January 2007 Almanac

This Month: You Can Still Find Places to Fish, But It’s Realy Rabbit Hunting Time

Jan. 1 kicks off ice fishing for game fish species — salmonids and black bass.

The big news this month, though, is snowmobiling — an economic lifeblood for rural hamlets. By New Year’s Day, you can depend on snow cover in the North Country and Down East.

Ice shacks spring up on coastal rivers and streams as water freezes, fishing huts for folks after spawning rainbow smelts, an anadromous species coming up from the ocean.

Tunneled fir thickets and swamps draw rabbit hunters with their hounds as they take advantage of Maine’s 6-month season that runs from Oct. 1 to Mar. 31. Back in late November, the 27th to be exact, rabbit hunting hit full swing after deer season closed.

Bobcat season started back on Dec. 1 and continues through Feb. 14.

Fox and coyote draw folks afield now as they set up on field, clear-cut or lake shores and call these canines with distress calls. Some sweeten the allure with bait and even a coyote decoy. Fox season started Oct. 16 and continues through Feb. 28, but coyotes are fair game year-round.

Sea-duck season lasts for a long time, and this year offers us no exception — Oct. 2 to Jan. 31. It really produces world-class sport, too, off Maine’s rocky coast and islands.

Tidal rivers and streams, a handful of inland rivers and one stream stays open to rod-and-reel fishing year-round and attract a handful of participants.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing attract followers, who head to the woods and fields in search of adventure. Snowshoers like to follow tracks, those wonderful stories written in snow.

Scenic photographers can’t miss on sun-splashed mornings after a snowstorm coats everything in white. Don’t forget the polarizing filter, though, or hot glare will ruin the photos.

Wildlife photographers target songbirds at feeders, bald eagles at gathering areas where wardens throw carcasses for bait and waterfowl where ducks gather — the big three for the long-lens set during the white season.

The unofficial fly-tying season is roaring along full bore right now.

Some folks build new rods, others clean reels and yet more folks sharpen hooks on lures during this slow season.

Evenings are long, ideal for cooking gourmet meals with spoils from woods and water.

What are two of Maine’s best kept secrets?

…Dates dealing with the moose and any-deer-permit system lotteries. As of this writing in early November, permits for deer will be available in mid-January and for moose in late January. Last year, the any-deer-permit submission deadline was July 17 for snail-mail and Aug. 4, 11:59 p.m. for electronic applications. The moose lottery deadline fell on April 3 in 2006. It’ll probably be the same dates this year, but for more information, call 1(207)287-8000, a Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife hotline.

Next Month: It’s Nicer In February, But Not Enough to Notice

February in Maine means more of January — just with more light and higher temperatures.

Snowmobiling continues and northern and Down East hamlets do brisk businesses as sledders crowd the North Country. No one would dare chance getting a room on the weekend without a reservation.

Ice-fishing also booms, and this month, a handful of blue-ribbon waters open where January anglers could not legally go.

Smelt shacks on the coast have plenty of ice now and crowds are normal, particularly on weekends.

Rabbit hunters head to fir thickets and swamp bottoms as this long, long season rushes toward its close two months from now on mar. 31.

Bobcat enthusiasts have until shooting time closes on Feb. 14.

Predator hunters chase fox and coyote all month. Fox season closes Feb. 28 but coyotes are open year-round.

Beaver trappers over part of the state work flowages now, hoping to get a pile of pelts.

During February thaws, open-water fishing in tidal rivers and streams and a handful on inland rivers and one stream draw anglers, most of them — surprisingly enough — fly rodders.

The fly-tying season continues.

Open-water anglers head south for saltwater angling and black bass. A few of them head to New York for steelhead running rivers that flow into the Great Lakes.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing draw dedicated exercise buffs.

Sportsman’s shows are running in states south of Maine.

Wildlife photographers have songbirds, waterfowl and bald eagles.

Scenic photographers have gorgeous winter wonderlands after snowstorms.