Drug Store
caught must immediately
be released alive. Find West
Outlet on Map 40, B-1. Have
fun fishing the Moosehead
Region this September.
[email protected]
www.rockwoodonmoosehead.org
OPEN YEAR ROUND ON
MOOSEHEAD LAKE
www.MooseheadLake.org • 1-888-876-2778
While no tales of huge salmon
from West Outlet have yet
reached my ears, anglers
do take 14- to 16-inch fish
regularly – lots of fun on
ultralight
spinning
gear.
Various spinners are effective
on West Outlet salmon.
In addition to the artificialsonly regulation, the daily bag
limit on trout at West Outlet
is 2 fish per day. All salmon
FISHING • OPEN YEAR ROUND
Fully Equipped Lakefront Cottages
ROCKWOOD, MAINE
Four Season Comfortably Equipped
and Well Maintained Housekeeping
Cabins and Lodge on Moosehead Lake
The perfect place for very private
family and sportsman vacations!
Private Boat Launch & Marina • Boat/Kayak & Canoe Rentals
Feed the Deer • Enjoy the Amazing Wildlife
Hunting and World-Class Salmon, Brook Trout and Laker Fishing
Snowmobilers and Ice Fishermen Welcome!
Explore and enjoy Moosehead Lake
and the Great North Woods!
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207-534-7712
Moosehead Area Rentals
mooseheadarearentals.com
Waterfront | Waterview
Wooded | Condos
Moosehead Motel
207-418-7299
PO Box 364
Rockwood, ME 04478
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Moosehead
Marina, LLC
New & Pre-Owned
Watercraft,
Trailers, Parts &
Accessories!
Your Hosts:
Alison and
Scott Snell,
Master Guide
207-695-2549
Route 15, Greenville Junction, ME 04442
www.WilsonsOnMooseheadLake.com
1-888-518-2055 • 207-534-7703
e-mail: [email protected]
www.maynardsinmaine.com
Historic
Farm
Now Booking for 2014
Grouse & Deer Hunting
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53 Pittston Farm Road
Pittston AcademyTWP., ME 04478
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Fish • Hunt • ATV • Snowmobile • Snowshoe • Ski
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Welcome Your
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OPEN May 1st- Nov 30th
Your Hosts: Ron & Bonnie Searles
207-534-7725
PO Box 176 MS, Rockwood, ME 04478
mooseheadlakelodging.com
September Salmon Trolling Keeps
Anglers Hopping This Month
As temperatures drop and
days shorten, area sports folks
gear up for the approaching
fall with its myriad activities.
Hunters anxiously await
upland-bird season, waterfowl
hunting and other small-game
opportunities. For archers, the
expanded archery season for
deer holds promise this month.
For anglers, salmon action
heats up this month, and we
have several great hot spots
to explore in this region.
September is truly a great
month for salmon anglers in
the Sebago-to-Auburn region.
If other anglers are like
this author, then spring salmon
fishing’s season passes too
quickly. Just when folks get
into prime fishing, the smelt
run stops, the water warms
and fish go deep. However,
September signals a rebirth
of salmon action, and anglers
in the know take advantage of
the changing season.
Sebago Lake (DeLorme
Atlas, Map 5, B-1) sees a
flurry of nonfishing activity
during the summer months –
arguably the busiest lake in the
state. I try to sneak a morning
trolling outing in, and a fish
usually rewards me, but leadcore line or downriggers are
the only option.
As
personal-watercraft
(often called by the brand
name Jet Ski) users arise along
with pleasure boaters, families
pulling tubes and others go out
to enjoy the lake. Then, it’s
time to put the trolling gear
away and surrender the lake
for the day – at least until later
in the evening.
As September rolls in, the
lake quiets dramatically, and
anglers once again claim the
lake as their own.
Salmon Action
Landlocked salmon, once
native to the Sebago Lake
watershed, spawn in the fall
and come back onto the bite
this month. They seek cooler,
shallow waters and move
toward the mouth of rivers and
streams in anticipation of the
spawn. Fishing Sebago Lake
for September salmon reverts
to springtime tactics – almost.
At ice-out, salmon anglers
troll with a fly line and catch
salmon just under the surface.
I have caught salmon right on
the very top, just as I let my
line out from the back of the
MOOSE HUNTERS
Windham Butcher Shop will be processing
moose in Ashland from
September 22 until noon on
Friday, September 26
We will be located on Rt. 11, half way down the hill on right
(there will be signs).
The cost to have your moose processed is as follows:
*$.65 per lb. to skin quarter and package.
Everything is de-boned, cryo-vacced, frozen and boxed
*$75.00 to skin and quarter only.
*$50.00 to cape.
The moose must be field dressed and whole.
We do not accept it in pieces.
207-892-4203
For our friends in
northern Maine we
offer free delivery
to Bangor
Lakes that are popular during spring and summer may see a notable reduction in
fishing pressure in September. Anglers can fish Square Lake and not only watch
the trees change color but also look at the vibrant spawning trout.
boat. As the water warms,
most of us switch to lead-core
line or use downriggers to get
down to deeper depths.
This month, anglers catch
salmon on sinking fly line, but
I still start out with a lead-core
choice, usually with success.
Two colors of lead-core
line get my offering, a fly or
Mooselook Wobbler, down to
where salmon often lurk.
As the water continues to
cool at the end of the month, I
switch to my sinking fly line,
a model designed for salmon
trolling. Mine has a super-fast
rate of descent and rivals my
lead-core set up for action.
Maine Inventions
Sebago Lake salmon bite
well on a variety of flies and
lures, but each year, I return
to a core set of offerings with
Dick’s Taxidermy
Creative & Award Winning Taxidermy
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North American, African,
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All Work Guaranteed
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207-353-6206
www.dickstaxidermy.net
success:
For flies, I can’t beat the
Gray Ghost for consistent
action on Sebago Lake, or for
that matter, almost any other
lake in Maine. Since Carrie
Stevens tied her first Gray
Ghost 90 years ago to imitate
rainbow smelt, it has ranked
as a stand-by fly for Maine
anglers, and rightfully so.
The Nine-three, also
another top Sebago salmon
producer for me, imitate
rainbow smelt. I tie mine
full as opposed to sparse and
find they produce quite well,
especially in the fall.
A salmon-fishing trip on
Sebago Lake would not be
complete without tying on
a Miss Sharon in tribute to
famed guide and fly originator,
Art Libby. Libby probably
boated more salmon than any
modern-day angler, and his
contribution to our angling
Sebago to Auburn
Lake Auburn
serves as an attractor while
Lake Auburn (Map 11, the gold color, coupled with
history produces quite well.
For hardware, you can’t E-4) doesn’t get the increase the action, simulates an
beat a Mooselook Wobbler in in summer traffic due to the injured minnow or smelt. The
fluorescent orange or the new “no body contact with the Mooselook Wobbler in either
tiger-stripe-orange
pattern. water” restriction in effect. silver or gold also works
There is something about this That doesn’t mean anglers wonders on the lake.
lure and pattern that always aren’t on the lake. Several The new tiger-stripe
produces on Sebago Lake diehard anglers fish there fluorescent wobbler is catching
from spring to fall. Trolled throughout summer dog days, on all over the state, and Lake
behind a dodger or flasher some targeting deep togue. As Auburn is no different. I
with lead-core line or trolling waters cool, salmon angling caught salmon with this model
slow on a sinking fly line, this picks up, and the lake sees an in the spring and plan to use it
increase in trolling anglers.
this month, too.
Mooselook is hard to beat.
Fishing methods on Lake The shoreline along Lake
Thompson Lake
Thompson Lake (Map 11, Auburn this month are much Shore Drive on the north
E-1) is another top September like they were in spring, but side of the lake is one good
spot to troll, and
s a l m o n
the
shoreline
destination,
A salmon-fishing trip on Sebago Lake
along
the
Spring
and
this
would
not
be
complete
without
tying
on
a
Road along the
s p r i n g ,
T h o m p s o n Miss Sharon in tribute to famed guide and northwest corner
of the lake is
was on fire!
fly
originator,
Art
Libby.
another top spot.
In fact,
Depths
vary
for the past
four years, Thompson has trolling lures not resembling greatly as anglers make their
produced large numbers of smelts will do better now way along both shores, and
decent-sized salmon for ice- that these schooling baitfish fish congregate around these
out anglers. Local anglers are not on spawning runs. ledges and drop-offs.
know this water as a top togue For hardware, the fluorescent Trolling anglers hoping to
lake, and for sure, September orange and gold Flash King attract a salmon frequent the
anglers may catch these big Wobbler is a favorite on Lake aptly named region around
lake trout when targeting Auburn. I use the 1/4-ounce Salmon Point and the steep
salmon, although this member model and have caught and bank where the depth drops
of the char family typically released several salmon on it. from 10 feet to 50 feet almost
wisdom instantly.
hold in cold water on lake- Conventional
holds
that
the
orange
color September is a busy
bottom real estate.
Thompson Lake anglers
do well with flies and lures
this month. Aside from the
Gray Ghost and Nine-three,
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Thompson Lake anglers
do well trolling the shoreline
around Megquire Island and
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These locales are synonymous
with salmon on Thompson
Lake, and it’s no wonder the
old timers speak so highly of
them.
Anglers launching in
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do well trolling the lake’s big
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Up to 19 feet
respectable salmon, fishing in
the deep water in the middle of
per foot
the lake while heading down
20 feet and up
toward The Heath.
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month for hunters and anglers
in this neck of the woods.
Before putting the boat away
in favor of the 4-wheeler or
swapping a fishing rod for a
bow, spend a few mornings or
Maine-ly
Marine
evenings trolling for salmon.
The experience will hook
folks on fall fishing.
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Welcome to
THE GATEWAY TO THE
NORTH MAINE WOODS
Myriad Outdoor Choices, Spectacular
Foliage Wow Folks Right Now
~ UPPER KENNEBEC VALLEY ~
Solon • Bingham • Moscow • Caratunk • The Forks • West Forks
www.upperkennebecvalleychamber.com • www.forksarea.com
ATTENTION SPORTSMEN
Before heading home after your hunting or fishing
expedition, stop by to pick up something for your
significant other. It may just make your next trip easier!
• Jewelry
• Maine Souvenirs
• Postcards
• Yankee Candles
• Toys & Games
• And More!
Upper Kennebec Valley
frame, please contact
Nancy Carpenter at
207-357-2702
today!
Also, pick up a bottle of MOORE’S FLY DOPE
as seen on Bill Green’s OUTDOORS
Big Enough To Serve you ~ Small Enough To Care
Main Street, Bingham, ME
P.O. Box 414 • Solon, ME 04979
www.ewmooreandson.com
Chet Hibbard, R. Ph. ~ Pharmacist/Owner
Hosts & Owners: Dale & Edie Dunlap
All Major Credit Cards Accepted
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Moose Hunts
in Zones
8, 13, 14, 17
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Full Baths • Can Sleep 1-38
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DIRECT ACCESS TO ATV TRAILS
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KAYAKING & CANOEING • HIKING
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FULLY-FURNISHED
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Canoe & Kayak Rentals
ATVing • And More!
Shuttle Service
P.O. Box 114
Route 201-A
Solon, ME 04979
207-643-2324
Waterfront Cabins & RV Sites
Cabins with Kitchens, Satellite TVs, Bathrooms, Wi-Fi and AC • Fire Pits & Picnic Tables
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1/4 Mile from Gas, Restaurants and Parts • Short Walk to Kennebec River
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Maine
Moose Hunts
Fall
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Zones
Bear Hunts
4, 8, 13, 14 & 17
877-353-CAMP
“Bill, right here in the fast
water,” Bernie Derjue said on
a particular fall day fishing on
the Moose River.
Years of fishing from
Maine to Alaska had educated
my good friend Bernie in the
nuances of finding fish. And, as
usual, he methodically worked
his bent rod until a silvery
salmon gracefully succumbed
to his outstretched hand, while
I watched the lesson.
Some
anglers
make
catching fish look easy. Others
flail about, slapping the water,
pounding the turf and getting
snagged on every shoreside
obstacle with less than stellar
results.
I’d like to think observing
good anglers with workmen
like habits has helped
me distance myself from
duplicating the painfully inept
comedy routine that some
folks refer to as fishing. On a
good day, I’d like to at least
consider myself somewhere
between a good angler and a
clown.
That September day,
Derjue took me to school,
and by the time the sun
extinguished the autumn
kaleidoscope of hardwood
colors, a few salmon had felt
the pinch of my barb-less
hook – progress for sure.
Foliage Attraction
The Jackman region
bustles with activity during
the ninth month, and selecting
just one activity seems all too
limiting. With hints of fall in
the air, the region’s trees start
THE
LAST
RESORT
the annual color display that
draws leaf peepers up Route
201 for the sole purpose of
soaking in the ever-changing
scenery.
Touring in a vehicle and
stopping at places such as the
Attean Overlook along Route
201 may satisfy many leaf
peepers, but I would not let a
windshield separate me from
the cool mountain air and
sunlight, as it shines its way
through tantalizing leaves of
solar yellow, Yukon gold and
bright red along with every
shade in-between.
With the hamlet of
Jackman quickly gaining a
reputation as the go-to ATVriding destination, many
backwoods wanderers head
out on trails to get an upclose and personal look at
the region’s fast-changing
skyline.
Riders looking for trail
information can access the
Border Riders Sportsman’s
Club website at www.
borderridersclub.com.
Jackman has over 300-miles
of trails that quickly put riders
into thick, unrelenting scenery.
The challenge involves
which way to look and when.
Keeping an eye on the trail
requires constant effort. The
easy solution – pull over
at scenic points, shut the
machine down, pull out the
camera and take a few minutes
to appreciate the beauty of
this constantly changing
landscape.
8 housekeeping log cabins
on Long Pond in Jackman, Maine
Get The Maine Sportsman Habit Today!
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THE
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207-668-5091
www.lastresortmaine.com [email protected]
FISHING & HUNTING
Deer, Hare and
Great Grouse
Hunting
Hosts:
Ellen & Tim Casey
Master Guide
Rustic & Remote
Yet Accessible
Fishing for Brook Trout & SM Bass
Spring Fishing & Oct. Small Game: $25 p.p.p.n.
Nov. Whitetails - Hskp & Meal Plans
PO Box 777, Jackman, ME 04945
People Power
In recent years, nonmotorized access into the
Jackman region has gained
in popularity. The mountainbiking crowd has figured out
that they too can access much
of the same country, albeit at a
more methodical pace.
But, that’s okay. Enjoying
the scenery one revolution at a
time offers certain advantages.
Viewing the big woods that
surround Jackman in an upclose and personal manner
reflects a strategy wrought
with insight.
Hikers get a similar look
into this county located just
a few miles south of Canada.
Take care, because planning
a rewarding day hike requires
a good understanding of just
how far each hiker travels in
an hour.
My wife, Denise, and I
walk a fair amount. When we
are traveling along paved or
dirt roads, we doodle along at
Fall fishing finds Jackman Region anglers following
salmon upstream this month. (Bill Sheldon photo)
about 3 miles per hour.
However, loaded with
backpacks as we condition
for forays into Baxter State
Park, our pace slows to about
1.5 miles per hour. Obviously,
we’re not trying to set records,
but it’s good to know how
much ground we cover for the
sake of planning hiking trips.
All of that information and
a lot more, can easily come
from an inexpensive Global
Positioning System (GPS).
Many of us also have GPS
navigation on our iPhones.
Outdoor activities require
accurate information to input
into the planning process.
Fall Fishing
Riding in a motor vehicle
Jackman
The Specialists Guide Service
Bear with Hounds ..........$1,600
Bear over Bait (Sept)......$1,000
Moose - 2 People ..........$1500
(Permit Only - Oct)
Deer - Bow (Oct) ..............$700
Rifle (Nov)..........................$700
Muzzleloader (Dec) ..........$700
Grouse (Oct)
Ducks (Sept/Oct)
Hare with Hounds (Oct-Mar)
Coyote (Year Round)
Weekly Hunts Include Lodging,
Transportation & Trophy Care
P.O. Box 611 • Jackman, Maine 04945
207-668-7642
OVER 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN OUR AREA
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www.maineguides-specialists.net
while looking at breathtaking
scenery satisfies many a soul,
but Bill likes absorbing it all
while waist deep in a stream,
standing in a spot between his
forward and back cast.
Through a humid, hot
summer, diehard anglers
anxiously await September’s
dropping temperatures and the
resulting fishing opportunities
that it produces. In big lakes
like Attean and Big Wood
Pond (DeLorme Atlas, Map,
39, C-4, B-4), the temperature
change causes the thermocline
to break up and the water turns
over.
This nature phenomenon
usually results in anglers
returning to top water tactics
this month. Salmonids now
congregate at the mouth of
streams and tributaries that
feed into larger lakes, waiting
to go upstream to spawn.
Check
with
the
Department of Inland Fisheries
and Wildlife (DIF&W) for
complete rules for fall fishing.
The most fun I’ve had
catching salmon came on the
Moose River (Map 40, B-5)
below the Brassua Lake Dam.
That’s where Bernie Derjue
educated me on looking for
the silversides in the river’s
fast water.
On that day, we threw
smelt-imitating
streamers
across the fast moving water
and let the current swing
Long Pond Camps and Guide Service
FISHING • BOATING • ATVing • OR JUST RELAXING
ATV trails start at your door. Hike, bike or just enjoy the
spectacular scenery. Jackman is an outdoorsman dream!
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BEAR: Over Bait $1200 • With Hounds $1500 • Do It Yourself $800
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Camp Rates: $35/night p.p. double occupancy • Kids 1/2 Price, 5 & Under Free
the fly in an arc across the
current. After the fly line hung
downstream from us, a quick
twitching retrieve enticed
enough strikes to keep us there
for three days.
Brook trout action also
ramps up this month, as the
cooler water has them surface
picking on late-season hatches.
Many of the perennial favorite
waters in the region now jump
start out of their summer
slump.
Tim Obrey from DIF&W
once told me that just about
any stream or tributary north
of Jackman has native brook
trout – a comment worth
remembering.
Paddling Time
Enjoying the view from
the water doesn’t absolutely
require one’s hand clutching a
fishing rod. Canoe and kayak
travelers can enjoy the North
Country atmosphere while
dipping a paddle in the abovementioned waters.
In fact, given my dislike
of heat and humidity, I find
paddling during the ninth
month a welcome relief from
the same activity during
summer dog days.
This writer considers this
month and next month the
two best times each year to
enjoy the Jackman Region
regardless of the activity – as
long as it’s outside.
Debbie Petrin
Randy and Raymond Petrin - Reg. Maine Guide
P.O. Box 815, Jackman, ME 04945
Tel: 207-668-4872 • E-mail: [email protected]
www.longpondcamps.com • www.mainebearoutfitters.com
NEW FRONTIER TAXIDERMY STUDIO
Located on Rte. 201 in Solon
Bear Hunters 1st choice!
We average over 100 Bears per season
Jim & Lori Geib
Welcome to the
Jackman
Moose River
Region
www.jackmanmaine.com
Jackman Moose River
Region frame, please
contact Mike Moreau
at 207-212-7670
today!
[email protected]
River View Cottages
Campground & Guide Service
OPEN YEAR ROUND!
• Old Town Canoe & Kayaks Available
• Direct Access to ATV Trails
BOOKING 2014 FALL MOOSE,
BEAR & DEER HUNTS
Full guided Big & Small Game Hunts
John Bashaw, Master Maine Guides
P.O. Box 396, Jackman ME 04945
Tel: 207-668-5601
e-mail [email protected]
www.rvcgs.com
Spruce
Meadow Cabins
Rt. 201 Dennistown PLT – Jackman, ME
207-668-4000
MOOSE
HUNTERS
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SALLY MOUNTAIN CABINS
ON THE SHORE OF BEAUTIFUL BIG WOOD LAKE
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$210 Weekly
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Kids 1/2 Price
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48 RV & tent sites. 3 housekeeping cabins.
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ATV‛s welcome
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Snowmobile & ATV Sales & Service
207-668-4442 • 1-800-287-SNOW
Fax: 207-668-7741
549 Main St. Jackman, ME 04945
www.jackmanpowersports.com
Open Monday-Saturday 8-5
Sundays 9-2 November-March
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Come experience nature at its best in the
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107 Heald Stream Road
Moose River, Maine 04945
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(207) 668-4400
FALL
AT ITS BEST!
Call or Write for More Info:
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9 Elm Street, Jackman, ME 04945
1-800-644-5621
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Also at
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• Cabins are Modern and Spotless
• Oil heat/Gas Grills
P.O. Box 744, 36 Attean Road - Jackman, Maine 04945
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Fast Trout Action Awaits
September Anglers
September trout fishing
rivals that of mid-spring. But
as opposed to spring, when
water temperatures are slowly
warming up, water temperatures this month are steadily
cooling down.
Brook trout in streams become quite active now, as do
other species of trout in lakes
and ponds. One of my favorite
lakes holds rainbow trout and
brown trout, and both of these
fish fall to trolled lures. Now,
with cool overnight temperatures, fish often hold in relatively shallow water, especially during the early-morning
hours.
Trolling Gear
My September trolling
gear consists of a fly rod, sinking line and a 9-foot leader.
This leader needn’t be tapered,
either. Instead, it can consist
of a 9-foot section of monofilament line. And since trout in
lakes are not especially leader-shy, it pays to use at least a
6-pound test line.
In fact, I have taken plenty of trout by trolling with
8-pound test. Of course this
pertains only to trolling. When
fishing on or near bottom with
bait, trout have more time to
inspect the offering, including
the leader. In those cases, use
4-pound test lines or leaders.
People often question my
preference for short leaders,
so here is my reason. First,
trout bite quite as readily on
a 9- to 10-foot leader as they
do on a 20-foot leader. (Again,
this applies only to trolling.)
And second, some wobbling
lures tend to twist the leader,
and with a leader only as long
as the rod, it’s an easy matter
to simply reel the line in until
the line-to-leader connection
hits the rod tip. Then hold the
rod high so that the leader can
untwist. It takes less than a
minute to spin out all the kinks
in your leader.
Using a leader only the
length of the rod negates the
use of swivels. In my opinion, the less peripheral gear
attached to the line the better.
And that includes weight. A
split shot on the line does not
attract trout; it only keeps the
line down under water. But using a short leader attached to a
sinking fly line eliminates the
need for any additional weight
on the leader. In other words,
the best possible setup is simply a leader tied to the fly line,
with a lure on the other end.
As for the choice of lures, my
Mooselooks take fish, but it
seems the smaller sizes such
as the Midget attract the most
strikes.
My
other
favorite
trout-killing rig for September
involves fishing a Jerry’s smelt
or Joe’s Smelt behind a 000size chrome-colored dodger. Try fishing the fly about
14 inches behind the dodger.
Troll very slowly, since the
dodger will sway and pulsate under even the slightest
pressure. Going too fast gains
nothing, and may account for
missed strikes and short hits.
Stream Fishing
Fish in streams and brooks
bite readily in this pre-spawning season. Oddly, most people quit fishing brooks and
streams after spring turns to
summer, and therefore they
don’t take advantage of the
fine fishing that early autumn
offers. But for me and others who recognize the quality
People often question my preference for
short leaders, so here is my reason. If a
wobbling lures twists the leader, simply reel
the line in until the line-to-leader connection hits the rod tip. Then hold the rod high
so that the leader can untwist. It takes less
than a minute to spin out all the kinks.
old favorite Mooselook Wobblers continue to perform well
now. My two favorite colors
are 1) copper; and 2) copper-and-silver. Also, orange
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fishing available now in flowing water, September stands as
a prime month. Anglers must
remember the 1-fish limit after
Sept. 15.
As opposed to trolling in
lakes and ponds, stream fishing now requires considerable
finesse. That means using ultralight tackle and the finest,
thinnest lines available. My
choice – 3-pound test – gives
me a thin but strong line. This
helps when trying to turn a
large trout when it heads toward weeds or underwater
Tom caught this fall-stocked brookie in a local trout
stream.
brush.
why. When wet, the combina My favorite line for ul- tion of feathers, body and bead
tralight spinning? Berkley’s head weigh about the same as
Trilene Micro Ice, in 3-pound a Trout Magnet or similar jig.
test. Made specifically for ice They cast almost as well, too.
fishing, this line has little or Just remember to dunk the fly
no stretch. Micro Ice comes in the water before making
in various shades, but I always that first cast.
choose what Berkley refers to While jig-type lures need
as “Clear Steel.” In this shade, little added action and therethe line seems to disappear, fore perform even in still waeven in clear water.
ter, bead-head flies must stay
Lure choice for me has constantly in motion so the
come down to selecting what feathers or marabou pulsate.
single-hook lure suits my fan- Therefore, bead-head flies
cy. Long-time readers already work best in moving water,
know of my predilection for where currents can play on
Trout Magnets, little jigs with the materials and make the fly
shad-dart heads and plastic look alive.
two-tailed bodies. Fish bite
Stocked Trout
these like mad, and they al- While most of my stream
ways get hooked in the top of fishing is directed toward
the jaw, making for quick and catching native trout, stocked
easy release. I mention these fish are often far larger than
frequently because they per- stream-bred trout. While a
form more consistently than certain brook may hold mostly
anything else in my tackle 6- to 8-inch fish, with the ocbox.
casional 10- to 12-inch indi However, it’s good to vidual, stocked trout often run
have backup choices and re- much larger.
cently, bead-head flies have In order to stock fish in
proven their worth on my lit- fall, the Maine Department
tle spinning rod. Meant for of Inland Fisheries and Wilduse with a fly rod, these cast life (DIF&W) must hold trout
well on a spinning rod. Here’s (Continued on next page)
Bear, Salmon, Hiking, Foliage
Dominate Katahdin Country Now!
Information
streaming
from the Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
(DIF&W) headquarters bodes
well for bear hunters looking
for a heavyweight bruin this
month. Department wildlife
biologists visited bear dens
last winter and evaluated the
overall health of Maine bear.
That study revealed that on
average, 1-year-old bears
weighed 40 percent more than
last year’s study group.
This healthy improvement
in just one year directly reflects
the quantity of the food supply.
Last year, an abundance of
both mast crop and berries
translated into a well-fed bear
population, so these animals
headed into winter dens, with
plenty of fat reserves.
Bear hunters in the
Katahdin region, much like
the rest of the Pine Tree State,
rely on hunting over bait to
keep the bruin population at
acceptable levels.
The practical way to
embark on this adventure
revolves around hiring a
registered Maine guide, who
maintains a series of bait sites.
It’s important that the guide
has multiple sites and keeps
track of the bruins frequenting
those sites.
No Guarantee
However, hunting over
bait does not guarantee
publication’s pages are ready
to put clients into active
bear sites. This takes a lot of
preseason preparation on their
part.
BOULET
SPORTING CAMPS
Located in T4R15 Township off
North Maine Woods 490 Road
American Plan or Housekeeping
Zone 4
Millinocket, ME • 207-723-8800
[email protected]
www.BouletSportingCamps.com
HIKE
Steve Carter and Dave Gadoury take a breather before heading up the Chimney Pond Trail in Baxter
State Park. (Bill Sheldon photo)
Trout Fishing
over. In this case, the fish are
called “fall yearlings,” and
they can run anywhere between 12 and 14 inches.
To obtain all the details,
just visit the DIF&W website,
www.MeFishWildlife.com,
and check out the reports for
both spring and fall stockings.
Here’s an example of what
you’ll find. In spring of 2013,
DIF&W stocked Orland River in Hancock County with
10-inch brook trout. In October of that same year, DIF&W
released 13-inch brook trout
in Orland River. Depending
upon the weather, fall stockings can begin as early as late
September in streams stocked
by the state.
One guide I know utilizes
a dozen trail cameras just for
this very reason. Using a guide
promises to increase not only
the chance for success but to
slant the odds in favor of a big
trophy.
Many of the bear hunting
guides advertising in this
Also remember that the
given lengths for stocked
trout are averages only, not
exact lengths. Many of those
13-inch brookies are actually
14-inch fish. As trout grow in
a rearing station, their girth
increases dramatically, and a
13-inch fish will weigh considerably more than a 10-inch
fish from the same source, but
which was stocked earlier.
Fighting qualities of
these fall-stocked trout are
surprisingly good. The fish
are healthy and well-fed, and
they get highly invigorated
and when dumped into cool,
September water.
So make it a point to
get out and enjoy the splendid trout fishing available in
Maine this month!
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Katahdin
Katahdin
success. DIF&W reports
that only 1 in 4 Maine bear
hunters harvest a bruin. But,
90 percent of the successful
group did so using bait, dogs
or traps.
The study also mentioned
that 87 percent of the bruins
that hunters harvested landed
in the freezer before the end
of September. Apparently,
this happens most years, so
statistics support the notion
that the ninth month rocks for
bear hunting.
That doesn’t mean that
those who don’t have the
funds to do a guided hunt have
no option. They certainly can
hunt over natural bait in the
Katahdin region. Heading
north towards big timber
finds great bear country.
Old cut-offs often promote
both raspberry and blueberry
bushes – great natural bait to
sit over, especially early in the
season. In October, beechnuts
attract bears.
The Stacyville Road
(DeLorme Atlas, Map 43,
A-3) heads north from
Millinocket and has multiple
side trails that slice through
myriad acres of bear habitat.
The Madden Road (Map 43,
A-4) also heads towards bear
country as it parallels the East
Branch of the Penobscot.
...One word of caution:
The spiderweb of roads
off the main roads would
only classify as “minimum
maintenance roads” at best, so
prepare to do some walking,
depending on trail conditions.
Baxter Park
This month, Baxter State
Park (BSP) has much to offer
– a great place for hikers.
(Please check The Atlas
centerfold of Maps 50 and
51.) The temperatures cool
nicely in September and make
shouldering a backpack much
more pleasant than during the
peak of the hot summer.
Aside
from
more
favorable
weather,
this
month’s big bonus comes
into clear view with just a
scan of Mount Katahdin and
I talked to two staff fish actively move upstream.
members, who were extremely Given one dart to throw
the surrounding mountains.
knowledgeable and helpful. at the wall, I’d aim it at the
Fall colors start showing
The personal interaction Penobscot
River’s
West
during the early part of this
made Denise much more Branch and hope the point
month, and by the end of
comfortable about our trip landed between Ripogenus
September, sometimes spilling
itinerary.
Dam and
Pockwockamus
into the beginning of October,
As we were talking with Deadwater (Map 50, D-3).
the region explodes into a
the women at the counter, BSP Targeting big salmon
kaleidoscope of bright colors.
Director Jensen Bissell came would lead me to tie on
Most folks view this color
through and was nice enough streamers that mimic forage.
show, looking upwards. The
to give me tips for fishing Classic flies like the Gray
trails leading up to the peak
Katahdin Lake, one of our Ghost, Mickey Finn, 9-3,
of Mount Katahdin offer
park destinations.
Barnes Special and my
the
unique
favorite,
the
perspective of
...Hunting over bait does not guarantee Ballou Special.
looking down
on the annual success. DIF&W reports that only one in All in all,
fall
fishing
color change.
four bear Maine hunters harvest a bruin. means slinging
The view
streamers
to
from
above
Fishing, Too!
this
writer.
the treeline is spectacular at
Folks looking to wet a With that said, I wouldn’t
any given time, but it really
line have at least until the end rule out a big bushy attractant
rewards hikers who push to
of this month in most waters. fly in the Wulff family – if
the top during this stunning
Check with DIF&W for water my streamer plan failed.
month. There’s no finer view
specific regulations. It’s no After all, both brook trout and
of Maine than from the peak
secret that salmon fishing heats landlocked salmon will sip an
of the Pine Tree State’s tallest
up in September as spawning attractant fly off the surface.
mountain during the month of
September.
Here’s a side note for
folks planning an excursion to
Cabins ~ Campground ~ Hunting ~ Fishing ~ Guide Service
BSP and feel they would like
personal help and counsel:
Take the time to stop at the
park’s headquarters on 64
Balsam Drive in Millinocket.
My wife, Denise, and
I stopped there to make
reservations for two summer
backpacking trips. Oh, we
could have done it online (www. Matagamon Wilderness ~ T6-R8 ~ The Matagamon Families
baxterstateparkauthority.com) 207-446-4635 ~ www.mainebearhunts.com ~ www.matagamonwilderness.com
but just decided we’d like a
little advice before hitting
send.
HUNT ~ FISH ~ RELAX
Travis Dionne of Wallagrass harvested this
8-point, 238-pound buck
on November 16, 2013 in
T9-R4 with his 7mm.
Given the fact that salmonids
do most of their feeding under
the surface, a nymph could
also elicit a strike.
Changing tactics often
until hitting upon the hot
formula will serve those fly
casters willing to keep tying
on new offerings in the bid for
success.
This month, Katahdin
Country outdoor types have
plenty of bears, fish, hiking
and fall colors to keep life
interesting.
Attention Moose Hunters,
Outfitters and Guides!
Let us scout for your “Trophy Moose”
in zones: 4, 5, 6, 9,10, and 11
West Branch Aviation LLC
September in ‘The County’ Serves Up
Brookies, Salmon, Bear, Moose
The Fish River chain’s
Square Lake ranks as a fishing
gem in the Crown of Maine,
and my favorite spring trolling
locations also draws me every
autumn. Uncrowded coves
and thoroughfares and lack of
late-season pressure coax me
to this storied water at least
twice this month.
For years, I’d make a
point of wading and casting
flies along the more shallow
runs of the Mud-Cross
thoroughfare, where trophysized salmon congregate
to spawn each fall. Or, I’d
spend an evening floating
Spaulding Lake Outfitters
"Experience True Northern Maine "
HUNTING • FISHING
CANOEING • CAMPING
SNOWMOBILING
Jeff Fay: Registered Maine Guide
Oakfield, Maine
www.spauldinglakeoutfiters.com
207-420-1040
Family owned and operated for
124 years
Guide service and Seaplane fly outs available
Native brook trout and landlocked salmon
Hunting for wild ruffed grouse in the
North Maine Woods
Trophy bear, deer and moose hunting
Home made hearty meals
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Matt and Jess Libby • T8-R9, Maine
207-435-8274 • www.libbycamps.com • [email protected]
Booking for the
2014 Bear Season!
Hunts Over Bait and/or with Hounds
TIME TO THINK
FISHING!
and casting to stretches of the
extensive, undulating Square/
Eagle connector to tangle with
aggressive, mating trout and
salmon.
About four years ago, I
ventured into the main lake
for a few trolling passes near
the thoroughfare mouth and
enjoyed such luck that my fall
visits to my normal spring hot
spots became a September
habit.
As the lake water cools,
fish prowl closer to the
surface, so there’s no need
for lead core or downriggers.
September weather proves far
more comfortable than a wet,
chilly May day, and with the
trees turning color and harvest
season in full swing, the
breeze carries an aroma only
fall in Aroostook produces.
Of all the sister Fish River
waterways, Square Lake
remains my go-to location
for steady fly-fishing action
for solid-bodied squaretails
and a chance at a trophy 3to 5- pound brookie. During
Bill Graves favors Zone 6 for September moose hunts
and has enjoyed success in the open agricultural
country with the spot-and-stalk technique.
an autumn trolling trip, I’ll
occasionally encounter one or
perhaps two other boats, but
most mid-week afternoons
and evenings, I often have
stretches to myself. Most
regional anglers turn into
hunters this month, or they
settle on wading streams or
visiting ponds close to home.
How? Where-to?
To cover all bases, two
rods remain rigged and ready
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Booking Deer and Grouse Hunts
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Available at these dealers
Quigley’s Outdoors
Ben’s Trading Post
35 W. Main St.
719 Main Street
Fort Kent, Maine
Presque Isle Maine
207-834-3103
www.benstradingpost.com
for my Square Lake outings
– both 9-foot, 6/7-weight,
L.L.Bean Trolling Series rods,
one with a floating line and 20
feet of 10-pound fluorocarbon
leader and the second with a
sinking tip and 9-foot leader.
Using single streamers,
tandem streamers or shallow
running plugs, I’m able to troll
baits between 1- and 6-feet
below the surface or even cast
to rising fish if a late hatch
should occur.
As is the case with ice-out
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• Bear hunts over active bait
• Moose hunts in zones
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• Whitetail Deer, Coyote,
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Call or write for more information
The County
trolling, a Red and White or
Miss Sharon draw trout like
mice to cheese this month.
I also enjoy regular success
pulling a Ouananiche Sunset,
Blacknose Dace, Magog Smelt
and Herb Johnson Special.
My line up of plugs
includes a silver/black or
shiner-colored, size 7, floating
Rapala, Mirror Minnow or a
red-and-white Rebel. Just try
different baits, boat speeds
and locations until something
clicks.
Along
with
both
thoroughfare (TF) mouths,
fish hard at Rocky Point and
Limestone Point at the north
end of Square Lake. Make a
pass or two in Yerxas Cove
and then a few loops near
Salmon and Barstow points on
the southern end of the lake.
While anglers in shallow draft
boats and small canoes might
navigate the boulder strewn
TF from Cross to Square, most
sports folks must trailer their
craft the long way around.
Once the water levels ebb
throughout summer and fall,
this negates the Cross Lake
boat launch and quick passage
to Square Lake. Anglers must
continue north on Route 161
past Guerrette Village and
then turn west onto Square
Lake Road and slowly bump
and bounce their way to Burnt
Landing launch site.
View DeLorme Atlas, Map
68, E-2 for specifics. Trust me
when I assure you the ramp,
parking area and lake won’t be
crowded, and the extra effort
will be worthwhile in autumn
scenery and solitude.
Bear Essentials
Bear baiting actually
began in late July 30 days
before the hunt started the
last Monday of August – the
25th to be exact. If summer
Occasionally, a late-season fall hatch occurs on
Aroostook lakes, and the action can be terrific for an
hour or two. Here, Mike Wallace of Freeport plays a
feisty brook trout on a September trip to Square Lake.
sightings
and
nuisance
complaints prove a guideline,
it should be a banner year.
With
the
November
referendum looming close,
September an Ideal Month for a
Fishing Vacation
Over the last five or six
years, September has become
my favorite month for fishing,
particularly for salmonids.
For years, people have
viewed September as a “last
chance” month to get out on
the water. In other words,
the ninth month was popular
among anglers only by default.
But for me, September
stands out as one of the finer
months for fishing, rivaled
only by May. I don’t take
vacations in the traditional
sense of the word – no weeklong trips to distant places for
me – but were a true vacation
in my future, it would come in
September.
Native Brookies
Not only do our native
brook trout bite well on cool
September mornings, but searun trout also visit mouths of
streams, occasionally even
ascending brooks or streams. were fishing a small stream in going from one brook to the
Once I caught a strikingly- North Searsport, and we found other, catching and releasing
colored male brook trout hungry and willing brookies in brook trout. The small trout
in tidal water. This was in nearly every pool. Nancy had jigs I use always hook fish
Saturday Cove, just in front of never caught a trout and had in the upper jaw, so each
where Shaw Hill Brook enters never fished a small stream, and every trout gets released
so it took her some time to unharmed.
Penobscot Bay.
While catch But such
e n c o u n t e r s When fishing for rainbow trout in Megunti- a n d - r e l e a s e
makes for lots
with
searuns are the cook Lake, it makes sense to keep a fly rod of fun, a few
e x c e p t i o n rigged up with ant imitations handy. Ant trout in the pan
makes for a
rather than the
rule. Inland, hatches sometimes come off in early eve- great meal. But
h o w e v e r , ning, and rainbows are quick to respond. because of the
one-trout daily
brook
trout
have long since sought shelter get the hang of the extremely possession limit in place now,
in deep holes in brooks and accurate casting necessary for it may take two or more days
streams. And after a September success on small streams. In of fishing to make a meal.
rain, these fish disperse time, however, she mastered This doesn’t harm the trout
throughout the stream for as the technique, and it was my population and it gives me
long as water levels remain pleasure to see her catch her more of an excuse to prowl
first brook trout.
the Midcoast region in search
high.
Last September, my friend When not guiding friends of hungry brook trout.
and book publisher Nancy such as Nancy, I enjoy Find North Searsport on
Randolph of Topsham and I spending September mornings DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 22,
E-5, and look for Saturday
Cove on Map 14, B-5.
Hot Togue
The
question
now
regarding fishing lakes and
ponds isn’t whether or not
fish will bite, but rather which
species to fish for. Togue,
salmon, brook trout and
rainbow trout all bite well in
Midcoast lakes and ponds
in September. One of my
traditional September haunts,
Swan Lake, sees red-hot togue
action.
I long ago learned that
instead of launching my
boat, cranking the motor and
zipping down to the other
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end of the lake as quickly as
possible, it makes more sense
to watch my depth finder
while slowly motoring down
the east side of the lake and
fishing when depths reach 40
feet. This allows for a very
long run, interrupted only
by an underwater ridge that
protrudes out from Spruce
Point (marked not by a spruce,
but instead by a huge pine
tree).
What’s more, fishing
the lower end of the lake
– that part nearest the boat
landing – means calmer water.
Breezes still blow here, but
not anywhere near as fiercely
as at the far end of the lake.
This makes deep trolling far
easier, since stiff winds make
it terribly difficult to keep the
boat on a constant heading.
Downrigger fishing works
best now, but lacking that,
a lead-core line gets baits
and lures down to where
togue hold. Either way, use
frozen smelt if available, or
else try substituting one of
Berkley’s smelt-size “Gulp
Alive” minnows. My favorite
offering, though, is a copper
Mooselook Wobbler Midget.
Starting out early in the
morning makes it possible to
get multiple togue hookups.
Often, by mid-morning, I’ve
released one or two fish and
perhaps killed one to take
home. That’s good fishing in
my book. Look for Swan Lake
on Map 22, E-5.
Midcoast Report
St. George
St. George Lake produces
well throughout the openwater season. September,
though, marks one of the
better months to hit this deep
cold-water lake for salmon
and brook trout.
Using either lead-core line
or downriggers, begin fishing
in about 45 feet of water. Best
fishing happens on the lake’s
south basin, where depths
reach 65 feet. Interestingly,
both brook trout and salmon
are likely to bite at the same
depth. A strike could signal
that either of these two species
has hit.
Early
mornings
and
afternoons offer the best time
for salmon fishing on St.
George, but that doesn’t mean
that salmon won’t bite at other
times. Brook trout are less
time-sensitive, and I’ve taken
brookies there at all hours of
the day.
The County
sportsmen hiring guides
and outfitters throughout
Aroostook increased, and
an increased number of
locals have started their own
bait sites. Bruin signs and
sightings dot the countryside
everywhere, even more than
usual on urban-edge farms
and woodlots. It’s really not
too late to set up a bait.
...Proof in point: Clifford
Duff, a friend of mine, lives in
Monticello and makes a living
cutting and hauling wood.
Last year, he put out bait, sat
two nights on stand and shot a
bear just under 300-pounds –
all within eight days!
Last year, Clifford had
originally opted not to bait,
considering the cost of gas,
the scarcity and price of bait,
and a heavy work
schedule. Then, at
one of his logging
operations in late
August, paw tracks,
claw marks on several trees
and numerous piles of scat
from a large black bear altered
his decision. His hunt ended
well.
Central
Aroostook
gunners seeking a likely area
for a bait site would do well
to explore Map 59, D-2. Use
Route 1 and then the paved
Lake Road to reach the gravel
Twin Brooks Road. Check
out the ridges between Parks
and Howard brooks. Get
permission, set up a bait and
in all likelihood, a bear visits
in less than a week.
Open-Country Moose
Since I live in Zone 6, that’s
where I travel extensively for
fishing, hunting, camping
and boating. I also spend a
good deal of time in Zones
5 and 3, and although each
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After having tagged a dozen bear with different calibers and styles of handguns, writer Bill Graves used
an Excaliber crossbow on this 325-pound brute two
seasons ago.
My technique for fishing
St. George entails either
pulling a Joe’s Smelt behind
a dodger, or else using a
gold-and-orange Mooselook
Wobbler. This color scheme
isn’t currently offered, so I
make my own orange stripe
on a gold Mooselook with
an indelible marker. These
“doctored” lures work just
fine. And for emergencies,
my hoarded orange-and-gold
Flash Kings (also no longer
manufactured) stand at the
ready.
My friend Albert Jackson
of Morrill fishes St. George
regularly and takes his share
boasts impressive moose
populations, Zone 6 remains
my favorite.
I’ll admit I much prefer
scouting and scanning open
fields, pastures and crop
fields than driving or walking
woods-lined
two
tracks
through thick forest. Once
a big bull drops, cleaning,
dragging and loading chores
generally require much less
effort when it involves fewer
trees.
I’ve enjoyed four, handson moose hunts with friends
and family over the last 30
years, and all have been in
Zone 6. None lasted longer
than three days, and the fewest
moose spotted numbered nine
with the most seen topping
out at 14 before filling our
tag – all in Zone 6 between
Limestone and Bridgewater.
Most hunts required a drive,
spot, stalk and shoot scenario.
Lucky permit holders for late
this month and unfamiliar
with this region might do well
to emulate my tactics.
Spend time cruising the
Dorsey Road and Forrest
Avenue rectangle and then
drive south two miles to the
Ladner and Hersom Road
square. Plenty of land, lots
of moose and most of it open
country for easy spotting,
shooting and handling a
trophy animal. Check Map 65,
D-4 and E-4 and be persistent.
You won’t be disappointed.
of both trout and salmon.
Albert
uses
Mooselook
Wobblers and also fishes with
live baitfish. I’ve seen him
take salmon and brookies on
a sewed baitfish when they
ignored my artificial lures. So
take my and Albert’s advice
and get out on St. George Lake
this September. The fish await.
Find St. George Lake on Map
14, B-1.
Rainbow Time
Megunticook Lake holds
plenty of fat rainbow trout and
these, too, often bite well in
September. Try deep-trolling
during midday hours, and
switch to a fly rod and sinking
line for early and late times.
Again, wobbling lures work
well for me with Megunticook
rainbows. My favorite, a
Mooselook Wobbler Midget
with silver front and copper
back, slays fish.
It makes sense to keep
a fly rod rigged up with ant
imitations handy on the boat,
since an ant hatch sometimes
comes off in early evening, and
rainbows are quick to respond.
Look for Megunticook Lake
on Map 14, C-3 and D-3.
Bill Graves and sub-permittee Buddy Horr of Dedham
bagged this 965-pound bull last September. It was the
10th moose spotted in three days of riding and glassing open fields.
DUDLEY BROOK
— Guide Service —
NOW BOOKING 2014 BEAR HUNTS OVER BAIT
MOOSE HUNTS ZONES 5-6-10-11 • DEER HUNTS
Mark Lawlor, Registered Maine Guide • Merrill, ME
207-757-8458 • 207-538-5301
[email protected]
dudleybrookguideservice.webs.com
Keyes Trading Post & Taxidermy
Guns • Ammo • Taxidermy • Clothing
Owner: Lenny Keyes
cell phone: 207-694-0169
3436 U.S. 2 | Smyrna Mills, ME 04780
(207) 757-7129
East Branch Lodge
East Branch Mattawamkeag River
Rt. 2A Haynesville, Maine - Aroostook County
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Paul Dorward 207-694-1185
Email: [email protected]
Cooler Weather Turns Fishing Page in
North Country Now
September Scouting Can Make or Break
Deer Success Next Month
In July, I promised readers
an August article about my
early deer season success.
For selfish reasons and pure
entertainment value, I chose
to write about my successful
2013 hunting season.
Truth be told, though,
this month provides myriad
big-game topics. Sometimes,
it’s hard to settle on one.
Thankfully, my passion is
deer hunting – a topic that has
driven me.
September is a magical
time because groups of
bachelor bucks still in summer
feeding patterns offer hunters
two pluses. They are 1. more
visible and 2. more predictable
in their movements. The drive
to feed, not breed, proves a
major priority now.
Sure, early this month
bucks are also shedding velvet
and starting to spar, rub trees
T.M.Creations
Big Game Taxidermy
MOOSE
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BEAR
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223.5934 or 299.5099
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and make small boundary deer forage should not visit the they’d be happy to harvest.
scrapes. The urgency to sites too often. Also, retrieving Choosing a desired animal
establish
dominance
will lessen the chance
over other bucks is
of releasing an arrow
picking up.
on a less desirable
As
always,
the
goal
is
simple.
However,
food
buck. If one of the
ranks as a priority this We want the deer to approach bachelor bucks shows
month, and for this
up early, it’s likely the
our
stand,
pass
by
and
leave
reason, scouting now
others will show up too.
is critical for folks without knowing we’re there. This is especially true
hunting the expanded
during the September
or statewide archery
expanded season and
seasons.
during the first week of
photos can often spook adult regular archery.
Trail Cameras
Favorite seasonal foods bucks and greatly reduce
Watch and Learn
like apples, wild grapes and shot opportunities. Instead While trail cameras are
blackberries ripen now in large of visiting cameras weekly, a great way to learn if large
quantities. Setting up a trail consider returning in two to bucks are present, there’s
camera in these hot spots can four weeks after placing this no substitute for actually
reveal the presence of bucks scouting tool. Let the camera observing them and watching
that aren’t moving into open do the work and then pull it.
what they eat, how they move
If visiting cameras is a and in many cases, how they
areas during daylight hours.
Hunters
using
trail must after a short stay in one interact with other deer.
cameras around favorite, ripe place, retrieve them during My favorite way to scout
periods of moderate to heavy deer in August is glassing
rain. The rain will wash away them during the evening when
human scent left behind. they come out to feed in large
Leaving less human odor clover and alfalfa fields. We’ll
near the food source vastly call them destination food
improves chances of shot plots. These are areas where
opportunities.
deer can pack away pounds of
Pay special attention to all forage with little effort.
of the deer that visit the food I try to arrive at least two
source. Hunters lucky enough hours before sunset, especially
to have multiple bucks visiting when temperatures exceed 80
a single food source at the same degrees. Deer are active later
time or within a few hours of in the day – likely an attempt
each other during daylight to avoid the heat. My favorite
hours should set their sights setups lie far downwind
on a specific deer or two that
September often turns the
page in the North Country.
Speedboats and water skis
are put away for canoes and
paddles, as people settle into
cooler days and autumn’s
changing colors. To be sure,
hot days occur now and then,
and I shall certainly be taking
advantage of nearby lakes
and rivers for a refreshing dip
when needed.
The month calls for a few
more trips on the water, and
there are several ways to do
that – with or without a fishing
pole.
For late-season paddling
off the beaten path, check out
Loon Lake (DeLorme Atlas,
Map 49, A-2). Canoes can be
put in at the outlet dam, off
of the Caucomgomoc Road.
The outlet to Caucomgomoc
Lake holds salmon, and brook
trout, though the latter will be
hard to find if warm weather
persists.
Solitude ranks as the
highlight of Loon because few
people go there. Its variety of
habitats and spruce and firlined shores invite exploration.
Paddlers will be rewarded if
they head into Big Hurd Pond,
too. This system of small
lakes and interconnecting
thoroughfares and streams is
a good place to take a camera
and a fishing rod.
Nearby, the larger lakes
of the Allagash Waterway also
call to canoeists and kayakers
for September rambles. Eagle
Lake has several campsites at
its north end (Map 55, C-5),
including on Farm Island, the
peninsula east of Russell Cove
and near the short thoroughfare
to Round Pond-Churchill
Lake. These locations make
for fun fishing and exploring,
and are not far away from the
historic Tramway site that
used to connect Eagle with
Chamberlain Lake.
Brookies Spawning
September and October
are spawning months for
brook trout. It is a good time
of year to practice catch and
release, even if the waters
allow harvesting. More fish
in the waters now mean more
fish next year, after spawning
takes place.
If anglers know the
location of good gravel bars
and other spawning areas,
they can try fishing just
downstream. There is no
guarantee that fish will bite
as often or as hard during
spawning, but you never
know.
The lower St. John River
downstream from the town of
Allagash is accessible from
the north shore and offers
some late season fishing (Map
66). Feeder streams come in
from the north on this stretch
of river. Muskie have taken
over the bulk of the fishery
here, but trout may still be
found in places.
The wild fisheries in the
upper Allagash, including
whitefish, brook trout and
lake trout, have remained
intact. They draw the bulk of
anglers to the Maine woods
for fantastic fishing, but
muskie, an invasive species,
has largely decimated native
salmonid populations below
Allagash Falls
Deer Camp
September is a great time
to start narrowing down likely
deer-hunting spots. Swampy
locations with adequate travel
ways often attract does, and
bucks will soon be searching
the females out. Finding good
places to put a stand now and
keeping track of deer sign goes
a long way toward November
success.
Most people nowadays
have at least one trail camera
located in a spot where they
suspect deer will be moving
through. Often times, the
photos captured are as close
to a monster buck that hunters
will get. This negative fact
doesn’t stop folks from
heading out, though. Deer
camp beckons, and soon,
the snort of deer will mingle
with the sounds of stories told
around the camp table.
Reader’s Memories
Readers sometimes send
in letters and perhaps suggest
a correction or share advice.
Being rather new to the
outdoor-writing game, I was
not expecting my mailbox to
be holding any of these letters
anytime soon. With today’s
technology, such feedback
is more likely to come via
e-mail.
But, not all readers are
comfortable with keyboards
and the Internet. Folks still
like to put pen to paper and
actually write a letter. At age
87, it’s understandable that
Edward Dandrow chose to jot
his thoughts by hand on oldfashioned lined paper and pop
his correspondence into an
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Gazetteer
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[email protected]
or call to leave a message at 207-227-7766
Andrea Foley and Donald Lavoie, Registered Maine Guides
Now Accepting 2014 Moose Hunting Reservations
Allagash
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Allagash
at the outlet of Penobscot
(Cont. from page 68)
Lake. According to Dandrow,
envelope.
once
a
Dandrow, who lives in Woolworth’s,
five-and-dime
Revere, Massachusetts, sent successful
along his letter with memories department store, owned
of his time in the Penobscot Penobscot Lake Lodges back
Lake area, which I had written in the old days.
Fishing Tips
about in the July issue. It came
Dandrow
also passed
complete with a map sketched
on the back, highlighting old along fishing tips, such as a
access roads and other points good waterfall pool below that
dam, and Cheney Pond south
of interest.
D a n d r o w,
87, is a member
It is a good time of year to
of
the
U.S.
Marine
Corps practice catch and release, even
and a World War
if the waters allow harvesting.
II veteran. He
More fish in the waters now
wrote that he has
been going to the
mean more fish next year, after
northern Maine
spawning takes place.
woods for 57
years. According
to
Dandrow’s
letter, in 1957, he and 17 others of Penobscot Lake (Map 47,
went in by tractor trailer with between C-5 and D-5). Other
“three boats, a barrel of gas fishing tips were a bit more
cryptic. He scrawled three
and an 18-man tent.”
He also writes about names across the top of the
camping at the old wooden back page – Warden’s Worry,
dam and wooden fishway Black Ghost and Gray Ghost.
Big Game
(Cont. from previous page 68)
from feeding deer. The
goal? Observe deer without
disturbing them.
While good binoculars
are a must for any
scouting
mission,
a spotting scope
with a 20-40 power
objective works even
better when watching large
fields. Being able to identify
bucks and does immediately
Now Booking 2014 Bear and Moose Hunts
Moose Hunts in WMD 7, 8, 18 & 19
— Registered Maine Guide —
George E. Feero Jr.
www.redoakoutfittersofmaine.com
Early Deer Season Offers Better Success
Odds than Folks Think
Not much more needs
to be said, I suppose.
Letters like this
are a connection
not only to Maine’s
unique
sporting
heritage, but also to
the people who lived
it and continue to live
it. Heaven knows,
Mr. Dandrow must
have shared fishing
tips and stories of
his time in the woods
over the decades.
It says a lot
about what he thinks
of his time spent in
our woodlands, if,
after so many years
sharing those tales
with others, he still
takes the time to write
a letter and sketch a
map.
Thanks
very
much, Mr. Dandrow.
Reader Edward Dandrow took the time to write about his 57
years of experience in the Penobscot Lake region.
upon their entrance into a
field allows a hunter to more
closely pinpoint the trails that
bachelor groups are using.
Make special note when
bucks regularly enter fields
via the same trail. Hunters
observing this pattern should
capitalize with a late-morning
scouting mission. An invasive
scouting mission like this
should be done immediately
before or during periods
of heavy rain. Always take
extreme measures to reduce
human odor – even when
scouting.
Backtrack Trail
My goal on a trail scouting
trip is finding a spot where
I can backtrack the deer
trail in an attempt to find a
staging area, which frequently
contains a food source and
often abundant droppings,
cluster rubs, recent browsing
and of course large tracks.
After locating a staging
area, hunters must find a
suitable
stand
location.
Stands should be set up on
the downwind side of the area
with special attention paid to
entry and exit trails that will
not cross runs that deer use to
approach or exit this particular
woodland.
From experience, I can say
that poor stand location reigns
as the number one reason
hunters fail when attempting
this technique. If a walking or
feeding deer crosses a hunter’s
entry trail, the sharp-nosed
animal will likely go on alert.
This could ruin the hunt. As
always, the goal is simple.
We want the deer to approach
our stand, pass by and leave
without knowing we’re there.
The exit trails should be
especially clean and allow
a hunter to leave the area
without spooking deer that
have already passed by.
Raking trails clear of leaves
and debris isn’t going too far
and doesn’t spook deer.
‘Hot’ Forage?
Be ready to hunt a stand
when it gets hot, often when
forage
ripens.
Seasonal
favorites like apples and grapes
can fall quickly and leave an
area barren of forage in a few
short days. That leaves little
reason for the deer to frequent
the area.
If
conditions
aren’t
favorable, don’t force the
hunt. Admittedly, I’ve hunted
stands set up for west winds
on a southwest wind and
succeeded. However, I’ve also
spooked deer when doing this
and cost myself any chance at
future opportunities. Rarely
have I spooked deer when
hunting on the proper wind.
During the peak rut,
hunters dream of running does
and grunting bucks scooting
toward them, but early season
can be just as much fun and
highly productive if we scout
and prepare properly.
Get out the spotting scope,
clear some trails and kill a big
buck this season!
Last June 21 and 22,
I took an NRA course to
become a certified shooting
range safety officer. On the
last day, the instructor started
the lecture by saying, “It’s all
downhill from here,” pointing
out the fact that from the
summer solstice onward, the
days would become shorter in
length until the winter solstice.
The small group politely
chuckled, but an acquaintance
next to me leaned over and
whispered,
“Just
means
one more day closer to bow
season.”
As someone who thinks
about whitetails 24/7, I
understood the feeling.
Granted, opening day
of the archery deer season
produces
little
fanfare
compared to opening day
of the firearms deer hunt.
Most people associate early
fall with high temperatures
and ravenous mosquitos –
or anything else other than
hunting.
But unlike hunters with
firearms, bowhunters associate
this time of year with the best
time to take a whitetail. And
it seems every September and
early October that it happens.
While the majority of
hunters are reading November
calendars, trying to figure out
which days of the rut to hunt,
word leaks out about someone
who has already taken a
monster buck. Early bow
season is our little secret.
Different Approach
However,
harvesting
a whitetail now requires a
different approach than during
the rut. Bucks aren’t charging
around with guards down,
looking for does. In September
and October (or at least pre-rut
October), deer focus on food
and generally don’t move
much in high temperatures.
I’ve read on several
occasions deer bed no more
than 100 yards from their
food source. Although hunting
whitetails requires us to be
field edges, other openings or
any place deer forage for food
later in the day when sunlight
is fading.
In July and August, I have
field-scouted with a spotlight
at night, but only if I’ve had
no luck seeing anything. So,
I’ll do light scouting for fresh
tracks or scat along known
trails or in any oak groves soon
after acorns hit the ground.
(...Just a reminder, using an
artificial light for spotting deer
between Sept. 1 to Dec. 15 is
illegal.)
I personally only hunt in September when
dew points and air temperatures have
dropped at least 5 or 10 degrees from the
day or two before...I believe the deer are
apt to move more.
very adaptable, my general
motto in early season is “find
the food, find the deer” versus
my motto during the rut,
which is “follow the does, find
the buck.”
I must admit that most
of my deer successes have
occurred in November, but I
have killed a few early season
deer and will share my tactics.
First, I must find where
deer forage in early season.
Generally, whitetails are
easier to see this time of year.
They don’t move as much, but
daylight lasts longer, so they
generally congregate near
Stand Spots
At this time of year, field
edges, inside and outside
corners and oak groves prove
to be good spots for my stands.
These places may or may
not be the same locations for
hunting the rut. After finding
these early-season stand spots,
I adamantly stick to a few
beliefs that have worked for
me in the past.
• First, I don’t hunt any
one stand day after day in
September or early October.
I’ll hunt certain places hard
during the rut, but the opposite
is the case during this time of
year. If I know big deer are
concentrating in the area, I
don’t want to spook them out
of that area in case I still have
my tag when November rolls
around. I want them to stick
around. For this reason, I may
hunt often, but I won’t hunt
any one individual stand too
hard.
• Second, I only hunt
in September when dew
points and air temperatures
have dropped at least 5 or 10
degrees from the day or two
before. This may be for my
own comfort, but I believe
deer are more apt to move. In
my experience, deer respond to
temperature drops regardless
if it’s 70 or 30 degrees.
And since we’re still
technically in hurricane season
and storms come through, if it
is stormy for a day or two or
more, I’ll make a hard effort to
hunt the day or two following
a storm, when the winds have
died down and barometric
pressure has risen.
• Third, I almost only
hunt the afternoons in the
early season. There are a few
reasons for this. Personally,
I’m in stands along field
edges or by larger openings
where I’ve seen deer. And
those whitetails come out in
late afternoon or evenings
and possibly stay there all
night, foraging until sunrise.
The last thing I want to do is
spook them from the field, as
I’m entering a stand in early
From Our Readers
Peter Wentworth from Sanford and Justin Wentworth
from Springvale harvested these turkeys in the spring
2013 season in Sanford. All birds received a MASTC
score of 60-63. All birds have nine to ten inch beards.
Peter Wentworth called them in on
wingbone calls he hand-crafted
himself.
morning while it’s still dark.
Longer Hours!
Also, days are longer in
September allowing me to
stay on my stand for a few
hours after work. Granted, the
summer solstice is long gone,
but there is still substantial
light compared to two months
down the road when the rut
kicks in, when it’s dark under
the table by 4:30 p.m.
Lastly, similar to always
hunting after a storm, I also
always hunt new and full
moons. I hunt other days too,
but I always make time for
those days. I’m no biologist,
but I know what my trail
cameras tell me.
There is a buck that visits
one of my stands and has done
so on eight occasions in the
last two years. His rack is not
wide, but he carries the longest
brow tines I’ve ever seen on
a deer (magazine pictures
excluded). Granted it was
always in the middle of the
night when he came through,
but for some reason, each of
those times I got a photo of
him, it was either a full moon
or new moon. And not a day
before or after.
So if you have free time
this fall, get out and hunt early
this month. What better way
to give ourselves an advantage
than to spend some time in a
stand while others haven’t
given deer season a thought
yet?
Split Month Begins with Largemouths
and Ends with Brookies
September offers two
distinct fishing periods in
the Mid-Kennebec Valley
Region (MKVR). The month
starts with temperatures still
running high in most local
flowages and on lake-andpond surfaces, a condition that
makes fishing for warm-water
species such as bass, perch or
pickerel a much surer bet than
tempting trout and salmon into
striking.
As the month progresses,
though, water temperatures
drop fairly rapidly, and as
a result, the second half of
September often boasts decent
to downright fast action for
salmonids on MKVR waters.
Lovers of warm-water species
don’t lose out at this time,
either, because action remains
strong for their favorite
quarries as well and even
picks up for bass.
Pleasant Pond in Gardiner
(DeLorme Atlas, Map 12,
E-4) offers excellent fishing
for largemouth bass, white
perch, yellow perch and chain
pickerel this month. In fact,
this 746-acre pond boasts
some of the best largemouthbass angling available in the
MKVR.
A small number of brown
trout and brook trout migrate
into the pond from stocking
sites in Cobbosseecontee
Stream, which flows through
the northern end of the pond,
but neither offers a large
enough population to warrant
targeting by anglers.
Smallmouth bass inhabit
Pleasant Pond as well, and
folks with long histories on
the water might recall terrific
angling for this species here
decades ago. Unfortunately,
over time, siltation of the
bottom and a rapid growth
of aquatic vegetation have
eliminated much of the
clean, rocky bottom favored
by smallmouths and their
numbers
have
dropped
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significantly.
Largemouths Flourishing!
The
very
conditions
that have detracted from
the smallmouth population,
though, have led to largemouth
bass flourishing. Largemouths
inhabit areas with large tracts
of aquatic vegetation, and
Pleasant Pond certainly offers
that cover.
These weed beds offer
terrific cover for young
largemouths, ensuring that
a higher percentage reach
maturity, but more importantly,
they also allow forage species
to thrive. While largemouths
have a tremendously-varied
diet, they target other fish
species for a high percentage
of their meals.
Anglers take lots of 2to 4-pound largemouths in
Pleasant Pond, but plenty of
larger specimens show up
regularly, including a handful
in the 7- to 9-pound class
every year. The pond also has
a reputation for producing
oversized pickerel, another
species that thrives in weedy
environments with large
populations of forage fish.
Pleasant produces lots of 3- to
4-pound pickerel each year,
and few years go by without
the pond producing some
5-pound specimens.
Access to Pleasant Pond
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SEASON STARTS SEPT 1ST ENDS JUNE 1ST, 2014
lies via a trailerable boat
launch in the southern section
of the pond. The road here
splits the pond in two. Most
anglers opt to launch on the
north side of the road.
The pond south of the
launch only offers depths of
seven feet or so and much
more limited fishing options.
North of the boat launch,
anglers find depths up to 26
feet and often find the largest
bass and pickerel in those
depths, attempting to feed on
white perch.
Kimball Pond
As the surface water
temperatures drop below the
70-degree mark in the second
half of September, anglers
might want to consider a
trip to Kimball Pond in
Vienna (Map 20, E-3). While
spanning a mere 19 acres and
with depths only reaching 19
feet, Kimball nevertheless
offers terrific fishing for
brook trout. September finds
these beautiful char in their
most glorious colors as their
spawning season approaches.
Kimball holds virtually
no spawning habitat, so
the fishery depends on
annual stockings of 600 to
1,000 brookies. Restrictive
regulations and low harvest
limits ensure that trout survive
to their second or even third
year in the pond, so anglers
catch plenty of 14- to 16-inch
brookies here and enough 17to 20-inch specimens to keep
things really interesting.
A variety of insect hatches
American Plan
Sporting Camp
Enjoy a Family Vacation
on Salmon Lake...
Famous for its
Small & Largemouth
Bass Fishing!
– especially caddis and several
species of mayflies – provide
surface action for fly casters in
September, but the larger trout
in Kimball feed primarily on
shiners and banded killifish,
so minnow-imitating flies
and lures produce well. As on
most waters, brookies here
fall for bright patterns as well,
so lures and flies boasting
red, yellow and/or white also
produce well.
An
excruciatingly
slow retrieve of subsurface
offerings often produce the
largest trout from Kimball,
although even those come
up short at times. One of this
writer’s most vivid memories
from Kimball Pond is of an
extremely thick, 20-plus-inch
trout that followed our slowlyretrieved,
red-and-white
Flatfish closely for a long
distance one morning years
ago.
That heavy brookie’s nose
practically touched the lure
for 10 yards, a distance that
seemed to take an eternity to
cover. But at the boat, the big
fish sank back into the depths
without striking, never to be
seen again, at least not that
day. What a sight!
Anglers access Kimball
via a hand-carry launch for
canoes and small boats. The
launch lies on the west shore
along the Kimball Pond Road.
Early Geese
As of this writing in midJuly, the Department of Inland
Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine
Whisperwood
Lodge & Cottages
whisperwoodlodge.com
(207) 465-3983
[email protected]
Where relaxing vacations begin....
Mid-Kennebec
Fisheries and Wildlife has
not set waterfowl regulations
for this fall, and in fact, the
proposed regulations haven’t
even been announced yet.
But all indications point to
waterfowl populations that
remain the same or perhaps
even increasing since last
year, so waterfowlers can once
again expect to take advantage
of an early-season goose hunt
this year.
Goose populations have
exploded in the MKVR over
the last two decades, and the
September hunt has proven
especially productive for
hunters over the years. Waters
in the Sebasticook River
drainage between Corinna
(Map 32, E-1) and Winslow
(Map 21, E-2), including the
river itself and waters lying
five to 10 miles east of the
flowage, hold outstanding
waterfowl habitat and produce
large numbers of geese.
Besides the terrific goose
numbers, one big advantage
of this early hunt lies in the
fact that no one has hunted
the geese this year, leaving the
birds in their least wary state
that hunters ever find them.
That’s not to say the hunting
is easy, though. Even in their
most “relaxed” state, geese
rank among the wariest of
game, especially birds. But
hunter odds of taking geese are
never better than this month.
Geese feed heavily in
harvested farm fields during
the fall, but few local farms
begin their harvest operations
this early. So look for geese
feeding in green fields until
the harvest starts. Or target the
waterways where the birds go
to roost for the night.
Miss Maine Sportsman Finalist Series
Outdoor Woman Barbara Plummer of Kokadjo
Has Done It All
By Cathy Genthner
Barbara Plummer grew up
in Lisbon Falls, playing in the
woods and by the river behind
her home. Her grandmother
taught her about birds, plants
and flowers, while her dad
taught her about trees.
This
outdoorswoman
became a registered Maine
guide in 1995 and along
with her husband Wayne,
owns Northern Pride Lodge
in Kokadjo. They have been
operating the lodge together
for over 14 years.
“It is neat to be able to
share this area with other
people,” she said, “I have
dear friends who started out as
guests at the lodge. I hunt, fish
and revel in the outdoors for
my job, my daily living and
my recreation.”
“Women are the nurturers
and caregivers,” she continued.
“If we aren’t sharing our love
of the outdoors with younger
or older people, who will?
“We are fighting an uphill
battle with the anti-hunting
and trapping referendum this
fall,” Plummer said. “We
have people who were antihunters when they first visited
the lodge, but after they saw
the ethics behind it and the
humane way we hunted,
people understood hunting
and accepted it.”
Comes Around
Plummer said she was an
avowed non-hunter for most
of her life, but living with an
experienced and ethical hunter
and fisherman changed her
philosophy in 2008. However,
she has always hunted game
with her camera.
What got her hunting
with a gun was the search
for a pure, healthy source
of food. Her favorite
dishes include partridge
potpie, bear stew, grilled
deer tenderloin, ground
bear meatloaf, moose
steaks and cusk chowder,
all prepared at the lodge.
Her favorite hunting
season is fall when she
hunts grouse.
“The woods are alive
Miss Maine Sportsman
with
color and the air is
finalist Barbara Plummer
so fresh and crisp,” she
loves to hunt grouse near
said. “I can walk out our
her lodge in Kokadjo.
front door and immediately
be surrounded by woods and
grouse. The explosion of
wings never fails to start my
heart thumping in my chest
and causes the adrenaline to
course through my body. The
animal that I kill is organic,
GMO free, and anti-biotic
free.”
“I have bear hunters every
year,” said Plummer, “and I
encourage them to take home
the meat and try it. After ruffed
grouse, bear is our favorite. I
love to walk through the woods
and enjoy God’s creation and
come home with a couple of
ruffed grouse – much better
than chicken.”
Plummer has guided
mountain bikers, campers,
moose
watchers,
hikers,
kayakers and foragers as
well as hosting hunters
and anglers at the lodge.
She enjoys every season in
Maine – ATVing in warmer
weather and snowmobiling
and snowshoeing in the winter
months. As a life-long learner,
she especially likes the fact
that her vocation puts her in
regular contact with biologists
and game wardens.
First Big Game
Her first big game hunt
ended with a black bear that
dressed out at 250 pounds
and landed just 12 yards from
where she shot him. It is her
favorite native Maine animal.
“I could see him from
my tree stand, and when I got
down to go and check him, he
grew bigger and bigger as I got
closer,” said Plummer. “But
every bear is just as exciting.”
“My most memorable
hunt has to be the piebald buck
I got this past fall,” she said.
“Just to see a buck in our area
is exciting for me, because
they are few and far between.
So to see a glowing white
ghost walking slowly past me
– head down on a scent trail
– and I hit it and recovered it
all by myself. ...Was just an
amazing hunt.”
Plummer has a long list
of outdoor certifications,
including a wilderness first
responder, fast-water rescuer,
rescue diver and lifeguard. She
also worked for 13 years at
L.L.Bean, providing outdoor
skills and training fellow
employees and customers.
Her aim is to pass on a lifetime
of experience to the next
generation.
“We are so blessed to have
a lifestyle that entails meeting
so many people from so many
walks of life. Being able to
talk to kids, especially those
who have not yet developed
the ‘eww’ factor, is so very
rewarding,” said Plummer. “If
each one of us just introduced
one child each year to
hunting, fishing or trapping,
can you imagine how many
enthusiastic new outdoorsmen
we would raise up?”
Plummer seen here with her first big-game kill, a
black bear.
L.L. COTE OUTDOOR TENT SALE IS BACK!
August 22nd - 24th
Early-Season Canada Geese Offer
Hunting Action, Tolerable Weather
I’m
a
passionate
waterfowl hunter, so there is
no place I would rather be in
September than in pursuit of
resident Canada geese. Action
can be fast and weather often
pleasant.
It’s wonderful to wake
up well before dawn to set
decoys in a productive field or
on small farm pond and wait
patiently for geese to arrive.
This scene thrills me. I love
sitting in absolute silence,
sipping rugged coffee and
anticipating the moment when
that first echoing honk breaks
the calmness of the morning
and indicates approaching
geese.
Hunting geese is a mixture
of luck and location. Even
after scouting and investing
considerable time in locating
productive feeding areas,
sometimes the geese still
refuse to show up. Other times,
what appears to be a terrible
location will by morning’s end
yield close to a limit of geese.
A majority of goose
hunting occurs in fields, but
getting permission to hunt
these prime locations can
often be a hassle. A knock on a
farmer’s door can be met with
Hazelwoods Cottages
Cottage Rentals at Kitchen Cove Point, West Grand Lake
~ FALL FISHING & BIRD HUNTING ~
September & October
$120-$160 Daily • $600-$800 Weekly
2 Hazelwood Lane, Grand Lake Stream, ME 04668
207-796-5364 • E-mail: [email protected]
www.HazelwoodsOfMaine.com
Eastern Maine Friends of NRA
Banquet & Auction
FRIENDS OF
October 11, 2014
Opens at 5pm
Lee Pellon Center
Seating Limited to 150 Persons
LOTS OF GUNS
90 Court Street (Behind Subway) Machias, ME 04654
Contact: Bunnie Wright (207) 271-0796
Tickets available at www.friendsofnra.org
COWGER’S LAKEFRONT CABINS
on East Grand Lake
P.O. BOX 97, DANFORTH, ME 04424
Housekeeping Cabins
FISH: Salmon, Togue and Bass
January–March and May–September
HUNT: Deer, Bear, Grouse & Woodcock
September - December
AUTUMN RECREATION: Canoeing, Biking and Hiking,
Wildlife Photography...or Just Plain Relaxing
207-448-2455 • 1-800-562-3828
Visa, MC, Discover Accepted • Open Year Round • Reserve Yours Now
pleasantries and permission wounded. Geese are powerful the skies and be prepared to
but also others offer rude swimmers and can quickly quickly modify plans to stay
disdain despite the best, most disappear from view before on resident geese!
polite efforts.
hunters can launch a boat and
Island Camping
A long time ago, I simply retrieve.
When hunting geese, it
stopped asking permission Geese make for fine makes sense to stay close to
and started hunting
the intended hunting
water-based locations,
location. This facilitates
Geese
make
for
fine
eating.
We
such as lakes, ponds
the early mornings and
and streams in close slice goose breasts thin and fry in tends to make getting to
proximity to feeding a little butter with salt and pep- prime hunting spots a
and afternoon resting per, which reminds me of minute bit less hectic.
areas.
Camping on an island
beefsteaks. For those needing is certainly a grand
(As of this writing,
a little more seasoning, lightly experience and very
the proposal for the
early season goose hunt sprinkling the breasts with Mc- similar to car camping.
is Sept. 1 to Sept. 25.)
and other heavy
Cormick Montreal Steak Season- Gear
Water Hunts
supplies
can
be
ing
to
add
a
nice
zip.
When
hunters
transported by boat,
target geese, good luck
leaving less to lug on
can happen on the water,
backs. While care must
and both morning and evening eating. We slice goose breasts be taken in packing smaller
hunts can be productive. thin and fry with a little watercraft like canoes, larger
Around 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and butter and salt and pepper, watercraft can easily carry the
about 30 minutes before the which reminds me of minute camping needs of even the
end of legal shooting time in beefsteaks. For those needing most extravagant campers.
the evening are exceptional for a little more seasoning, lightly Firewood on islands
hunting geese that are looking sprinkling the breasts with tends to be in limited supply,
for drinking water after a McCormick Montreal Steak so having a small portable
morning feeding or searching Seasoning to add a nice zip.
stove to cook meals instead of
for a secure place to sleep for Combine “steaks” with relying solely on wood power
the evening.
homemade, thin-cut french is a good idea.
The sheer size of a goose fries, cooked in canola oil, and Each of the lakes and
makes its flight speed appear complement the meat with a ponds mentioned above have
deceptively slow. Do not be favorite micro-brew. A perfect islands or nearby primitive
fooled, though, because geese meal creates a wonderful campsites where intrepid
are fast fliers. Many a goose conclusion to a day field.
waterfowlers
can
camp.
has escaped being a hunter’s Small lakes and ponds Fourth Lake Machias (Map
dinner by shooting behind the like Fourth Machias Lake 35, C-1) has a beautiful
target.
(DeLorme Atlas, Map 35, C-1), primitive campsite and a
To be successful, don’t Third Machias Lake (Map 35, very healthy population of
rush. Keep the end of the C-3) and Lower Sabao Lake resident geese. Use care when
barrel moving after the shot (Map 35, E-1) have long been navigating this lake during
and always be prepared for a favorites for hunting geese. early mornings, because this
quick follow-up shot should But remember flight patterns lake is notoriously rocky.
the goose hit the water only change daily so keep eyes to It’s better to take a canoe,
kayak or scull boat and use the
early morning fog to paddle
in quietly to an unsuspecting
flock and reach a limit in
plenty of time to return to the
Remote - Relaxing
campsite to enjoy a second cup
Hunting, Fishing, Vacationing for
of coffee and a big breakfast.
the Outdoorsman & Family
PORTER POINT CAMPS
Housekeeping Cabins
Burlington, ME 04417 • 207-944-1463
Open Year Round
www.porterpointcamps.com
Canoes, Boats & Motors Available
Clearance Sale Items up to 90% OFF
10% OFF All Guns*
Aug. 22-24 only
Factory Reps will be on hand to answer all
of your hunting questions
20% OFF All
Old Town,
Perception &
Wilderness Kayaks*
30% OFF
All Pool Toys,
River Tubes,
Goggles
and More!
August 22nd - September 30th
GEAR UP FOR HUNTING SEASON AT L.L. COTE SPORTS CENTER!
FISHING • HUNTING • ARCHERY • CAMPING • RECREATION • CLOTHING • HARDWARE
Wildgame LightsOut 5 Trail Camera Reg. $229.99 ~ SALE $89.99
The Savage Axis II XP MOBU Weaver 3-9x40 scope is reg. $439.99 Sale Price: $400.00
Leupold VXI Scope in Matte 3-9x40 reg. $229.99 Sale Price: $199.99
Ruger LC380 3.5” Blue reg. $399.99 take 10% off
10% Off all Air Guns, Air Soft, and Supplies • 10% off all gun targets
30% Off all Scent Blocker clothing*
10% OFF Honda Generators*
20% OFF All Camping Items
30% OFF Scent Blocker Clothing
50% OFF all Men’s and Women’s Woolrich Clothing
20% OFF Ladies Carhartt Clothing
30% OFF all Women’s and Men’s Fox Racing Clothing
20% OFF Bates Boots
TAX FREE
20% OFF Harley Davidson Boots
NH!
L.L. Cote Fall Sale continues through Sept. 30th- new sale items added throughout September.
Check out all of the new archery & hunting accessories for the 2014 hunting season.
* In stock items only and no rain checks.
L.L. Cote Sports Center • 7 Main St., Errol, NH 03579 • 800-287-7700 • llcote.com
Welcome to
New Hampshire!
Lancaster, NH Fair
AUG 27th - SEPT 1st
Lancaster, NH Celebrating
250th Birthday!
New Hampshire frame,
please contact
Nancy Carpenter at
207-357-2702
today!
www.lancasterfair.com
p. 603.788.4904
f. 603.788.2006
244 Main Street
Junction of Rt. 2 and Rt. 3
Lancaster
603-788-2281
PLUMBING AND HEATING CONTRACTOR
FUEL OIL, K1 KEROSENE DIESEL AND LP GAS
web: FitchFuelCo.com
178 Summer Street
PO Box 372
Lancaster, NH 03584
www.fbspaulding.com
NH Lic. 3141C • VT Lic.PM 3401
mahogany ribs. Waldoboro,
ME. 207-563-6223
––––––––––––––––––––––––
2010 SMOKERCRAFT
RESORTER (15.5’)
40 HP Mercury < 48 hours.
Garaged extras. Trailer with
spare tire. $8250 or BO. 207857-9498
––––––––––––––––––––––––
BOAT & MOTOR
Old Town 15’ Discovery. 2011
Six horse Yamaha 4 stroke engine. Brand new. Never used.
Asking $2,700 OBO. 207926-5162
––––––––––––––––––––––––
20 FT. GRAND LAKERS
CANOE
Restoring 20 ft. Grand Laker
canoe. Should be ready for
spring fishing. $1800. 207796-5576
––––––––––––––––––––––––
1933 OLD TOWN DOUBLE ENDER
Cedar plank on ribs. 20 ft. new
Welcome to the
CLASSIFIEDS
CLASSIFIED RATES
Subscribers may place one free 20-word classified ad per month, limited
to three months. Items for sale must state a price. Please be sure to
include the location of the property in real estate ads.
The regular rates are $14 for up to 20 words and 60¢ for each additional
word. Include a photo for an additional $10. Check, money order,
MasterCard and VISA are accepted.
You may submit your ads by:
• Phone: 207-622-4242
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Mail: 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta ME 04330
• Website: www.mainesportsman.com
THE DEADLINE FOR OCT’S ISSUE IS SEPT 5th
ALL ADS MUST BE PREPAID.
BOATS/
BOAT STORAGE
15’ GRUMMAN CANOE
No dings, extras, in EXCELLENT condition. $600 207782-8615
––––––––––––––––––––––––
16’ OLD TOWN SPORT
CANOE
Fiberglass sport canoe. Center
seat with oar locks, 40’ beam,
very good condition. $350,
207-215-9778
––––––––––––––––––––––––
NEW LOW PRICE: MANSFIELD CANOE, 12 FT.
$1000. Green fiberglass with
cane seats, decks, gunwales.
No bad ribs. Canoe has sponsors plus fiberglass covering.
Best offer over $2000. 207796-5576
––––––––––––––––––––––––
GRUMMAN
17 ft. Aluminum canoe. Good
condition. $1100. 207-2845412
––––––––––––––––––––––––
MIRROCRAFT
16 ft. Aluminum boat. 25
horse Johnson 1999. Low
hours. Galvanized roller trailer. $2200. 207-284-5412.
DOGS
WALKER BEAR & CAT
DOG
Many bear kills. Excellent
tree dog. Will strike from rig.
$1500. 207-458-1551
GUIDES
Lincoln-Lovely 2BR cottage, large
living area, superb views, improved
with drilled well & septic system,
FHA furnace, outdoor FP, nice frontage & right on the edge of Big Narrows. $129,000
Medway-2BR Chalet, cathedral
ceiling, HWF, SS appliances, 1st
floor laundry, lots of glass, office
area providing views, porch, privacy, 5+/- acres along on E. Branch
Penobscot River. $139,000
Lincoln-2BR camp, spiral staircase
to BRs, newer siding, roof & windows, screen porch, deck, private
boat launch, great views, lawn to
lake, sandy frontage along Caribou
Pond. $74,500
Wing-shooting for Ruffed
Grouse & Woodcock over
pointing dogs. Registered
Maine Guide Michael Browning. Visit www.grousehavenDanforth-1BR cottage, large loft,
LR cathedral ceiling, pine ceilings,
HW laminate flooring, electricity,
septic, snowmobile/ATV trails, cold
water fishing, 135’ on E. Grand
Lake. $136,500
guideservice.com , E-mail
michaeltbrowning81@gmail.
com , or call 207-491-9856
––––––––––––––––––––––––
WANTED: BEAR GUIDE
With good bait sites and able
to use own dogs. Would like to
pay daily rates. May be interested in buying bait sites. 252217-2144
––––––––––––––––––––––––
FISHING GUIDE/
HANDYMAN NEEDED
Northern Maine sporting camp
in need of a full time fishing
guide/handyman. May- October. 207-731-8888
––––––––––––––––––––––––
HOMESTEAD LODGE:
GUIDE WANTED
Homestead Lodge is an established, respected outfitter in
Oxbow. Looking for a licensed
guide for bear and moose in
zones 5 & 6. Room and board
available. 207-435-6357
FOR RENT
BENEDICTA CAMP
On Plunkett Pond. 2 beds and
1 pullout couch. Full kitchen
and bath. Zone 11, close to
zone 10. $700/week. 207-9516648
––––––––––––––––––––––––
COZY CABIN ON SWIFT
RIVER
Pet friendly, fully furnished, 2
bedroom. Cozy Cabin sitting
right on the Swift River. Gold
panning, fall foliage viewing.
Excellent area for hunting,
Lincoln-2.2+/- acres, driveway,
gravel pad, clearing, path to the
lake, electricity available, nice spot
for a YR cabin, boat to Caribou &
Egg Ponds, OF, 329’ frontage on
Long Pond. $62,000
Springfield-2BR log cabin needs
a little TLC, nice rock fireplace,
wood floors, unique stair railing,
drilled well, close to ATV/snowmobile trails, 44+/- acres off Old S.
Springfield Rd. $34,900
Lowell-Private 5.2+/- hilltop acres,
potential Cold Stream Pond views,
ideal for anyone who considers
ATV/snowmobiles a best form of
transportation, sited at end of Hyora Rd. $8,800
E. Winn-13 acres, ATV & snowmobile trails, lots of road frontage, 1
road crossing through offering nice
spots for driveway & camp. Priced
to move at $7,500
Enfield-3.3 acres, year round paved
access, electric available, mature
trees, minutes to Cold Stream
Pond’s boat landing, snowmobile
trail, 226’+/- frontage on Hammett
Rd. $11,000
Lowell-3+/- acres suitable for recreational or residential, close to lakes,
river, ATV & snowmobile trails, electric available, driveway roughed in
from Rte. 188. $12,000
R E A L
E S T A T E
5 LAKE STREET, P.O. BOX 66, LINCOLN
207-794-2460
www.cwalakestreet.com
om
1-800-675-2460
Call any of our brokers
to work for you!
“Tate” Aylward ................ 794-2460
Peter Phinney.................. 794-5466
Kirk Ritchie...................... 290-1554
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION
FORMATION
ON OUR PROPERTIES
VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT
CWALAKESTREET.COM
AUBURN - BANGOR - BELGRADE - BOOTHBAY HARBOR - BRUNSWICK - DAMARISCOTTA
FAIRFIELD - FARMINGTON - GREENVILLE - PEMAQUID - PORTLAND - SKOWHEGAN - WILTON
fishing, and swimming. ATV/
Snowmobile trail access. Free
wi-fi and much more! Call to
reserve now! 207-364-4900
––––––––––––––––––––––––
HUNTING CAMP FOR
RENT
WMD 17. Sleeps 4-5. Completely furnished and indoor
plumbing. Available November and December. $450/
week. Call 207-277-4565
––––––––––––––––––––––––
HUNT NORTHERN
MAINE
Food + lodging. $400 a week.
A lot of area to hunt. Miles of
trails for ATV’s. Good company. Good food. For more info
please call 856-358-1360 or
856-371-3752. Leave a message.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
COZY LOG CABIN
On water front peninsula.
Unplug and rejuvenate. 2+
bedrooms. Great for all outdoor activities. Western Maine
Mountains. Short term rental.
207-235-2000
––––––––––––––––––––––––
HUNTING CAMP ON 1400
ACRES
Sleeps 4, generator, indoor
plumbing, 6 mile gravel road.
Montville, Maine. Good deer,
turkey, and upland bird hunting. Available for hiking,
kayaking and fishing during
the summer months. 207-7452223 or mainehuntingcamp.
net
––––––––––––––––––––––––
REMOTE NMW CAMP
FOR ANNUAL RENT
Good local fishing and hunt-
ing. Well equipped cabin.
$2000 for the year. Call 207433-0660
––––––––––––––––––––––––
CAMP FOR RENT
For moose, zone 4. Sleeps
4. For more information call
802-244-7408
––––––––––––––––––––––––
MOOSE HUNTERS –
DISTRICTS 7, 12, 13***
RESERVE YOUR CAMP
NOW!!!***
Year round camp on Black
Brook in Andover, for rent by
the day, week or month. On
the South Arm Road. ATV
trails are accessible from
our camp. Camp sleeps four
adults. Large parking area.
Nightly rates at $100 per
night, discounts for weekly
and monthly rates. Call Dan
at 207-272-8718 or visit www.
andersencamp.com for more
information.
ming. Plenty of hiking trails
and great snowmobile trails in
the winter. For more info and
pictures visit WWW.SEBECLAKEVACATION.COM.
Will consider trades (ex: sit on
top kayak, etc). $1050/ week.
Call Mike (508)726-1068
––––––––––––––––––––––––
PRENTISS
Great recreational area: fishing, boating, hunting, nice
camp w/all the comforts of
home, sleeps 5, easy access.
$600 per week plus security.
207-341-2615
––––––––––––––––––––––
Central Maine Properties
CHECK
Norm Cookson Realty’s Web Site
www.NormCookson.com
Also check our window display or call for a
FREE CATALOGUE
924-7902
924-3594
175 Spring Street
Dexter, ME 04930
108 Water Street, Skowhegan, ME
207-474-3303
“We Know Our Community and Our People!”
www.whittemoresrealestate.com
ATHENS. Very nicely maintained 2 bedroom home on about
10 acres of land. Vaulted pine ceilings. Vaulted pine ceilings, loft area as second bedroom,
built-in AC, oversized 2 car detached barn
with loading dock, storage above and generator hookup for emergency power. $129,900.
HARTLAND. Wooded 8+ acre lot with 224 feet frontage on Great Moose Lake. Build a year ‘round home
or a seasonal cottage on this little piece of paradise. Two lots to choose from. The second lot has approximately 200 feet frontage. $135,000.
CORNVILLE. Great Hunting and Snowmobiling Possibilities! Unfinished camp abuts power line and ITS
Snowmobile Trails. Camp has an open front porch, framed interior and open loft. Enjoy the 8.715 acres and
add your finishing touches! There is a second driveway entrance and gravel pad installed. Build a second
camp or your new home. $49,900.
ATHENS. Well maintained hunting camp on 4 acres with field, apple trees and feed plot. Property is on
ATV and Snowmobile Access Road. Propane lights, cook stove and stove. Has well and septic, with power
at the street. Camp has bedroom, loft, and full bath. $49,900.
MAYFIELD TOWNSHIP. Updated 2 bedroom camp with about 181’ frontage on scenic Otter Pond. Propane heater, woodstove and solar powered lighting. Fish, boat, or swim.....own your on piece of paradise!
$89,000.
MADISON – LAKEWOOD. Lovely 2 bedroom cottage with hardwood floors and screened-in porch
within walking distance of historic Lakewood Theater and Lake Wesserunsett. $89,900.
MOSCOW. Approximately 100 acres containing a small sugar bush, a home/camp site, fields, woods, apple trees and a small unnamed brook with long road frontage on Pierce Hill Road. Located close to Wyman
Dam, which dams the Kennebec River and forms Wyman Lake. Come enjoy where the bear and deer roam.
Power at street. $89,500.
SOLON. Surveyed 24.68 acre parcel with approximately 1338’ feet frontage on the Kennebec River. Beautiful views, great spot to build your vacation camp. Driveway cleared. Some available gravel. $175,000.
HARTLAND. 2 lots with a total of 200’ water frontage on beautiful Great Moose Lake. Undeveloped land
just waiting for you to make it your own! $75,000.
EMBDEN. 5.72 acres for your new home, camp or mobile home. Close to ITS and ATV trails. Canoe on
the Kennebec River from the Solon Bridge. Shared driveway. $24,900.
CORNVILLE. Nicely sloping 14 acres with 567’ of road frontage. Some harvestable timber. Driveway
easement to back of lot. $35,000.
EAST MADISON. Your own little getaway just 10 minutes from town. Year-round cabin tucked behind the
trees on over 4 acres. Electricity, drilled well, holding tank, and hot air furnace. Long water frontage on the
backwater to Lake Wesserunsett. Public boat ramp to Lake 1 mile away. $49,900.
Specializing in Recreation Properties
Thinking Of Listing Your Property? Give Me A Call For A No Obligation Consultation.
*Land
*Camps
*Homes
*Commercial
*Waterfront
––––––––––––––––––––––––
BEAUTIFUL CHALET ON
SEBEC LAKE
Large open concept Chalet
style house. Two lofts, one
with master bed, other with
several beds. Newer construction. Boat dock and swim
platform, private setting sits
on 80 acres. Great place for
fishing, boating and swim-
Bennett Hill Lodge is located in the beautiful Maine
highlands in Piscataquis county. Five guest rooms w/
baths plus owners
quarters. Quality construction lodge is set on
230 acres, trail system
throughout property. Direct access to local ATV/
snow sled trails. MLS
1050994 $475,000
Remarkable property in Central Maine. Bucks Crossing
Rental Cabins & Guide Service. Well established & operating business set on
103 acres of prime
hunting land, miles of
maintained trails, food
plots & fields. MLS
1146596
$525,000
PARKMAN MAINE
BUCKS CROSSING –
WMD 17
RENTAL CABINS
Tu r k e y - D e e r- M o o s e - U p land Game. All amenities included. Great Rates. Night-
ly-Weekly-Monthly.
Call
207-277-3183.
www.buckscrossingmaine.com info@
buckscrossingmaine.com
––––––––––––––––––––––––
LEE, MAINE
Camp for rent in remote spot
WATERFRONT COTTAGE FOR SALE
...on Pushaw Lake on the Hudson side, (end lot)
.33 Acres with 150’ water frontage.
Excellent Hunting and Fishing here in Maine!!
One bedroom loft, cathedral ceilings, tongue
and grove pine throughout. All newly rebuilt
this year. New roof, windows, siding, deck,
doors, bathroom, kitchen, laundry,
heating system, electrical, and
plumbing! Priced to sell at $119,990!
Motivated sellers!!
FMI: Call Evey at 207-249-8998.
Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker
207-233-8275 • 207-864-2500
[email protected]
www.realestateinrangeley.com
“Your Real Estate Source for the Rangeley Region”
#1106 – TOOTHAKER ISLAND:
Ultimate Retreat on Mooselookmeguntic Lake with 3BR Main House,
2BR Cottage, Solar/Generator Power on 18 Private Acres and 2000’
WF. Sold Fully Equipped. $250,000
#3092
–
MOOSELOOKMEGUNTIC LAKE: The “Eagle’s
Nest” at Historic Upper Dam w/3BR, Views, Private Dock. Short
Walk to “The Pool”, Dam, Richardson Lake. Leased Land. $210,000
#1122 – KENNEBAGO LAKE: Incredible offering, the “Old Timers”
cottage at KL Camps! Community
beach, marina, tennis court. Largest FFO body of water in the state.
$358,900
TROTT REAL ESTATE
45 Ohio Street • Bangor, ME 04401
207-947-6979 • Email: [email protected]
www.trottrealestate.com
CHARLESTON: 13 +/- acres on private
gravel road, very secluded. Great spot
for hunting camp or snowmobiling. Small
brook runs through property. Located in
an area with many active farms. $18,900
– owner financing with 10% down and 8%
simple interest over 10 years.
LAKEVILLE - LOT A: 10 +/- acres with
250 feet of water frontage on Lower
Sysladobsis Lake; located in the heart of
Maine’s premier lake region, with ten cold
water lakes within five miles. This lot is
well wooded and private. Deep water just
off shore. Great salmon and trout fishing,
bear and deer hunting. $99,900. Possible
owner financing.
TROY: 47 Acres – nicely wooded with several clearings. High land with some views,
small beaver pond, long road frontage
on the Hatch Rd. (gravel road). Excellent
hunting, several thousand acres of town
owned land nearby. The Troy area is
beautiful with rolling hills and New England
farms. Owner Financing available $34,900.
SCHOODIC LAKE: LAKEVIEW – considered by many to be the premier lot on
Schoodic Lake. Located on the end of a
point with 770 feet of lake frontage, with
270 degree views across and up the lake
with distant forest and mountain ranges.
Includes new unfinished cottage with full
basement, 2 story, and lots of glass so
you can enjoy the beautiful views. Interior
needs to be completed. $259,000
WASHINGTON: 84 acres +/- in one of
Maine’s most beautiful areas of southern
Maine. Rolling hills with New England farm
houses overlooking pastures and acres
of blueberry fields. If you’re looking for a
getaway spot or a hunting lodge, this is the
ideal location Very secluded and private.
$59,900 with possible owner financing –
20% down and 6% simple interest over
10 years.
BUCKSPORT: 205 +/- acres, sportsman
paradise with trails for snowmobiling and
ATV; some of the best hunting in the state.
Frontage on small pond and stream running through the property. Has great views
looking south & west over rolling hills and
mountains. 20 minutes from Bangor and
20 minutes from Penobscot Bay. $79,000.
on pond. Great ATV access,
sleeps 4-7, linens supplied.
Fun spot for kids of all sizes.
207-745-2452
––––––––––––––––––––––––
TOMHEGAN ON
MOOSEHEAD LAKE
Waterfront, 4 season, comfortable and private log cabin.
Sleeps 5. Sportsman’s or family paradise. Call 207-5347712
FOR SALE
HUNTING CAMP
- WAITE, MAINE
Tomah country in northern
Washington county. Very secluded location. Deer, moose,
bear, and birds. Easy access to
four wheeler trails. Call 207467-3511 or 207-604-4708
––––––––––––––––––––––––
FOR SALE
Beretta 12 gauge semi-automatic rifle barrel. 24 inches
with Nikon 2-9x scope. Mint
condition. Includes 23 boxes
of slugs. $850. 617-569-3989
––––––––––––––––––––––––
RECURVE BOW
Wes Wallace one piece custom
recurve bow. 55 pounds @
28 inches. Never used. Great
deal. $325 Very firm. 978462-0836
––––––––––––––––––––––––
BEAR RUG
Open mouth, pay taxidermy bill. Never hung on wall.
$700. 302-584-4951, Fort
Kent, Maine.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
STEAL OR DEAL
20’ x 24’ unfinished cottage,
surrounded by 16 wooded
acres in Enfield, Maine. Starting $50,000. Call Ray 207794-6869
––––––––––––––––––––––––
COMPLETE HOYT
MAXXIS 30 HUNTING
OUTFIT
#50-60, 28”. Paid $1300, excellent condition with extras.
$500, 207-363-6435
––––––––––––––––––––––––
CRYSTAL
22 Acres. Surveyed, soil tested. Wooded, not cut over. Nice
spot for a camp. Possible owner financing. $24,900. 207267-4954
––––––––––––––––––––––––
FOR SALE OR RENT:
LOG CABIN
Log cabin on water, isolated
lease lot. WMD 10. Boat or
snowmobile access. ¾ mile
from truck road. For info or
photos, call 207-441-5484
––––––––––––––––––––––––
BEAR BAIT FOR SALE
55 Gallon drums. Sweet (donuts, cakes, etc). $100 w/ barrel exchange. 207-837-7847
––––––––––––––––––––––––
WANTED: SMALL CAMPGROUND/RV PARK
Send information and photo
to: D.R. Dobson, P.O. BOX
110074, Palm Bay, FL 32911.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
WANTED: DEER/MOOSE
SHEDS
Buying any size deer & moose
shed antlers/racks or antlered
skulls. All grades bought by
the pound. 802-875-3206
––––––––––––––––––––––––
REAL ESTATE
ELM STREAM TWP
Camp on 538 +/- acres. Wells,
septic. Stream runs through
land. Northwoods, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting.
$88,000. 207-746-3681
––––––––––––––––––––––––
254 BEAUTIFUL
WOODED ACRES IN
NORTHERN MAINE
Hunting, fishing, 4-wheeling
and snowmobiling. Foothills
of Mt. Katahdin. For information call 512-673-9230.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
WATERFRONT CONROY
LAKE MONTICELLO
MAINE
2 bedroom 1 bath $79,900
Fully furnished.
http://www.mooersrealty.
com/waterfront-for-sale/listing-8058.html#!conroy_exterior5
––––––––––––––––––––––––
STARKS RT 43
5 acres plus old house,
$23,900. 10 acres, $25,000.
Great hunting and sledding.
Call 207-652-2448
––––––––––––––––––––––––
HUNTER’S DREAM
30 acres, end of pavement
in Farmington. Hundreds of
acres to hunt on. Moose, deer,
birds. $40,000. Call Lisa 207684-2421
––––––––––––––––––––––––
ST. CROIX RIVER
House/camp- year round capabilities. 200 feet of river
frontage between dam and
U.S. customs. Vanceboro,
ME. $105,000. Call 207-5126807 or 207-314-8973.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
MILLION DOLLAR VIEW
2 bedroom, hilltop house in
Maine’s central highlands.
Breathtaking panorama of
lakes, mountains, on 59 acres.
Borders Appalachian Trail.
$ 429,500, owner financing
available on lots. WWW.
GREYLEDGELODGE.COM
MAINE
Sportsman
THE
is SEPTEMBER 5TH
Call 207-622-4242 to Advertise!
––––––––––––––––––––––––
LINCOLN, MAINE
- FOLSOM POND
Waterfron camp. 3.8 acres (2
lots- you can split and sell!),
2 BR, 1 BA. Propane lightd/
heat/hot
water/refrigerator/
stove. Electric available.
Loons, eagles, moose, owls.
Near ATV/ITS. PRICE REDUCED $115,000. Motivated
seller. 207-732-6969
––––––––––––––––––––––––
MATTAWAMKEAG
Camp on 28 acres. Power sewer. Kitchen & bath with loft.
New roof. ATV/Snowmobile
right from front door. Hunting.
$55,000. 802-775-0732
––––––––––––––––––––––––
DANFORTH
24’x30’ 2-story cottage w/
views of East Grand Lake.
20’ deck, 3-sheds, vinyl siding, tip-in windows, skylites,
3 bedrooms,1 bath, woodstove
and monitor. 10 +acres, private road, all furnished. FREE
WI-FI for life! $139,900. Call
207-897-6797 or 207-5211967
––––––––––––––––––––––––
GRAND LAKE STREAM,
ME
Barn for sale, 2 floors with
electricity, telephone line.
Reroofed & painted recently.
$30,000
908-322-4512
––––––––––––––––––––––––
SCREEN PRINTING
& EMBROIDERY
T-Shirts $6.00
Heavyweight 100% Cotton Pre-shrunk
Hats
$7.00
FREE set-up on orders of 72 pieces or more!
Prices on 36 pieces ($20 set-up)
Price includes garment and 1 color 1 location screen print
Rush Service Available ~ Call for free catalog
T-Shirts-Jackets-Sweatshirts-Sweatpants
Hats-Aprons-Totes and more
BERG ACTIVEWEAR
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
GLORIA A. HEWEY
R E A LT O R ®
Cell: 207-399-8553
Specializing in the Sale of
Recreational Properties
Waterfront Lots-Land
Hunting Camps
Sporting Camps
THROUGHOUT THE
STATE OF MAINE
[email protected]
www.gloriahewey.masiello.com
Call Me. It Doesn’t
Cost Anything To
Talk
852 DEXTER ROAD • CORINNA, MAINE
1-800-242-2374 • 207-278-7740
WWW.BERGACTIVEWEAR.COM
KINGFIELD. Farmhouse on 15 acre
and a barn. Riverside Street. $99,900.
NEW PORTLAND. Great hunting
get-away. Off Bog Rd. Like-new. Private. 1 bd 1 bath , screened in porch
on a slab, 1 acre. $59,000.
CSM REAL ESTATE
207-265-4000 • e-mail [email protected]
259 Main Street, Kingfield, ME • www.csmrealestate.com
CAMPS • WATERFRONT • LAND • ACREAGE • RESIDENTIAL
WORTHLEY POND: EXCEPTIONAL! 112 acre lot with large New Listing: #189 Near Bethel/
barn, gorgeous fi elds, many stone walls and awesome views in Andover Mt Dimmock on RugPeru. Property is located at the end of a town road with power at ged Road Great recreation lot with
roadside. Short distance to Worthley Pond public access. Wood- views of the Ellis River Valley. A
land still offers mature wood and lots of firewood for years short drive from the main road will
to come. A must see at only $105,000!
put you on your own 40 acres of
New Listing: Worthley Pond Access 2 ACRES with
private woods $49,900
paved road frontage on Packard Road. Very nice waReduced! Very well set up camp in Byron with
ter frontage on Thomas Brook
all the conveniences of home but in the
all with in walking distance to
country with great mountain views.
Worthley ponds public beach.
Easy access to ATV and Snowmobile
$12,500
trails. Located in the heart of the westWORTHLEY POND STORE:
ern mountains. $74,900
3.31 Acres with over 120’ of private lake
frontage. Opportunity for business or private New Listing: River frontage on the Androscoggin beautiful high ground with gorgeous
home site. A must see at only $175,000
views looking up river. Lot sits just off a town
WEBB LAKE WATERFRONT
maintained road very private 4 acres+/- priced
3.6 Acre Building Lot Web Lake Waterfront: A very rare at...$29,900.
find on the east side of lake. Property offers gorgeous
peninsula dotted with large pine trees lot over 425 feet of pristine frontage on the lake with building and
septic permits in place located on private drive. Start enjoying the sunset views...priced at $249,000
WELD
Exceptional potential with this 272 acre parcel offering 1083’ of road frontage awesome views and all
the amenities of the the western mountains like abutting MT. Blue State Park and the Webb Beach
Camping Area.Three major ski resorts and golf courses within a short drive. Here is your chance to
have a private land preserve for future generations. $295,000
MAINE
Sportsman
––––––––––––––––––––––––
HUNTERS PARADISE
-NEWPORT
65 acres. Fields and food plots.
Hundreds of wild apple trees.
Cabin, well, septic, gas appli-
RANGELEY PLT
3.8 acre wooded building lot
on year-round road with direct sled trail access, $65,000.
Please contact Caryn at City
Cove Realty 207-864-2500
––––––––––––––––––––––––
JUNIOR LAKE
WATERFRONT
4.8 acres, year round access,
electricity, approved septic.
$79,900. 207-336-2580.
Do call and see our large variety of listings. We have land from small camps lots to large timber lots.
THE
Advertising Deadline
for the OCTOBER 2014 Issue
ances, generator. $179,000.
508-420-3730
––––––––––––––––––––––––
PORTAGE LAKE
- OAK POINT
25+ acres. Surveyed Wilderness Peninsula, high and dry.
With total of 740+ feet waterfront. For sale by owner.
$26,000
207-458-6910
––––––––––––––––––––––––
PORTAGE LAKE- OAK
POINT
LOT 15 includes 100’ frontage. Water-accessible.
Surveyed. Warranty Deed and
access. $15,900 By owner.
207-458-6910
––––––––––––––––––––––––
MILO, PLEASANT RIVER
397 ft. waterfront, camp on
71 acres. New generator, well,
and septic. Private. Large
recreational area for boating, ATV’s, snowmobiling.
$114,900. 207-299-4999 or
207-943-2224
Online Subscriptions Now Available
1 year subscription: $14
or bundle it with a print subscription for $38!
A PDF link will be provided
BURNT JACKET SHORES AT
MOOSEHEAD LAKE
AN EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT WITH
A COMMUNITY AMBIANCE
Picture your getaway home in a private setting among other outdoor
enthusiasts. Experience nature’s unfolding story among friends.
Consider one of these unique properties not just as a building lot,
but as a place where you find it difficult to leave. A place that beckons you back to be with the forest, the lake and your neighbors.
PRICES STARTING AT
$99,900 FOR A LAKEFRONT BUILDING SITE
$89,900 FOR A WATER ACCESS SITE
INSTANT FINANCING AVAILABLE
SAVE TREES
ACCESSIBLE
ANYWHERE
Contact Wilderness Realty For All The Details 207-947-7957
or Matt’s cell 207-944-0510
www.wildernessrealty.com

The New Silver Bullet - Copper Fall Fishing

Transcription

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