Coyotes Kill Fawns and Pets

Coyote’s Kill Deer

Another deer season is coming to a close, only a few more days of muzzleloader season remain. For us in Maine, that north of Augusta, the search for deer continues. There are just no deer, especially downeast. Oh yes there are a few pockets here and there, but overall deer have disappeared.

Camp talk goes from spraying to loss of winter yards to coyotes. In the daily travels we find plenty of food and bud tips, but no deer.

In the few days we had snow the crew hunted hard around Chick, Jellison Mountain and Molly Road. What we tracks we did find, within a few steps we also found coyote tracks running or following the deer. Snow makes things quiet and reduces the deer’s ability to smell, especially during the storm with whirling winds.

I’ve often thought that coyotes are a major cause of our deer problem or lack of fawn survival which is critical to our deer herd recovery.

Do bounties and award programs work, while they may not eliminate coyotes they certainly would reduce or hold their numbers in balance and allow recovery of the deer? According to tagging reports only about 2,000 coyotes are harvested annually in Maine.

Fawn survival is the critical part of the equation. So beside’s the wolf, what else is reducing our fawn survival? Bear and bobcat? Studies have shown that while bear and cat may have impact on fawns in May and June, it is not near the level as the coyote. It should also be noted that bear and cat were roaming the woods when downeast was the deer capital of Maine.

Then I picked up this month’s issue of the American Hunter and there was an article by Patrick Durkin on how Coyotes Affect Deer Herds. The article was talking about studies in Eastern and Southern States, states including South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama to name a few. Reports are showing that more that 74% of fawns may die before they are six weeks old, with coyotes likely responsible. Have coyotes learned to identify doe behavior when fawns are nearby, enough to learn to pack up and search out the fawn? Has our fawn survival done from 2 fawns to say 3 does to more like one fawn to twenty eight does? If so where does this leave the State of Maine and our deer herd?

The time has come for a reward and bounty system, at least enough to cover the cost of gasoline for hunters and trappers. We need more hounds man running the coyote and more guides performing predator calling. I’ve heard calls that bear are the problem, I just don’t see the evidence that a few bears have destroyed region after region of deer.

It is also time to take some of the Lynx funds and collar deer and study the impact of coyote on fawn mortality. IFW has not in any fashion been proactive in protecting and preserving our deer herd from the threat of coyotes! Why? The issue always comes back to funding, our license costs are up and sales are down – why, no deer, no hunters. But we continue to spend thousands to allow wardens to perform duties not related to their mission or purpose. The calls are coming for consolidation and budget cuts – heck if wardens want to be a state trooper, swat member or local law officer then maybe it is time for consolidation.

SAM might want to explore the labor work records and see how many hours a year the warden spends in a deer yard reducing coyote numbers or perform animal control to reduce their numbers. It is also reported that as part of the Lynx study coyotes are captured, collared and released!

The coyote is a killer and top of the predator line that is now established in Maine. Wolf’s once roamed the Eastern range, having a large territory and harvesting a variety of foods. But without the wolf, coyotes spread east quickly in the early 1900’s and established themselves as the leader.

Studies also show another chain reaction. Wolf’s won’t tolerate a coyote; the coyote won’t tolerate fox, fisher, marten or bobcat. In fact coyote compete with the fisher, cat, fox, lynx and marten for the same small game such as rabbit, squirrel, frogs and deer.

Being so concerned about Lynx, which have been in Maine since early time, we should be concerned about how the coyote is affecting the Lynx recovery but removing the food so critical to the Lynx survival! Maybe a federal grant is available to help recover the Lynx by removing the coyote.

Cold Weather - Beaver Trappers in High Gear

The cold weather puts beaver trappers into high gear. While open water trapping provides many opportunities, the ice makes remote bogs and pond more accessible when searching for Maine’s largest rodent.

IFW works to ensure a balance between the ecological role of beaver in wetlands, the desire of landowners to limit damage to crops and roads, fisheries in rearing of trout and allowing recreational opportunities for trappers. The number of beaver state wide is increasing and the need for removal of nuisance beavers continues to increase as the department has cut back its animal damage control program because of funding shortfalls. Thus landowners are taking on more responsibility and costs in removing nuisance beaver.

I live in an area with a number of trappers, including myself. Yet on the state route we have resident population of beaver that seems never ending. I am pretty sure they work their way from Bradley via Blackman Stream to Chemo Pond to Sibley and Trout brook. These waterways flow through a number of backyards and public roads. A resident on Route 180 enjoins the services of animal control on a regular basis to keep the road, pasture and drive open. It seems that this family of critters likes to construct its dam under the signal lane bridge, weaving mud and sticks into the top decking. On a number of occasions, as live trap removal of the colony, Zach and I will assist the owner and remove the dam. Yet within weeks another group arrives and starts the process again.

The average price of Beaver over the last ten years has been running $14 - $25 per pelt. The harvest data for the same period has ranged from 7809 to around 12,000 annually, with a season of harvest from November to April.

There are a number of facts in limited harvest, low prices, high gasoline costs, poor ice conditions and weather conditions.

IFW has been working hard to encourage more trapping of beaver to lower damage and nuisance issues, while some of these measures have provided more interest, it hasn’t been enough to reduce nuisance complaints. It wasn’t long ago that wardens were called to “blow” the dam and remove the problem beaver. Again those days are done, because of time and money…I might buy the money issue, but not the time issue of the warden, but back on track to trapping.

Fisheries science and trout rearing also play into the trapping and removal of beaver. We have all fished a beaver flowage for a few nice trout and that is just about what happens, a few nice trout. Trout require a gravel bottom in running cool water to spawn and hatch eggs. Once the dam is built and creates the impoundment, trout do grow because of the increased feed, but they can’t sustain the population in future years due to the loss of spawning redds. Thus fisheries in most cases like to see brooks and streams remain free of obstructions.

Large beaver dams also create a threat to towns from dam wash out in heavy spring rains. Historical data has shown a number of cases with damage from the eight foot dam wash out.

Beaver create channels in the mud/gravel from the house or bank home the “feed bed” and fed areas. The backed up water may on be a few inches deep, but the beaver cut a channel a few feet deep in the bottom to sneak in to the feed areas. This allows the beaver to remain under water and protected from attack. Beaver is a favorite meal to bear, wolf, cougar and coyote (wonder if we have wolf and cougar in Maine?) in the state. However most of taking by bear is incidental or in the spring when bear are out of den and beaver kits are just starting to explore the nursery.
The use of beaver is not just for the use of the fur; in fact beaver is one of the most utilized animals in the country. The tails are considered a delicacy for food; the meat is utilized as general food which is high in protein or for dog supplement. The teeth, claws and skull is sought for medicines and crafts, overall the beaver is completely utilized.

Most common method of trapping beaver is by use of the conibear instant kill trap called a 330. The conibear is like a large mouse trap that is either baited or placed in a run, again much like a mouse trap. Other method includes using underwater snares and pole traps. The average price of a 330 conibear is $18-20 per trap.

IFW, paper companies and towns maintain lists of nuisance beaver locations and encourage local trappers to remove problem beavers. While this is a great place to start we need to scout areas beyond the local waters and move to the headwaters. Many of the nuisance beavers are juvenile’s that have dispersed from the main colony.

There are special laws pertaining to beaver trapping, some of which regulate trap size, must be 10 feet from the house or den, five feet from a dam and four feet from another trap, traps must be labeled and tended.

So we have found our flowage that we wish to trap and a channel that runs away from the house. We need to set the trap at least ten feet from the house (there is a special method for measuring distance from the house on ice – go figure) and at least four feet from another trapper. Thus we should set a trap at ten feet and fourteen feet. This pushes the next trapper back to at least eighteen feet from the house. Notice this puts trappers on a first come first serve when trapping.

I prefer to use conibear, placed in fence style. This means cutting a trench in the ice across the brook or channel and putting sticks to create a guide toward the trap area. The trap is wired onto two poles with cross braces. I not only label the trap, but write my name on the top of the pole and wire a tag. This saves another inspector or warden from having to chisel the ice and remove the trap to inspect the tag.

The trap is lowered into the channel, using care to insure no accidental spring, just like setting the mouse trap.

Setting a 330 trap is no easy chore, nor do you want to have it snap back on your arm. There are safety built into the trap to avoid this but on occasion snaps happen.

I recall venturing out on thin ice at Buzzy Brook in search of a few beaver. In tending the trap, I cut the inspection hole. The inspection hole is cut to check the trap and saves opening a full trench if not needed. I water was dark and murky and I couldn’t clearly see, so like a fool I reached into the water thinking I was feeling in front of the trap for fur, when SNAP, now my arm was locked in the 330. Ever tried to chisel ice one handed, with your other hand underwater. The next step was attempting to remove the trap one handed, which failed so I had to drive into Old Town and have a friend open the trap so I could get my arm back. I wasn’t dumb enough to inspect 330’s with my hands again.

My beaver trapping extends now for the kids who have junior trapping licenses and enjoy working the ice holes and building the fences, they also enjoy the extra spending dollars for the holidays.

Traps are checked on a regular basis and fur removed. Once out of the water the beaver are rolled in snow to soak up the water and protect the pelt. The removal of a trapped beaver is like taking a mouse out of the glue trap. The trench must be opened by chisel or chain saw (no bar oil) and the fence removed. However as winter progress and ice thickens, the saw bar will not reach and the hole is opened by hand.

Once you have gathered your fur, there are two choices, put the fur up yourself (preferred method) or sell the beaver in the round. Most trappers work their own fur, skinning and fleshing the pelt. Pelts are sold individually to a fur buyer or at auction. I remember selling fur to the likes of Pomery, Gould and Mowatt Fur. In fact one of the oldest and wisest fur buyers in Maine is Mr. Stevens who once worked for the famed Mowatt Fur Company. His prices are fair and stories priceless.

Trapping supplies are available at Cronks, Maine Military and a few local dealers.

Wolf Case

I received a request to find the article and offical report on the last wolf harvested in Maine. As I mentioned we had watched this animal and one other for over a year prior to it being taken. I am having the offical IFW report that I obtained under the freedom of informatin act scanned. But below is one of the articles published by the BDN regarding the 81 pound confirmed wolf.

Signs Suggest a Return Of Timber Wolf to Maine
Published: December 22, 1996 BDN
ELLSWORTH, Me., Dec. 21 — The caller told the game warden, Debbie Palman, that he had killed a very large coyote, but when Mrs. Palman saw the animal she knew right away that it was something else.

The big chest, long body, large head and the weight -- almost 82 pounds, more than twice that of the average coyote -- and other markings appeared to identify the animal as a timber wolf or a wolf hybrid.

Its presence on remote timber land several miles north of here in a sparsely populated part of northeastern Maine has fueled speculation about whether timber wolves are migrating down from Canada, more than a century after they disappeared from the state.

If genetic tests under way at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's forensic laboratory in Oregon determine that the animal is a timber wolf, generally known as the gray wolf, it will be the second one killed in Maine in recent years. In 1993, a bear hunter in northwestern Maine shot what tests later identified as a female wolf.
Wildlife biologists plan to conduct tracking surveys this winter to look for more signs of the animals.

Game wardens have also asked hunters to look carefully before shooting anything that appears to be a coyote. ''If our department had suspected there might be wolves in Hancock County,'' Mrs. Palman said, ''we could have done a better job educating hunters and trappers.''

Gray wolves are on the Federal endangered species list in the 48 contiguous states except in Minnesota, where they are listed as threatened. Killing an endangered wolf is punishable by a year in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.

About 75 miles, including farmland and the St. Lawrence River, separate Maine from the nearest wolf packs in the Laurentian Highlands of Quebec, said Craig McLaughlin, a biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Although icebreakers keep the St. Lawrence open in the winter, it can freeze over at times, which would allow a small group of wolves to cross.

Wolves feed on moose, deer and beavers -- all of which Maine has in abundance, said Daniel Harrison, an associate professor of wildlife economy at the University of Maine in Orono, who has studied both wolves and coyotes.

Private groups are already actively promoting the restoration of the wolf's population. One of them is Defenders of Wildlife, an organization based in Washington that spearheaded the successful campaign to reintroduce gray wolves into Yellowstone National Park, has advocated their reintroduction into New York's Adirondacks and parts of New Hampshire and Maine.

While the program in the West has angered ranchers who fear for their livestock, the idea of bringing wolves back to Maine has been opposed by hunters who do not want more competition for game. Some hunters seem to feel differently about wolves that arrive on their own.

Phil Phillips, a gunsmith at Willy's Gun Shop in Ellsworth, where the wolflike animal was killed, said he had never seen a wolf but would not be surprised to learn that the elusive creatures were here. ''It wouldn't be so bad to have a few around,'' he said. ''It might be kind of neat.''

Thin Ice

This is a wonerful time of year, where one can fall asleep with the pond wide open, only to awake and find the winter lock of ice in. Amazing!!! Then a slight dusting of snow covers the lake adding more beauty. Adults want to fish and trap, kids want to skate and play on the ice. I have always felt that through the various season special alert eduction should be provided in our schools to kids on the dangers and hazards of various seasons. Thin ice is the first, the thin ice and freezing water is not like spring bee's, poison ivy, wet rocks and glass on the beach. One crack and the adventure can turn to disaster. I would ask that each of you take a moment and educate the young about checking the pond ice out at this time of year. A common mistake is following the dog running across the ice with its weight spread out on four feet and weighing much less or attempting to "go" rescue the dog that went through the ice. Education is the key...knowing what to do in case one goes through and how to call for help are keys to winter safety.

Duck Again

After thirty some odd years of ice fishing Duck Lake, progessing from winter camping in trash bags to tents to the luxury of an ice shack I thought the old man finally had outgrown this lake and trip. But at young age of 68, Hayward or as most of you know him, PeeWee awoke a week ago with the strongest desire to retire for the winter to Duck once again.

As we hunted the ridges around Jellison Meadow I could tell his mind was elsewhere. As the turkey roasted, the skill saw was running, for five non stop days work has been underway on the "new shack". Complete once again with bunkbeds, portapotty, counter, LP gas light/heat, sink, counter, stove, radio and this time $400 custom sliding windows. In addition it looks like shelves, mirror, mini ref and storage...and all this packed into a 7x12 building.

The annual event involves moving the shack to the landing at Duck late in December, usually he wants to get going Christmas afternoon and never fail by the 28th he wants to at least get her into the cove on whatever ice there be.

Because of the lack of movement with the state to purchase an easement or right to the 32-00-0 access at Gassabiss Stream it is a long haul to Enfield and Nicatous, that or sled from Route 9 or ride an ATV. But if the snow flies, the ATV trail is now a sled trail, so no ATV. If you trust leaving your vehicle on the 32-00-0 and riding in, hope it doesn't snow while you are fishing or again your are locked until spring. The hike to Duck is now a chore, but those chores create memories for years to come, abeit a hard trip for kids who want to go fishing.

So as you wander in the true remote woods of Maine, those bounded by Route 9 to Route 6, come join us for a cup of coffee and good story swapping.

Memories - John Hammond

It was a typical cool November night, 26 degrees, crystal clear, star bright and still. Zach, "blue" and I were slowly working our waay down a frosty old woods road in search of a few raccoons. Watching a dog work in this fashion is part of the joy, her nose searching the air for scent when suddenly the tails starts moving, then her rear is twitching and the paws are needing my leg....within moments her brawling voice is openning and screaming, let me down I need to run....and off in bounding leaps she gone, almost running on her hind feet as she reaches for the stars and more scent. This was a scene for years gone by and last night. Another bluetick with the same name as one from over twenty years ago....and the memories came flooding back. My partner tonight was my son of thirteen years....but years ago it was one of the most dedicated houndsman and avid outdoors I knew...John Hammond and his Redbones....I would hammer my blue against those dam redbones anyday now or then, at least that was the way John and I bantered back and forth. John passed years ago from a rare skin disease, way too young. But to this day, I carry his memory and his picture with that dam redbone isn't far away. In those few short years John's tales could fill volumes, especially the day the dog followed the cat down in the ledges, then jumped out leaving the down far underground with no way out. John spent days feeding and sleeping with the dog until he could chisel a hole by hand in rock to get his beloved redbone free....I know my search tonight is guided by both hound and houndsman...

Moose Puddle

MOOSE PUDDLE
1980 – Moose Hunt Starts
1982 – Lorin's Permit
1996 – Snookey’s Permit
The adventure actually started in 1980 when it was legal once again to hunt Moose in Maine. This is a lottery draw permit system, Lorin and I have put in for a permit every year since 1980. Finally in 1982, Lorin and a friend of ours Joey DeRosche, which was Lorin’s subpermittee, got their permit to hunt Moose. Their zone was northeast. So we packed up all our gear, Lorin’s great list and my Dad’s old stripped out Scout to haul the big game. I went along for the trip to help out and do the women thing of taking care of camp. We ended up in Hersey, hunting the big fierce Moose. If memory serves me correctly, it was a warm week with lots of rain. We hunted every day, seeing a few moose from long distances and a big old Black Bear that just happened to cross our path, he got away. We got a little worried come Thursday and no Moose yet, all the pre season Moose had disappeared. Joey spotted what appeared to be fresh Moose tracks crossing the road. Eagerness and anticipation renewed we parked the truck and walked in. Their “he” was standing in the middle of a beaver bog. Lorin fired his 308 without a moment’s hesitation and took the Moose down with one shot where it had stood – in the middle of the pond. Here comes Joey on a dead run over to Lorin, when Lorin looked over and saw a huge bull standing looking at him a few yards away, probably wondering what all the commotion was about. Boy what temptation can do to a man. This bull was at least twice the size of the one down in the pond. Luckily Lorin was good at controlling his or we would have had a dilemmia on our hands trying to explain two Moose to our friendly wardens.
Well, we shot the Moose in the middle of the bog and the only thing sticking out of the water was one horn. No one wanted to get wet and fight the blood suckers. We tried throwing a rope to no avail. So I volunteered, but the guys didn’t want me to show them up so Lorin waded to the moose and dragged it or floated it to shore. Now the fun begins, after dressing out the Moose, we had to get it out to the truck! So Lorin, Joey and I all had rope harness and three beers that we sat every ten feet, we could have a beer when we got the moose dragged to the next can. I had the middle harness, and gave pull, I slipped with my new jeans and the boys pulled the moose over the top of me….nice cavity. Boy was that a treat and a lot of work. Well anyway we got the moose home. Lorin lived in Bangor in a much respected neighborhood across from the Eastern Maine Hospital. No one was real pleased with a moose hanging in the Willow tree in the front yard.
As you all know there was a lot of controversy over having a moose hunt and Lorin got his permit the year before the big vote in 1983. We gave away a lot of moose meat to persuade some of those votes. Being the radical Lorin can sometimes be, he couldn’t resist putting on his trucks tailgate “Eat Moose 10,000 coyotes can’t be wrong.
So it turns out we got to keep our moose hunting rights.
We continued to put in for our permits and after fourteen years it was my turn. I got my permit and Lorin was the subpermittee. I was so excited and couldn’t wait for October 7th that year to arrive. The zone I picked was southeast for the reason that we lived on Alligator Lake and own the sporting camp and do guiding. It was close to home and I have been watching a nice bull who had been handing around our home. Well the day finally came and so our true adventure begins, Lorin and I left the house bright and early Monday morning, the weather was great and we had high hopes and lots of determination, parked and called, drove a lot of roads and managed to see one bird, but no moose. All that pre season scouting and all the bulls were once again gone. We had to go to Bangor to replace a shock we had broken bouncing down roads. Tuesday we were doing a little bit better, we drove down one road and stopped by Alligator Stream and Lorin walked down to take a look while I waited in the truck, the next I know he is running up the bank, “get your gun quick” he said, well I am out of that truck like a shot, down over the bank I go and there is a huge cow with a calf. I just watched her walk out of my scope; I wanted to hold out for that bull I had been watching, so we continued traveling all the side roads and magin – no moose. It was getting late so we decided to head home, by way of the Stud Mill Road from somewhere down by Sabeo and down the road runs another cow with a calf, not really legal game since legal shooting had ended. Then we are 27-00-0 almost home and there is another cow and calf standing in the road. They saw us and the calf takes a left side of the road, and the cow heads down the road and turns in our driveway. I couldn’t believe it – maybe it would run into the cooler. So we were skunked for Tuesday. Here comes a new day and hopefully better hunting as we drove roads were there were none and walked bogs – brooks and hardwood ridges and to no avail. No moose, but we did see three birds and one doe in a clear cut. We got a few pictures of her, as deer are few and far between now out this way. I was getting discouraged because I really didn’t want to be one of the few that didn’t get a moose. Being a woman and all, I felt I had something to prove. We decided come Thursday morning to drive first thing and if we didn’t see anything we would take a canoe down Seven Mile Brook in Aurora. The weather wasn’t all that great, but what the hell we weren’t getting anywhere road hunting. So we load the canoe and drove down to Seven Mile. Arriving at the brook, we unloaded the canoe and packed the gear. Down Seven Mill Lorin paddled while I scouted for my moose. See I was lucky I had a Master Guide and he assured me we couldn’t miss by canoeing, there would be moose all down the brook. Down the brook we went over beaver dam after beaver dam and twisting water, there is a camp down the brook with an access bridge over the water, we had to portage as the bridge is just off the water. Then there were more beaver dams, an old rip logging dam and shallow water with rocky bottom and we had to drag the canoe. It was a gorgeous place to stop because of the huge rocks and hardwood ridge, perfect fall color, absolutely beautiful. We rested for a few minutes taking out and enjoying the rip, even though it was on the damp dreary side. All of sudden I heard this crashing noise along the right shore, so Lorin swings the canoe so that I am facing the shore, we see the shape thru the dense brush by shore and at first I thought it was a moose. So I am standing up in the canoe trying to get a better look and Lorin is telling me to sit down and not to shoot yet. Well as I got to looking I turned and said BEAR. Lorin never heard me say Bear, he thought I was still looking at what I thought at first was a small moose getting a drink a few feet in front of us. So I couldn’t fire and then the bear crashed off, I turned and asked Lorin why he didn’t want me to shoot the bear, he says what bear? I didn’t hear you say bear and since when do you listen to me anyways, you should have shot. Well whether I shot or not, it was exciting to see a bear that close. Well after that bit of excitement we continued on down to the old foot bridge which is fallen apart (this once was the way to an early village). It must have been about a four mile trip from the 29-00-0 road. Anyway by this time because I wasn’t paddling as I was cold and frustrated at not seeing my moose and it looked like spitting snow. So we decided to head back up stream, Lorin put my gun under his seat in a case so I could help paddle to warm up. We were talking and paddling along for about a couple of miles. And we came around a corner of the brook where it spread out wider and behold there was my moose my Master Guide had promised. Excitement that is felt hardly explains the feelings. I am screaming at Lorin to give me my gun that this moose wasn’t getting away. Boy they look a lot bigger than they are at a distance. Anyway Lorin passes me my gun and he's trying to tell me to wait until he puts the canoe to shore so we don’t tip over but I never heard him. I fired the first shot, never felt the gun kick as it usually hurts my shoulder when I practice with it. It’s only a 7mm 08 Remington bolt action, great little gun. Back to the story, so the moose faltered in the water and headed for shore, I went to shoot again but forgot to eject the empty shell. Lorin was telling me to shoot again, but I just so use to shooting a semi auto. The 2nd shot he was on the shore, I thought he was heading for the hardwood ridge and didn’t want to loose him. So I handed my gun to Lorin go make sure the moose stayed put. Lorin put the 3rd shot thru the neck and down he went. After I calmed down the work began. We field dressed the moose and finally got the moose rolled into the canoe, we had a radio with us and tried to get some help to get this moose out, but no one answered on the company repeater. Funny how your friends disappear when there’s work at hand. So with moose loaded, I am setting on the moose’s neck, antlers between my legs and I am trying to paddle. The canoe is off kilter because most of the moose’s weight is on the left side of the canoe. We had to get the moose out in a brook that ending having eleven beaver dams, a rift dam, a bridge and shallow water. It was the longest two miles of Seven Mile Brook I have had to paddle, we made it after dragging, pulling, straining muscles we never thought you had, but that bull came out whole. Not quartered and it never fell out of the canoe. After finally getting back to the road we hooked on to the canoe with the pickup and pulled it up the bank and down the road to a turn around so we could figure out how to load the dam thing since rigor had set in and the moose was now modeled to the canoe shape and wedged tight. We come-a-longed the canoe with moose still in it into the truck, breaking the rack off the truck in the process. All loaded we headed for Wesley and Cloud Nine Dinner to tag our well deserved moose. At the tagging station they had a map of where all the moose had been taken, every road we had been on showed three or four moose taken. People look at you kind of funny; like why did you go to all that trouble to shoot a moose, I guess it is a story of a life time and fun, we were looking for a story with a little more of a twist to it and we got one with pictures to prove it. The ironic thing about this that I also shot my moose on Thursday at 1pm, which was the same time and day Lorin got his fourteen years ago. One last not that nice bull moose we had been watching pre season is alive and well as we saw him in the door yard on the way home from town Saturday the last day of moose season, standing with a cow and calf. He knew he was safe legal shooting had just ended, wonder what deer season will bring.

Bluejay the Bluetick Hound

Well another coon season is here as of midnight the 31st. Bluejay is house bound hound was ready to travel the roads and orchards to hunt, as was young Zach. Flashlights, gear, coffee, .22 and hound were loaded in the truck at 10:30pm for a joyous night of hearing the voice of the hound running the ridge on a cool fall night. I turned onto the Molly road and Blue was hanging hard out the window, usually she likes to hunt out of the defroster vents placed on cool with fresh air. As we slowly moved down the road hoping to get a scent drifting by I heard a bang on Zach side of the truck, then again. I moved Blue so I could see what was going on, thinking Zach was doing something. Then I noticed he was fast asleep and his head was bouncing off the window every time I hit a rut....that was quick only a mile from the house. I stopped the truck and Zach asked what I was stopping for...your asleep was my response, I was! We continued a few more miles and Blue started prancing and digging her toes into my legs, try driving old loggin roads with an 80 pound excited dog on your lap. Then she struck and let loose, I openned the door and out she went baying...Zach woke up again and said lets go home I am cold and then asked where Blue was, hearing her voice charging off directly toward a rather large bog. She is a good dog and I was able to holler and break her off the track, I got her leashed and headed back to the truck. By the time I turned around and headed home, Zach and dog were stretched out across the back seat under a few coats, both seemed exhausted and were sound asleep. So much for the fist night out.

If you really want to spend quality time with a person, you need to get yourself a coon hound and hunt. Pack the rig with snadwichs, snacks, treats for the dog, and cofee. Dogs can hunt from inside the truck, a rack on the front or box on the bak, when not walking the dog along trails or fields. Spending hours with a friend or loved one traveling back roads at 5 mph all night is really a trill. Tons of wildlife, no one else around and there is nothing like the sound of a hound trailing a coon on a cool fall night across the ridge and into the wet bogs of Maine

Days Gone By!

Crossing the Union River from Great Pond Road or coming down the 23-00-0 from the Stud Mill was always a treat. Traveling and crossing Hinckley Brook, Dead Stream produced a bird, deer and maybe a bear. This once was a well traveled road used by logging and recreation. The old boiler tubes made a heck of a base for the bridge. Those days are now gone as the bridge as been washed out and the remains pulled. Now we must loop around to 01-18, maybe the River Road can once again be openned.

Turkey and Deer

While I am only an armchair biologist, I would offer that there is not enough food in most of Maine for both Turkey and Deer. My property has a large number of Oak trees'. The mast crop is falling hard, especially when it hits the barn roof. Usually there are six or so deer working the acorns through out the day and night. The turkeys however live in the tree's and clean up the mast crop, at times I think before it hits the ground. There is no question in my mind that the turkey directly competes for the same mast crop as the deer.

Moose Season

Only hours until another Moose Hunt in Maine gets underway, scouting the area and having the ability to get in the outback and retrieve your game is important. The old scout tractor is ready for action.

Is it Really Fall!

Tripping from Vanceboro to Loon Bay on the St. Croix River System. The veiws are unreal, maybe a bird or duck, fall colors, and few folks working the water. Time for one last trip before ice.

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.

Hunting book on line

You will notice a new link on the page to my book Maine Black Bear Hunting.

New State Discharge Law

Getting ready for the season I was target shooting the other day at my range as I and the family has done for years when a state trooper showed up. It seems a neighbor complained and that I was to be informed of the new law on discharge of firearms. Previous law allowed you to target shoot on your own land, and yes I have a back stop. The new law requires you to 100 yards, 300 feet from any type of building or storage area. Well yes there is a building on my neighbors that was within the 100 yard rule. So the range is shut down until the farm tractor can plow another pile of dirt 20 yards out. Make sure you know the new rule, 100 yards regardless of property ownership

Amherst Mountain Plan

Outline below is the information regarding the 5,000 acres of property the state is now holding. As expected things are changing from "the way Maine was". The company has blocked 22-00-00 so no access and now it is blocked from Fletcher Bluff and PC lands. So if you are out fishing, hunting, traveling and such to Bald Bluff or camp to fish, there is only one way to enter the property now and if coming cross country you can not exit out to route 9 anymore. So if driving from Old Town, you have driven 45 miles only to dead end block feet from route 9.

Dear Interested Person:

The Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands invites you to attend a Public Meeting on the Amherst Mountains Community Forest Management Plan on July 13th at 6:00 p.m. at the Bangor Motor Inn & Conference Center located at 701 Hogan Road in Bangor.

The Amherst Mountains Community Forest (AMCF) is a unique state-municipal partnership involving 4,974 acres of forestland surrounding six ponds in the town of Amherst. The parcel was acquired by the Maine Department of Conservation with assistance from the Forest Society of Maine in June of 2009, with funds from the Forest Legacy Program, the Lands for Maine’s Future program and numerous charitable foundations and individuals.

This Amherst Mountains Community Forest Management Plan will append the Bureau’s Eastern Interior Region Management Plan, providing resource protection and management guidance for this property over the next 14-year period. The Plan has been six months in the making and has included a public scoping meting, two Advisory Committee meetings and a focus group meeting with the Town of Amherst’s Community Forest Committee.

The purpose of this final Public Meeting is to receive feedback on a Final Draft Management Plan. BPL staff will present an overview of the proposed plan, followed by an opportunity for members of the public to offer comments.

More information on the management planning process is available at http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/planning/amherstmountains/index.shtml. The Final Draft Plan will be downloadable from this website by July 6th – one week before the Public Meeting. Written comments will be accepted until July 27th – two weeks after the Public Meeting. After this comment period, the Final Plan will be prepared for review and adoption by the Commissioner.

Please contact me directly with questions, requests for paper copies of the Final Draft Plan, or written comments.

Thank you,

Misha Mytar, Senior Planner
Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands
P.O. Box 343
Sullivan, ME 04664
(207) 460-4818
misha.mytar@maine.gov

Downeast Brooks

Wow I had a nice feed of brook trout last night. The boys had been down route 9 on a brook near the Machias and found some nice fourteen inch fish in the fast water. The brook was off the 52-00-00 road near the West Branch. Talk about another wonderful campsite, both Airline and West Branch are not used much time of year, nor during deer or trapping season in the fall and they are free to use.

Allagash and Chamberlain

Well back for another trip to Chamberlain and Telos Lake. Water level was fishable, but the temperature was over 90 degrees and unbearable. I love the area so much I had applied for a ranger position on the waterway, so the kids and I decided to make a week of fishing, while also doing the interview. The other campers and gate folks must have thought I was nuts changing into a suit and walking around the campground getting ready for the interview. My good friend the Fire Chief in Bangor once told me that if you can't dress up one day in your life for an interview, something was wrong. So in the pouring rain, I cleaned up, shaved and put the suit and tie together, along with black loffers.

After the interview we fished Harrington Lake, there is brand new boat ramp to Harringon, on a shale road base (another flat). At the outlet of Harrington Katahdin Forest has a wonderful campground with lots of sites - in three days no other parties were present. The road to the dam has been gated this year, but the gates are down and the water level is back up to the way it was a few years ago, adding about six feet more water around the lake. Harrington is a deep lake at the south end with wonderful views of our big mountain, trout, togue and white fish roam the lake, along with cray fish. We saw no other boats or fisherman.

Since it was so hot, I tried to keep the tent cool and did not install the rain fly. Remember Murphys Law, while it rained and rained starting at 2am, enough to fill the tub of the tent and all the sleeping bags before we could get a fly up - we had a tough time finding the fly at 2am, so a trip to Millinocket to dry gear and eat at Pelletiers Log House.

Chamberlain and Telos are our prime fishing holes, at the south end of Telos out in front of High Bank and up the lake across from Lock Dam. As we hit the big lake in our 19 foot boat I openned the motor up, seeing a few canoers paddling the shore I went to throttle down - no luck the boat was wide open and roaring. So I pulled the emergency switch to kill it. It appears that the rotted throttle cable I meant to replace last year had let go. So in standing on the rear platform I cut the cable and went to work with a pair of vicegrips. I had Zach start the boat as I attempted to smoothly operate the power - no luck, back wide open again - the live bait being trolled at 30 mph was not happy, nor was I as I was standing on the platform holding on for the ride. Next thought was using a string to pull the throttle forward as it spring loaded to return. I was hoping to troll at 2mph, this didn't work either, so we limped back to the campsite, loaded and headed home.

Bear Baiting

Well here we are on the eve of another bait season. Thirty days until season opens. If you haven't had a chance to read my book "Black Bear Hunting and Baiting" there are a few still on sale at Blue Seal Feeds or you can read it for free online at the home page (in word).

I would like to offer a few suggestions to the sportsman in search of a black bear. First bait sites are hard to come by, if you are on land other than yours, you must have permission. Most large landowners, especially paper companies charge a fee per bait site of $100 and bait sites are leased on a square mile basis. Baiters can get pretty terrorial to say the least, especially when paying hundreds of dollars to lease a site and are responsible for all liter and tresspass laws. So please take care and make sure you have proper permission and labeling of your site in accordance with the law. Having bait sites, closer than a mile apart result in overlapping of the bear to multiple baits and in fact reduces chances as the bear can get all the bait it wants.

This is a berry year, meaning there is a lot of natural food for bear. That is both good and bad for the baiter. It may take a little extra to get your bear coming, but once it finds you then it is important to keep the bait coming.

Type of bait and lures to use is as wide open as the size of the bear. How the site looks and the clean up is important to me. I perferr to use natural baits and ground cubbles with logs. This results in no mess and no litter issues. A lot of folks use barrells/drums and all sorts of products. This creates a huge mess and lots of work, when all you need a 3 lb coffee can of bait a day or so. Remember the black bear stomach is relatively small, not much bigger than a few donuts. Bears are not meat eaters, in fact they perferr grains, nuts and grass over carrion. Not to say the beaver doesn't work well.

Thought should be given to the amount of bait you will need and how you plan to tend the site once started. I go through about (2) drums per bait per year, or 5 gallons a day at a hard working site, this is pasteries. Natual bait can be done with a coffee can a day. So really think this through, do you really want to get pasteries that are wrapped and the work that goes into that. If you elect to do this, I would suggest moving the television outside, get a board three feet long, rest the board on your chair or stool and drive a nail in between your legs. You can slice a package open on the nail, bend and dump to a pail on the right side of the chair and put the wrapper in a pail on the left side of the chair. This is redneck baiting.

Location of site is the next step and takes a while to learn, I can all but bet when you find an area, someone else already has permission or is nearby. Study topo maps looking for wet holes/swamps and ridges of beech nuts. Think that is you were 300 pounds with a fur coat where you would want to be in 70-80 degree weather. The law requires that bait sites be at least 50 yards off a trail or road and there are other restrictions on dumps and such.

Next we will talk locations and tending the site. You can get all this and more in the book for free. Remember Know The Law!

Deer Permits

Reminder that you have only one day remaining to send in for your any deer permit, or if done on line until August 16th. If you can read this you can do the on line permit request and its free!

Hopkins and other waters

Well ice is out and we put have put the boat in a few times at Hopkins, now listen we are hard core fisherman and not one to be skunked at Hopkins, but twice now, no fish, no strikes and ZERO on the finder. Water temp is 45 degrees and high. We hit bottom, top, middle and even hugged shore - ...brooks have a produced a few small trout.

Night Fishing

As we searched for smelts, I stopped at every brook, even non smelt ones just to check things out. And once again we forgot a fishing pole. Every brook we stopped at had trout holding in its waters, nice trout. Mike was shocked "I didn't know they swam at night!" What the hell do you think they do, sink or float, actually trout and salmon prefer to eat and swim at night.

The Smelt Trip

Well we made the trip down Route 9, Mike, Gramp, Zach and me in search of "smelts". We found trout and splake in every brook, a few pickeral, moose and moose, but no smelt - only gated roads.

The Conditions

The weather again - proposed heavy rain for the next few days, but at 11:45 pm Sunday its snowing and staying! Into Jellison to see if we could fish, now consider that every pond and lake checked so far is clear of ice. Nope not the camp pond, iced in solid, enough we can walk on it and drill holes - amazing. But being in the valley and protected from any sun, I can understand such.

I hear the salt water smelts are running on the Penobscot, loved fishing Brewer, but now with the new rip rap they have destroyed the fishing spots.

Beaware you can only keep 2 trout from lakes and ponds in Hancock County, new regulation.

Gear List

Recently I have received a couple of emails asking me to reprint my gear list. So here it is, do with as you wish. This is my gear list and how I store them in totes and dry boxes. You may see a few items listed more than once, that is because they are common items and I can reach for them in any box. Good trails!!!
ON PERSON – VEST/JACKET
0 Handkerchief 0 Cell Phone 0 Compass
0 Water 0 GPS 0 Firearm/Ammo
0 Glasses 0 Leather man 0 Lighter
0 Money 0 License 0 LED Light

DAY/GUIDE PACK – GENERAL USE (camo)
0 Knifes 0 Cylume 0 Survival Kit
0 Fire Starter 0 Water 0 Rope
0 GPS/Spare 0 Towel 0 Flashlight
0 Cup/drink 0 Maps 0 Marker
0 Toilet Paper 0 Cat Eyes 0 BU Compass
0 Chap Stick 0 Foil 0 Flagging
0 Aid Kit 0 Lighter/candle0 Bug Dope
0 Trash Bag 0 Trail Mix 0 Mirror
0 Zip Lock 0 Sharpener 0 Spare Glasses
0 Binoculars 0 Wipes 0 Batteries
0 Paper/Pencil 0 Head Lamp BU 0 EPI Pen
0 Peroxide 0 String Line 0 Fold Saw
0 Strobe 0 Candy 0 EM Blanket
0 Whistle 0 0

CHUCK - UTILITY BOX – MASTER TOTE (gray)
0 Notepad 0 LP Tree 0 LP hose (2)
0 LP Tank 1lb 0 Fish Maps 0 Lighter Fluid
0 (2) Lanterns 0 EM Radio 0 Flask JD
0 Hotdog Sticks 0 Hand Saw 0 Grill Regulator
0 Paper Towels 0 Zip Ties 0 Cook Oil
Box 1 – Inside Master
0 Flagging 0 Toilet Paper 0 Shampoo
0 Bug Dope 0 Vinegar 0 Soaps
0 Bleach 0 Trash Bags 0 Table Cloth
Box 2 – Inside Master
0 Zip Lock 0 Water Filter 0 Cribbage
0 Scrubber 0 Matches 0 Mirror
0 Candles 0 Nylons 0 Nails/Kit
0 Duct Tape 0 Fire Starters 0 Mantles (tub)
0 Rope 0 Lighters 0 AA Batteries
0 Cylumes 0 Solar Lights 0 Stove Hose

KITCHEN KIT – York Box (green)
0 Pots 0 Skillet 0 Silverware Kit
0 Utensils 0 2 Red Bowls 0 Bowls
0 Strainer 0 Aid kit 0 Cups
0 Cut board 0 Matches 0 Plates
0 Creamer 0 Sugar 0 Tea

KITCHEN KIT 2 – York Box (green)
0 Plates 0 Cups 0 Silverware
0 Bowls 0 Hang organizer0 Dish pans
0 Salt/Pepper 0 Hammer 0 Tub of bags
0 Napkins 0 Flashlights 0 Rope

***all totes taped or bungee corded, not needed on York Boxes

TENT PACK – Rubber Maid (gray)
0 Rain Fly 0 Air Mattress 0 Air Pump
0 Tie Downs 0 Tarp 0 Power Convert

0 Dust pan 0 Door Mat 0 Repair kit
0 Tents 0 Tent Poles 0 Tarp poles
PERSONAL KIT – Big Blue Dry Bag
0 Socks (4) 0 Pants (2) 0 Shorts
0 Long Johns 0 t-shirt 0 Underwear
0 Slippers 0 Towel 0 Reading Book
0 Shave kit 0 Hat 0 Jacket
0 Gloves 0 Flannel Shirt 0 Turtle Neck
0 Rain Gear 0 Swim Trunks 0 Spare Glasses

SPECIAL ITEMS – AS NEEDED
0 Chain Saw 0 Axe 0 Boat gas
0 ATV 0 Throw Rope 0 Spare Gas
0 Boat/Motor 0 Paddles 0 PFD
0 Kayak 0 Cooler/Ice 0 Sleeping Bags
0 Waders 0 Jump Start 0 Booster Cable
0 Hand Saw 0 Sleep Mach 0 Sun Block
0 Spare Plugs 0 Siphon Hose 0 Tarp Bucket
0 Cameras/video 0 Batteries 12v 0 Power Convert
0 Plaster Equip 0 Meds/Viatims 0 Port Radios
0 Tackle Box 0 Maps 0 Fish Poles
0 Net 0 Crayfish trap 0 Worms/Bait
0 Fish Vest 0 Gallon Water 0 Radios FRS
0 Boat Oil 0 Auger 0 Tote/Sled
0 Snowshoes 0 Snowmobile 0 Climb Gear
0 Come a Long 0 Skinning Kit 0 20lb LP
0 Aid Box 0 License Box 0 Straps/Rope
0 Moose Kit 0 Spare Tires 0 Plastic Roll
0 Clothes Pin 0 Shovel 0 Folding table
0 Flares

IN TRUCK – When Guiding or Tripping
0 Binoculars 0 Radio 0 Ear Protection
0 Leather man 0 Knife 0 Rope
0 GPS Tom/Tom 0 Maps 0 Toilet Paper
0 Aid Kit 0 Throw Rope 0 Gallon Water
0 Flashlights 0 Vest 0 Rain Gear
0 Sock 0 Gloves 0 Flagging
0 Wipes 0 Cylumes 0 Day Pack
0 Trail Mix 0 Paper 0 Tool Kit
0 Stand Box 0 Stand Harness 0 Tag Box

FORESTRY PACK – Yellow Box
0 Adaptor 0 Spanner 0 Flagging
0 Headlamp 0 Water 0 Cylumes
0 Trail Mix 0 Gloves 0 Aid Kit
0 Hardhat 0 Goggles 0 Ear Protection
0 Shirt(2) 0 Pants 0 Radio FRS
0 Handkerchief 0 Boots 0 Chap Stick

Things you need to bring on the trip

0 Air Mattress 0 Sun Block 0 Camera
0 Snacks 0 Sleeping Bag 0 Socks (4)
0 Pants (2) 0 Shorts 0 Sweat Pants
0 T-shirt(2) 0 Underwear 0 Croc/water
0 Shoes 0 Games DS 0 Tooth Brush
0 Towel 0 Reading Book 0 Hat
0 Jacket/rain 0 Flannel Shirt 0 Turtle Neck
0 Meds/Vitamins 0 Chap Stick 0 Fish Gear
0 Girl Stuff 0 Medications 0 Razor
0 Deodorant 0 Cell Phone

My First Aid Kit
0 Medications 0Tri Bandages 0 Roll Bandage
0 Tape 0 Wipes 0 Gauze pads
0 Napkins 0 Swabs 0 Tweezers
0 Safety pins 0 Scissors 0 Bee Sting kit
0 Sinus Meds 0 Compresses 0 Splinting Material
0 Ipecac 0 Band Aids 0 Antibiotic Cream
0 Calamine lotio0 Peroxide 0 Eye Wash
0 Stethoscope 0 CPR mask 0 Gloves
0 N95 mask 0 Hot/cold pack 0 Soap
0 Aspirin 0 Thermometer 0 Mole skin
0 Motrin 0 Cold Med 0 Tylenol
0 Vicks Vapor 0 Micro Shield 0 Witch Hazel
0 Q tips 0 Tums/Rolaids 0 Super Glue
0 Ace bandage 0 Epi Pen 0
MEAL PLAN – GROCERY LIST
BREAKFAST Cereal, Oatmeal, Pancakes, Egg/Ham-Bacon, OJ, Toast, Soft Boiled Egg
LUNCH Ham, Tuna, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Hotdogs or Pressed Meat with Chips, Noodles
Chop Suey
Steak
Hamburger
Ham Steak
Chicken Legs
Mac Cheese
Hotdogs
Chili
Pasta - Spaghetti Rice
Asparagus
Beans
Corn Cob
Noodles

SUPPERS
Rolls, Potato Salad, Potatoes, Beans, Noodles, Brownies, Hard/Soft boiled eggs, apples, cheese, snacks, candy

0 Bacon 0 Beans 0 Chips
0 Eggs 0 Bread /Buns 0 Cereal
0 Cheese 0 Crackers 0 Coffee
0 Steak 0 Bisquick 0 Fruit
0 Hamburger 0 Creamer 0 Honey
0 Corn on Cob 0 Marshmallows 0 Noodles
0 Chicken 0 Juice 0 Pop Tarts
0 Sandwich Meat 0 Hot Coco 0 Tuna
0 Butter 0 Mac Cheese 0 Sauce
0 Hot Dogs 0 Oatmeal 0 Macaroni
0 Milk 0 Peanut butter 0 Potatoes
0 Ham Steak 0 Rice 0 Cup Soup
0 Sausage 0 Crystal Ice 0 Can Soup
0 Salads 0 Syrup 0 Vinegar
0 Sunny D 0 Crisco 0 Cukes
0 Pancake Mix 0 Spaghetti 0 Rolls
0 Onions 0 Drinks 0 Tomato
0 Condiments 0 Smores Stuff 0 Sugar
0 Bars 0 Snacks/Candy 0 Jelly
0 Mustard 0 Relish 0 Mayo
(BOLD) items require ice/frozen cooler.
Suggest that meals be prepared at home and frozen.

Mud Season - Respect Landowners

Well congratulations to our IFW and Governor, they have openned fishing a week early, this was done to allow fisherman a few fish. See the Lake Buzzard is already back "the loon", they get about 8 pounds of fish a day, more than you and I will.

But I am writing to remind you that mud season is here and many of the places we fish we must cross private lands and or paper company lands. GMO has closed, gated and locked all roads until May 15th so early fishing will do little for us. Crashing these gates or finding a way around them only makes things worst. The roads get rutted and destroyed and landowners get very pissed off.

So you mud truck boys and fisherman, please find some hot top fishing spots for a few weeks until things dry out.

FISHING OPEN EARLY - GOV SIGNS EM LAW

Open Water Fishing Season Opens Early
March 25, 2010

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES & WILDLIFE 284 State St., SHS 41, Augusta, ME 04333 www.mefishwildlife.com Main Number: 287-8000

MEDIA: For more information, call IF&W Spokeswoman Deborah Turcotte at (207) 592-1164

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 25, 2010

Open Water Fishing Season Now Open

AUGUSTA – Open water fishing season is now open under an emergency law signed by Gov. John E. Baldacci today, Thursday, March 25, 2010.

All lakes, ponds and brooks are open except those with specific opening-day regulations that start after April 1 as listed in the 2008-2009 Open Water Fishing Law Book.

Bag and size limit rules contained in the 2008-2009 Open Water Fishing Law Book also apply.

The emergency law is in effect until April 1, 2010.

A new fishing law book that combines ice fishing and open water fishing rules, including several new regulations, will become effective on April 1, 2010. Distribution of this law book began a couple of weeks ago and is available where fishing licenses are sold.

“People have been anxious to drop their lines given that ice fishing season ended too soon in some parts of the state, with many lakes and ponds experiencing early ice out conditions,” Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin said. “We’re happy to provide this opportunity to anglers, and remind them to be mindful of early spring cold-water conditions by being safe.”

Open water fishing season historically begins on April 1 on most waters of the state. Because of unseasonably warm weather opening up waterways in many counties and strong public interest in wanting to fish, Maine Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Oxford County, sponsored emergency legislation to start the season early.

“Let’s go fishing!” exclaimed Sen. Bryant, upon the Governor’s signature of the bill.

Emergency law opens season today (March 25), but 2008-2009 rules apply until April 1

Emotional Distrubed Fishing Laws, New April 1

People, kids, family and friends want to fish, most of the time they could care what they catch. There is a new 2 year law book out, the rules take effect April 1st and are designed to create revenue for the Green Monsters – called the Warden Service.

This is the most confusing 104 law book ever written and it will keep lawyers and courts busy for years to come. We call it “emotional disturbed” laws, written by a college educated fool, with the help of SAM. We’ve got CI, CO, B, A, Eastern, Southern, Northern, open water, ice fishing and more (S) regulations than any sane person could understand.

We want to fish year round, all waters, including brooks and streams. What would happen if we didn’t ever have any ice for ice fishing? People writing regulations should sit down and think from the mindset that we don’t have any ice and go from there. It could be very simple, does anyone in Disgusta look to other states that get ice and allow fishing year round, both through the ice or open water?

Fishing would be permitted year round, by either trap or rod. A fisherman is allowed three rods or traps. (no longer two rods, or two or five traps - three period). You can stand on shore, or ice, on your head for that matter, fish in a boat, canoe, kayak, sit on the ice or drill a hole, but only three rods or traps or combination of, but no more than three. The current special lakes just force people to get a big party together to put out more traps and rotate fishing holes.

The limit on salmon, togue and trout state wide from lakes and ponds is two, unless special regulations allow the taking of a higher limit. A person may have four trout from brooks, streams and rivers, unless special regulations allow a higher limit. All trout and salmon caught from October 1 to December 31 must be released immediately.

Night fishing is allowed year round.

Trout must be 6 inches, salmon 14 inches, and togue 18 inches.

Slot laws don’t work – the loons get the bigger fish anyways and fish caught in the slot, especially through the ice have a high mortality rate, so just keep two fish. That or dead fish are stuffed down the hole or packed away and taken home. If stopped oops, ahh I caught these at…just come up with a lake that is open without a slot law.

Amherst Mountain Plan

The Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands invites
you to attend a Public Meeting on the Amherst Mountains Community Forest
Management Plan on March 17th at 6:30 p.m. at the Bangor Motor Inn &
Conference Center located at 701 Hogan Road in Bangor.

The Amherst Mountains Community Forest (AMCF) is a unique
state-municipal partnership involving 4,974 acres of forestland
surrounding six ponds in the town of Amherst. The parcel was acquired
by the Maine Department of Conservation with assistance from the Forest
Society of Maine in June of 2009, with funds from the Forest Legacy
Program, the Lands for Maine's Future program and numerous charitable
foundations and individuals.

The purpose of the Public Meeting is to collect information and to hear
comments from the general public regarding the management of this
parcel. Public knowledge of the region will help shape the plan, which
will provide resource protection and management guidance for this
property over the next 15-year period.

An Advisory Committee has been formed to provide additional input and to
review drafts of the plan. A second public meeting will be scheduled in
June to receive feedback on a final draft. Comments are invited
throughout the planning process.

More information on the management planning process is available at
http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/planning/amherstmountains/index.
shtml. Please feel free to contact me with questions or to submit
written comments.

Please circulate this invitation to interested parties.

Thank you.

Misha Mytar
Senior Planner
Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands
P.O. Box 343
Sullivan, ME 04664
(207) 460-4818
misha.mytar@maine.gov
www.parksandlands.com