Chimney Fire

This is a picture of what us Mainers call a "chimney fire". One takes an old hollowed out log, beech, cedar or other, as long as its dry. I suggest starting out with a two or three footer for the average camp fire. Get your fire going, then stand the hollow log up in the coals, you can place a few rocks or bracing of logs to help support if need be. This chimney effect will last for hours, burning at the rate of about an inch an hour...and give enough light to read by. Kids really enjoy the method and warmth, you can also put the grill for hamburgers on the top.

Maine Day's

This is a future Maine Guide, well it seems Chris is off to his usual self of attempting to help me. Lets see fish for togue at Hopkins during the day, then hunt bear in the evening. What a great season

Moose Shades

Take a close look, notice the antlers, like a shovel or shade. Actually very sad the other side was the same, except into the eye and on the side you can see it blinded the moose so it kept running into trees.

The Old Man

Click the picture to enlarge and read cover

ATV Registrations

ATV registrations need to go calendar year just like boats! We registered the darn thing in late May, forgetting that the registration runs July 1 to June 30, so they get ya twice a year for costs. Guess what happens if you forget?

MOMO

MOMO
I am pretty sure this is a Clifton term, as I have never heard it anywhere else. I also think Manny started the term. So what is a “MOMO”? Well a momo is just a word or term I would think, like look at that MOMO, or what a MOMO you are. You can also say hi MOMO. I have family members I call MOMO 1, MOMO2 and MOMO3, something’s depending on the action, your number changes. So I guess MOMO means doing something good, stupid, acting like an idiot, spilling your drink (your such a MOMO), goofing off (mud truck stuck in water) – what a MOMO. Or if you get all the fish – you’re such a momo. MOMO is not a swear word or a negative word per say, it’s just a word to describe something, a feeling or someone, so take it in stride you MOMO.

Fear of the Dark

Maine Professional Guide Manual – Fear of Dark

This manual and its opinions are directed toward anyone interested in Maine outdoor recreation. You could be studying to be a Maine Guide, a hunter, trapper, fisherman, hiker, camper, bird watcher, snowmobiler or just out for a day in the woods. I have written his book to help you understand the Maine woods and how to survive our weather and conditions.

One of the chapters is in the manual is titled “You and the Dark”. With over thirty years hunting, guiding and traveling Maine, I have found a common thread with a lot of folk. It is universal to all; from about age nine to ninety.

Folks are scared of the dark! To this day I am still attempting to find the answer as to why folks are scared of the dark? Did a parent scare the kids, is it too much Monster Quest, are we scared of some strange creature – maybe Bigfoot? How often do you hear of anyone being attacked by a creature in Maine, let alone at night? Never!

Why is it that if we are with someone else our level of fear and rush of adrenaline disappears walking a camp trail? Companionship removes just about all fear of the dark, as does a campfire. We continue to hear stories of hikers, hunters and other confused recreationalist running madly through the woods, searching for a way out. Lost is only a state of mind. You are only lost if you have a planned point of arrival scheduled, otherwise you are just touring or wandering around, much like window shopping at the mall. There is not a creature in Maine that will go out of its way to hurt you, except for two, the black fly and mosquito. Now you might have a coon, fisher or bear investigate the smell of your cooking bacon or food, but not in search of you personally.

How to overcome the fear of the dark: try lawn sitting and looking at the stars, listen to the noise, cracking of branches, walking, snorting, yelling, crying, splashing and chirping. Sit the edge of the woods near a field on a cool crisp night, the sounds are amazing. The mouse and night squirrel going across the leaves sounds like a herd of elephants in the jungle. Work slowly more into the wood line listening. To improve your vision, close your eyes and hold them closed while you slowly count to ten, now open them.

The picture didn't come out well - it was dark

Seboeis Mud Run

The last Mud Run of the year is scheduled for this Sunday at Seboeis! Located just outside of Lincoln and Howland. Over a 1,000 folks show up for the event last month and camping is allowed Saturday free of charge. It's $10 to enter and $15 a run per class and winners win cash. There is also the pig run, like a 50-50 put in a "pig bank" and thrown in the mud, then there is the girl scramble to win the money.


The events are fun, safe, lots of food and consessions. Basicly there is a 100 yard mud pit, who can go the longest in the shorest amount of time wins. There is no backing or driving out for safety. Your vehicle must have a tow hook and when done you are pulled back by the loader.

We are loading the grill, gear and tents, the entire tribe will be arriving with our Toyota's and Scouts, like eighteen of us.

Seboeis Stream
Sunday, September 12 2010
Location: Howland
Contact: Andy Cummings 732-3512

Seboeis Stream. Sun, Sep 12th, 2010. MMBA - Pittston (S). Sun, Sep 19th, 2010 GoDeepMud: Dirty Dawg Deep Mud (*). Sat, Sep 25th, 2010. Rt 4 Mud Runs (Deep) ...
mainemudruns.com

And We Think We Have It Rough

Remember the winter in Allagash two years ago

Does David O'Connor Still Fish

I had someone ask me the other day if brother in law, David O'Connor still fished. This picture of Dave at Telos with Togue should answer that question. In Fact he has a new book out.

Tent

Here we go again with another product, being a long time Coleman Weathermaster 12x14 cabin tent user I found it was time to replace the pipe tent for something newer. The Kelsyus OGO7 at 10x10 fit the bill and its instant set up. And I do mean instant set up, stake it, open the door step inside push the center up and done! Seconds it up, the fly hooks take the most time. It is billed as a 3 season tent and has straight walls...wow room like the coleman, but instant. It's like taking a bedroom with you on the trip and great from late night set ups.

Old Town Pack Canoe

Wow its small and light weight at 33 pounds. This boat has become Zach's and my favorite. It has handled many streams, ponds, lakes and rivers this summer, replacing the tripper, otter and loon. It is designed for a single person with a cane seat. I found it tippy and did a modification, installing a sliding kayak seat. So basicly I have a light weight open kayak. Last week the boys enjoyed the Machias, with young Jon Ledger sitting on the floor in the front as Zach paddled using a kayak paddle. I attempted to keep up with a loon and then an otter kayak, I couldn't.

I quickly tried loading the front of the boat with gear and set off up stream. I now have my new trapping and deer hunting boat. I tried using a kayak, but couldn't get the gear stored. Problem is now solved.

Fall Trapping

During this bear season I have been scouting hard for trapping spots, my sister in law has found summer fun, but taking the kids and adults out two - three times a week and calling coyotes around the county. It amazing how close they come out to the car! They don't dare to get out yet and call. But anyways beaver are everywhere, now if only we could find some pricing to make it worth the effort. Seeing a good group of turkeys, but few deer, partridge (be it very hot). The loons (floating coyotes) seem well at hand on the pond, at least in front of camp and they are getting alot more fish than I am.

I am wondering with the low water how the rats, mink and otter are doing, fish must be pooled, but clams at high and dry for the most part. I noticed the eagle and osprey at the same time perched over the Machias watching a pool for signs of fish or other meals.

Its hard in our local area since Mowatt Fur went out to get a great selection of trapping supplies and books. I did visit the Maine Military Store (Frank and Ryan) in Brewer the other day and they had a reasonable selection of material and traps. Ryan said lure, scents and more Duke's are on the way from Cronks. G. Brailey of Kenduskeag also sports a nice collection.

As for local fur buyers about the only one remaining around Bangor at least is Stevens Fur. This man has been around long before the days of Mowatt and knows his fur, be it he could raise his prices a little. Steven's also does Pow Wow's and has a number of damaged tanned hides at great pricing. I purchase tan fur for school projects and to give as gifts to sports that wish to hang something around camp.

I miss the days of Dave Gould and Pomery, boy I am getting old.

Solar Lighting

While I am not going "green", I have found a nice solution to some age old problems. Like no lighting in the outhouse or wood shed, no lighting in the run in at the pasture and most important no lighting around the tent at night so the kids don't trip on the tent ropes.

Solar lighting - you get a panel and three lights with pegs and mounts. You just drive them in the ground camping or mount on the outhouse. In fact I mounted two panels, size of a sheet of paper and six lights at camp. At 90 degrees outside, it was so nice not to run the gas lights and the extra heat generated by them. These lights are LED and very very bright, enough to read and cook by.

Then I purchased a single Westinghouse spot solar with built in panel. I leave it out during the day and have been using during bear season to get clients and track. Ready for this it goes all night and is as bright as a flashlight for tracking or seeing in the woods. It keeps going and going.

These lights are available at most all stores, like Lowes, Home Depot, Aubuchons, Wal Mart, but the best pricing by far has been at K Mart and the good thing, if not in the store you can have shipped to store from their web site. The bad news is they are not made in America.

I have done a little testing with the LED's, they store the sun power with three, 1.5 volt rechargeable batteries. So I cut and spliced a few wire, installed them with a six volt battery and switches to rooms in the camp....wonderful and no power or maintenance costs. They also work great with RV's or outdoor functions.

The pricing is great $17 buck for panel and three lights, they also have 50 string white LED for about the same price to decorate the truck, camp site or bear bait. Know how the shadows and such creep in on the bait, it is legal to use a light during legal shooting hours, install a solar spot on a tree and the bait becomes alive in low lighting conditions.

Only wish I had a portable solar charger for the truck last week at the Machias, it was a long walk out to get phone service. This is better than JC Whitney

PMR-30

PMR-30

I don't know if I have found anything magical or not, but here is a brand new .22 mag pistol holding 30 rounds. A great gun for not only teaching youth shooting, but for trapping and outdoor uses. It is solid and priced right. Released in the 2nd quarter of 2010 they are a little hard to find at the moment, especially made in USA, but check with Crosby Gun or Rick at Van Raymonds.

The PMR-30 is a light weight, full size pistol chambered for the flat-shooting .22Magnum cartridge (.22WMR). The PMR-30 operates on a unique hybrid blowback/locked-breech system. This operation system allows for the use of a wide variety of ammunition as it seamlessly adjusts between locked breach and blowback operation, depending on the pressure of the cartridge. It uses a double stack magazine of a new design that holds 30 rounds and fits completely in the grip of the pistol. The trigger is a crisp single action with an over-travel stop. The manual safety is a thumb activated ambidextrous safety lever (up for SAFE, down for FIRE). The slide locks back after the last shot and a manual slide lock lever is also provided. The light, crisp trigger pull and fiber optic sights make the PMR-30 ideal for target shooting and hunting small game.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Calibers: .22 Magnum (.22WMR)
Weight unloaded: 13.6oz. 385.6g
Loaded Magazine: 6oz. 170.1g
Length: 7.9" 200.7mm
Height: 5.8" 147.3mm
Width: 1.3" 33.0mm
Barrel length: 4.3" 109.2mm
Sight radius: 6.9" 175.3mm
Energy (40gr): 138ft-lbs 187J
Capacity: 30 rounds
Trigger pull: 4-6 lbs 17.8-26.7N



Slide and barrel are 4140 steel, frame is 7075 aluminum. Grip, slide cover, trigger, mag release, and safety levers are glass reinforced Nylon (Zytel), much like other Kel-Tec Pistols. Magazine is Also Zytel and holds 30 rounds, with round count ports. Other features include: dual opposing extractors for reliability, heel magazine release to aid in magazine retention, dovetailed aluminum front sight, Picatinny accessory rail under the barrel, Urethane recoil buffer, captive coaxial recoil springs. The barrel is fluted for light weight and effective heat dissipation. PMR30 disassembles for cleaning by removal of a single pin.

Machias Trip

The waters of the Machias are running low, so low that we could not even kayak the last two weeks. So low that just above the West Branch beavers have built a dam completely across the river, about three feet high, which I am sure will not last during high water.

Over the past month of camping at Airline Rips, lower and upper West Branch and Number 10 (wonderland) I am pleased to report limited use and great folks. While now under the direction of PL (public lands) it is hard to use an ATV the area is still great.

The time has come to get a Machias River Group together, one that cares for the sites, raking, cutting brush back, trimming, cutting grass, outhouse care, adding a few lean too's, installing sign boards with maps and history of the river. You can go to any site in Canada and they look exceptional, but our sites rate low. We want to attract vistors and allow users to enjoy a Maine camping experience, but we do little to boost this effort.

We all talk about Restore Maine and the same of the paper companies, I think just the opposite, it was wonderful when land ownership was in the hands of the paper company. The lands were open and free to use, camping and ATV use was allowed, woodsman always gave direction and insight to hunting and fishing holes. Roads were maintained and again it was all on the backs of the paper companies like St. Regis and Great Northern.

Now we are so restricted and the rules continue to grow, yet site improvements lack for attracting visitors and locals. The Machias is Maines longest free flowing river providing excellent camping and views.

As for the fishing - poor, lots of bass and river chub's. From spring to now, few trout, in fact bass are above the bridge at the west branch now. There are no salmon and doutbfull there will be again, yet we are spending millions to improve stream conditions for fish that don't exist.

Recently, a few weeks ago, an fire broke out at #10 on the island, so new lush green growth will be starting over the next few years.

From Third Machias to the Wigwams to Holmes Falls we can do much with site improvements. I so much would like to apply for grants to make the sites attractive and useable, but with all the paperwork, studies and regulations I would never see it completed.

Game Warden's Job

The subject of a job description is usually left to union contracts and bargaining, especially when it comes to state employees. In some cases the legislator or Augusta directs what state employees can or can not do within the scope of their work. An example is the fifty or so Forest Rangers covering Maine, with some of the best working radio communications and field, wood wise, common sense employees. Yet even tho the statutes are clear on their law enforcement authority they are restricted by Augusta on enforcement. Even tho allowed, they don't have firearms, do arrests, do stops, check boats on waters or fish and game violations. Why? Sharing of resources between agencies such as Forest Rangers and Warden Service like helicopters and stations is tough, turf issues I suppose, even General Libby who worked so hard to break down the sharing of equipment couldn't help.

So here we have some of the best trained field state employees, covering all the woods and waters of Maine, yet restricted in enforcement. What a great asset to assist with milfoil and such.

Now lets look at a Game Warden, with the same powers and triple the manpower of the rangers and with more toys, gagets and goodies than you can shake a stick at. The statutes are very clear on why fish and game wardens were created and what their purpose is - fish and wildlife protector, they ARE NOT state troopers, DEA, border patrol officers or local police. Yet time and time again they are spending time enforcing or doing agency assists (so called) and more and more getting involved with the stand off shooting and the taking of life. Fish and Game has lost total sight of the mission of a Maine Game Warden. The blame for this rest clearly with the head of the warden service and has for years. One only need read the internal review or material offered by Sportsman Allinance of Maine. We need our fish and game wardens doing the mission they are regulated to do - the commissioner of fish and game should do the same as commissioner of conservation and write the policy on what warden can and can not do - what is the mission objectives. If you have ever had a dealing with a warden and a forest ranger - did you notice the difference in the approach and demeanor, is this because they don't carry a firearm? Forest Rangers developed and trained most all state employees in ICS - Incident Command System, GPS and tatics when dealing with people, so why are we restricting. I may not agree with our governor on various issues, but on this one, both should be mergered to create a Department of Natural Resource and Protection Officers. License's and such should be moved to the Bureau of Professional Licensing and hatcheries should go private (avoid the DEP fines). I listened to a warden recently comment that he couldn't do the job in the time alotted. I remember when a warden without a new 4 wheel drive, without GPS, snowmobile, ATV and aircraft, snowshoed into a pond to check camps and leave a business card. Or the days when a warden knew the best fishing hole or helped stock fish in ponds. These days need to return and the direct of a warden should be that of wildlife protector and educator.