Posts Tagged ‘Downeast Hunting Report’
Posted on Friday, November 16th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
We have all observed that people have different eating habits and mannerisms, so do different species of wildlife. This was again brought to my attention by watching a group of birds, seagulls and crows, feasting on some cast off french fries at a McDonalds. The gulls, would take one fry at a time, arrange it lengthwise, like a fish, tilt their head back and swallow it in one big gulp. Unlike a fish, this food was pliable and could of been eaten as found but the birds still followed their learned behavior. The crows on the other hand, would stuff as many fries as they could crosswise in their mouth, like puffins with small herring, then take off to eat them alone. This was recently so it wasn’t a female bringing home supper to the nest. Both birds have learned ways to safe guard their prize or it would be taken away from them. It is common to see gulls in a tug of war over food. Crows are even more aggressive and will drive a larger bird, eagles, off a carcass. Both types can be fun to watch when they descend and compete in a feeding frenzy.
Late fall has finally arrive, I observed the first flock of bufflehead ducks on October 31, almost two weeks later than average. Likewise, as the freeze up is happening inland the black ducks are grouping in the salt water. The big lakes are still open and the golden eyes haven’t been pushed to the coast yet. Forty years ago, it was a prize to shoot a drake mallard in Washington County. Today there are independent flocks of mallards and it is common for most every large concentration of black ducks to have mallards mixed in, even the odd pintail.
Speaking of black ducks, as most hunters will tell you, they can be the wariest and finicky of all ducks to hunt. Most all species wildlife can have their habits altered by artificial feeding. It is hard to imagine sitting in a blind and not getting black ducks to “toll” because something doesn’t look “right” to them and then to see black ducks on lawns and kids almost hand feeding them bread, the same species.
Tags: Downeast Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, November 8th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
A few days ago, when I took off my uniform at the end of the workday, I found two ticks crawling around on my undershirt. One tick was about 2/3 the size of the other. The smaller was almost all black and the larger was reddish with a black disk on its back. I pulled out the handy “Tick ID Wallet Card” that I got from the Lyme Disease Foundation (www.lyme.org). The card has life-size pictures of deer ticks (the ticks that may carry Lyme disease) and enlarged, full color pictures of other ticks that you may find. The card is part of a tick removal kit that you can order from the website. It includes the tick ID card, a magnifying glass, tweezers, alcohol swabs and other information. As I suspected, both of the insects crawling around on my shirt were deer ticks. The larger, more colorful tick was a female and the smaller was a male. I have no idea how these ticks got inside my shirt, which was tucked into my pants since early in the morning. I guess I’ll never know where they came from and that’s part of the point of the story. These days, we have to be vigilant about ticks or run the risk of contracting Lyme disease or other tick borne ailments.
The very next morning, right after telling a friend about the ticks I found in my shirt, I looked down and found a fully engorged deer tick on the kitchen floor, right where my dog was scratching a few minutes before. The truth is, I’ve stopped counting the deer ticks I’ve found this year, mostly on my dogs and cats and fortunately, mostly before they’ve embedded themselves in their skin. Humans, dogs and cats can all catch Lyme disease, so keep a watchful eye for signs of the disease, which include fatigue and painful joints and muscles.
Lyme disease has been spreading rapidly since its first detection around Lyme, Connecticut in 1975, but unfortunately information about the disease seems to be spreading more slowly than the disease itself. For example, when I went to the doctor to be tested for Lyme disease in 2006 after finding an engorged deer tick under my arm, I was told that there haven’t been any cases of Lyme disease in Washington County, so its unlikely that I could have it. Although as of 2006 there were no confirmed cases in Washington County, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/lyme_disease.htm), 14 of Maine’s 16 counties had confirmed Lyme disease cases. Hancock County had 6 confirmed cases in 2006, while York County had 133 cases. There is no reason to doubt the possibility of being infected with Lyme disease anywhere in Maine. Furthermore, some experts think that only a third of actual Lyme disease cases are ever properly diagnosed. To make matters worse, the longer a person harbors the disease, the more damaging and more difficult it is to eradicate. Early and aggressive treatment with antibiotics, along with complimentary therapies (diet changes as well as nutritional supplements and stress reduction techniques to bolster the immune system), seems to offer the best way to treat the disease.
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Tags: Downeast Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Wildlife is a product of the land, and the richer the quality of the land, the greater number of animals and species present. Wildlife production is the same as gardening; the yield can vary greatly from similar sized plots of land. There are a few other variables thrown into the mix, carrying capacity, biological breeding potential, climate, etc., to name a few.
Basic productivity from the soil up can readily be observed in various ways. One of the most striking is newly exposed soil along the edges of woods roads and what plants pioneer and take hold; grasses and clover or sweet fern, for example.
Consider Ruffed grouse … the production from similar blocks of land with similar tree species and stocking densities, although the stand age may be different, varies greatly from one end of the state to the other. Climate and especially weather conditions at critical times of the year can be the make or break factor (winter severity and nesting season especially). Usually we think of winters and deep snow as being hard on wildlife, and for many species it is. But snow accumulations can actually enhance grouse survival, as the bird has evolved the ability to dive and burrow into the snow for protection from the elements. The type of snow cover is actually more of a concern; deep powder being the best and a hard crust the worst. Because much of the grouse’s food in winter consists of buds located in the crowns of trees, the ability to forage for food is not affected by deep snow.
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Tags: Downeast Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, October 25th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Probably most of us have been subjected to a spell or two of daydreaming; letting ones mind wander and visualizing other places, other times, and other things. Perhaps you are one that truly admires the craftsmanship that goes into manufacturing the classic upland bird gun. You might just find yourself daydreaming about all the various options available to you should all the obstacles, realities, and “buts” in your life disappear. First, you would have to decide on style (probably a classic two barreled firearm). Then you would consider your personal preference of a stacked barrel (over and under) versus a side by side. Another internal deliberation would be the choice of gauge. The options then become even more involved; barrel length for example, as well as preferred chokes and choke types … whether fixed or screw-in tubes. Or, if you are truly a purist, a second set of barrels would be the ultimate classic (and costly) approach. Under the barrels you have a choice: splinter forend or beavertail … two variables that depend on your hand size and arm length. And then there is the trigger. Consider the classic double trigger, or a single selective, or perhaps a single non-selective trigger. Moving to the rear half of the gun, stock length and grip style … whether pistol or straight English style. Also consider checkering and the number of lines per inch. At the very end of the stock is the buttplate, and whether your preference would lean towards hard rubber, recoil pad or just a plain grooved. It almost goes without saying that for the wood, you want the best burly walnut, deep Prussian rust bluing on the barrels and fire bright case hardening on the frame. You can really get lost in debating on whether the frame is engraved with a portrait of your best dog, your favorite quarry, or some idealistic wildlife scene. And of course, one might consider a fitted case for your prize, including the typical English cased accessories of a brass oil bottle, ivory handled screw driver, etc.
You are convinced that this weapon should be nicknamed the “exterminator” because you would never miss with this custom designed masterpiece. But for just an instant, you check yourself … remembering the days long ago of shooting trap … when the kid nearly shot a perfect round with an old single barrel with such vivid credentials as armory steel and a choke-bored barrel. The real icing on the gun was the half roll of electrical tape; part of which was wound around the tang to tighten up the buttstock and the rest wrapped around the forend to hold it in place as the screw had long since been stripped. Also, too was the hatchet-fitted butt plate made in desperation out of a flooring tile. The bluing and varnish finish had long disappeared since your parents were in high school.
Then you hear a familiar voice … your daughter has just come out of the orthodontist office with those memorable words, “I need braces.” Those fantasy visions of the perfectly crafted bird gun flush away as you open your check book. Maybe another year you think.
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Tags: Downeast Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
This coming Wednesday evening, October 17 at 6:00 pm, Department representatives will be attending a Sportsman’s Forum hosted by the Bucks Mill Rod & Gun Club in Bucksport. These events are periodically held at different locations around the State; often at the request and invitation of the Commissioner’s Advisory Council Member that represents that geographic area. Normally, the Commissioner as well as some of the administrative heads are there representing the Wildlife, Fisheries, Warden Service, and Public Information & Education bureaus / divisions. Also in attendance are Regional Department staff who cover or work in the general area. This includes district game wardens as well as both wildlife and fisheries biologists. These forums are set up to provide the public an opportunity to bring questions or concerns to the attention of the Department. Over the years, they’ve proven to be a great opportunity for both Department personnel as well as the public to gain new insights as well as get some answers on various issues concerning our wildlife and fishery resources. If you happen to be in the greater Bucksport area come mid-week, consider stopping by … and don’t hesitate to bring along your youngster, as there’s often something included in the program for them.
Speaking of youth … this coming Saturday, October 20, is youth deer hunting day. This is a tremendous opportunity to introduce a young hunter, who holds a valid junior hunting license, to the pursuit of deer hunting. Those licensed hunters who are at least 10 years of age but younger than 16 can participate under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or qualified adult. The supervising adult may not possess a firearm while accompanying a participating junior license holder. The junior hunter is allowed to take 1 deer of either sex with either a firearm or bow and arrow; which would constitute their season bag limit unless they were awarded a bonus anterless deer permit for a specific Wildlife Management District, or participate in the expanded archery season in certain designated areas of the State.
After two mild winters, it was expected, and many early reports would seem to indicate, an increase in deer sightings in favored fall locations. This is an excellent opportunity to school young hunters to all of the various aspects of hunting deer before the regular firearm season begins. As with any schooling, some preparation would be helpful in making Saturday’s venture a success … not necessarily defined only by a deer hung in the garage, but by taking the steps in developing a future hunter who knows his quarry (habits, life history, signs, etc.) and is committed to being a safe and ethical hunter. As with any pursuit, if they learn the basics well, with proper coaching and patience the rewards will be forthcoming.
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Tags: Downeast Hunting Report • Categories: General
