vgom november 2012

GREAT OUTDOORSVermont’s Magazine

Plus:• Multi-use trail gets permit.

• Duck Stamp art chosen.

• News, Calendar, More …

Fantastic FishingLake Champlain gives up some

of its best fish in the fall.

Family AffairTwelve hunters hang eight

bucks on the family game pole.

Off Camera BuckTV host puts down the

camera and tags a buck

November 2012Volume 0 Number 11

• Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • November 2012

Like that special tree stand from which you always see deer,or that stretch of river where the trout always rise, there arejust some places that 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 shareyour message, 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 isgenerating a lot of excitement in the Green Mountain State,

but you’ll also place your message in front of avid anddedicated outdoor enthusiasts.

And you won’t believe how affordable this space is.There are other publications that cover some of the outdoorexperience in Vermont and this little slice of Heaven they

call northern New England. They do a good job, but none ofthem cover the 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 advertisementin the next monthly issue of a growing and exciting

publication that covers the topics that are important to youand your business.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (802) 331-0130

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[email protected]

November 2012 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine •

Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazinewww.VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com

November 2012 • Volume 0 • Number 11© Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine 2012

Publisher & EditorDarren Marcy

General ManagerLori Moro

News AssistantsMaya Marcy & Camilla Marcy

ContributorsThis Could Be You.

Article & Photo [email protected]

Press Releases, Letters, [email protected]

[email protected]

Phone(802) 331-0130

Features10 Duck stamp chosenCalif. artist wins duck stamp art contest forthe second time with painting of goldeneye.

13 Trail gets permitA 93-mile, northern Vermont multi-use,4-season trail has cleared its final hurdle.

15 Hunting successOne family has found deer hunting successwith 15 bucks in the last two years.

21 Fall fishing frenzyLake Champlain’s fishing remains hotdespite the colder late-fall weather.

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.

5. Editor’s Note6. Shot of the Month7. Outdoor News9. Calendar26. Out & About

10. Conservation12. Skiing13. Trails15. Hunting21. Fishing

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Editor’s Note:


This is only a test …

Sam McCuin gets to hunt someamazing animals in spectacular placesas co-producer, with his wife Ruth, of“The Outfitter” television show. But onthe second day of the Vermont archerydeer season he left the cameras at homefor a change and headed afield.

Due to medical issues, McCuinqualifies to hunt with a crossbow andwas hunting from the ground near someapple trees in Pittsford when a buckstepped out in front of McCuin.

The pair locked eyes inside of 25yards, but when the buck turned hishead, McCuin fired. He heard thearrow strike the rib cage. Despite acomplete pass through shot, McCuinsaid there was no blood trail and hebegan to second guess himself.

Welcome to our first test issue of Vermont’s GreatOutdoors Magazine. Call it a test, sample, beta, practice, whateveryou want to call it, this first effort is a chance to beat our heads up

against the learning curve. And there have been a few dents along the way. That’swhy this first issue is coming at you a couple of weeks later than we intended it to.First we ended up being forced to upgrade the software we were using mid-stream, which required a computer upgrade, and a complete rework of the pagesas dominoes continued to fall.

But, here we are.VGOM will cover just about every type of outdoor recreation there is – just not

in every issue. While there will be a lot of coverage given to some sports, overtime we will feature just about everything. That includes a lot of activities thatseem to get overlooked in Vermont or that aren’t as high-profile.

Thank you for reading this first issue – and for being guinea pigs. I appreciatethat you chose to download this issue to check it out. I hope you’ll find itworthwhile and come back every month for a new issue.

I hope you’ll offer feedback and constructive criticism on what could be better.Let me know what you find. What are the weaknesses and where are the strengthsof this publication. We would like to know what we are doing right, so we cancontinue to do those things in future issues. But we also need to know where weare falling short so we won’t continue to make those same mistakes.

As pointed out throughout this first issue, this is only a test. There will beproblems and concerns. There are many things with this magazine I’m not entirelyhappy with and will fix before you download the December issue. That will againproduce concerns that will be fixed before we officially launch in January.

In all, however, I’m excited with this first issue. I think you’re getting a coupleof real solid and useful stories, a lot of good news, and some really cool photos.We’ll be improving on all these things as we continue forward. I’m already intalks with some folks who have agreed to write for and provide photos for futureissues. And I plan to pursue content from the state’s conservation groups andvarious organizations to provide them with the opportunity to share their message.The invitation is also open to anyone who wants to write or contribute photos.

I encourage everyone to like us on Facebook and follow our Twitter stream forregular updates, news and events as well as important notices.

For now, please click, swipe or tap to the next page and take a look.I hope you like what we have to offer in the following pages.

On theCover

Sam McCuin, producer of the television show“The Outfitter,” killed his first deer with a bow.The buck was a 164-pound, 8-pointer.

Shot of the Month:


A climber tops a spire in Brandon Gap during warmer weather. This photo was provided by Vermont Adventure Tours, 223 Woodstock Ave. inRutland. Find them on Facebook, or check them out on the Web at www.vermontclimbing.com and www.vermontadventuretours.com.

Outdoor News:


VermontStarksboro Man Charged withTaking Moose Out of Season

A 25-year old Starksboro man has been charged withtaking a moose in closed season byVermont State Game Wardens.

Warden Robert Currier and WardenSgt. George Scribner responded to areport of a moose found dead on GuthrieRoad in Lincoln on Oct. 5. The wardens determined themoose had been illegally shot. Vermont’s firearmsmoose hunting season was October 20-25 this year.

Further investigation revealed that Shaun E. Rubleeof Starksboro was involved in killing the moose.

Wardens and Vermont State Police executed a searchwarrant on Rublee’s residence. Wardens seized eightbags of moose meat, moose antlers, several tools usedto butcher the moose, a rifle and several rounds of .32caliber ammunition. Rublee was then charged withtaking a moose in closed season.

If convicted, Rublee is subject to fines and restitutiontotaling up to $2,500 and faces up to 60 days in jail orboth. Rublee is also facing the loss of his privileges tohunt, fish and trap in Vermont for three years.

Two Men Charged AfterShooting Decoy in Royalton

You never know if that deer you’re planning tospotlight is real or a decoy, as two Central Vermont mendiscovered late at night Oct. 5.

Vermont State Game Wardens conducted a decoy deeroperation in Royalton that evening setting up a fake deer.At approximately 10:47 p.m. shots were fired at thedecoy deer.

Warden Keith Gallant pursued and stopped a vehiclecontaining Mikel Brady of Randolph and Joshua Hill ofBethel, both 23, and a 15-year-old juvenile.

After a cursory check of the vehicle and its occupants,no gun was located in the vehicle and the men werereleased and advised the gun used would be located bywardens along the roadside.

A short time later, while searching the roadside for thefirearm, a pickup truck was observed turning aroundshining its headlights into a field, in the area where thefirearm was believed to have been tossed.

The vehicle was stopped by Warden Steven Majeski,and the 20-year-old operator and three 17-year-oldoccupants were identified. Wardens quickly determined

that one of the occupants was the brotherof the earlier shooting suspect.

Two of the occupants told wardens thatBrady had called the brother andinstructed him to retrieve the firearm thathad been tossed earlier.

In addition, the 20-year-old operator of the secondvehicle was determined to be intoxicated and was turnedover to Vermont State Police for arrest on the charge ofDUI. One occupant was cited by wardens as a minor inpossession of alcohol.

A firearm was located nearby along the road a shorttime later.

Mikel Brady and Joshua Hill are facing charges oftaking deer in closed season, taking deer by illegal meansand possession of a loaded rifle in a motor vehicle.Brady and Hill may also face charges of contributing tothe delinquency of a minor as well as federal charges.

Fish and Wildlife charges include fines of up to $1,000per charge and 60 days in jail as well as penalties uponconviction and a three-year suspension of licenses tohunt, fish and trap in Vermont.

Two Men Charged With MiningOn State Wildlife Area

Two men, one from Vermont and one from New York,made a costly mistake in August by mining quartz on astate Wildlife Management Area.

On Aug. 26, Vermont State Game Wardens RobertSterling and Justin Stedman found Robert J. LaPorte ofShaftsbury and Philip G. Yerke of Waterford, N.Y.,digging and extracting quartz crystal rock material froman area on Bird Mountain Wildlife Management Areain the towns of Ira, Castleton and Poultney.

The 770-acre WMA was purchased in 1976 withfunding from the sale of hunting licenses and federal

Outdoor News:


taxes on hunting equipment. It is managed by theVermont Fish & Wildlife Department as public huntingland and for its unique wildlife habitat qualities.

LaPorte and Yerke were charged with willful andcareless destruction of state property under 10 V.S.A.Section 4517. Each man is subject to a fine of $2,500and loss of their licenses to hunt, fish or trap in Vermontfor one year.

RegionalRiver Guide Charged After

Woman Drowns in N.Y. RiverINDIAN LAKE, N.Y. — A guide has been criminally

charged after he was accused of being under theinfluence while guiding a rafting trip during which awoman was thrown from a raft and drowned, accordingto a report published in the Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Starnewspaper.

Rory K. Fay, 37, of North Creek was charged withcriminally negligent homicide according to New YorkState Police.

Officials say he was was piloting the raft whenTamara F. Flake, 53, of Columbus, Ohio, was throwninto the water on the Indian River.

According to the newspaper, State Police said theguide was intoxicated and a passenger steered the raftto shore.

The raft company was identified as the Hudson RiverRafting Company, which operates guided trips on fourrivers in northern New York.

Have a business cardadvertising your business?

This space is just $20 per month.Reach a focused,

dedicated and engagedgroup of outdoor enthusiasts.

What you are reading is a practice issue.The best way to learn to produce a magazineis to produce a magazine. That’s what we’vedone here. That doesn’t mean this effort isanything less than our best effort given thecircumstances. We put our heart and soul intothis publication, but we have learned plenty oflessons and have more to learn.

What you’re reading on these pages is anexample of what this magazine will be about.But it is just a sample. We envision a muchmore robust publication that offers morefeatures and more news. We plan to addwriters, topics and even more photos. Forexample, the news section on this page andthe previous page is expected to include moreitems and will be about more than just criminalconduct. The calendar, on Page 9, will includemore than just a small handful of events. It willbe largely dependent upon your contributions.But the first thing we wanted to do was put asample calendar together to test theformatting and layout possibilities.

December’s issue will be another practiceissue before we launch in January. Weencourage feedback between now and then,so we can better understand what works andwhat doesn’t.

This publication is produced with the readeras the focus. Please share your thoughts –good or bad – on all aspects of the magazineat: [email protected].

There are no ads in this month’s test issue. We are notgoing to take someone’s money while we learn whatworks and what doesn’t. We will take your moneybeginning in January and encourage your support of thismagazine.

Any advertisements placed by the end of November forthe January issue, will also be included in the Decemberissue free of charge. Buy January, get December free.

News

Outdoor Calendar:


● Youth deer weekend, Nov. 3-4.

● Fall turkey season ends in west-centralWMUs, Nov. 4.

● Woodcock season ends, Nov. 14.

● Game Supper, 4 p.m., Nov. 15, venison,moose, bear, coon, beaver, rabbit, andchicken. Danville United Methodist Church.Information: [email protected]/Activities.htm.

● Beaver trapping season begins, Nov. 15

● Largemouth & smallmouth season closes,Nov. 30.

● Muzzleloader deer season, Dec. 1-9.

● Archery deer season, Dec. 1-9.

● Bobcat trapping season, Dec. 1-16

● Fisher trapping season, Dec. 1-31.

● Ruffed Grouse season ends, Dec. 31.

● Mink, fox, skunk, raccoon, coyote,opposum, weasel trapping season ends,Dec. 31.

Calendar of Events

But with his wife’s help, the pairsoon found the buck a mere 100yards from where it was shot.

The buck turned out to be a164-pound 8-pointer.

“This was my second year tohunt with (the crossbow), and I wasvery fortunate to take this niceVermont buck,” McCuin said. “It’smy first archery kill and the bestracked Vermont buck I have takento date.”

Cover

The Outfitter8 a.m. Sundays

Fox 44 (WFFF) out of Burlington

www.theoutfittertv.com

The Outfitter TV Series

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Outfitter-TV-Series/277453975608413?fref=ts

Conservation:


ACalifornia artist has won the2012 Federal Duck Stampart contest.

Robert Steiner of San Franciscowon the event for the second time,with his winning art gracing the

Federal Duck Stamp during the1998-99 season previously.

Steiner's acrylic painting of acommon goldeneye is this year'swinner and the stamp bearingSteiner's art will go on sale in June2013 for the 2013-14 stamp season.

Steiner's art was chosen Sept. 29during the annual juried art

competition, which is sponsored bythe federal government. U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service Deputy DirectorRowan Gould announced thewinners at Weber State University inOgden, Utah, during this year'scontest.

Duck Stamp winner is golden

Robert Steiner’s acrylic painting of a common goldeneye was selected to be turned into the 2013-14 duck stamp.

Conservation:


“I congratulate Robert Steiner onhis second Federal Duck StampContest win, and my appreciationgoes out to all of the artistswho entered the contest thisyear,” Gould said. “I lookforward to seeing thisbeautiful artwork adorningthe 80th Federal DuckStamp – one of our nation'soldest and most successfulconservation programs –when it goes on sale nextJune.”

There were 192 entries in thisyear's two-day competition. A finalround featured 17 entries.

Paul Bridgeford, of Des Moines,Iowa, came in second for his acrylicpainting of a pair of northernshovelers.

Gerald Mobley, of Claremore,Okla., was third. His painting, alsoof northern shovelers. Mobley's artwon the 1985-86 Federal DuckStamp art contest.

Commonly known as “the duckstamp,” the Migratory BirdConservation and Hunting Stamp isrequired to be purchased and carriedby all waterfowl hunters 16 yearsand older.

Additionally, conservationists,stamp collectors and others buy the$15 stamp, which grants the bearerfree admission to any NationalWildlife Refuge open to the public.

Money raised from the sale ofFederal Duck Stamp benefits theMigratory Bird Conservation Fund,which supports the purchase of

migratory bird habitat for inclusioninto the National Wildlife RefugeSystem.

Since 1934, stamp sales haveraised more than $850 million andhas helped purchase 6 million acres

of wildlife habitat athundreds of refuges innearly every state.

“Whether you buy aDuck Stamp to huntwaterfowl, add to yourstamp collection, admire ina frame, or contribute toconservation, you arebuying a piece of history,”said Jerome Ford, the FWS

assistant director for migratorybirds.

“For nearly 80 years, hunters,wildlife watchers, and millions ofother people who purchase FederalDuck Stamps have made a directcontribution to wildlife conservationthrough the protection of wetlandhabitats.”

Paul Bridgford of Des Moines, Iowa, placed second with his acrylic painting of a pair of northern shovelers (above, left). Gerald Mobleyof Claremore, Okla., took third place with his acrylic painting of a pair of northern shovelers (right).

Duck Stamp

“Whether you buy a Duck Stamp to huntwaterfowl, add to your stamp collection,

admire in a frame, or contribute toconservation, you are buying a piece of

history.”

Jerome Ford

http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/stamps.htm.

Skiing:


As temperatures continue to head towardwinter, Vermont’s ski areas are in top gearto launch the season.

Snow guns began blowing snow at manyresorts as soon as the first frost appearedand some natural snow has helped the cause.

While Mother Nature can be fickle, everyski area has a date they mark on the calendarand hope to start turning the lifts.

Killington opened for pass holders Oct.13-14, then opened the mountain toeveryone Nov. 5.

For everybody else, the dates are justaround the corner and you’ll be carvingbefore you know it.

Find your favorite mountain on this list,provided by Ski Vermont, to find out whenyou can get in your first turns.

Skiing and riding seasonis just around the corner

● Stowe Mountain Resort: Saturday, November 17● Sugarbush Resort: Saturday, November 17● Okemo Mountain Resort: Saturday, November 17● Stratton Mountain: Wednesday, November 21● Mount Snow Resort: Friday, November 23● Smugglers’ Notch Resort: Friday, November 23

● Bromley Mountain: Friday, November 23● Jay Peak Resort: Saturday, November 24● Bolton Valley: Saturday, December 8● Middlebury College Snow Bowl: Friday, December 14● Magic Mountain: Saturday, December 15● Mad River Glen: Saturday, December 15

Tentative Opening Dates

It was 10 years in the making, but theLamoille Valley Rail Trail recentlyreceived the final piece to the puzzle

that will let the trail building begin.With a long-awaited land use permit

in hand, 10 years of struggles are nowbehind the trail and Phase 1 of the93-mile, four-season, multi-userecreation trail can begin.

That Phase 1, of three phases,construction includes 44 miles offinished trail in three sections: St.Johnsbury to West Danville, Morrisvilleto Cambridge, and Sheldon Junction toSwanton.

The trail is expected to not onlyprovide jobs in the near term, but shouldserve as a tourism draw for years tocome. Eventually, the trail is seen as onethat will stretch from New York to NewHampshire and the Sheldon Junction toSwanton section will connect to theMissisiquoi Valley Rail Trail, which is26 miles long.

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is ajoint project between the VermontAgency of Transportation and theVermont Association of SnowTravelers. It also has had the supportof Vermont’s congressionaldelegation.

Just last month, the delegationannounced a grant that multi-usenorthern Vermont trail.

Vermont's congressional delegationof Sens. Patrick Leahy and BernieSanders and Rep. Peter Welch issued ajoint press release to announce a grantfor $249,982 from the Northern BorderRegional Commission in early October.

The grant is leveraged by a $5.2million grant Sanders previouslysecured for the construction of the trail.The total cost for the trail is expected tobe about $10 million, but much of theremaining amount will come fromdonations and in-kind services.

“These two grants will help bolsterefforts to promote conservation, tourismand recreation, which are fundamentalto the economy of northern Vermont,”Sanders said.

Vermont's senior senator said thegrants benefit key economic strengths.

“These grants match federalinvestments to local priorities, movingthese ideas from plans, into action,”Leahy said. “They align with keyeconomic strengths and goals of thesecommunities and will help with tourism,recreation and other community goals.”

Trails:


Final piece of the puzzle

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.

Trails:


Vermont’s delegation was influential in creating the bordercommission, which directly invests federal resources foreconomic development and job creation in economicallydistressed regions of northern New Hampshire, New York,Maine and Vermont.

But, while the funding is critical, it was an Act 250 permitand other red tape that was holding up the ground breaking.

After a lengthy environmental review process that includedpublic hearings and permitting, the trail received its Act 250permit Oct. 25.

“This is excellent news for VAST and the four seasonrecreational community,” said VAST Executive Director,Alexis Nelsen. “We hope to break ground in Morrisville inthe spring.”

But, others were even more anxious to get started.“We might be able to get the first bridge in this fall,” said

Laird MacDowell, chairman of the LVRT Committee.

The bridge would connect St. Johnsbury to the new trail.And Sanders announced the development in the press

release.“This is exciting news,” Sanders said. “The trail across

some of the most beautiful terrain in Vermont will be afantastic recreational asset while strengthening Vermont’seconomy. Once built, the trail will be a huge attraction fortourists who come to Vermont in the winter to snowmobileor ski, or in the summer to bike and hike. These tourists willstay in our hotels and inns, eat in local restaurants, visit otherVermont attractions and buy Vermont products.”

Lamoille Valley Rail Trail got its start as a rail line servingas an important east-west corridor from 1877 until it closedin 1994.

VAST won state approval in 2003 to convert the rail bedinto a four-season recreation trail.

The trail will be available to hikers, bikers, horsebackriders, snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and others.

To learn more about the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, pleasevisit www.lvrt.org.

LVRT

Hunting:


Twice Carroll Wortmanbrought his .243 to hisshoulder and twice he put the

gun down.Wortman had been watching a

field near some apple trees as a

couple of deer edged cautiously intothe field.

Try as he might, he just couldn'tmake antlers appear on either doe.

But the action got Wortman'sblood pumping.

A longtime hunter, he knew thatbig, old bucks are rarely the first deerto step out into a field.

So, despite the fact the day wasdrawing to a close, he waited andwatched.

Ten minutes later, about 4 p.m. theday before Thanksgiving, 2011,Wortman was on alert when anotherdeer stepped out into the field intenton reaching those apple trees.

A family that hunts together …

Eight bucks hang from the buckpole after last year’s deer season. The deer were taken by 12 hunters from one family during the Novemberrifle season. The largest of the deer was a 204-pound 10-pointer.

Hunting:


This was no doe, but a big-bodied,antlered buck and Wortman againbrought his gun up and settled into it.

Wortman waited for the deer toclear some brush, then squeezed thetrigger. The deer, clearly hit, bolted.Wortman shot again and the big buckpiled up.

That first shot, Wortman laterlearned, was fatal, but not wanting totake a chance, he anchored the buckwith a follow-up shot.

Wortman knew he had killed anice buck, but until he got to his deerand took a look at its headgear, hedidn’t understand just how great his2011 deer was going to look on thewall.

Wortman quickly counted 10antler points, and later, the big buckregistered 204 pounds dressed out.

“That’s the biggest deer I evergot,” Wortman said. “I didn’t knowhe was that big. I lifted his head upand, ‘holy moly.’”

But while Wortman's deer was thebiggest deer hanging on the familygame pole last fall, it was far fromthe only one. Seven other deer hungalongside the 204-pound bruiser.

All eight deer were killed bymembers of the Wortman family inthe Rutland area of Vermont onpublic land. In all 12 family memberswent afield.

All bucks, the deer ranged from a4-pointer to the big 10-pointer. Thesmallest buck hit the scales at 143pounds. There was a 145-pounderand three in the 160s. Two 8-pointers checked in at 179 poundsand a 188 pounds.

A game warden that checked the

hunters and admired the game polesurmised that it might be the bestgame pole in the state for 2011.

Wayne Wortman said theirhunting party is likely one of thelargest in the state that is made up ofall family members.

“We all hunted with our fathersand now we’re carrying on thetradition,” he said.

One deer was killed on openingday with the last of the eight buckstaken on the next to last day of theVermont rifle season.

Lest you think the family's 2011harvest was a fluke, the same crewhung seven deer last year, althoughthey admit the 2010 harvest wasn’t

as impressive in either antlers orweight.

Carroll Wortman and his brotherWayne, say their success is partiallya result of taking their deer seasonseriously. But, it’s also a testamentto Vermont’s antler restrictions that

require all bucks to have at least oneforked antler to be legal – aregulation that has been in affectsince 2005.

The brothers said that this year’sgame pole is reminiscent of daysgone by and is a direct result of theregulation change.

Family

Wortman knew he had killed a nice buck, but until he got tohis deer and took a look at its headgear, he didn’t understand

just how great his 2011 deer was going to look on the wall.

Hunting:

“We feel that this game pole thisyear is because we’re not shootingspikehorns,” Wayne Wortman said.

There has been talk about allowinghunters in Vermont to again killspikehorns because some believe thatthe current regulation is resulting inmore deer with inferior genessurviving.

The Wortmans disagree and saythat regardless of what the regulationsare, they will not kill spikes.

“We really believe it would ruin itagain,” Wayne Wortman said.

It’s hard to argue with theWortman success. The family hastagged 15 bucks in two years.

“We go out there and hunt forthem,” Carroll Wortman said. “Andwe hunt every day.”

When the 2012 deer season opensthis month, the Wortmans will againbe roaming the hills where theirfathers and grandfathers tagged deer.And if their past success is anyindication, there will be a full gamepole featuring some very fine GreenMountain whitetailed bucks.

Family

“We feel that this gamepole … is because we’renot shooting spikehorns.”

Hunters are using tree standsmuch more today than theyhistorically did and knowing

how to safely use a tree stand can bethe difference between getting hurtor killed, and bagging that big buckof a lifetime.

Here are some tips forusing your tree stand whilestaying safe and legal:● Only use stands certified

by the TreestandM a n u f a c t u r e r s ’Association.

● Inspect your tree standeach time you use it.

● Choose a live, straighttree.

● Always wear a full-bodysafety harness, even forclimbing. Most fallsoccur going up or downthe tree and getting inand out of the stand.

● Don't go too high. The higheryou go, the vital zone on a deerdecreases, while the likelihoodof a serious injury increases foryou.

● Always use a haul line to raiseand lower all gear.

● Never carry firearms or bows upand down trees. Make sure yourfirearm is unloaded.

● Familiarize yourself with yourgear before you go. The morningof opening day is a poor time toput your safety belt on for thefirst time.

●Be careful with long-termplacement. Exposure to theelements can damage straps,ropes and attachment cords.Also, the stand’s stability canbe compromised over time,as the tree grows.

It’s also important to knowthe rules that concernhunting from a tree stand inVermont:

On state lands, it is illegalto place nails or otherhardware into trees or tobuild permanent structures.

On private lands, you musthave landowner permission toerect a tree stand, cut or remove

trees or other plants, or to cut limbs.All stands, including ground

blinds, must be marked with theowner’s name and address.

Hunters can find more rules are onpage 24 of the 2012 Fish & WildlifeRegulations book.

Tree Stand Safety


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:

1. Understand our budget starting out doesn’t allow for payment. If you want to write because you love it, we can afford that,but we’re not paying any writers or photographers right away. Even the editor is working for free to start. We hate this, butit’s the way it has to be for now.

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

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

Hunting:


Smart hunters choosefluorescent hunter orange.They know they are safer and

understand it helps preserveVermont’s hunting heritage becauseno matter how rare, each hunting-related shooting reinforces themistaken perception that hunting isdangerous.

“Hunter orange is a choice inVermont,” said Chris Saunders,Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s huntereducation coordinator. “But that’sno excuse. In the past 10 years,almost half of the state’s hunting-related shootings might have beenprevented with hunter orange. Everyone of these tragedies is a black eyefor hunters.”

Hunters moving into the line offire of other hunters andmistaking other hunters forgame are two of the three mostcommon causes of the state’saccidents. Both types involvevisibility problems, and bothunderscore the need forhunters to be seen, especiallyduring the November rifle andDecember muzzleloader deerseasons as well as the rabbit,hare and upland bird seasons.

“Waterfowl, turkey andarchery deer are exceptions,” saidSaunders.

“But we still recommend hunterorange when you going to and fromyour blind, treestand or callingspot.”

Concerns that deer are scared byhunter orange are unfounded. A

deer’s vision is based on movement,patterns and color variations. Unlikehumans, deer do not have multiplecolor receptors in their eyes. Theycan to see color, but their spectrumis limited. This means deer must rely

heavily on their ability to detectmovement over the ability to

interpret color variations andpatterns.

Regardless of how well theysee it, ample anecdotalevidence suggests they aren’tbothered by it. Yearly deerharvests in many of the statesthat require hunter orangeexceed the size of Vermont’sdeer herd.

A hunter orange hat and vestprovide the minimum coveragerecommended by the Vermont

Fish & Wildlife Department.Remember, hunting in Vermont is

very safe, but it could be even saferif all hunters choose hunter orange.Our hunting heritage might be safertoo.

Hunter orange saves lives

A hunter orange hat and vest provide the minimum coverage recommended by the VermontFish & Wildlife Department.

“In the past 10 years, almost half ofthe state’s hunting-related shootings

might have been prevented withhunter orange. Every one of these

tragedies is a black eye for hunters.”

Chris Saunders

Hunting:


Vermont remains one of thestates that has managed toavoid having chronic

wasting disease discovered withinits borders. The Vermont Fish &Wildlife Department is trying tokeep it that way.

The Pennsylvania AgricultureDepartment announced Oct. 11that chronic wasting disease hasbeen discovered at a captive deerfacility in Adams County.

Further investigation determinedthat the CWD positive deer hadbeen exposed to animals from cap-tive facilities in both Lycomingand Dover Counties. All three ofthese deer farms have been quar-antined.

The Vermont Fish & WildlifeDepartment reminds hunters trav-eling outside Vermont to hunt thatthe regulation restricting the im-portation of deer and elk carcasses,which is designed to protect Ver-mont's wild deer from chronicwasting disease, remains in effect.

The white-tailed deer is one ofAmerica’s most successful conser-vation stories. In the early 1900sdeer were largely extirpated fromthe United States. The restorationof deer populations is a true testa-ment to the conservation mindsetof sportsmen and women. Howev-

er, the spread of CWD may cur-rently be the biggest threat toNorth America’s deer hunting cul-ture and tradition.

CWD was first detected in deerconfined at high densities with

sheep and cows that had been ex-posed to non-CWD variants of atransmissible spongiform enceph-alopathy.

Over the past decade CWD hasbeen detected in 21 states and twoCanadian provinces. Therefore,the Fish & Wildlife Department istaking measures to prevent the in-troduction of infectious diseases tothe state’s deer herd.

These measures include an im-portation ban on carcasses fromstates where CWD has been de-tected and educational effortsaimed at informing hunters on theimportance of limiting the utiliza-tion of urine based scents. Hunterscan find information on CWD andVermont’s carcass importationban at the Vermont Fish & Wild-life Department’s website atwww.vtfishandwildlife.com.

“Hunters should be aware of theimpacts CWD would have on Ver-mont’s deer hunting culture andtraditions,” said Vermont’s DeerProject Leader Adam Murkowski.

“As our understanding of CWDhas increased over the last decadethe results have reinforced the im-portance of limiting the distribu-tion of CWD on the landscape.While no strong evidence current-ly exists to demonstrate other spe-cies or humans can contract CWDafter coming into contact with aCWD positive deer – given thepotential for inter-species trans-mission, Vermont’s CWD re-sponse plan details the steps thatwould be taken to protect Ver-mont’s hunting culture, traditionsand agricultural industry in theevent CWD is detected. Thesesteps properly require the depopu-lation of deer herds in areas wherethe disease is spatially distribut-ed.”

“Hunters should not alter theirplans based on a state’s CWD sta-tus, however, hunters bringingdeer or elk from any of the CWD-listed states or provinces into orthrough Vermont simply have toget them processed according tothe regulation before doing so.”

Pa. added to CWD list

The spread of CWDmay currently be the

biggest threat to NorthAmerica’s deer huntingculture and tradition.

Hunting:


The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department saysantlerless deer hunting permits for the Dec. 1-9muzzleloader deer season will be mailed to recipients inearly November. The department cautions, however, thatthe permits are in the form of a postcard -- so if youreceive one, but sure to put it in a safe place untilDecember.

Hunters who will be receiving the muzzleloader seasonantlerless deer permits are listed on the department’swebsite (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). The Fish andWildlife Board approved the number of Decembermuzzleloader permits at 12,425 for 15 of the state’s 24Wildlife Management Units.

“The antlerless permit allocation represents aconservative approach to antlerless deer hunting thisfall,” said Murkowski. “Deer herds throughout the stateare at or below population objectives. Thus, the numberof muzzleloader season antlerless permits for this yearwill allow for slow growth in the deer herd throughoutmuch of the state.”

Biologists expect hunters who receive the permits willtake about 2,200 antlerless deer in the muzzleloaderseason.

“The winter of 2011-2012 was the mildest recorded inrecent decades,” said Murkowski. “It will be importantfor hunters to continue to manage their local deer herdsfor deer herd health to ensure the number of deer remainsappropriate for the available habitat.”

Muzzleloader Tags

Recipients of antlerless deer hunting permits will soonreceive a post card that looks like this.

Vermont rules on importing and possession ofdeer or elk from areas with chronic wasting dis-ease and captive hunt areas or farms:● It is illegal to import or possess deer or elk, or

parts of deer or elk, from states and Canadianprovinces that have had chronic wasting dis-ease, or from captive hunt or farm facilitieswith the following exceptions:

● Meat that is cut up, packaged and labeled withhunting license information and not mixedwith other deer or elk during processing;

● Meat that is boneless;● Hides or capes with no part of the head at-

tached;● Clean skull-cap with antlers attached;● Antlers with no other meat or tissue attached;● Finished taxidermy heads;● Upper canine teeth with no tissue attached.Vermont's CWD importation regulations apply

to hunters bringing in deer or elk carcasses fromthe following states and provinces, which nowincludes Pennsylvania:

Alberta, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Mary-land, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana,Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota,Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Saskatchewan, SouthDakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia,Wisconsin, Wyoming.

A fine of up to $1,000 and loss of hunting andfishing licenses for one year are applicable foreach deer or elk imported illegally.

CWD

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Send criticism, kudos and specific questionsand comments about articles to:

Fishing:


Fantastic fall fishing

This fat 5-pound, 10-ounce smallmouth bass is a perfect example of the healthy, well-fed fish anglers might catch onLake Champlain in the fall. This bronzeback was caught on a short-sleeve Indian Summer day on Oct. 20.

LakeChamplain

anglerswho fish

in thelate fall

will oftencatch

fewer fish,but those

fish will behealthy

and well-fed as

theypreparefor the

longVermont

winter.

While most anglershave put the gearaway for the

year in anticipation of colderweather, a few die-hardanglers on Lake Champlainare hooking some of the bestfish of the year.

When the lake’s warm-weather patterns fade awayand cold water becomes thenorm, many fish startfeeding in preparation for thelong Vermont winter.

This fall fishingphenomenon on Champlainis only for the diehardanglers who can withstandthe conditions in order forthe chance to land qualitysalmon, big fall pike, and fat,healthy smallmouth.

Lake Champlain AnglerFishing Charters is one of theboats on the lake every timethe weather and lakeconditions allow.

U.S. Coast Guard CaptainMickey Maynard has morethan 40 years of experiencefishing and guiding on LakeChamplain and his clientsknow “Capt. Mick” as aguide who can find the fishand knows how to catchthem.

Maynard says the anglersare willing to put up with theless-than-ideal conditions fora chance at some great fallfishing.

It doesn’t start out bad.

Early fall angling can besome of the best of the year.Temperatures havemellowed out, the fall colors

start to pop and the fish goon a feeding frenzy.

One species that fallanglers target is the northern

pike. These toothy predatorsstart feeding in preparationfor winter and when the days

Fishing:


A pair of matching landlocked Atlantic salmon were caught Nov. 22 last year showing the late fall actioncan be hot. Both salmon were in the 8½ to 9 pound range.

Fishing:


grow shorter will move intoshallow, weedy areas.

Maynard said an erraticswimming bait like aspinnerbait, stickbait orinline spinner retrievedquickly will often draw astrike.

And the numbers can beimpressive.

“In August and Septemberyou can catch 80 even 100

fish a day, for a party offour,” he said. “You cancatch 30 fish a day in a fullday. I’ve had days whereyou’ll see 50-plus fish.”

But one thing about thefall is the chance to catch abigger pike as the actionslows.

“It slows down in numbersbut the fish are bigger,”Maynard said.

Maynard had an 8-year-old catch a 16-pound pikethis fall and November is a

great month for catching abig pike.

One of the bigger drawsfor anglers on Champlain isa chance to catch a qualitybass. While the largemouthbite fades with the warmtemperatures, smallmouthcan be caught in the 5- and6-pound range in the late fall.

“The smallmouth runsright into November,”Maynard said. “Those fish inthe fall are on the feed.They’re really fattened up.

Their bellies are real firm.They're nice, robust fish.”

Maynard said 15 to 30 fishper day for three anglers is agood bet and many will be inthe 3- to 4-pound range. It’sall catch-and-release bassfishing in the fall.

A few smallies, however,will cause a bass anglersblood pressure to spike.

Catching these bigbronzebacks requires special

Champlain

Big northern pike, like this 36-inch, 10-plus pounder, are out there for anglers who can put up with the colder late fall weather.

Fishing:


One of the biggest draws of late fall fishing are big, fat, healthy smallmouth bass. These bronzebacks were caught this fall.

techniques in water that isoften in the mid-40 degreerange.

Capt. Mick was willing toshare most details, but saidhe had to save a few of histricks for clients.

Many of the fish, he said,were caught on jigs and drop-shotting. He said a slow, in-their-face presentation waskey, or a slow drift or retrieve.

Typically, those feedingsmallmouth are quite deep –

deeper than most people areaccustomed to fishing forsmallmouth bass.

“Anywhere from 15 to 30and sometimes 40 feet ofwater,” Maynard said.“We’ve caught fish as deepas 70 feet of water.”

And Maynard said to lookfor relatively calm days forthis type of light-line finessefishing.

If you can’t findsmallmouth willing to bite,you might try chasing trout,salmon or lake trout.

Fishing for landlockedAtlantic salmon picks uparound the beginning ofNovember and lasts until theice prevents trolling.

The fish average 2 to 3pounds, Maynard said but hesaid he’s had some salmonup to 10 pounds.

The Vermont Fish &Wildlife Department saidthere are more salmon beingcaught and they are trendingbigger thanks to anaggressive sea lampreycontrol program.

A recent survey conductedby Fish & Wildlife reporteda lot of 4- to 6-pound salmonand many in the 8- to 10-pound range.

The added benefit totrolling for salmon is thechance to also catch arainbow or brown trout, or alake trout.

The lake trout season is alsoready to kick off in Novemberwith the spawn usually takingplace around Thanksgiving ifnot a little earlier.

Champlain


Fishing:

While most lake troutduring the summer arecaught in deep water –sometimes 100 feet or betterdeep – anglers may not haveto go so deep with coolertemperatures in watercolumns closer to thesurface. And it’s better forthe fish to not be drug upfrom that deep.

Maynard said lake troutcan be caught jigging withspoons, or trolling.

Late fall fishing onChamplain isn’t foreverybody. It requires a boatthat can handle rougherwater and the temperaturescan be brutal on some days.

It’s imperative that allanglers wear a personalflotation device on the lakeat this time of the year and

always let someone knowwhere you’re going andwhen you’ll be back so helpcan be summoned if youdon’t return on schedule.

Anglers willing to takesome precautions and head

in if the weather gets roughcan still fish until the icetakes over with thepossibility of some of thenicest fish of the year as thereward for for putting upwith a few hardships.

Jeb Monier was just one day short of his 9th birthday when he caught this 39-inch, 16-pound northern pike on Oct. 1 on Lake Champlain withCapt. Mickey Maynard. The huge pike, the largest of the season for Maynard, was successfully released after this photo.

Champlain

Contact Captain Mickey MaynardPhone: (518) 578-9273Email: [email protected]: www.LakeChamplainAngler.com

My story in the outdoorsbegins as far back as thememory reaches. I really

don’t remember a time that my familywasn’t involved in hunting, fishing,camping or other outdoor fun. I’vespent my life on lakes, along rivers, infields and forests, and sitting next to acampfire. I did find girls moreinteresting for a few years in my teens,but I eventually returned and got intoskiing, hiking, backpacking, four-wheeling and photography, as well asdabbling in other pursuits.

So, wild critters and wild placeshave been flowing through my veinssince I was barely old enough to tagalong with adults.

And long before I could carry a gunafield, I was a heck of a bird dog forhunters, retrieving downed birds andtromping through weed patches todislodge a pheasant. I was alwayswelcome in camp because I could starta fire and help set up or tear down acamp with the best of them, even as ayoungster.

When I became a father, myoutdoor experiences took on a newfocus. I no longer define the success ofa trip by meat in a cooler, as much ashaving fun and teaching my kids aboutthe outdoors and conservation as itrelates to wildlife and public lands.

But who am I? What do I stand for?I’m a firm believer in the North

American Model of WildlifeConservation and that wildlife belongs

to the public. I’m convinced thatwildlife laws are critical to the successof management of both game andnongame species of wildlife. I believethe rest of society, while most don’trealize it, are lucky to have hunters andanglers who pay the share of the loadfor wildlife conservation.

I believe in Leave No Trace and theidea of taking only photos and leavingonly boot prints. I believe in staying ontrails when there are trails anddispersed camping. I believe inpicking up your litter and that ofothers. I think you should always leavean area a little bit nicer than when youfound it. I believe in giving back.

My ethic is best defined by thosewho created the most successfuloutdoor legacy the world has ever seenabout a century ago.

I write these words with the utmostgratitude for folks like TeddyRoosevelt, George Bird Grinnell, JohnMuir, Gifford Pinchot, John JamesAudubon, Aldo Leopold, and otherswho formed what most people wouldadmit is the envy of the world when itcomes to protection and conservationof land and wildlife.

The government has contributed aswell. The Wildlife and Sport FishRestoration Program, Clean Water Actand Clean Air Act, the Migratory BirdTreaty Act, and various state andfederal wildlife protection laws.

Perhaps the No. 1 issue I see in theoutdoor world right now is that ofgetting our kids involved andinterested in nature and wild things.

Too many people are too busy thesedays to ensure their kids get outdoorsto hike, fish, camp, bike or whatever.

I’m a parent of two young girls. Iget it. I understand the pressures andstresses life brings. I have many ofthose same issues trying to steal mytime. Not only is there a need to earn aliving, but chores around the house areenough to keep your average adultbusy. Throw in soccer practice, bandconcerts, school events, trips to the vet,visits by the inlaws ...

The list continues to grow untilsuddenly finding time to cast to arising trout just isn’t in the cards.

But we need to make the time. It’snot only healthy for ourselves to getaway, it’s good for our kids, theoutdoor pursuits we love and even thefuture of conservation.

Hunters have seen this issue firsthand as older hunters drop from theranks of the hunting license buyingpopulation with fewer kids taking theirplace.

Out & About:


My Life in the Outdoors

If we don’t get our kids into thesports that are important to us andensure that the next generation ofconservationists are coming along totake care of things, wild places couldbe in big trouble within a singlegeneration.

When I’m not worrying about thefuture, I love to spend time on a troutstream or sit next to a campfire late atnight with a cup of coffee.

I grew up reading the big threesporting publications of Outdoor Life,Sports Afield and Field & Stream thatI found on the table next to my dad’schair, or at my grandparents house.Later, I discovered Fur-Fish-Game atmy junior high library and read thecover off it. In high school, myAlgebra teacher was a bass fishermanand had a pile of BassMastermagazines in the classroom. I’d grabone when he wasn’t looking and rarelypaid attention to math.

I read many others and at times inmy life have read as many as a dozenoutdoor publications a month. Don’tbelieve me? Send me an email and I’llsend you a list.

For the last 20 years, I’ve publishedmy words in magazines, newspapers,and more recently, on the Internet. It’sbeen a labor of love and my writinghas been a way to express theappreciation I have for the animals Isaw or hunted, places I’ve been,experiences I’ve had and people whohave filled my life along the way.

Some of my best memories arerelated to the outdoors and some ofthe best people I’ve met werebecause of the outdoors. I hope thismagazine contributes to that andmaybe even spurs you on in somesmall way.

But really, who am I?I’d like to portray the image of a

guy who makes delicate, perfectlytimed casts upstream of rising troutand who rarely misses a strike. I like tothink of myself as a shooter adept atdoubling on pairs of rising birds. I’m aguy who always starts a campfire witha single match.

But the reality is that I’m a guy whoenjoys thoroughly thrashing good troutwater until every self-respecting troutwithin a quarter mile packs it in for theday. I’m the guy who misses easystraight-away shots. I’ve been knownto go overboard when trying to start afire, and I once got lost and spent thenight in the woods just 10 minutesfrom my vehicle after walking forhours the day before – most likelywandering in circles considering thedistance I covered.

I have eaten cold hotdogs afterforgetting the charcoal fluid, went overthe handlebars on my bike andsquished an orange into juice in mybackpack and once got so hot whilebass fishing I stripped out of myclothes and jumped in much to theshock of my angling partners.

My gear isn’t too highfalutin either.Oh, how I wish I hunted with a

fancy double gun -- maybe somethingfrom England, Italy or Austria. But thereality is I pull an off-the-rack, run-of-the-mill pump gun from the sleeveonce I hit the field.

And my fly rods have nothing incommon with a fancy bamboo modelthat cost as much as my vehicle(which isn’t much). One waspurchased off of eBay and carries nobrand identifying marks. Another Ipicked up to carry in my vehicle tocatch sunfish and perch and the likecame from the Redneck Co-op(Walmart). Others have similarpedigrees. All of my fly rods areembarrassed I own them.

The rest of my gear tends to beequally blue-collar. I like to buy thingson sale and off the bargain shelf. I’mnot averse to a garage sale or pawnshop either.

That’s who I am. As much as I’dlike to pretend I’m something I’m not,I won’t do it. In this space, you’ll getto know the real me as I write aboutmy life and adventures outdoors.

My two favorite things are troutfishing and bird hunting. Even if Idon’t get to do either nearly as often asI’d like to. One of the things I miss themost in New England are my annualtrips with family to hunt pheasants inKansas.

I look forward to developing anappreciating for hunting grouse – err,excuse me – partridge. I hear there area couple birds left, although theirlocation is a highly guarded secret.And I’m eager to get out on LakeChamplain. Despite living here fornearly a decade, I’ve still not cast aline into that big lake.

I love just about anything that takesme outdoors, and I’ve tried mostoutdoor pursuits at one time oranother. I’m eager to tick off the restof those things I’ve not had a chanceto try. On these pages, I will do justthat. And I’ll bring you along for theride. Just promise not to laugh at mycasting or missed birds. Although itreally won’t matter much. I’m prettyused to my shortcomings at this pointand quit letting them bother me sometime ago.

So, there you have it. Just a little bitabout who I am.

I look forward to meeting you andhope you’ll introduce yourself if werun into each other, whether it’s on thetrail, on the water or at a public event.

(Darren Marcy is editor andpublisher of Vermont’s GreatOutdoors Magazine.)


Out & About:

Out & About

vgom november 2012

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