VGOM April 2013

GREAT OUTDOORSVermont’s MagazineApril 2013

Volume 1 Number 3

● Columnist recounts first buck● Ever gone ‘Bullpoutin’?● State battling for bats● Weather affects wildlife

● Patterns and tackle for trout● Steelhead starting to heat up● Bird eggs, where it all starts● Kamp Kill Kare State Park

Otter Creek givesup a great brookie.

Page 22

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Page 3 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • April 2013

Features16 Weather’s impactWhen winter arrives late or departs early,wildlife patterns can be altered or disrupted.

26 Spring TroutSpring means trout for many people. Learnthe fly patterns & terminal tackle you need.

34 Bullpoutin’A rite of spring is unveiled by the anglerswho chase the spring bullhead.

40 A First BuckYou always remember your first buck,especially if it leads you on a chase like this.

5. Photo of the Month6. Editor’s Note7. Reader Feedback8. Outdoor News34. Sacred Hunter40. Shed Antlers58. Out & About

14. Conservation22. Fishing40. Hunting50. LCI50. The Outside Story55. State Parks56. Birds of Vermont

More Inside

Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazinewww.VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com

April 2013 • Volume 1 • Number 4© Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine 2012-2013

Publisher & EditorDarren Marcy

News/Marketing AssistantsMaya Marcy & Camilla Marcy

ContributorsJeremy Baker, Bradley Carleton,Bob Shannon, Dave Mance III,Todd Lantery, Allison Gergely,Megan Davin, Jesse Haller

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Phone(802) 331-0130

Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine is publishedmonthly as a free digital publication. This publicationis protected by copyright and each individual storyand photo is protected by copyright owned by therespective contributors. All opinions belong to therespective writers and do not necessarily reflect thatof Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine.

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Photo of the Month:


They may be seen more frequently in Vermont, but spotting a bald eagle is still a treat.

Editor’s Note:


Trout Season

I can already feel the pulsating rod as a troutsends the vibrations up the line, through the rod and intomy hands where it sets my brain on fire.

There are few things as great as the feeling you get when youget a fish on the line. And never is it more exciting than thatfirst trout of the season after the long winter.

In the pages of this issue, Bob Shannon helps you get yourfly gear ready for that first day on the water – from whatpatterns to carry to how to rig your terminal tackle for the bestchance at hooking up.

There's also some catch-and-release stream suggestions foranglers who just can't wait until April 13 to wet a line for trout,and a short piece of advice from Brian Cadoret on chasingChamplain's tributary steelhead.

But the biggest news in this issue is Jesse Haller's piece abouta brook trout he caught in Otter Creek. Haller brought thebrookie of about 20 inches to net at the end of March andreleased it. Haller shares that story this month and there's moreto come next month about this great fish, but you'll have towait until May for that.

There are other great things in this month's magazine as well.Jeremy Baker relives the crazy chase that his first buck led himon, Bradley Carleton introduces us to the “bullpout,” LCI'snewest writer Todd Lantery shows us around Kamp Kill KareState Park, Allison Gergely of the Birds of Vermont Museumeducates us on bird eggs, Dave Mance III tackles tapping treesfor their sap, and there are pieces on bats, youth turkey huntingand the weather's impact on wildlife in this issue.

Spring is a great time as the world reawakens from its winterslumber. Please get out and enjoy these days and take a kid outinto the great outdoors.

On the Cover

Bodacious BrookieThe great brook trout on the

cover this month was caughtand photographed March 28 byJesse Haller in Otter Creek.

Haller caught the brookie ona nymph and, after snapping thephoto, he let the big brook troutgo. The story is on Page 22.

Later, he estimated the fish tobe “conservatively” about 18inches, but said in his heart, hebelieves it was closer to 20inches.

Haller shares the story of thisgreat fish in this issue ofVermont’s Great OutdoorsMagazine.

Have you caught a great fishand want to share a photo?Have a story to tell?

We’re interested in publishingyour stories and showing offyour photos.

Whether it’s a fish, a summit,a sunset or just a little familytime.

– – –Have a great photo you want

to share? Please send it in. Youmight find it on the cover of thenext Vermont’s Great OutdoorsMagazine.

Feedback:


Write VGOMLetters are encouraged on topics of interest to

Vermont outdoor enthusiasts. This space is youropportunity to have your voice heard.

Letters will be edited for grammar, libel,clarity, decency and, when necessary, space. Ifyour letter can’t be edited without changing itsmeaning, you’ll be given a chance to rewrite it,or the letter will be rejected.

Send letters to:[email protected]

VGOM Reader [email protected]

Baker helps relivechildhood memoriesThank you for publishing Jeremy

Baker’s story in the March issue ofyour great magazine.

The story had me on the edge ofmy seat the entire time I was readingdespite knowing what the outcomewas before I started. The story left mereliving a memory from mychildhood, which many can probablyrelate to.

Before the days of youth seasons,a young hunter had to rely on his luckof being drawn in the antlerlesspermit lottery. At the age of 15 Iconsidered myself to be a seasonedhunter and woodsman who thought Iknew everything about tracking deer!

One morning we woke up to freshsnow and I knew it was time to fillmy doe tag. My dad left me off at theapple orchard where I knew I couldfind a fresh track. The chase thatensued was magnificent but provedto me I was a better tracker thanshooter! My final shot was my lastchance. As I stood over the deergiving my thanks, I realized I had noshells left.

The drag back to camp was thequickest drag of my life! I didn’t dareeven pick my head up to look for deer!

Thanks Jeremy for bringing meback to that great day andcongratulations on that magnificenttrophy!

Send story pitches, photos, news releases,calendar items, letters to the editor, and other

submissions to:

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Send criticism, kudos and specific questions andcomments about articles to:

Outdoor News:


VermontVermont authorities concerned

about wild boarsWildlife authorities in Vermont are concerned about

the potential for wild boar to escape captive huntingfacilities and possibly getting a foothold in the GreenMountain State.

The aggressive invasive species are known to causewidespread damage to habitat and breed rapidly. Oncea breeding population is established, they are nearlyimpossible to control.

Thirty-eight states have wild boar despite a persistenteffort to control or eradicate the animals.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department asked thelegislature to ban possession and importation of boars.

Police say speed, alcoholfactors in sled crash

Vermont State Police said speed and alcohol werefactors in a single-sled snowmobile crash March 6 inthe town of Victory.

Police said Darrell McLaughlin, 54, of Lancaster,N.H., was riding his 2005 Arctic Cat ZR900 on VASTTrail K7 at the intersection of Kirby Mountain Roadand Masten Road in Victory just before 8 p.m. whenhe lost control of his sled and hit a tree.

Police determined McLaughlin was riding too fastwhen he lost control.

He was transported by ambulance to Weeks Hospitalwith a chest injury.

The crash remains under investigation.

Burglary of Newport sportinggoods store investigated

Police are investigating a burglary after someonebroke into Bear Mountain Sports and Crafts in NewportCenter on March 20.

Vermont State Police said Thomas Snay, 66, ofNewport Center, reported an undisclosed number offirearms taken from the Farrar Road shop in theovernight burglary.

Anyone with information regarding this incident isasked to call the Derby State Police Barracks at 334-8881.

Searchers find missing13-year-old Killington skier

The Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team,Killington Ski Patrol, the Killington Fire Departmentand Fish & Wildlife wardens were called to find amissing 13-year-old at Killington Ski Area on March8.

Andrew Baldwin, 13, of Montreal, Quebec, wasskiing with his older brother when they both went outof bounds off the Ridge Run trail. Baldwin wasreported missing after he was two hours late meetingfamily members.

The boy was located a short time later uninjured.

Pair of New York menfind way out of woods

Two skiers from New York were reported missingMarch 8 at Killington Ski Area.

Vermont State Police reported that Jacob Geffnerand Jared Zaeharowiez, both 27 of Highland, N.Y.,

Outdoor News:


skied out of bounds off Ridge Run trail.The pair ended up lost in the woods for about two

hours before being located by troopers at BrewersCorners on Wheelerville Road about 4:30 p.m.

The skiers, who said they did see out-of-boundssigns, were not injured.

Authorities find missingteens near Bolton ski area

A couple of Central Vermont boys were found aftergetting lost in the area between Bolton Valley SkiResort and Waterbury Reservoir.

Vermont State Police said Cecil Freeman, 16, ofBerlin, and Matthew Smith, 16, of East Montpelier,were reported lost about 5 p.m. March 19.

The pair called Smith’s mother and told her theywere off trail.

Bolton Valley Ski Patrol members checked an areabetween Vista and Wilderness Peaks where they were

believed to be without success.About 7:20 p.m. authorities were able to narrow

down their location through 911 GPS mapping afterthe pair called 911.

The duo were in good health and not injured andWaterbury Back Country Rescue and Vermont StatePolice Auxiliary were dispatched to the area onsnowmobile.

There were located some five hours after they werereported lost and brought out of the woods.

Two men escape injuryin two-sled crash

Two snowmobiles were destroyed, including one thatburned, after a two-sled crash just before 10 a.m. March17 on VAST trail C7 in Somerset.

The crash happened when Jody J. Speir, 37, of Troy,N.Y., was unable to make a turn while riding north onCorridor 7. Speir’s sled entered the path of Michael

Outdoor News:


Mosher, 43, of West Dover and the two collided.Both riders were ejected from their machines, but

escaped serious injury.Mosher’s 2010 Polaris snowmobile was considered

a total loss from the impact. Speir’s 2004 Arctic Catsled caught fire and burned and was also considered atotal loss.

Speir was issued a ticket for “Operation of asnowmobile in an unreasonable matter.”

Westminster man reportsice-fishing gear stolen

A Westminster man says he left his ice-fishing gearin his driveway March 16 and when he returned home,his gear was gone.

William Nowers, 30, said he left his gear, includingjig poles, ice scoops, tip-ups, lures and a wicker basket,in his driveway. When he returned home about 8:30p.m., it was gone.

This case is still under investigation.

New York skier intentionallyleaves trail, gets lost

A New York man told Vermont State Police heintentionally went out of bounds at Killington Ski Areaand ended up lost about 4 p.m. March 21.

Timothy J. Brodhagen, 36, of Brooklyn, was foundafter the Killington Ski Patrol located, tracked andguided Brodhagen to Wheelerville Road in Mendon.

He was not injured.

Outdoor News:


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Three from New Jersey get lostwhile out of bounds

Three skiers from New Jersey went out of bounds andbecame the subject of a search March 24 at KillingtonSki Area.

Vermont State Police were notified about 1 p.m. thatthree skiers were missing in the backcountry nearKillington.

Maureen McBurnie, 21, James Grantham, 19, and GailGruber, 19, all of Highlands, N.J., were dressed for theweather but had no food or water when they became lost.

The three stayed in touch with dispatch until theyemerged from the woods about three hours later.

Monkton man’s vehicle broken intowhile backcountry skiing

A Monkton man said his vehicle was broken intowhile skiing the backcountry.

Lucas Jamison-Buckley, 25, of Monkton, reported hisvehicle had been broken into while he was backcountryskiing in Lincoln on March 26.

According to a Vermont State Police press release,Jamison-Buckley reported the theft about 2:15 p.m. afterhe returned and found his 2001 Volkswagon Jetter hadbeen broken into.

He reported about $150 to $200 worth of tools and apair of sneakers were taken.

Police have increased patrols in the area of trailheadparking lots.

Anyone with information should contact the NewHaven barracks of the Vermont State Police at 388-4919.

NationHunters say they’ll boycott

Colorado over gun legislationHunters say recent legislation in Colorado would hurt

hunters and plan to boycott the state’s big-game huntingin protest.

Lawmakers changed the bill before it was passed toexempt people borrowing guns for less than 72 hoursfrom being required to undergo a background check inresponse to complaints from hunters the law wouldpenalize hunters flying in for a hunt.

Colorado is known for its liberal license process forout-of-state hunters wishing to hunt big game.

Two Green Mountain Forest Service employees honored

Two employees of the GreenMountain & Finger Lakes NationalForests have been honored by U.S.Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwellto receive 2012 National “Rise tothe Future” – Watershed ResourcesAwards.

Brian Austin, a civil engineerwith the Green Mountain & FingerLakes National Forests, is beingrecognized for his strong leadershipwithin the Forest Service and withpartner organizations such as theState of Vermont and TroutUnlimited following the devastationfrom Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.

Over the past 5 years Austin hasbeen the lead on 32 projects thatremoved migration barriers andopened up more than 50 miles ofstream habitat for native species.

Austin has championed theaquatic organism passage programand the Forest Service’s “StreamSimulation” design approach.

Stream Simulation bridges and

culverts are designed to allow fishand other organism to move freelyupstream and to reduce the risk ofstructure failure from floods anddebris.

Nancy Burt, a forest soil scientistwith the Green Mountain & FingerLakes National Forests, is beingrecognized for her achievementsover more than 30 years as a soilscientist.

In particular, Burt has been aleader in identifying andchampioning the need for long-termsoil monitoring to identify trends insoil acidification and changes inproductivity related to aciddeposition and climate change.

She initially collaborated with theNatural Resources ConservationService to establish two long-termsoil monitoring plots as part of astatewide network, and then securedsupport and funding to establish 20sites for collecting integrated soiland vegetation data on the GreenMountain National Forest.

The plots will be remeasured in10-year intervals and will provideinvaluable information on theimpacts of environmental change.

Burt’s accomplishment inestablishing the monitoring programwith a coalition of partners hasplaced the National Forest in aleading role in the longterm soil andecological monitoring arena.

These prestigious awards aregiven out annually to Forest Serviceemployees, partners and groups thathave demonstrated leadership andexcellence in implementingfisheries / aquatic ecology,hydrology, air and soil scienceprograms across the country.

Nominations were accepted in aneffort to identify top performers thathave made an outstandingcontribution to these watershedmanagement programs on theNational Forests and Grasslands.

The awards will be presented at areception in Washington, D.C. onMay 14, 2013.

Outdoor News:


Contributing Writers and Photographers

We have had some interest by people who would like to write or submit photos to Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine. Wewelcome submissions by writers and photographers but keep three things in mind:

● Understand our budget doesn’t allow for payment. If you want to write because you love it, we can afford that, but we’re not paying anywriters or photographers right away.

● You will be edited. The best writers still need editors – some more than others. If it makes you feel better, I’ve been writing and editingprofessionally for 20 years. I won’t hack your work to death.

● Query with an idea. Don’t write 1,000 words only to find VGOM doesn’t publish vampire fiction, even if the vampire sucks the blood ofan 8-pointer. Let’s talk about your idea and decide if it’s right for this magazine. Then we’ll do it.

What is your club, group or organization up to? Share you news.Submit news about Vermont’s Outdoors to VGOM.

[email protected]

Outdoor News:


Gov. Peter Shumlin has appointeda new member to the Fish & WildlifeBoard, and has reappointed twomembers and the board chairman.

Theresa Elmer of Northfield, hasbeen appointed to representWashington County, replacingJeffrey Salvador, whose term hasexpired.

Elmer runs Mountain DeerTaxidermy in Northfield with herhusband Rodney Elmer. The couplesays they founded their businessbased on their personal love ofhunting and fishing, and thatMountain Deer now boasts 20 yearsof combined taxidermy experience.

The governor also returned twomembers to their seats andreappointed the board chairman.

Shumlin reappointed KevinLawrence, of Orange County, andPeter Allard, of Franklin County, tothe board; and reappointed BrianAmes, of Windham County, to theposition of board chair.

“We're very excited to haveTheresa on board,” Ames said.“She's very conservation-orientedand has been deeply involved withissues related to wildlife and thefuture of hunting in Vermont. She'san excellent choice.”

The 14-member Fish and WildlifeBoard is an advisory group ofVermont citizens that votes on fishand wildlife regulations. Membersserve for six-year terms. They areeligible for reappointment onlywhen they are filling a seat leftvacant by a member who was unable

to serve his or her full term.“We're also pleased to welcome

Kevin and Pete back to serve on theboard for their own six-year terms,”Ames said. “They're both productiveand conscientious members of theboard who always come preparedwith a thorough understanding of theissues we're discussing.”

“The Fish and Wildlife Boardplays an invaluable role in theconservation of our fish and wildliferesources in Vermont,” saidCommissioner Patrick Berry. “Thethoughtful, well-informed citizensthat make up the board help shaperegulations from the perspective ofVermont’s hunters, anglers, wildlifewatchers, and conservationists whohave a strong interest in the soundmanagement of these resources.”

Shumlin appoints members to Fish & Wildlife Board

Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, Backpacking, ATVing, Biking, Camping, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling, Bird Watching,Climbing, Photography, Power Boating, Paddling, Skijoring, Conservation, Four Wheeling, Dog Sledding, and … try us!

Most races and competitions. There will be some allowance for fishing tournaments, some shooting events, and a few others,but we’re not interested in 5k, 10k, half marathons, triathlons, bike races, ski races, swim meets, auto/motorcycle races,adventure races and similar events that are already covered by other publications and local newspapers. Also, no golf, Frisbeegames, dog shows (unless they’re bird dogs), gardening, backyard birding, polo, team sports, well you get the idea. We have todraw the line somewhere, and this is a good starting point. Some things will be on a case-by-case basis. It never hurts to ask.

Conservation:


The Vermont Fish & WildlifeDepartment is urging people to takedown their bird feeders to avoidattracting bears that are emergingfrom their winter dens and lookingfor food.

"It is best to remove food sourcesbefore hungry bears locate them,"said Fish & Wildlife’s Col. DavidLeCours.

"We highly recommend takingdown bird feeders and not feedingbirds until Dec. 1."

There are other things people cando to prevent bears from becoming aproblem.

“Also, don't leave pet food outside,wash down your barbecues afterusing them, and secure your garbage

containers,” he said. “And above all,never purposely leave food out forbears. Feeding bears may seem kind,but it is almost a sure death sentencefor them."

If a bear becomes accustomed tofood, it has a good chance it will endup causing problems and be shot bya home owner, or destroyed by thedepartment.

"Help keep bears wild," LeCourssaid. "We care about these bears asmuch as anyone. Having to destroyone that has become a threat tohuman safety is not a pleasantexperience, and we know that movingthem to another location doesn'tchange their behavior. They continueto seek food near people because they

have learned that it works."Vermont law prohibits a person

from killing a bear that has beenattracted to any artificial bait or foodsuch as bird seed. The fine for doingso can be as high as $1,000.

Bears often eat seeds in the wild,so a birdfeeder chock full of high-energy seed is a concentrated sourceof what a bear considers natural food.And they are smart.

Once bears learn to obtain foodaround people’s homes, they will beback for more.

To learn about black bears, go to theVermont Fish & Wildlife Department'swebsite at www.vtfishandwildlife.comand look in the Library section for theBlack Bear Factsheet.

A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear

Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine:


Conservation:


Following a spell of warm,spring-like weather,biologists at the Vermont Fish

& Wildlife Department observedblack bears out of their dens early

in March. In recent years, mildweather has frequently driven bearsto enter their dens later and toemerge earlier.

“Bears are triggered to enter their

den when food begins to becomescarce in fall or early winter, whichusually follows a heavy snowfall,”said Forrest Hammond, bear projectleader for Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

Weather’s Impact

A black bear checks out the photographer while hugging a claw-scarred tree.

Outdoor News:


“Spring rains and warmtemperatures cause bears to leavetheir dens in search of uncoverednuts and green shoots that start toemerge from the melting snowpack.Bears will be active as long as theycan easily find food, but they willreturn to their dens if another deepsnowfall covers their food supply.”

Shorter denning seasons inVermont are consistent with reportsfrom the American West,Scandinavia and Spain, where manybrown bears have forgonehibernation altogether. Bears varythe duration of winter dormancybased on their latitude and altitude;bears that live further north or highin the mountains typically den for alonger period of time.

Vermont’s black bears are not theonly species changing their behaviordue to recent winter weatherpatterns. Many bird species havestarted to migrate, breed, and nestearlier in the spring in recent years.

John Buck, migratory bird projectleader for Vermont Fish & Wildlife,says that the department hasobserved state endangered sprucegrouse displaying courtship andbreeding activity three weeks earlyas a response to low springsnowpack levels in recent years.“We’re concerned that the femalesmay nest early and then see theirnests buried under a heavy, late-season snowstorm, which wouldlikely result in a high rate of nestfailures,” he said.

The department has also observedthat waterfowl are delaying theirdeparture from Vermont for thewinter because they continue to haveaccess to open water, sometimes lateinto December or January.

Fish & Wildlife’s Steve Parrenhas been studying a population ofwood turtles for the past 25 years.According to Parren, the turtles havehistorically emerged fromhibernation in mid-April. “Duringthe extreme warm spell that we hadlast winter, we saw wood turtlesbasking on March 17, nearly amonth earlier than they are typicallyspotted,” he said.

Other amphibian and reptilespecies responded to a warm early-March rain this year by emergingfrom winter dormancy.Herpetologist Jim Andrews, of theVermont Reptile and AmphibianAtlas, tracks the spring emergenceof reptiles and amphibians inVermont. Andrews reported seeingspring peeper frogs, spottedsalamanders, and even some Easternnewts on March 12 this winter in theChamplain Valley.

Vermont’s insects also vary theiremergence dates based on the springtemperatures. During warmer anddrier springs, many will emergeearly.

“Flowering plants, bees,butterflies – these species haveevolved together based on a specifictiming of events in the spring,” saidFish & Wildlife biologist MarkFerguson. “Many of the state’scrops, including apple trees, requireinsects for pollination.” Last spring,many Vermont apple growers sawhigh levels of frost damage whenunusually high temperatures pushedflower buds out before the last frostsof the season were over.

Milder winter temperatures canmake controlling many forest pestspecies difficult. Vermont’shemlocks are currently threatened

by a non-native insect known as thehemlock woolly adelgid, whichfeeds on hemlock sap and may injecttoxic saliva while feeding. Theadelgid’s northward spread islimited by its inability to toleratelong stretches of temperatures below-20 degrees Fahrenheit, which havebecome less frequent in Vermont inthe last decade.

As this pest spreads, it can causedevastating declines in Vermont’shemlock forests. Hemlock forestsare a critical habitat for manyVermont species; bears, bobcats andruffed grouse all use hemlock forprotective cover, and these forestsare crucial as wintering habitat forwhite-tailed deer. Following themild winter of 2011, hemlockwoolly adelgid spread to sevenadditional towns in Vermont, morethan doubling the number of townsin which the pest was previouslydetected.

While mild winters may benefitsome species in Vermont, theweather’s unpredictability can provedifficult for wildlife. Mid-winterrains followed by deep freezes orMarch temperatures above 50degrees Fahrenheit followed byheavy, late-season snowfalls cancause onerous conditions for manyspecies.

“During a normal winter, budbreak, insect hatching and birdsreturning to Vermont or establishingnests all occur at the same time,”added Buck. “Mild andunpredictable winters cause theseevents to get out of sync. Birds thatdon’t keep up with changingweather patterns return to Vermontto nest and find that the insects thatthey feed on have already hatched.”

Conservation:


Surveys performed this winterby researchers at theVermont Fish & Wildlife

Department indicate thatpopulations of several species ofbats in Vermont continue to shrinkdue to the devastating effects ofwhite-nose syndrome, a fungaldisease affecting cave-hibernatingbats.

Fish & Wildlife scientists ScottDarling, Joel Flewelling and AlyssaBennett spearheaded a statewidesurvey of Vermont’s cave-hibernating bat species to continuemonitoring the disease since it firsthit the state.

They have witnessed the effectsof the disease, which was firstdetected in eastern New York in2006 and was confirmed to haveinfected Vermont’s bats by 2008.

The disease has since spread as faraway as Missouri and Nova Scotiain Canada.

“We’ve recorded declines ashigh as 90 percent during our cavesurveys, so we feared acontinuation of that drastic rate ofdecline this winter,” Darling said.“While the rate that we’re losingbats each year appears to haveslowed a bit, bat numbers were stillconsiderably lower than in previous

Battling for Bats

surveys. Some species, such asnorthern long-eared bats, are hardlyappearing at all in these caves.”

Bats generate an estimated $3.7billion a year in benefits toNorth American agriculturethrough insect pest controland crop pollination,according to the journalScience.

In Vermont, they eat insectsthat damage crops, tormentlivestock, or are forest pests.

“These unique mammalsare the principle predator of flyinginsects in New England,” Darlingsaid.

And he said people need to be

paying attention.“The freefall of bat populations

due to white-nose syndrome issomething that should be on

everyone’s radar right now,”Darling said. “We’re observing themost precipitous decline of a groupof species in recorded history and

it’s happening right here in ourregion. Several species havevirtually disappeared in less than adecade and we are getting

increasing skeptical that thesebats will ever return.”

Vermont is home to ninebat species; six species spendwinters hibernating in cavesand three migrate south.While the species of bats thatmigrate may be threatened byincreased ridgeline winddevelopment, population data

on this suite of species is verydifficult to obtain.

Among Vermont’s cave bats, thelittle brown bat and northern long-


Conservation:

“We’re observing the mostprecipitous decline of a group of

species in recorded history and it’shappening right here in our region.”

Scott Darling


eared bat are state endangeredspecies, small-footed bats are statethreatened, and Indiana bats arestate and federally endangeredspecies.

According to Darling, there arethree avenues to prevent thesespecies from becoming extirpatedin Vermont.

The first, and best option, wouldbe for researchers to find atreatment or a cure for white-nosesyndrome and a feasible means ofapplying it in the wild.

Alternatively, these bats maycontinue to decline until the fewthat remain happen to be naturallyresistant to the disease.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife

Department is participating in aregional study to investigate thispossibility.

Bennett, a wildlife technician,cites two adult female little brownbats that the team recaptured sixyears after they were initiallycaptured and banded byresearchers, despite the fact thatmost other bats in their maternitycolony had fallen victim to white-nose syndrome in that time.

“While these individual bats maybe genetically resistant to white-nose syndrome, they may have alsosurvived due to luck or resilience,or by escaping exposuresomehow,” Bennett said.

The third option, which Darling

refers to as the “Noah’s Arkstrategy,” involves holding the batsin captivity during the short timeperiod when they are mostvulnerable to white-nose syndrome.

The department is working withother agencies to determine thefeasibility of such a practice.

“The struggle to save Vermont’sbats continues to be a race againsttime,” Darling said. “If we’re notsuccessful with these efforts, it’sunclear what we’ll turn to next.”

Vermonters can help batresearchers in their effort to savebats by donating to the nongamewildlife fund on line 29 of their taxreturn or by going towww.vtfishandwildlife.com.

Conservation:


Conservation:

Like that special tree stand from which you always see deer, or thatstretch of river where the trout always rise, there are just some placesthat are unique. A spot that holds a place in your heart so special that

you keep it to yourself.

If you’re looking for an advertising opportunity to share yourmessage, this can be your special place.

This prime spot can be yours next month.By advertising in Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine, you’ll not

only be supporting a growing publication that is generating a lot ofexcitement in the Green Mountain State, but you’ll also place your

message in front of avid and dedicated outdoor enthusiasts.

And you won’t believe how affordable this space is.There are other publications that cover some of the outdoor

experience in Vermont and this little slice of Heaven they callnorthern New England. They do a good job, but none of them coverthe depth and breadth of the topics you’ll read about in Vermont’s

Great Outdoors Magazine.

So contact us today to ensure we can get your advertisement in thenext monthly issue of a growing and exciting publication that covers

the topics that are important to you and your business.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (802) 331-0130

Fishing:


March is a month filled withpotential and hope. Theskiers know that they will

probably get one more large storm,while the lovers of Spring welcomethe longer days and warmer temps.

This year, March slammed a cold

door of indifference on thosewaiting for Spring. Repetitive lowpressure systems increased oursnowpack and brought winter backto the Green Mountains in a hurry.

But like the emerging winterstoneflies, Vermont's fly anglersstart climbing out from behind theirtying benches. Tripping over the

mountainous stack of fishing DVDsthat seemed to tease them all winterlong.

Typically in late March, the lastof the winter stoneflies, thetaeniopterygidae, make anappearance. Slightly larger then thetiny black stone that showed up afew weeks prior, this more brown

Otter Creek Brookie

Local fishing guide Jesse Haller landed this brook trout that is estimated to have been about 20 inches. It was released.

Fishing:


then black stonefly offers a sizableemergence that wakes hibernatingVermont trout.

Beneath the surface of the water,millions of these nymphs areworking their way to the side of theriver to hatch. On a sunny day, youcan find rocks near highlyoxygenated water on Otter Creek,covered with the adult stoneflies.

If your at the right spot, you willsee them bobbing along, flyingthrough the air. Like moststoneflies, they seem to struggle abit with their weight as they fly, anddon't quite have the beautifulelegance of flight that somemayflies do.

Most of Vermont's fly anglers canattest that much of the winter flyfishing is going though the motions.From mid-December throughFebruary its difficult to catch fish.You will undoubtedly pick a few uphere and there, but the fish to hoursinvested ratio is not generous.

Some of the fish I have caught inJanuary, I think just had theirmouths frozen open and my fly just

happened to drift in. So when thethe Taenio shows up, its exciting.

Its always a coin flip if your goingto be able to fish the hatch on OtterCreek or not. Statistically snowrunoff has the river at peak waterlevel during this time of the year.

This season the snow has easedits way off the hill. For the secondyear in a row this hatch has beenapplicable.

The trout have responded well tothe increasing water temperaturesand on that day the thermometercame out reading 42 degreesFahrenheit.

The cloud cover had made themorning feel like yet another winterday in Vermont. But by the time Ihad worked my way to the run Iwanted to fish, an occasional patchof blue sky was beginning pushthrough the gray veil.

I sat on a mid-river rock, set downmy second fly rod, and re-rigged theone I wanted to fish.

Fly selection isn't rocket sciencethis time of the year, as matchingthe naturals requires you to pick

from a small selection of theavailable species. I chose a pair ofnymphs I thought would work wellin tandem, and rigged my rod.

In the few minutes it had taken meto complete this task, several of theadult small brown stonefly adultshad climbed onto my Simms wadersand were working their way up mybody.

Its not a special run, or a secrethole. As a matter of fact, I imaginethis section of Otter Creek getsfished more then most.

So I was happy when on the firstdrift through I hooked and landed a14-inch brown.

Feeling confident, the second castrolled out with ease, and the mendwas perfect. When everythingtightened up, I set the hook withauthority.

It was a snag.Rather then make a huge

disturbance, I broke the line. Yearsof guiding has taught me that thefish in the run are worth more thenthe fly that is snagged.

I backed out of the run and re-tied.

Brook Trout – Tale of the Tape

Fishing:


By this time, the sun had poppedout and their were several smallbrown stones buzzing through theair.

A quick look around, againshowed not one person in sight.

With my head down focused onretying, the sound of the brokenwater filled my ears.

The sun was warm, and for thefirst time, it felt like a Spring day.

Glancing back up, I surveyed therun again. The outside seam hadsome slower and deeper wateradjacent to it. I targeted a cast a fewinches further. The trout had not

committed to the fast water yet thisseason.

On warmer days they may movein to score some quick calories whena fair amount of bugs are in thewater column, but they don't staythere for long.

The deeper portion of the runlooked like a nice holding spot.

I had drifted through the area Ithought was the best part of the runand was entering the back half of mydrift when it happened.

I firmly brought the rod up to setand their was a brief moment whereit felt so solid I thought I was

snagged again.The slow pulsating quickly wiped

that thought away.While reeling in the slack line, the

fish came to the top for a momentaryrumble just under the surface. It wasso lightly colored compared to thebrown I had landed just a fewminutes before.

Its not uncommon for trout inOtter Creek to get a washed-outlook. The fish pushed up a bit in therun, right toward the area I managedto get snagged earlier.

I dropped my rod tip to the side afew times and managed to turn the

Fishing:


fish's head and steer it away fromthe potential obstruction.

It was a bulldog. It had no interestin darting around, but rather usingbrute force to get to the bottom.

The drag on my reel hadn't had aworkout since last year, but thesmooth consistent pressure of it wasstarting to wear the fish out.

Reaching for my hand net on myhip pack waist belt, I took a fewsteps back to ease the fish intoslower water. Surprisingly, itcooperated.

It was in the slick clear water ofthe eddy that I could tell it wasn't abrown or a rainbow. But I honestlystill didn't believe what I was seeing.

After about 4 minutes, the fishwas in my net and I was looking ata 19-plus-inch brook trout.

In certain areas in New England,you can catch brook trout close tothis size. But in Vermont, out of ariver, it is remarkable.

Otter Creek, Vermont's longestriver, is not known for producinglarge brook trout. Especially in itslower reaches.

As I quickly worked to documentthis fish with my iPhone camera.

I knew it was special. How

special, wouldn't hit me until I laterhad time to reflect.

Laying the fish on my net, withmy rod above, I took a picture. Itook another of it in the net fromabove as well.

The mouth on the fish was verylarge and, as I do, I took a momentto open it and peer inside for a clueto its diet. It opened in a way thatresembled a largemouth bass.

No other nymphs. This was apredator, and why it had chosen toeat such a small nymph will alwayspuzzle me.

It is the same rigging I would useto target a 12-inch rainbow trout.

As I lowered it into the water inthe calm eddy I landed it in, it stayedin my cradled hands for a moment.It was at that time, when the fishbegan to move, awe started to settlein.

As it moved gently out of myhands, I wished it would stay a bitlonger to marvel at. But the large tailslid past my index finger and withone push the dark shadowdisappeared to the deep.

I spent the next fifteen minutes,just sitting next to the run.

Of the many thoughts a person

has after catching a nice fish, theone that repeated was “this is anamazing river.”

People often wish to be on aRocky Mountain stream withdiverse and dense trout populations.But we often overlook what we have.

I spent 10 years in Colorado,guiding for half of them. OtterCreek is one of the least pressured,large river fisheries I have fished.

This brookie came from one of themost pressure areas.

Within 5 minutes of Middlebury,it is possible to catch a 40-inchnorthern pike, a 24-inch browntrout, and, apparently, a largebrookie on Otter Creek. All on a flyrod. Many places in the world aren'tthat lucky.

Otter Creek still has many secrets,and I was lucky enough to have thechance to see one.

Maybe you will too.Jesse G. Haller has been a fly-

fishing guide for 10 years. He is thepresident of the New Haven RiverAnglers Association, works andguides for the MiddleburyMountaineer, and is a member ofthe Simms Professional Fly FishingTeam.






Fishing:


April’s opening day of troutseason arrives after a longwinter of anticipation.

The gear has been prepped. Now it’stime to start thinking about themethods you can use during earlyseason to help guarantee you asuccessful opportunity in fightingearly season trout.

When fishing bodies of water,anglers always have to consider thewater column, or depth, theyanticipate fish to either be holding or

feeding.During the spring, or cold water

months of the year, fish will mostoften be found holding and feeding inthe deepest water column andgenerally in slower currents.

In order to target fish at thosedepths, anglers need to consider threethings: fly selection and color,terminal tackle and fishing tactics.

When considering fly selection andcolor, always keep in mind that earlyseason trout have been waiting allwinter for spring feedingopportunities.

As water temperatures rise in thespring, the metabolism of fish beginsto increase. They start foraging andresponding more to feeding

Opening Day

A spring steelhead from Lewis Creek.

Fishing:


Wooly Buggers in some productive early season colors including black, olive, brown and white.

opportunities, so larger sized flypatterns in darker shades will triggertrout to feed.

Whether they are streamer patternsthat imitate bait fish or larger sizednymphs or larvae, fish will alwaysrespond better to these bigger bites.

Streamer favorites in the earlyspring include wooly buggers in black,olive, brown and sometimes white.

Don’t be afraid to try a couple of mycolor favorites, yellow and purple.Adding flashaboo color material toyour flies will add more sparkle tothese patterns, especially in cloudywater conditions.

Other streamer patterns to considerwould be silver minnow, black ghost,mickey fin and golden demon.

Other early season fly patterns that

work great are large stone fly patternsthat would include colors black, brownand golden.

I prefer tying these patterns withtungsten beads to ensure the fly travelsdeep and with rubber legs to add lifeand movement to the fly.

Thinking outside the “fly box,” nopun intended, other early seasonfavorites of mine include egg patternsin various colors, and San Juan Worms.

If all else fails, I’ll always finish anunproductive pool by dredging aVermont stream favorite, crayfishpattern, to add that filet mignonapproach to my fly selection.

Terminal tackle refers to all theaccessories that you will need to help

ensure better fly performance whenfishing.

Spring conditions will requireterminal tackle that aids in keeping thefly deep, including split shot, sink tiplines, and sink leaders.

Strike indicators (bobbers) are amust for most subsurface fly fishers.Trout sip and strike softly this time ofyear in many cases and those strikeswill often be missed by even the mostseasoned anglers.

However, with the assistance of astrike indicator your hook-up shouldincrease.

I prefer to use sink tip leaders in3-foot, 5-foot, and 7-foot lengths. Theshorter sink tip leaders are much easierto mend and control.

You can manage the depth they are

Fishing:


From left, top row, sinking leaders 3 foot, 5 foot and 7 foot. Bottom: Raven floats and connective tubing, Thingamabobber, Teardrop floats.

fished more easily than traditional sinktips, which usually start at 15-footlengths.

Here at the Fly Rod Shop, wemanufacture these leaders usingScientific Anglers, SA 14+expresssink line cut to preferred lengths.

I then attach the sink tip leader toour floating fly line systems. At theend of the sink tip section of myleader, I attach 3- to 5-foot lengths ofeither 12-pound, 10-pound, or 8-pound fluorocarbon tippet.

By using the shorter length tippetsections, this allows the fly to travelclose to the same sink rate as the sinktip leader.

When fishing these leaders, try tomaintain a consistent depth, and aconsistent speed. This will allow thefly to travel at a slow enough speed forfish to respond.

Strike indicator fishing for most fly

fisherman seems to be the mostcomplex fishing method.

Remember folks, it’s a bobber.Selecting indicators in the correct sizefor the conditions and needed weightis not as complex as we make it.

Keep in mind in the early season,you must add sufficient weight to theleader to sink your fly to the properdepth. Indicator sizes need to be largeenough to hold this weight off thebottom.

Weighted strike indicator leaderssystems that present the fly to the troutwith a vertical drift is the mosteffective method of nymph fishing.

My preference in indicator brandsis Raven Floats, Football Floats, andThing-A-Ma-Bobbers.

All of these indicators aremanufactured in various sizes anddiameters to allow anglers to select thecorrect size for the weight needed.

Some of my biggest trout of theseason are caught early in the year beforemost of the dry fly fishing even begins.

So remember to run it deep, fish itslow and bring the fly to the fish.

Don’t expect the fish to come toyour fly.

My best advice for those venturingout on their own to learn thesemethods is to practice, practice,practice.

Bob Shannon is the owner and headguide at The Fly Rod Shop(www.flyrodshop.com) in Stowe. Hehas more than 25 years of experienceteaching fly fishing and is a memberof the St. Croix Pro Staff as well as anambassador for Simms FishingProducts. He currently serves on theboard for Lake ChamplainInternational and is on the VermontFish & Wildlife board. Contact him [email protected].

Fishing:


Brian Cadoret of Stream and BrookFly Fishing, a Vermont guide service,and Rock River Rods, a Waitsfieldcompany selling fly rods and reels,caught this great steelhead March 27.

Cadoret said he caught thesteelhead on a Batman nymph in aLake Champlain tributary.

He was fishing a “huge” GoldenStonefly as the lead fly with theBatman tied at the end of 20 inches ofline attached to the bend of the hook.

He was, of course, using a RockRiver Rods 8½ foot, 5 weight.

“The ‘Metalhead’ was fat, supercolorful and put up quite a battle inthe swift water,” Cadoret said.

He said it helps to use a strikeindicator like a Thingamabobberabout 3 or 4 feet above the first fly.

“The shallower the water the closeryou have it to your first fly,” Cadoretsaid. “The key is to get the flies on thebottom and keep them there for longdrifts. If you are not getting snagged

on the bottom once in a while add afew tiny splitshot weights above thefirst fly or use heavier flies and oradjust the Thingamabobber for deeperwater and slide it up the leader a fewfeet.”

As March turned into April,Cadoret said hot nymphs for LakeChamplain steelhead include theGolden Stonefly, Copper John, Hare'sEar, Black Stonefly, Lime GreenCaddis Pupa, Pheasant Tail andBatman.

Preseason Fishing

A Lake Champlain tributary Steelhead caught March 27 on a "Batman" nymph using a Rock River Rods 8½ foot, 5 weight.

Fishing:


Vermont’s traditional troutfishing season opens Saturday, April13, and anglers are looking forwardto fishing for brook, brown andrainbow trout in the Green MountainState’s lakes and streams.

Until then, eager anglers cancapitalize on year-round catch-and-release trout fishing opportunitieson nine river sections.

“We know anglers are keen to weta line as early as possible,” said

Vermont Director of Fisheries EricPalmer. “If weather conditionscooperate, these river sections willprovide a great opportunity to dosome catch-and-release trout fishingwith artificials between now and thetraditional start of trout season inApril.”

Vermont is known for excellentfishing opportunities for wild trout,and some of the biggest brown andrainbow trout are caught during

early spring in many riversthroughout the state.

“Willoughby River steelheadprovide a popular spring fishery inthe Northeast Kingdom at theVillage of Orleans,” Palmer said.“These steelhead are on their springspawning run from LakeMemphremagog, and they alwaysattract a lot of interest, partlybecause they can be seen jumpingthe falls in Orleans.”

Early Season Trout

A relaxing spring day of stream fishing for brook, brown or rainbow trout in Vermont is great therapy after that long, snowywinter. Vermont’s trout fishing season starts Saturday, April 13, this year. Watch the weather and plan accordingly.

Fishing:


As an added bonus, Vermont’s catch-and-releasebass fishing season in lakes starts the same day as troutseason on April 13 and continues through June 7. Onlylures and flies may be used, and bass must beimmediately released.

The Fish & Wildlife Department reminds anglers thatthe use of felt-soled boots or waders in Vermont watersis prohibited in order to prevent the spread of theinvasive algae called didymo.

Anglers also are reminded to use sinkers that are notmade of lead. It is unlawful to use a lead sinkerweighing one-half ounce or less while fishing inVermont.

Weighted fly line, lead-core line, downriggercannonballs, weighted flies, lure, spoons, or jig headsare not prohibited.

Planning a Vermont spring fishing trip is easy. TheVermont Fish & Wildlife Department has a 2013Vermont Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Laws andGuide that includes maps showing lakes and streamsas well as fishing access areas and public lands.

It also lists the fish species found in each body ofwater and it includes fishing regulations.

Copies are available where fishing licenses are sold,or from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Youalso can download sections of the publication fromtheir website.

The Vermont Outdoor Guide Association offers helpin locating fishing guides and some overnight facilitieson its website at www.VOGA.org.

Fishing license fees are $25 for adult residents, $8for residents 15-17 years of age, $50 for adultnonresidents, and $15 for nonresidents 15-17 years old.One, three and seven day fishing licenses also are

available for nonresidents. Children 14 and younger donot need a fishing license in Vermont.

Licenses are available on Fish & Wildlife’s websiteat www.vtfishandwildlife.com and at agents statewide.

Tommy Baker of Rutland shows off an early season brook trout.

The following Vermont river sections are open for year-roundtrout fishing using artificial lures or flies. All trout caught mustbe immediately released where they are caught.

– From the Connecticut River boundaryupstream to the top of the Lovejoy Dam in Springfield.

– From the Lake Champlain boundary (topof Peterson Dam in Milton) upstream to the top of thehydroelectric Dam at Fairfax Falls.

– From the Lake Champlain boundary upstreamto the State Prison Hollow Road bridge in Starksboro.

– From the Connecticut Riverboundary upstream to the Union Village Dam in Thetford.

– From the Lake Champlain boundary upstreamto top of Center Rutland Falls in Rutland.

– From the Connecticut River boundaryupstream to the Townshend Dam to Connecticut Riverboundary.

– From the Connecticut River boundaryupstream to the bridge on Route 107 in Bethel.

– From the Connecticut River boundaryupstream to the top of the dam at Brockway Mills Falls inRockingham.

– From the Lake Champlain boundaryupstream to the Bolton Dam in Duxbury and Waterbury.

Preseason trout fishing opportunities

Fishing:


Vermont’s lakes and streamscontinue to produce amazingnumbers of big fish year

after year. In 2012, three new staterecords were established for burbot,channel catfish and pumpkinseedsunfish.

In February 2012, Swanton anglerBrian LaBelle started the year off bycatching a new state record throughthe ice, an 8.81-pound burbot fromLake Champlain. This is the secondyear in a row a new state record hasbeen set for this species, and it is atestament to the increasing popularity

of this tasty fish.The burbot is the only freshwater

member of the Cod family, and inVermont they can be found in anumber of the deep, cold NortheastKingdom lakes such as Willoughbyand Memphremagog, as well as LakeChamplain.

Most anglers target burbot afterdark with dead bait set on the bottomin 15 to 30 feet of water in areasadjacent to deeper water. Theprevious record burbot caught inFebruary 2011 weighed 5 pounds, 10ounces.

In June 2012, Robert Scott ofPoultney was fishing with a livegolden shiner off his dock on LakeSt. Catherine when he hooked intowhat proved to be the new staterecord channel catfish. The big catmeasured 41-inches long andweighed a whopping 35 pounds, 15ounces, besting the previous recordby more than a pound.

A month later, another shore anglerfishing from a popular location onLake Bomoseen landed apumpkinseed sunfish measuring10.5-inches and weighing 1.25-

Setting the Standard

Robert Scott of Poultney with Vermont’s new state record channel catfish he caught last year at Lake St. Catherine. The bigcat measured 41 inches long and weighed 35 pounds, 15 ounces.


Fishing:

Logan Bathalon of Bomoseen, shows off a mount of the new state record pumpkinseed, which weighed 1.25 pounds.

pounds. Fourteen-year-old LoganBathalon of Bomoseen was fishingfrom the Float Bridge with a wormand a bobber when he hooked thegiant panfish, which weighed a fullquarter pound more than the previousrecord pumpkinseed. As withLaBelle’s burbot, this was the secondyear in a row that the pumpkinseedrecord was beaten.

Vermont Fish & WildlifeDepartment fisheries biologist ShawnGood, who coordinates Vermont’sRecord Fish Program, says it’s nosurprise new records continue to beset every year.

“We’ve had a really good run ofrecord breaking fish catches inVermont,” Good said. “Eighteenrecords set since 2001, and eight ofthem coming since 2010. No otherstate in the region can boast this manynew state record fish over the sametime period.”

What is even more encouraging isthat 2012’s catches prove anglersdon’t need fancy equipment orexpensive boats for a chance atcatching a state record fish.

“All three state record catches thisyear were caught either from shore orthrough the ice,” added Good.

“Anglers just need to get outdoorswith a rod and reel and spend timefishing. You never know what you’llcatch! It’s a great family activity anda great way for kids to decompressfrom their busy lives.”

The Vermont State Record FishProgram was established in 1969 andmaintains a list of the largest fishcaught from Vermont waters in thelast 44 years. All records are availableto the public on the Fish & WildlifeDepartment’s website. Records canbe searched by waterbody, fishspecies, or year of entry. Entry formscan be found there as well.

Sacred Hunter:


Bullhead, mud cat, hornpout,bullpout. Call it want youwant, but I like calling them

bullpout because that’s how theywere “introduced” to me. And theykinda’ look like they’re “poutin”when you catch them and they burplike a baby when you squeeze them.Call ’em what you want, either way,it’s an annual rite of spring.

Sitting on the muddy clay shoresof a murky backwater, drinking icedtea and sitting on milk crates,watching our 8-pound test linesdance in the breeze.

Mating mallards fly over, the henstesting the aerobatic skills ofpotential suitors. Canada geese honkin the distance, practicing theirnesting in the bowels of the swamp.

Bullpoutin’ With the Boys

http://www.SacredHunter.org

Trucks and cars line the road. Thesun shines down upon the earlyspring revelers as they cast theirlines out into the shallows wheremigrating bullhead feed on theirway to the spawning grounds.

We watch our lines intently forany movement, carefully discerning

wind snap from genuine nibbles. Atthe end of the line is an oval shapedsinker, concave on the bottom tosink into the muddy bottom, andabove that, two No. 2 hooksapproximately 18 inches apart,tipped with chunky Canadiancrawler.

We cast into the deeper pools justoff of the shallow sides, wherecurrent is slow or nonexistent, thenwe place the rods on “Y” shapedsticks, and adjust the line so thatthere is just a hint of slack leadingdown in a 45 degree angle to thesurface.

Sacred Hunter:


Then we sit back and enjoy ourfavorite beverage, depending on thetime of day.

Yes, it’s a redneck sport and no,it does not necessarily mean settingtires on fire at night and leavinglitter all over the shoreline.

That aspect of fishermanship isleft to the low-life variety. We havemore than once picked up someoneelse’s garbage and delivered it tothem or placed it in the backseat oftheir vehicle.

Bullpoutin’ may be a Vermonttradition, but littering is not.

We set up folding chairs on shoreand the legs sink into the mud

making the occasional spectacle ofthe sittee flailing his arms inchicken-like fashion as his bodyarcs slowly downward toward theprimordial ooze.

It happens every year and it’salways a source of comedic relief.

We gaze at the skyline and, withthe corner of our eye, watch for theslightest line movement. It alwaysseems to happen when we arelooking away, lost in reverie,perhaps at a goose cupping up andgliding into the distance.

The line twitches, ever so gently.Then, slowly it begins to take outthe slack and the belly becomes

taught with resistance.We count to “three” and lift the

rod quickly to set the hook. A goodtug and the fight is on!

We reel furiously, lifting theweight of a twisting, turning,writhing body off of the muddybottom and into the murky half-light.

The fish surfaces and begins itsdistinctive bullhead roll, flashinggold and brown on the top of thewater.

The fight is one of a thrashing rolllike a small gator, using the surfaceof the water for resistance.

As the fish gets closer, werecognize it and acknowledge its size.

Sacred Hunter:


“Nice one!” says Big Bob, whosits next to us.

Big Bob has reeled in three dozenthis size already. Nonetheless, hecongratulates us on our first big oneof the day.

He lifts the fish out of the waterand swings it toward hisoutstretched hands. Everyoneknows that you can’t handle abullpout swinging around in the air.Except Big Bob.

He deftly calculates the swingingarc of the fish and times his burlyhands to accept the slimy body insuch a way that the “spines” of thepectoral and dorsal fin land

squarely above his outstretchedfingers and thumb.

I don’t know how he does it. BigBob is a bullhead Master and hisunderstanding of their movementsand instincts is Zen-like. He is theKung-Fu Master of the bullheadworld.

We land ours on the shoreline andwalk up behind it, carefully,consciously placing our thumb andforefinger behind its flared fins.

We hold him up to the sunlightand feel his heft. He is a slimy goldand brown as his soft leather-likeskin reflects the sunlight.

His body weight feels good in our

hand. As we squeeze his belly tokeep hold, he gives up theproprietary “buuuuurp” and wesmile at him, lost in a moment ofpure bliss.

We are one with the aquaticworld.

For a brief moment, we share inthe fascination of this prehistoriccreature, which has evolved little ina world that changes withexponential speed.

For now, time has stopped.Progress is unmetered. Life isexperienced in the present.

For this we are deeply grateful.We thank our brother, the bullpout,

Sacred Hunter:


and place him in a bucket of coldwater to join his peers.

We sit, enjoying the early springwarmth and the still cool breeze asit sweeps over the water and we chatwith our friends.

A young man down the bankpulls up a pair of crappies and isthrilled at his success with a speciesthat occasionally run at the sametime as bullhead. He flashes atoothy grin and proclaims “Thecrappies are here!”

A major shift in attention turnsfrom the shorelines to the side ofthe bridge as many ne’er-do-wellsslide in next to the young man andbegin to ply the water with smallplastic swim baits and micro-bobbers.

Then another shout rings outfrom the other direction. It’s ourfriend Zack Gregory, who has litinto a sizable carp on his micro-rodused for ice fishing.

The battle is a tenacious one,given that the carp is about 6pounds of fight and the line is only

4-pound test and rigged to a lightaction rod about 24 inches long.This one should be good!

After about 10 minutes of rod-snapping action, he slowly horsesthe tired fish onto the muddy shoreand claims his prize.

“Carpe Diem!” I shout.Then it’s back to bullpoutin’.

Within four hours we have abucketful of fish that the NativeAmerican tribe, Ojibwe, use as theirclan symbol.

“Winimac” is a tasty fish, filletedand rolled in corn meal, or pan-friedcovered in dark Cajun seasonings.

See you this month on the shore.Pull up a chair and share a beveragewith us!

Bradley Carleton is executivedirector of Sacred Hunter.org, anonprofit organization that is beingformed to educate the public on thespiritual connection of man tonature and raises funds forTraditions Outdoor Mentoring.org,which mentors at-risk young men inoutdoor pursuits.

Sacred Hunter:


Sacred Hunt Game DinnerAs an addendum to my column this

month, I want to thank all of you whoinquired and attended our firstSacred Hunt Game Dinner on March23.

It was a phenomenal success,raising much needed funds for ourmentoring program, TraditionsOutdoor Mentoring.

The food was stellar, being createdby three of the finest chefs I haveknown: Steve Osborne, of past PerryRestaurant Group fame; RodRehwinkel, of Clear CulinaryConsulting; and Andy Rose,executive chef for The Lodge atShelburne Bay.

Nina Koch, of East ShoreVineyards, held a magnificent winetasting area, pairing wines likeCabernet Francs with goose liverpate’ (foie’ gras).

John Lesher, of JDL Consulting,ran a very busy bar serving EastShore Vineyard wines and localmicro-brewery, Fiddlehead IPA.

A silent auction was held thatawarded prizes for a two-day striperfishing trip with Scott Buchmayr outof Newburyport, Mass., a Vermontduck hunt, a Vermont goose hunt,some tremendous prints from ReedPrescott, of Verde Mountain inBristol, some beautiful hand-tied andframed salmon flies from AlanHolcomb, flyologist, from SouthBurlington and a couple of covetedgift subscriptions to The UplandAlmanac.

The staff of The Lodge was uber-professional and gracious enough tomake Martha Stewart envious.

For those of you, who are notaware of our efforts, please visit ourwebsite at www.sacredhunter.organd our Facebook page, SacredHunter. “Like” us if you do!

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[email protected]


Hunting:


The Harbinger

Like every young Vermont boy of mygeneration who had aspirations of killing abig buck, I read Larry Benoit’s “How to bagthe Biggest Buck of Your Life” in awe andamazement at the impressionable age of 17.

Hunting:


You never forget your first... buck that is. Like everyyoung Vermont boy of my

generation who had aspirations ofkilling a big buck, I read LarryBenoit’s “How to bag the BiggestBuck of Your Life” in awe andamazement at the impressionableage of 17.

The photographs of antlers andbarrel chested bucks accompaniedby instructions on tracking thesegiants remain engrained in my mind25 years later.

Just weeks after reading thisclassic, I found myself in the woodsof St. Lawrence County in NewYork after a dumping of more thana foot of heavy, wet snow blanketedthe November landscape.

My father (having tagged out oneweek earlier), my 11-year-old

brother, and I were spending theweekend at our newly acquiredcamp in South Colton, N.Y., alongthe Raquette River.

We had not owned the camp forlong but were very excited andoptimistic about the hunting and

fishing opportunities thatsurrounded this very rural sectionof the Empire State.

Neither agricultural normountainous, this part of St.Lawrence County can best bedescribed as a plateau that joinsboth.

My father dropped me off atdaybreak at an area that I hadhunted earlier in the season about 7miles from our camp. The forecastwas calling for warmingtemperatures that would reduce thesnow depth throughout the day. Nocell phone, GPS or hand held radio… just a compass, flashlight, andwhat I thought I would need for aday’s hunt.

My father and I agreed that hewould return around lunch time tocheck in and again at the end of the

day to retrieve me. I was ready totrack … to bag the biggest buck ofmy life.

As I watched my father drive offthrough the fog, I loaded myRemington Model 700 bolt action.243 and headed into the woodslooking for signs of a buck in thedense melting snow.

It didn’t take me long to stumbleon to what appeared to be a decenttrack, so I took it. The deer seemedto wander aimlessly and eventuallystopped to rub a small tree.

At least I knew I was tracking abuck. That was reassuring,

especially for a 17-year-old kid whohad only killed a couple ofantlerless deer back home inVermont.

I am sure I did everything wrongwhile I followed that buck.

I wasn’t checking to see if he wasbrowsing on buds, an indication thatthe deer may be preparing to bed. Iwasn’t trying to move at a pace thatwould allow me to see an ear twitchor an antler flash. I paid no attentionto the wind direction.

I was an impatient teenagerslogging through the snow like a15-inch beagle chasing a snowshoe

hare.To this day I can’t recall the

series of events immediatelypreceding the first shot. All I knowis he was accompanied by otherdeer when I found him in my scope,and as I squeezed the trigger, flagswere flying in several directions.

I quickly slid the bolt open, thenclosed, and headed in his directionwondering what I had done.

As I approached the area wherethe deer were, movement to my leftcaught my attention. The buck wasstruggling up a small rise, pullinghimself along with his front legs.

Hunting:


Hunting:


As soon as I thought I had him,he was back up on all fours andgone.

This is when the hunt began.I didn’t give him any time to lie

down and die. I’m not sure I knewenough to. I got right after him anddidn’t let up.

At one point, I was approachinga section of thick balsams and couldhear him breathing ... heavily, butcouldn’t see him.

I got extremely close before hegrew tired of my presence and as he

bolted, I fired, missing cleanly.I never checked my compass and

was totally unaware of mysurroundings.

I pressed on, jumping him timeand time again. Luckily he hadmade a semi-circle and brought usback to the road my father and Itraveled when he dropped me offjust a few short hours ago.

After crossing the pavement, heheaded straight for the open waterof Blake Reservoir.

His tracks stopped at the

shoreline and I wasn’t sure what todo. I walked up and down theshoreline in case he decided not tocross the 100-plus yards of water inorder to reach the other side.

I scanned the reservoir with myscope expecting to see a floatingbuck waiting for me to retrieve him.

Nothing … no sign of himanywhere.

I walked back to the roadconfused, discouraged and tired.

Since lunch was more than anhour (and seven miles) away, I

decided to start walking back tocamp and if a vehicle happened topass by, I would throw my thumbout not expecting the driver to stop.

Sure enough, a vehicle with twomen stopped, picked me up anddrove me back to camp.South Colton is after alla rural area and mostpeople in these partshunt or understand whytheir neighbors do.

Those guys enjoyedmy story, wished meluck and dropped me offto my unsuspectingfather.

Having practiced mystorytelling once withmy gracioustransporters, I beganagain with my father andyounger brother, both ofthem listening intently.

My father took out alarge paper map of thearea, one of several thathe used when searchingfor a camp to purchaseand land to hunt.

After pointing outwhere I thought the buckhad crossed Blake, wedecided to drive aroundthe northeast end of thereservoir, drive down adead-end road, park and resume thechase.

None of us thought we had anychance of seeing that buck again.

We didn’t talk much if at allwhile we drove around the reservoir.

The snow was melting, the windwas picking up, it had been over anhour and that buck could have goneanywhere.

After reaching our destination,we parked the car and split up. Mybrother joined me and my fatherwas headed for the shoreline.

I was to walk along the remainderof the dead end road past an old girl

scout camp to the end of a peninsulaand we would eventually meetsomewhere in the middle, hopefullylocating the swimming buck'sarrival to shore.

We hadn’t gone far when myfather began yelling to us.

The wind muffled his messagebut we were both excited and beganrunning immediately.

By the time we reached myfather, I was out of breath andwondering why we were running.

It turns out that as my father wasapproaching the shoreline hewalked directly into the buck. It was

bedded not 20 yardsfrom him and they juststared into each other’seyes helplessly.

With no weapon overhis shoulder, or a radioor cell phone to contactme, all he could do waswait.

After the bucksummoned enoughenergy to get up, hereturned to the waterand, incredibly, enteredthe water, swimmingback to the shorelinewhere I initially left him.

My father watchedpatiently and once thebuck reached the othershoreline, it beddedimmediately.

That’s when theyelling began ...

He pointed the buckout to us and I mustadmit; I was shakinguncontrollably. The sunwas glaring off hisantlers and this was my

first good look at him. He lookedimpressive.

I anchored myself against a tree,took some deep breaths and slid thesafety off.

I was trembling while acombination of excitement andfatigue overwhelmed me.

The first shot didn’t even fazehim. My father said he saw some

Hunting:


Hunting:


snow kick up high and right. I triedonce more with a similar result.

The buck decided not to stickaround for a third offer and slippedback into the woods.

He was noticeably weak and hada right to be. Not only was hewounded but in addition to the landI chased him across, he swam a fewhundred yards during his escape.

We had no choice but to driveback to the other side and continuethe hunt.

I led my father and brother to theshoreline, my mind absent of anythought that we would recover thisanimal.

I was nearing defeat.We found the bed where he swam

ashore awaiting my two misplacedshots.

As quickly as my spirits wereraised, they plummeted when thetracks disappeared once again intothe reservoir.

Looking back at my father andbrother, I was ready to throw in thetowel. My father convinced me thatwe should at the very least walk theshoreline to a small point up ahead,before giving up.

Almost half way there I stoppedand turned back to be sure theywere still following me when thebuck exploded out of a small clumpof alders nestled on the shorelinenot 15 yards from me.

I shouldered my rifle and let himhave it.

He continued crashing into thewater and appeared to be swimmingaway … reluctantly. We quicklyretreated just inside the tree line andtook cover.

The buck swam a couple ofcircles and thank goodness decidedto make his way back to shore.

As he reached land one final time,I ended the chase with a well placedshot ending the animal’s life.

That buck was my first. He was thebiggest buck of my life, at age 17.

He was also a harbinger.Somehow I manage to make most

of my hunting and fishingexperiences into an adventure.

They rarely end, and usuallybegin, when I pull the trigger … thefirst time.

I have shot and killed several deersince my first and some of themhave become the biggest.

I plan to continue sharing thesetall tales with you here throughShed Antlers.

Jeremy Baker chases whitetailspassionately with friends and familythroughout the Green Mountainsand Adirondacks of New York State.Feel free to send him an email:[email protected].

Hunting:


In an effort to promote youthhunting in Vermont, Gov. PeterShumlin is hosting a Governor’sYouth Turkey Hunt this spring.

The governor is scheduled toattend a luncheon April 21 at theWaterbury Fish & Game Club, wherehe plans to lead a discussion on theimportance of the hunting traditionin Vermont.

The following weekend, the younghunters will take part in a guidedturkey hunt to coincide withVermont’s youth turkey huntingweekend April 27-28.

The event is sponsored by theNational Wild Turkey Federationand is open to any licensed hunterunder the age of 16. Previous huntingexperience is not required toparticipate.

“Youth participation in huntingacross the country, includingVermont, has been on the decline,”said NWTF chapter president DonIsabelle. “We hope our inauguralGovernor’s Youth Turkey Hunt willhelp reverse this trend and enticeyoung people in Vermont back tohunting.”

“Governor Shumlin is an idealleader for this program,” Isabellecontinued. “As a lifelong hunter, heunderstands the importance of thistradition.”

Fish & Wildlife Departmentturkey project leader ForrestHammond said the kids should havea good hunt.

“The youth turkey hunt is a safeand fun way to get young people intohunting,” Hammond said. “Betweenthe excellent mentors and the hunt

occurring before the start of regularturkey season, young hunters standa very good chance of hearing turkeycalls and seeing birds, and a highsuccess rate is likely.”

An initiative of the Vermont StateChapter of the NWTF, theGovernor’s Youth Turkey Hunt

coincides with this year’s Jakes’event, an annual youth turkeyhunting event held by the NWTF toeducate youth about wildlifeconservation and stewardship ofVermont’s natural resources.

Each youth hunter will beprovided a guide from the NWTF.

Governor hosts youth turkey hunt

Gov. Peter Shumlin will host a Governor’s Youth Turkey Hunt on April 21.

VGOM:


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Hunting:


I was out at 4:30 this morninglistening for turkeys across theroad from our house. Opening dayof the spring season is tomorrow.

I had a cup of coffee hot andready while I set up my foldingchair at the base of the mountainrange on the edge of a secludedmeadow.

There was a male woodcockperforming his sky dance and a batthat kept flying back and forthalong the scots pines gatheringinsects above my head.

I waited for a few minutesbefore I let out a barred owl“hoot,” the only reply was anotherowl. He was most likelydisappointed by my falseadvertising.

We were fully engaged in ourexchange when finally Mr. Tomreplied with the first gobble of themorning. I hooted again a fewtimes without a response fromeither the owl or the turkey.

Daylight was drifting in and the

robins, veeries, and hermit thrushwere busy delivering notes throughthe leafless treetops.

I pulled out my crow call andgave that a try. It was immediatelyfollowed by thundering gobbles.

I had their attention now.Every offering seemed to

escalate their excitement.My attention was no longer

directed towards the woodcock,robins or thrush.

These turkeys were high on theridge and answering my crow callslike an operator on a switchboard.

I pulled myself away from themeadow, realizing work awaitedme. As I walked along a pathconnecting two meadows, a loudcrash got my attention.

I stopped, looked around andcould not identify the source.Taking a few more steps I peeredthrough the hardwoods toward apasture and noticed a yearling bullmoose nose to nose with “Peppy”the neighbor’s horse.

Peppy was not impressed and

galloped off snorting like an angrydeer.

I climbed through the fence andcarefully approached the youngbull.

He seemed confused and showedno fear of my presence.

Mom probably gave him theboot and he now has the rest of hislife awaiting him, like an awkwardteenager.

As he stood in the pasture he hada lonesome look on his face.Evicted by mom and rejected by ahorse.

I found myself feeling sorry forthe poor fella.

Tomorrow will be a day full ofanticipation – the confidence ofknowing the birds are up theresomewhere will push me up thatridge at a feverish pace.

Will they still be there waitingfor me?

It doesn't really matter.The entertainment and activities

of this morning were as rewardingas any hunt will ever be.

Once Upon a Morning in Mendon

Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, Backpacking, ATVing, Biking, Camping, Skiing, Snowshoeing,Snowmobiling, Bird Watching, Climbing, Photography, Power Boating, Paddling, Skijoring,Conservation, Four Wheeling, Dog Sledding, and … try us!

Most races and competitions. There will be some allowance for fishing tournaments, someshooting events, and a few others, but we’re not interested in 5k, 10k, half marathons, triathlons,bike races, ski races, swim meets, auto/motorcycle races, adventure races and similar events thatare already covered by other publications and local newspapers. Also, no golf, Frisbee games,dog shows (unless they’re bird dogs), gardening, backyard birding, polo, team sports, well you getthe idea. We have to draw the line somewhere, and this is a good starting point. Some things willbe on a case-by-case basis. It never hurts to ask.

VGOM:


Like that special tree stand from which you always see deer, or thatstretch of river where the trout always rise, there are just some placesthat are unique. A spot that holds a place in your heart so special that

you keep it to yourself.

If you’re looking for an advertising opportunity to share yourmessage, this can be your special place.

This prime spot can be yours next month.By advertising in Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine, you’ll not

only be supporting a growing publication that is generating a lot ofexcitement in the Green Mountain State, but you’ll also place your

message in front of avid and dedicated outdoor enthusiasts.

And you won’t believe how affordable this space is.There are other publications that cover some of the outdoor

experience in Vermont and this little slice of Heaven they callnorthern New England. They do a good job, but none of them coverthe depth and breadth of the topics you’ll read about in Vermont’s

Great Outdoors Magazine.

So contact us today to ensure we can get your advertisement in thenext monthly issue of a growing and exciting publication that covers

the topics that are important to you and your business.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (802) 331-0130

The Lake Champlain Basinserves as a treasure trove ofoddities and rich history.

This month finds a gem hiddenamong a region full of recreationalexperiences.

Founded as a sophisticatedlakeshore resort hotel in the 1870s

by the St Albans Boating andFishing Club, the site is now hometo Vermont’s Kamp Kill Kare StatePark.

According to the Vermont StateParks website, “this state park isnamed for Kamp Kill Kare, asummer camp for boys, whichoperated on this site from 1912until 1966. Located on the

southwestern tip of St. AlbansPoint, a three-mile peninsula thatdefines St. Albans Bay, Kamp KillKare is surrounded on three sidesby the sparkling water of LakeChamplain.”

These waters continue to provideample recreational opportunitiesfor those who seek them out.


Lake Champlain International:

Kamp Kill Kare State Park


Those people familiar withBurton Island State Park havelikely spent some time at KampKill Kare. For about the cost of alarge coffee, campers, hikers andfishing enthusiasts can take theIsland Runner ferry to nearbyBurton Island.

An onsite boat ramp ensuresaccess to Lake Champlain for boatowners and kayak rentals areoffered as well. Swimming at thesand and shale beach, picnickingand birding round out the outdooractivities available at Kamp KillKare.

In the mid-1970s, poor waterquality in St. Albans Bay promptedgreater recreational use of thisnearby park.

Now host to a variety ofgatherings, Kamp Kill Kare StatePark makes an inviting seasonallocation for weddings and familyreunions. From the Rocky PointHouse meeting space to the 26-footby 40-foot pavilion to an expansivelawn ringed with trees and grills,there is no shortage of space toenjoy Vermont and LakeChamplain up close.

Collaboration between theVermont Department of Forests,Parks and Recreation and theVermont Division for HistoricalPreservation resulted in the 2010renovation of the Rocky PointHouse to its original lakeside resortarchitecture.

The building was rededicated in2012, coinciding with the 100thanniversary of Kamp Kill Kare atSt. Albans Point.

Now home to a museum of KampKill Kare history and a venue forsmall gatherings, the buildingformerly known as “The MainHouse” is the only one remaining

from the summer camp years.Though all of the other originalbuildings were auctioned off andremoved from the property whenthe state of Vermont purchasedKamp Kill Kare in 1967, one of thecabins remains nearby as alakeshore cottage addition.

Make a note today to enjoy thishidden jewel of the LakeChamplain Basin this summer andfall. Kamp Kill Kare State Park willnot disappoint.

Look forward to another LakeChamplain “secret” next month.

Lake Champlain International:

Kamp Kill Kare State Park used to be a boys summer camp called Kamp Kill Kare.

For more information● www.vtstateparks.com/htm/killkare.htm● www.killkare.org/News.html● www.archive.org/stream/centennialhistor00adam/centennialhistor00adam_djvu.txt


The Outside Story:

Our sugarhouse is within walkingdistance of an elementary school, sowe’ve given tapping demonstrationsto hundreds of school kids over theyears.

At the part where someone drillsa hole in the tree and it sort ofbleeds, the next question isinvariably: “Does tapping hurt thetree?”

The stock answer is no, as long asyou don’t overdo it: use the smaller“health” spouts, follow conservativetapping guidelines, give the tree ayear off if it looks stressed.

As proof that sugaring issustainable, we point to some of thetrees in our sugarbush that havebeen tapped for close to a hundredyears and are better off for it. Betteroff because we thin out the treesaround them, giving the chosen treesextra light, water, and nutrients.

Their increased vigor, whencompared to the maples inunmanaged sections of the forest, isplain to see.

But the sugarmaking beingpracticed today in many commercialbushes – including our own – is notthe same sugarmaking that waspracticed even 10 years ago.

New technologies, like high-yieldvacuum pumps and spouts that keeptapholes open longer, have vastlyincreased the amount of sap we’recollecting from each taphole.

Generally speaking, we’re taking

about twice as much sap per treeeach spring as my grandfather took– some guys are taking three timesas much.

So can a modern sugarmaker taketoo much sap from a tree?

The short answer is probably stillno.

To come up with a longer, moresatisfying answer, we’d first need to

figure out how much sap is availableto a tree at any given time, and thisquestion gets tricky because there’sthe water part of sap and the sugarpart.

It’s reasonably safe to assume thatwater is relatively easy for a tree tocome by.

Twenty inches of snow convertsto about 54,000 gallons of water per

Does Tapping a Tree Hurt It?

acre, so even if you’re taking 20 gallons of water froma tree over the course of a sugaring season, it’s a dropin the bucket compared to the moisture that’s available.

The problem is that nobody knows for sure wherethe groundwater in the sap you’re collecting came from.

Was it melting snow? Or Hurricane Irene in August2011?

The sugar part of sap is no easier to account for, andwe don’t know its history either.

We do know that the soluble sugars in maple sap arepart of a tree’snonstructural carbohydratereserves (otherwise knownas tree food).

Picture these reserveslike a bank account that thetree adds to when it’sphotosynthesizing anddraws upon in the spring toopen its leaves and growits early twigs, in the fallto establish cold hardiness, and in the winter to keepliving cells alive.

And we can measure these reserves.Conventional wisdom holds that a traditional

sugarmaker does not take a harmful amount of thereserves.

According to a report published in 1903 by thevenerable UVM maple researcher Dr. C.H. Jones, onlyabout 4 percent to 9 percent of an 8- to 10-inch-diameter tree’s total carbohydrate reserves areremoved; almost no one taps trees that small, and

presumably the carbohydrate loss is significantly lessin bigger trees.

To make the allometric model that estimate wasbased on, someone had to dig up a whole tree andrecord the live weight and dry weight of every piece –from the root hairs to the branch tips.

Considering the amount of time, money, and logisticsthis entailed, you can understand why no one hascreated a model using a 30-inch diameter tree.

This isn’t to say that maple researchers aren’tre-examining the can-you-t a k e - t o o - m u c h - s a pquestion from other angles.

In 2010, MarkIsselhardt, a researcher atthe Proctor MapleResearch Center inUnderhill Center,measured the carbohydratereserves of trees underhigh vacuum before,

during and after the season.One intriguing finding was that trees under high

vacuum had slightly higher levels of carbohydrates inearly summer, meaning that perhaps the trees mobilizedreserves to accommodate for the additional loss, andperhaps this diversion of resources came at the expenseof radial growth, which in the fall of 2011 was slightlyless than the gravity-only and the nontapped controltrees.

But Isselhardt cautions against taking anything fromthe study as gospel truth.


The Outside Story:






According to a report published in 1903 by thevenerable UVM maple researcher Dr. C.H.Jones, only about 4 percent to 9 percent of an8- to 10-inch-diameter tree’s total carbohydratereserves are removed; almost no one tapstrees that small, and presumably thecarbohydrate loss is significantly less in bigger

“It’s tempting to jump to conclusions, but the sample sizewas small and the data lack statistical power,” Isselhardtsaid. “At best we can only say that the results add to themystery.”

And so, for now, we’re still at “no.”People tend to see scientists as sages who have all the

answers – I’m as guilty as anyone in this regard – but thetruth is that they’re much better at asking questions thananswering them.

This can be frustrating, but it’s also kind of cool.There’s still so much we don’t know about sugaring, about

nature in general. So many puzzles waiting to be solved.Dave Mance III is the editor of Northern Woodlands. The

illustration for this column was drawn by Adelaide Tyrol.The Outside Story is assigned and edited by NorthernWoodlands magazine and sponsored by the WellbornEcology Fund of New Hampshire Charitable Foundation:[email protected].


The Outside Story:

The Outside Story, provided by NorthernWoodlands magazine, is a series of weeklyecology articles that has been appearing innewspapers across New Hampshire and

Vermont since 2002. The series isunderwritten by the Wellborn Ecology Fund

of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation- Upper Valley Region and edited by Dave

Mance at Northern Woodlands.

As the snow begins to melt, it is asure sign that spring is back.

The sun keeps getting higher in thesky, the days are growing longer andthe sugar makers are working longdays.

The roads may be getting a little

muddy, but there is never a better timethan now to begin getting outsideagain!

Exploring the natural world andgetting outdoors makes us healthierand stronger, plus it good for oursoul.

There has even been a lot of sciencein the last several years that shows the

connection between physical andemotional health.

Last month we were visited byinternationally known travel writerRichard Bangs.

Check out the end result, which is avideo titled Vermont Deficit Disorder.

Get outside and enjoy the parks thisspring!


State Parks:

Enjoy the State Parks

Soon, groups will be canoeing on lakes at Vermont State Parks and enjoying the summer.

http://youtu.be/IV7_gr5_EGw

http://youtu.be/IV7_gr5_EGw

Spring is a wonderful time to bein Vermont, and for many, one ofthe highlights is the return ofmigratory birds.

Many of the Vermont’s avianbreeding species return to Vermontfor one purpose, reproducing.

To reach that goal, they need tofind a mate, build a nest, lay eggsand support their young. The eggsare one part of the process we don’t(usually) get to see.

Often the closest we come toseeing bird eggs in the wild isfinding an empty cracked shell lyingalong a woodland path or suburbanlawn – cast off remains, once vitalto a developing bird’s survival – andthat’s eggsactly as it should be(legally).

As animals moved onto shoresand adapted to a terrestrial life, eggevolution favored a strong,protective covering to house andnurture the fertilized ovum throughgestation—strong enough to remain

when the chick has emerged.Bird eggs are comprised of a

calcium-rich, porous shell thatsurrounds several membranes thatcushion, “ventilate,” or removewastes from the embryo.

The yolk supplies nutritionalproteins and fats to the embryo.Tiny pores in the shell allow for gasexchange. A surface cuticle, whosetexture can be described variouslyas smooth, glossy, chalky, or soapy,gives the shell strength and helpsshield the egg against bacteria.


Bird Watching:

Eggs

American Robin nests built on a ladder hanging on the side of a shed. The Robin only used the nest on the left.


Bird Watching:

Just as there are myriad bird species and habitats, thesizes, shapes and colors of eggs are remarkable andevolutionarily significant.

In general, the bigger the bird, the bigger its egg.Hummingbirds lay the smallest eggs while ostriches

produce the largest eggs. Michael Walters, in “Birds’Eggs,” describes eight different egg shapes: cylindrical,conical, pyriform (pear-shaped), biconical, oval,elliptical, spherical and longitudinal.

Shape is often critical to avoiding egg breakage at anesting site.

Many seabirds, who lay their egg clutches on steepseaside ledges, characteristically produce pyriformeggs that tend to roll around in circles rather thanrolling off.

Interestingly, conical eggs can be arranged in the nestwith the pointed ends together affording all the eggsan even distribution of warmth from the broodingparent.

The eggs of cavity nesters are typically spherical inshape, hummingbirds produce cylindrical eggs, andgrebes tend toward a biconical shape.

It’s an eggciting and marvelous journey ahead for anewly formed egg cell.

As each ovum travels along the mother bird’soviduct, it is coated with albumen (the protective “eggwhite”) before reaching the isthmus where shellmembranes are added.

As the egg enters the uterus, a pigment wash coversit before delivery through the cloaca.

Spotting and streaking of color onto the shell occursdue to the egg’s movement during pigmentation.

Essentially, only two pigments are involved with eggcoloration, both of which are associated with the redblood pigment, hemoglobin.

Bile is the source of bluish-green and white colors.Pigments appearing yellow to red or brown and blackmake up the other basic color; a combination of redand blue pigments results in an even wider range ofhues.

Birds such as owls and kingfishers lay white eggs,perhaps to make their eggs are more easily seen in darktree cavities or tunnels.

Birds that depend on camouflaging coloration fortheir eggs are typically ground nesters, such as wadingand shore birds.

The Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington willopen its doors May 1 with 502 birds!

An incredible milestone, but of course Bob and thestaff have plans for still more.

But have we ever mentioned – in addition to the birds– how many carved eggs can be found at the Museum?

So, get crackin’ and come on by!You can try to find all 535 unhatched eggs on

display. And discover which bird’s eggs have hatched!And perhaps even answer the age-old question – whichcame first?

Allison Gergely is the Museum Educator at the Birdsof Vermont Museum. For more information about eggs,birds or the Birds of Vermont Museum seewww.birdsofvermont.org.

Carved eggs in a hummingbird nest (above) and an Upland Sandpiper.

A lot of time, money, effort andink has been expended to try toreverse the trend of decliningparticipation in outdoor recreation– particularly among our youth.

Now, I know what they say aboutstatistics. There's lies, damn lies andstatistics.

I don't want to get into slingingaround a bunch of numbers, and itcould be argued that oneorganizations stats are better thananother.

But the point remains the samedespite the percentage points.

Kids today are less likely toparticipate in outdoor activities thanthey were just a few years ago.

We all tell the stories. “When Iwas a kid, we'd leave when the suncame up and come home when itwent down.” Or some variation ofthat tale. Sometimes we were just inthe alley, or the neighbor'sbackyard, but there were plenty ofadventures mixed in as well.

Today, according to just onesurvey, adults tend to be taking upoutdoor sports with overallparticipation staying steady orgrowing slightly even if individualsports shows gains and losses.

And kids 6-17 have started toshow some growth in participationas well according to the OutdoorFoundation, but not enough. Growthyear over year was only 1 percentfrom 2010 to 2011.

The problem is that when

comparing current numbers withthose from just five years earlier, it'snot such good news.

The same study shows thatparticipation in the outdoors by kids6 to 12 years old fell 15 percentfrom 2006 to 2011, according to theOutdoor Foundation.

That's why we have to dosomething. You don't lose 15percent of your group very manytimes before you have nothing left.

Everybody knows it.On this page in today's paper is a

report about a youth turkey huntingopportunity in which the governorwill attend an event and then youthturkey hunters will get the chanceto be guided by a member of theNational Wild Turkey Federation.

The NWTF gets it and is trying todo something about the problem. Asdo most outdoor industry groups.

Just about every town in the statethat has a recreation program isoffering some sort of outdooractivities during the summer.Schools partner with ski areas to getkids on the slopes. There are youthfishing clinics. And, of course, thereare dozens of summer camps to

teach kids about the outdoors.But you see, the kids have

Nintendo.A digital device has nothing on a

tom turkey strutting 15 yards infront of you and then erupting in athunderous gobble that turns yourintestines to jelly.

You and I know that.We know what it feels like when

a big fish takes you under the boatas the rod throbs in your hands andyou pray the 6-pound test and yourknots are up to it.

The kids know that BattleBlockTheater for the Xbox 360 is due outsoon. They want you to give themthe money.

I say take that money and buythem a decent rod and reel and atackle box with a few things to putin it. If your son or daughter is 15to 17, throw in $8 for a fishinglicense.

Then take him fishing.If we don't start getting some of

these youngsters hooked on theoutdoors, who is going to pay forthe conservation of wildlife andwild places in the next generation.

You can't build a deer yard orimprove stream-side habitat inSimCity.

But, be careful. If you get yourkid into fishing, I hear Rapala ProBass Fishing for Xbox is a lot of fun.

Darren Marcy is the editor andpublisher of Vermont's GreatOutdoors Magazine.

Out & About:


Take Your Kid Fishing

Advertising Rates

[email protected]


Out & About:

Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, Backpacking, ATVing, Biking, Camping, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling, Bird Watching,Climbing, Photography, Power Boating, Paddling, Skijoring, Conservation, Four Wheeling, Dog Sledding, and … try us!

Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine:

Page 61 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

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VGOM April 2013