Snow on the Ground is Good News for Muzzleloader Hunters, Snowmobilers
More and more frequently, light blankets of snow are greeting Maine sportsmen and -women in the early mornings – harbingers of things to come. For muzzleloader hunters, the ability to track whitetails and pattern their movements comes as a welcome advantage, with the “smoke pole” season generally running through December 4th in the northern half of the state, and until December 11 in most southern and coastal WMDs.
The contents of the December, 2021 issue of The Maine Sportsman prepare readers for this short but important bonus season, starting with Blaine Cardilli’s “An Expert’s Guide to Snow-Tracking Deer.” Hal Blood and Lee Schanz, Jr. follow up with tales of “Thanksgiving Day Bucks,” while Bill Graves weighs in with “Muzzleloader Week in Aroostook County.”
And can ice fishing and snowmobiling be far behind? Prepare yourself and your gear by reviewing great writing about ice augers (Steve Carpenteri’s poetically-titled “The Vagaries of Augery”), Nolan Raymond’s tale of a yard-sale flasher that proved not to be the bargain he’d hoped for, and a snowmobiling Special Section about the value of trying out trails in your own region, titled “Keeping it Local.”
Need more excitement? How about a real story of Wardens and poachers, a car chase, and guns fired with malice aforethought – read “A Shoot-Out with Poachers,” by retired Lt. Warden Doug Tibbetts.
And if we needed more proof that outdoorswomen are engaged in a full range of activities, consider our four (yes, four!) stories of women trappers – including Emily Goode (bear), Abby Feener (beaver and bear, described in Joe Salty’s “Big Game” column), Christi Holmes (beaver) and guest “Silent Places” columnist Staci Warren, who worked with renowned blogger Erin Merrill to qualify Erin for the “black bear” portion of her Grand Slam.
All this, plus reader stories, trophy photos, insightful editorial content, holiday shopping guidance. letters to the editor, ticks, trucks, bobcats, rabbits, recipes, quotes, jokes, cartoons and even cocktail advice from our resident expert, Al Diamon. Yes, it’s another solid 80 pages of material, making our publication larger than any in New England.
Still stuck for great holiday gift idea for friends or family members? Consider the money-saving subscription offer found here for up to three of the folks on your holiday list. Mail in the form or give us a call to order at 207-622-4242.
Questions? Contact the editor at Will@MaineSportsman.com or the office staff at Carol@MaineSportsman.com. Good luck during muzzleloader, rabbit and coyote seasons; be safe in the woods; and use extreme caution on the early ice this month.
