December 2006 Almanac
This Month: No Rest for the Maine Sportsman in December
The dark, festive month once struck Maine sports folks as a time of rest and reflection after a busy fall of fishing and of chasing bears, waterfowl, upland birds and deer.
These days, though, December has turned into the busy man’s month.
For starters, in the 1990s, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife extended the season for grouse, pheasant and gray squirrel through Dec. 31, a month more of hunting beyond the old Nov. 30 closing for those three species.
The muzzleloading season for deer statewide runs from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, and the second week of the season continues from Dec. 4 to Dec. 9 in Wildlife Management Areas (WMDs) 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 29, roughly the bottom third of Maine.
The expanded archery season for deer in special, designated areas kicked off way back on Sept. 9 and continues for three months until Dec. 9.
The North Zone of the duck season runs from October through Dec. 9, and in the South Zone, the second half of the split duck season goes from Nov. 13 to Dec. 23, a late season closing unknown to hunters in the 1970s.
Canada-geese hunters in the South and North zones have the same time frame for their season.
Sea-duck hunters have an incredibly long season that kicked off Oct. 2 and continues straight through Jan. 31.
Rabbit season started Oct. 1 and ends one-half hour after sunset on Mar. 31, but the unofficial start begins after snow flies, often the first or second week of December in the bottom third of Maine.
Fox season opened Oct. 16, but like rabbits, serious fox hunters wait until after the deer season closes and/or until snow flies. This season runs through Feb. 28.
Coyote hunters with predator calls, bait and/or decoys are also fox hunters as a general rule. Either species is a welcome sight in the sights.
Raccoon, skunk and opossum seasons run through Dec. 31, and naturally, the first critter, Mr. Masked Bandit, attracts far more attention than the last two critters.
Bobcat hunters chase this predator from Dec. 1 through Feb. 14.
Snipe hunting began in early September and continues until Dec. 16.
Ice-fishing kicks off in December for perch, sunfish and pickerel as soon as ice freezes.
Some rivers and one stream in the crowded bottom third of the state have year-round seasons for open-water fishing, and folks take advantage of unseasonably warm afternoons.
Tidal waters are also open to fishing, and DIF&W stocks brown trout in places such as Ogunquit River near the ocean.
A handful of folks in the know catch harbor pollock in December.
The unofficial fly-tying season starts in earnest in the 12th month and continues through the winter as folks frantically replenish boxes or tie new patterns.
When snow flies, scenic photographers have dramatic backgrounds. Before snow falls, browns, grays, blacks, pale conifer greens and textures created fantastic mood shots.
Long shadows make December a great month for photo shooting in the outdoors. Even at noon, there is no flat light.
Wildlife photographers find animals on the move now — waterfowl, deer, moose and so forth — a great month with far fewer hunters in the woods.
Snowmobiling booms in the North Country now as snow collects early.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing kick off now.
December heads the list of months for tracking critters because shallow snow works great for walking in the woods on a trail — the real-life story of the animals’ movements.
Next Month: Let It Freeze, Let It Freeze, Let It Freeze!
In a Maine January, the big news is snowmobiling, snowmobiling and more snowmobiling as motels and lodges around northern hamlets fill every weekend. This sport has saved Northern Maine economies.
Ice-fishing kicks off Jan. 1 and closes Mar. 31. In the first two weeks of this season, anglers take many fish that qualify for the One That Didn’t Get Away Club, making this period and ice-out the two major times for catching trophies.
Commercial smelt-shack operators on coastal rivers and streams do a brisk business as soon as ice freezes safe enough to hold people and shacks.
Bobcat season kicked off Dec. 1 and continues until Feb. 14.
Fox hunting started in October and runs until Feb. 28.
Fox hunters also welcome coyotes responding to predator calls.
Rabbit season really picks up after deer hunting ends and continues through Mar. 31.
Fly tiers work frenetically as spring nears.
Some folks choose winter to build a new fly rod.
Anglers clean and lubricate reels, sharpen hooks, clean and wax rods and do other chores to prepare for April Fool’s Day.
January means full-blown winter from Kittery to Fort Kent, so cross-country skiers and snowshoers are out and about.
Scenic photographers have startlingly beautiful settings after fresh snowfalls.
Wildlife photographers have waterfowl on the coast, songbirds around feeders and bald eagles in certain feeding areas.
