Archive for the ‘Almanac’ Category
Posted on Monday, January 25th, 2010 by Maine Sportsman
~ THIS MONTH ~
February Offers More of January…With More Sun
As far as cold and snow go, February offers more of January – about the same temperatures and snow as the first month…just more light.
In January, the average high temperature in Portland drops slightly below freezing but nudges above that mark in February, but who notices in the dead of winter? It still feels cold because much of the time, the thermometer does stay below freezing for much of the day, particularly when working folks are out on the job.
By the second month, though, snow has piled up from Kittery to Fort Kent. In early January, years do pass with little snow in the South Country early in the first month – say New Year’s Day and a week or two into the New Year.
Just how much more light do we have?
On the winter solstice on Dec. 21, Portland has nine hours and 47 minutes of daylight or about eight hours and 47 minutes of time between the actual sunrise and sunset, but by February 21, those time frames look vastly different when daylight lasts 11 hours and 38 minutes and 10 hours and 38 minutes between the actual sunset and sunrise. By March 21 on the spring equinox, the sun gives us 13 hours of light, depending on latitude, and 12 hours of actual sunlight between the sunrise and sunset.
By February, snowmobiling booms across Maine because of the assurance of snow, and North Country hamlets thrive now as folks flock to small rural settlements and fill motels and sporting camps, and in the process, sledders eat at all the restaurants and stock up at convenience stores.
Studies show snowmobilers are big spenders and rural Northern Maine depends on these folks. Snowmobiler dollars save places like Rangeley, Jackman, Patten, Fort Kent and other small hamlets that floundered in winters before snowmobiles became a fact of life in the Pine Tree State.
Ice-fishing, rabbit-hunting and smelting tidal rivers flourish now as do other snow sports such as snowshoeing and cross-country.
Winter reminds us of the late Bill Silliker who shot images of bald eagles, wintering deer and waterfowl such as the rather rare Harlequin duck that winters here. This man worked hard through the white season in the Pine Tree State, getting images that still run on The Maine Sportsman’s cover from time to time.
Not only can folks shoot wildlife photos now, but a group of aesthetic types loves to get scenic images now, particularly after a sticky snow that covers trees. No one can go wrong shooting scenes after a big snowstorm.
Two activities in a Maine winter never get enough coverage – despite their immense popularity:
• Folks tie flies through the winter while dreaming of spring, a fun pastime that fills those fly boxes that looked depleted last fall.
• Folks have long nights to cook fancy meals with the spoils from the woods and waters – and folks do get fancy with venison roasts served on china and accompanied by excellent French wine in crystal wine glasses.
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Tags: February 2010 Issue • Categories: Almanac, General
Posted on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
*** THIS MONTH ***
Winter Smashes Down on the State
In December, snow may strike outdoors folks as an iffy proposition in the bottom third of the state, but come January, the white stuff will be smashing down. In the North Country, though, winter proves business as usual. Snow has been piling up since late November or certainly early December.
Ice forms on waters across much of Maine in December, and ice anglers can get out and fish now – even for trout and salmon. It’s catch and release though, until January 1.
One part of ice-fishing receives little press, but should. Tailgate parties before football games have nothing on meals on the ice. Fancy venison and sausage recipes, potato dishes and far more sizzle over campfires or camp stoves.
Snow brings on many activities this month, beginning with snowmobiling – a sport that has earned a critical place in Maine’s rural economy. Make no mistake, folks. Sledders are big spenders compared to cross-country skiers, according to many folks involved in outdoors economies in Maine and New Brunswick.
When snow flies, rabbit hunting picks up considerably. A good crust covered with a thin layer of fluffy white stuff from the night before creates ideal running conditions for hounds.
In late December ice anglers in the bottom half of the state obsess about ice thickness, wondering if it will be too thin come Jan. 1. That last week of the 12th month, though, seldom fails us north of Sebago. The ice may not be thick enough to hold a truck, but it can hold humans – and the sport takes off.
The first 10 days of January produce a good chunk of the winter fish that wind up in the One That Didn’t Get Away Club – trophy fish recognized by this publication. In fact, early in January and the first four weeks after ice-out produce far more trophy fish than fall ever does.
Coyote and fox hunters work field, lake and power-line edges now, calling on predator calls while hunkering behind cover. This sport often calls for long-distance shooting, so such calibers as a .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester and 6mm Remington get the nod, but some folks say to heck with small caliber rifles and opt for a tight-choked 12 gauge.
January surely kicks off the smelt-fishing season along coastal rivers, and folks reserve shacks at commercial-smelting businesses.
Photographers get out now, shooting scenic images or wildlife, the latter often bald eagles, waterfowl, deer around feeding stations and dicky birds around feeders.
Yup, it’s winter, a long way from spring, and folks are making lemonade now out of the sour fruit called winter.
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Tags: January 2010 • Categories: Almanac, General
Posted on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
This month: November Is Deer Month … But
November in Maine begins with colorful foliage, but soon, leaves fall and woods turn bare and brown before snow flies. In such a drab backdrop, outsiders to the state might think folks would hate the month, but one crowd that numbers around 170,000 lives for November – deer hunters.
It’s a way of life in Maine, and it intrigues non-residents and transplants to hear a salutation in business spots such as restaurants, gas stations and the like when folks run into one another and pop the question, “Didja’ git ya’ deer yet?”
To a Maine native, such a question seems as normal as saying “hi” in summer or “Merry Christmas” in December.
As big as deer hunting may be in Maine this month, lots of folks in the bottom of the state – about 10,000 – live for the second half of the split waterfowl season. Novice duck hunters from the first season don’t get out much in November’s cold, so solitude and shooters who don’t sky-bust become more of the norm.
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Tags: November 2009 Issue • Categories: Almanac
Posted on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
This Month: Gonna’ Hunt? Bring a Camera
October begins like more of September with green leaves and moderately mild weather, but by month’s end fall will land like a lion.
And during this time of great temperature changes everything is happening, including hunting for the following critters: Deer (with bow and arrows), bear, upland birds, waterfowl, gray squirrels, raccoons, varying hares and more. Angling is booming, too, as trout anglers chase hatches and bassers work for big bucket-mouths. And did we mention trapping begins now for a handful of furbearers?
And it’s all happening as leaves turn to shades of red, scarlet, pink, yellow, gold, orange and purple — a kaleidoscope of colors — allegedly the most beautiful foliage display in the world with the exceptions of places in China.
A handful of skilled hunters chase bears now in beech groves, hoping to still-hunt a bear, one of the world’s most wary game animals. The fact that they concentrate in mast now gives folks an advantage. A tiny handful of people chase bears with hounds.
Small game interests Mainers in October, and varying-hare hunters with dogs get out now as do woodcock enthusiasts with pointing or flushing breeds. These folks live for the sports and take advantage of the wonderful weather and fast shooting.
This month, folks talk about the advantage of car camping, canoe tripping and backpacking now, emphasizing foliage colors and lack of pesky insects and crowds of campers. Darned few people do it now, though, so it’s more talk than anything else.
Photographers really get out in October, and two undeniable features attract them. Foliage draws the pros and the amateurs, but later, professionals concentrate on browns, grays and blacks after the earlier colorful explosion. Serious photographers live for textures and drab colors that enhance mood shots.
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Tags: October 2009 Issue • Categories: Almanac
Posted on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
This Month: Try to Remember … Sweet, Sweet September
No month has light like September as humidity gives way to crystal-clear air, electric-blue skies and sunlight sweet enough to rival any other spot in the world — an oil-painter’s delight. It has drawn world-class artists for two centuries or more, and we get to see it for nothing while wandering in the woods and on the waters in this grand state.
In the not-too-distant past, September in Maine was a lazy month. A handful of dedicated fly rodders got out for a last hurrah, but mostly, folks were waiting for hunting season the following month.
That’s not the case anymore. September keeps us hopping as fall fishing skyrockets in popularity and crowds form around name waters — big crowds…hotdog-cart-sized crowds. Not only do salmonids attract us to water, but so do black bass, stripers, groundfish far out in the Atlantic, blue and mako sharks and more.
Hunting for rails and snipes, deer in the expanded archery zones and bear (the savior of the North Woods economy), scouting for deer, shooting smoothbores, rifles, bows and arrows all vie for attention.
A lack of bugs makes car camping, canoe tripping and backpacking a joy, day hiking excites many folks, picnicking in the perfect weather titillates legions, photographing scenic and wildlife images in the sweet light get folks out, bicycling in the warm afternoons before the frigid days begin in October, and even just shopping at outlets create happy memories to carry us through a brutal Maine winter later.
Yes, we’re all busy this month, the weather proves perfect much of the time and life feels mighty good. Indeedy, Maine is the way life should be, just like the commercial says, and September underscores that philosophy.
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Tags: September 2009 Issue • Categories: Almanac
