What Time Is It? That’s Right – It’s Turkey Time!
The reintroduction of wild turkeys to the Maine woods and fields is either the greatest game biology success story in history, or an experiment gone out of control, depending on whether you are a hunter, or a farmer trying to protect piles of grain for your livestock.
Regardless, the big, majestic birds are here for awhile, and we need to make the most of the resource.
The Maine Sportsman’s May issue pays tribute to the feathery fowl beginning with an outstanding cover photo, in which the iridescent plumage on a handsome tom turkey reflect the rays of the rising sun in Ashland, Maine, courtesy of regular contributing photographer, Aaron Smith.
On the inside pages, our newest writer, Maine Guide Christi Holmes, reveals the five factors necessary to successfully bowhunt tom turkeys (page 21). Val Marquez discusses the effects of apparent overhunting of turkeys in Southern Maine (page 23), Kate Gooding helps us prepare a feast of curried wild turkey stew (page 24), and Big Game Hunting’s Joe Saltalamachia contributes a great column titled “Feel Good Again – Take a Kid Hunting!”, featuring an outstanding photo of 12-year old Travis Poirier lugging a huge tom over his shoulder – so huge, in fact, that the bird appears to be as big as young Travis.
Discover drama and intrigue as you peruse this issue, including the “Almanac” story of Togo, a heroic sled dog that led a team hauling needed medicine 674 miles to Nome, Alaska in 1925 before retiring years later in Poland Spring; or the sad story of a search for a missing hunter who’d ventured out on thin ice to rescue his hunting dog, in former Warden Lt. Bill Allen’s “A Warden’s Life” (page 28).
To celebrate the upcoming moose permit lottery that will be held June 8th at Cabela’s in Scarborough, enjoy the tale of a great hunt, written by Brent Siler of Memphis, Tennessee. Brent came to Maine to help his uncle get a bull moose, and ended up having the adventure of his young life.
Want sharks? We’ve got sharks (“Saltwater fishing,” page 36). Stripers? Got ’em. ATVs? Brook trout? SUVs? Ditto, ditto and ditto.
Even though ice remains on some water bodies up north and west, summer is coming at us fast. So fire up the outboard and the chainsaw, take stock of your life jackets, shake the mouse nest out of the bow of the canoe, and let’s get ready to rumble!
And young writers in grades 6 – 12 – you’ve got a few more days (deadline – May 15) to submit your written essay or non-fiction story in our first annual Maine Sportsman’s Youth Writing Contest, featuring four cash prizes of $100 each. Click here for details, and email the editor with any questions.
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So we hope you enjoy reading the May issue as much as our columnists and editorial staff enjoyed assembling it.
If you’ve got something to say, write us a short letter to the editor (providing photos, if you’ve got them), and email everything to Will@MaineSportsman.com.
Give us a call at 207-622-4242, and talk with office manager, Linda. Subscribe or renew your subscription, either on the phone or using the “Subscribe” link at our website, www.MaineSportsman.com. Keep in touch as a Facebook friend.
And thanks once again this month to our informed readers, to our many distribution outlets and to our loyal advertisers.
Will Lund, editor
Augusta, Maine
