Shoot Coyote, Serenade Turkeys and Beat Blackflies

Coyotes Hungry
 May has long been one of my favorite times of the year to hunt for coyotes. Even nighttime temperatures creep into the low 30s, a mercury reading practically balmy after long winter nights in the shooting shack with frozen toes and fingers, my body teetering on the edge of hypothermia. Coyotes also begin becoming more active, as both parents constantly search to find food to feed new born pups. Bait sites can light up during this time of year and the call of the screaming rabbit often brings them running. Hunters can monopolize on this small chink in the armor and harvest a few song dogs with minimal effort. Those heading down east, in pursuit of coyotes, won’t be disappointed. Still evenings, shortly after sunset, are frequently fractured by the piercing howls and yips of packs of coyotes on the hunt. In order to kill more coyotes, think food and explore locations where cupboards are not quite bare.

Discussions with farmers will typically yield stories of coyotes stealing chickens, grain and other food stuffs. Hunting these properties is usually as easy as just asking and often yields lasting friendships. Route 9 running from Amherst (DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (MAG), Map 24, A-2) to Beddington (Map 24, A-1) contains many of these old farmsteads as well as Route 1 running from Topsfield (Map 45, D-5) to Danforth (Map 45, B-3).

Turkey Serenade
Turkey seasons this year, in wildlife management districts (WMDs) 7-29, runs from May 2nd to June 4th, with hunters eligible to harvest two bearded turkeys. Northern zones WMDs 1-6 will continue to be governed by a split season and a limit of one bearded turkey per hunter. In my discussions with sportsmen both young and old, many share that the single biggest reason they don’t turkey hunt, or why they have been unsuccessful in harvesting a turkey in past seasons, is they don’t properly understand how to call spring turkeys effectively. While learning the basic “yelp” is easily mastered by a majority of sportsmen, progressing to learn the complexities of the cluck, cackle, purr and gobble are lost to many. This is unfortunate, as these additional calls often make the difference between success and eating tag soup. While the Internet offers many how to videos on how to create a sweet sounding turkey serenade on a box or slate call, the truth is that most of us simply don’t have the time need to effectively learn these skills.

Electronic calling devices are legal for the hunting of turkeys in Maine and serve as a great way for those short on time or new to the sport to quickly master the calls needed to harvest a big tom turkey this season. While some of these calls easily run into the hundreds of dollars, I have had great past success using my smart phone and a small Bluetooth speaker. With this set-up, I can easily place the Bluetooth speaker 30-40 yards away and send turkey calls to it from my phone. Portable, easy to quickly deploy and with waterproof speakers available, it is a virtually problem free electronic calling solution for just about every sportsman. If investing in a Bluetooth speaker, remember it will also serve hunters well predator hunting and during deer season! Large flocks of turkeys comprised of hens, jakes and toms can frequently be found in strutting across the blueberry barrens throughout all of May. Hunters with good optics can often find these flocks and using the topography devise stocks that will bring them to within shooting distance.

Fun places to spot and stalk, or as I like to call it wish and walk, include the expanse of barrens existing to the East of Pleasant River Lake (Map 25, A-2) and stretching to just beyond the area categorized as “The Middle Grounds” (Map 25, A-3, B-3).

Beat the Blackflies Camp NOW!
Day time temperatures in May can be downright pleasant and night time lows still remain enjoyable, when spent around the pleasant glow of a roaring campfire. Add to the reasonable temperatures, the fact that blackflies and mosquitoes typically do not emerge until the third or forth week of the month and it’s easy to understand why May is my favorite month to camp. No need for reservations in early May or time spent worrying about not finding a suitable lot, as most primitive campsites will be largely deserted till Memorial Day weekend. Hadley Lakes (Map 25, A-3) and Pretty Pond (Map 25, B-3) both contain primitive campsites capable of supporting tents as well as small RVs and will additionally put hunters within easy driving distance of several prime turkey hunting areas. If traveling from Bangor to Calais, Hadley Lake is found by taking a right hand turn onto the dirt road immediately following the Wilderness Lodge. After about a mile, the road veers to the right and a small road turns left. Follow the smaller road to the campground. For those traveling from Bangor to Calais and wanting to visit Pretty Pond, take the next dirt road after the Pleasant River Lake road. The dirt road roughly parallels Mopang Stream for approximately four miles before Pretty Pond emerges on the right.

The Red and Gray Fox The Red Fox - Wildlife Quiz

The Red and Gray Fox The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) both exist as members of the canine family. The red foxes native range includes the entire Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, North America and Eurasia. The less prolific gray foxes range extends throughout the southern half of North America and into northern parts of South America. Gray foxes are special creatures as no other canine’s range spans both North and South America.

Red foxes possess the innate ability to inhabit and thrive on the edging of urban areas. This trait, allows red foxes to prosper over the less adaptable gray foxes in more “civilized” habitats. Unlike red foxes, gray foxes have the unique ability to climb trees to escape from predators or search for food. This trait is extremely unusual, as grays are the only American canine capable of climbing trees.

Crepuscular creatures, both red and gray foxes prefer to hunt during dusk and dawn. Red and gray foxes both have seasonally varied diets, gaining nourishment from a wide assortment of plant and animal matter including rabbits, mice, garbage, fruit, berries and insects.

Red and gray foxes practice monogamy, both tending to choose a singular mate for life, unless that mate is killed. Red and gray foxes mate in the early spring, with females (vixen) typically birthing litters of between 4-8 pups in late April or early May. Pups of red and grays stay with parents for up to 6-7 months before venturing forth to find their own territories. In captivity, red foxes have been known to live as long as 15 years but in the wild they typically do not survive past 5 years. Gray foxes tend toward having slightly longer life spans with some having survived to 20 years in captivity.

Wildlife Quiz Questions:
1. What is the native range of the red fox?
2. What is the native range of the gray fox?
3. What is special about the native range of the gray fox?
4. What special ability do gray foxes posses?
5. What is the diet of the red and gray fox?
6. Both red and gray foxes prefer to hunt during dusk and dawn, what category of creature does this make them?
7. How long to red foxes live?
8. How long do gray foxes live?

Wildlife Quiz Answers:
1. The native range of the red fox includes the entire Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, North America and Eurasia.
2. The native range of the gray fox extends throughout the southern half of North America and into northern parts of South America.
3. Gray foxes are special creatures as no other canine’s range spans both North and South America.
4. Gray foxes are the only American canine capable of climbing trees.
5. Both red and gray foxes gain nourishment from a wide assortment of plant and animal matter including rabbits, mice, garbage, fruit, berries and insects.
6. Creatures that hunt during dusk and dawn, are categorized as crepuscular.
7. In captivity, red foxes have been known to live as long as 15 years but in the wild they typically do not survive past 5 years.
8. Gray foxes tend toward having slightly longer life spans than red foxes with some having survived to 20 years in captivity.

Spring Togue Fishing on the Grands and Youth Turkey Hunting

During the beginning of April, most togue will still be on or near the surface, but as water temperatures begin warm up by the end of the month, the trout begin their annual migration to deeper more oxygen rich waters. This period of transition can have togue spread throughout the water column and at times difficult to locate. A depth finder can serve to simplify finding fish as it allows anglers to map out suspended schools of smelt. Find the bait, find the fish. Successfully anglers’ work the perimeters of these bait balls, knowing that large togue and salmon typically troll around the perimeter of these clusters, awaiting weak or injured fish to venture outside the school. In April, these schools of bait-fish typically hang in the 30 to 40 foot range, so begin searching at that point and expand search area as appropriate, looking at deeper water as the month progresses.

After years of fishing with lead core line, Luhr-Jensen spoons and down riggers, I have recently begun employing a different tactic when chasing togue into deep waters. I enjoy success through simplification by employing the 3-way swivel technique. This method is comprised tying two 3-foot pieces of line to a three-way swivel and attaching a 1 or 2 ounce weight on one line and a small lure on the end of the other. The rig is attached to the rod and reel by a 10-12 pound braided line. The braided line is preferred over monofilament, as braided creates less drag and doesn’t stretch when a quick hook set is required. This straightforward set-up is capable of deploying lures or bait down to depths of 60 feet. While most anglers will be fishing such classics as the Swedish Pimple and DB Smelt, I have also had great luck with the Sutton Silver Spoon and Classic Silver Vibrax Blue Fox Spinner. Also, don’t be afraid to go small when chasing big togue, as smaller lures can be extremely effective.

East Grand Lake (DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (MAG), Map 45, A-4) and West Grand Lake (Map 35, B-3, B-4) both hold excellent populations of healthy togue. Anglers looking to explore these two lakes would be well served to explore trolling around the drop offs that exist around Norway Point and Five Islands on East Grand Lake and Hardwood Island and the western shore of Whitney Cove on West Grand Lake.

Take a Kid Turkey Hunting

April 30th is youth spring wild turkey day, with Down East youths eligible to shoot 1 bearded wild turkey. This season, youth’s statewide of any age that hold a junior hunting license, including a junior lifetime hunting license, may hunt under direct supervision of an adult. The adult must be a person 18 or older, who has been approved by the youth's parent or guardian and holds a valid Maine hunting license or has completed a hunter safety course. The new law, implemented on January 1, 2016, eliminates the previous minimum age of 10 years old to hunt. So for example, this turkey season I will be joined by my 7 and 9 year olds, both of whom are now, thanks to the new law, able to hunt. The law stipulates that junior hunters, under the age 10, must be “within 20 feet, of an adult supervisor.” A point in the language of the law, designed to reinforce the critical importance of an adult being right beside the youngster at all times. This law is exciting, as it allows Maine to join the ranks of 39 other states that currently allow kids of any age to hunt with adult supervision.

Youths, under 10 will need to use a bow and arrow, crossbow or 20 gauge shotgun or greater, as Maine law prohibits the use of .410s to hunt turkeys. For some small framed hunters, the 20 gauge can pack a punch, so make sure to lessen the chance of injury or accidents by practicing shooting, weeks ahead of the opener. Recoil absorbing autoloaders, 2 ¾ inch loads and ample recoil pads can help to ensure youth do not develop bad flinching habits from the start.

When attempting to locate turkeys Down East, it pays to slowly walk or drive along logging roads and snowmobile/ATV paths. This method of “running and gunning”, is easier on little legs and allows turkey hunters to be mobile and more apt to locate early morning gobblers. While prime turkey hunting locations exist throughout Washington County, a fun and exciting hunt can be had by starting in Northfield (Map 26, B-2) and driving the logging roads into Smith Landing, the beautiful Great Falls (Map 26, B-2) and continuing south following the Machias River into Whitneyville. For coastal hunters I suggest exploring the 649-acre Jonesboro WMA (Map 26, C-2).