Black Powder, Snowmobiling and Ice Fishing are the Focus of December’s Issue of The Maine Sportsman!
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Most of our state is currently covered with a layer of tracking snow, just in time for one or two weeks of muzzleloader hunting for whitetail deer. Our December issue’s celebration of black powder season begins with the outstanding cover image of a proud Allagash buck, photographed by frequent Maine Sportsman contributor Stacy Belanger. On the inside pages, late-season deer hunting tips are provided by Timmy Bolduc (“Big Woods World,” with Hal Blood); Bill Graves (“The County – Muzzleloader Hunting Highlights December Options”); and William Sheldon (“Jackman Region – Smoke Poles and December Deer”).
Got your sled out yet? Snowmobile season is hard upon us, and the December issue features two timely special sections: “2020 Snowmobile Review,” in which Steve Vose tells us what’s new from Polaris, Arctic Cat, Ski-doo and Yamaha; and “Trip Planning” by Steve Carpenteri, as Steve lays out the system of interconnected trails, active clubs and supportive businesses that combine to create Maine’s snowmobile infrastructure.
Flag Up! That magic yell will soon be heard on icy ponds and lakes all over the state, sending youngsters and oldsters racing for the sprung trap. One of our outstanding youth writers, 9th grader Nolan Raymond of Hermon, describes his family’s participation (and success) each year in the Long Lake Derby, held near St. Agatha in Aroostook County (this winter’s event will take place January 25 and 26, 2020). You’ll learn a lot about the mysterious cusk, a/k/a burbot.
And with the holidays in sight, Christi Holmes weighs in with her “Holiday Gifts for the Sportswoman in Your Life,” Capt. Barry Gibson counters with “A Half-Dozen Saltwater Angling Holiday Gifts for 2019,” and William Clunie rounds out the theme with “Useful Christmas Gifts for the Off-Road Traveler.”
We’ve also got trophy photos; cartoons and jokes; “Almanac” items; moose, deer and bird dog stories; and much, much more.
Two final thoughts:
1) SAVE THE DATE for the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show: March 27, 28 and 29, 2020 at the Augusta Civic Center; and
2) Get those biggest bucks applications (www.mainesportsman.com/patch-club/) in before December 31 to have your name and your deer included in our special February “Biggest Bucks” issue
We hope you enjoy reading the December issue. 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 our office manager, Linda. While you’re on the phone, be sure to ask Linda about our special holiday gift discounts on subscriptions!
Will Lund, editor
Will@MaineSportsman.com
Augusta, Maine
