Category: Maine

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Scarbourough 11-21-2005 10:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Combat hunting was at it’s best Sat morning. I counted 7 people including the group I was with in a 1/2 mile patch of woods. There was a deer shot 75 yards behind me around 0730. Didn’t even know there was anybody behind me! Ended up haveing a spike walk past about 75 yards on the other side of a swamp. Brush was way to thick. so no shot. Jumped 2 deer while walking trough the same swamp earlier. They are defanitly holding up in the thick stuff. With all the people in the woods I can see why. Haven’t been out for ducks for a while. Trying to chase the deer around. Will go soon. It’s only getting better. This wheather we should be getting Wed/Thurs will help a lot.

Posted By:
MUTTLEY
Guest

Downeast 11-20-2005 18:35
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
The count out in Cobscook bay the other day:
500-600 scoter (mostly surf)
450-500 Eiders
200-250 Old squaw
200-250 buffle head
Seem to be hard to get move’n (tight to there rafts), and when they do, they’re not hard on the blocks, a little scitish. Gotten a few. Weathers been real fair (to warm) but S.C.A. have stayed down, H2O temp is still 48 deg. Have only seen two other boats out hunting(from Pennsylvania), they said they did well. Scallop season soon to begin so the boats will start to be in they way in the main bay.

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Southern Maine 11-17-2005 12:06
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Haven’t been out for any ducks since my last report. The second half of pudler season opened back up on the 14. I will be deer hunting down in Scarbourgh this Sat. So far I have seen no deer and not a lot of sign. Went out Monday and tuesday In Falmouth and had no luck. Was on new land and moslty walked and scouted out places. Found a real nice one though! Hopefully with this wheather coming in soon it should stir up the deer and the ducks. Meerymeeting should be ecellant as the days go on. The last week is the best in my opinion and usually very cold and icy.

Later

Posted By:
DuckDoc
Guest

STONINGTON,ME 11-07-2005 10:40
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I WILL BE UP HUNTING INTHIS AREA,DEC1,2,3.dO THE EIDERS HAVE GOOD PLUMAGE ?dOES THIS AREA HOLD A DECENT AMOUNT OF BIRDS,THAT TIME OF THE YEAR? HAS ANYONE EVER TAKEN/SEEN KING EIDERS AROUND THIS AREA?

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Southern Maine 11-07-2005 09:32
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
This Saturday will be remembered for a long time. Went out for some sea ducks Saturday (I needed a fix). When I got to the ramp I saw only one other duck hunter. So I launched my boat and started for my usual spot. I passed one group of hunters (who had no nav lights on!) and asked them were they would be setting up, I wanted to be nice and not take there intended spot. Not sure where they went but I had the spot I wanted and had no other boats in sight only very distand shots. I put out all the floaters I had, about 46 on four separtae main lines. There was a 3′-4′ swell with a very light 5 knot wind in my face, overcast and very warm for Nov. Opening time came and the action was slow. It really picked up about 0700. I ended the day with 1 hen eider, 2 hen white wing scoter, 2 drake white wings, and one very nice drake old squaw. I did manage to loose 2 old squaws that I crippled so insead of getting one more duck to finish out my limit I put the gun down and picked up the camera. There were so many common and white wing scoters along with old squaw flying around that there were no slow moments. To my suprise I saw about 4 hen eiders, mostly singles, no drakes at all. My ammo supply went rather quickly, mostly to cripples. I was using Federal #2 1 3/8 oz. 3.5’s. Used 3 shy of a box! The squaws were most likely getting a very large pattern since they were skirting the edge of the spread. All my strings of dekes were about 8 yards off the beam of the boat. A good day over all.

Lastly some important safety items.

DON’T try and catch a hunting knife no matter how shiny, new and sharp it is!

WEAR hearing protection when shooting 3.5″ shells!

One more thing. If anyone out there is looking for a gun safe, I’d recomend the Stack On Security safe with the digital key pad. It ran $330 at Dick’s sporting goods with a $15 coopin. Holds 16 guns and has one shelf and storage bins on the door.

Later

Posted By:
Scott Pope
Guest

Sea duck contacts 11-05-2005 17:44
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Moses,

Just returned froma two day hunt with Todd Jackson of Penobscot Bay Outfitters in Searsport.
Me and my buddy hunted last Monday and Tuesday. Limited both days by 8:30 a.m. Would have been sooner but we had to wait for the few old squaws around to fly by. Todd hunts strictly out of boats and had big flocks of eiders on os both days. Also shot a couple of surf scooters. We went to hunt mountable birds and there are so many in the area Todd hunts you can be choosey. He also has a great lodge at his place with good food and accomodations. I am on the road and dont have his info handy but he advertises in DU and Wildfowl magazines.

Posted By:
moses
Guest

11-02-2005 06:29
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have some guys from indiana that would like to sea duck hunt next year can anyone point me in the right direction or give me contacts??

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Portland and Mid Coast 10-29-2005 15:39
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
While driving by water from Portland I saw good numbers of eiders offshore around Half way rock and lumbo Ledge which was about 2-3 miles offshore. Today back in Boothbay There were about a thousand eiders off and around Pumkin Ledges. The weather was perfect for hunting them but I was working. Nice calm seas, very little swell seas about a foot or so with a light 3 knot wind. Also saw my first surf scoters of the year in Boothbay’s outer harbor, about 6 all together. So far the seas have calmed down a lot and should remain that way for the early part of this coming week. I hope to get out in the Saco river for some sea ducks on Tuesday.
The regular duck season has closed until November 14 but sea ducks are open until the end of January. The regular archery season also closed this past Friday and the resident firearm season opened this morning. Had some sleet and a few flakes this afternoon. I’d say that cold front is hear. The second part of the regular season should be a lot better.
Later

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Mid coast 10-24-2005 20:50
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Well NO hunting for me. Centcom made plans to “VISIT” her college friends in NH. Can you say WHIPED? Well all I did was keep there 2 labs and mine from tearing up the house while watching the TV and ocasionally sleeping. I think I got caught up on my sleep so I will be that much more sharp in the blind.
Am not sure when I will get out again as this weeks wheather looks like complete poop! If it is not to windy I may hit Meerymeeting Bay or some sheltered pond or back water. As for sea ducks, still haven’t been since the opener. Better safe than sorry! Took a trip from Boothbay down to Portland today and saw eiders the whole way down, no shortage. I think I saw my first white winged scoter of the year.
UPS delivered a dogs vest and a Lucky duck decoy which I put together at work this morning. For $24.95 it looks real nice and sturdy. Has anyone used one of these? (the Lucky Duck) I will need to return the dog vest for the LG instead of the XL. It is real loose in the chest which will act as a scoop when he swims. He is a smaller pup and has a trim stomach. I think he has been watching my John Baistow DVD’s. I came across an interesting article (which I can’t find to post up for you to read) regarding this years Atlantic flyway councils annual meeting (for Maine). It is different than what Mr. Fox posted. Maine actualy chooses to have a smaller bag limit on ducks. The Flyway council syas the #’s can sustain a higher bag limit but Mainers opt to go lower. The point behind this is that the average hunter may only shoot about 2 ducks per day of hunting! Anyone heard of this being differant?

Later

Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest

Bad News for the Atlantic Flyway 10-20-2005 09:12
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As most of you know, I was Sea Duck Hunting with a few members of this site the last 2 days.

As hunting goes, during lulls in the action conversation starts. We talked about a variety of topics one of which was the direction and the recommendations of the Atlantic Flyway Council.

Some of the recommendations that they wanted to implement this year was “Hunter’s Choice”. I can guarantee you that this will be a hot topic again next year.

Hunter’s Choice would be this. We will have a 4 bird limit. This could be all “4 limit birds” like Mallards.However, there would be no restrictions on hen Mallards so theoretically you could shoot 4 Hen Mallards. Teal, Gadwall’s, Wigeon and Shoveler’s would also fit into this category.

A bird with a 2 bird limit like Bluebills, Wood Ducks and Red Heads would effect you like this. You shoot 2 Bluebills. No more 2 bird limit specie’s. No Red Heads. No Wood Ducks. Now you can only shoot 2 Mallards, both of which could be Hens. You could also finish off this limit with the other 4 bird specie’s, Wigeon, Gadwall’s etc. Or, Merganser’s.

Your 1 bird limit specie’s, Canvasback’s, Black Duck’s and Pintails. Shoot a Can, no Pintail. Shoot a Pintail, no Can. Shoot a Black, no Pinatail or Can. You now have three birds left to fill you bag.

One of the disturbing things to happen this year is that Merganser’s now count against your daily bag limit.

The Flyway Council Rep from Ontario wants to increase and ease restrictions on Snow Geese as they are destroying their breeding habitat, farmers crops and marsh’s. For some reason, there is tremendous opposition to this from this Council. Why?

We have only a few strong voices for the hunters, one of whom is Paul Castelli the Head Biologist from New Jersey who is their Flyway Council Representative.

There are a few other hunters on the Flyway Council but none who speaks with the knowledge of the resource and conviction to work with hunters like Paul.

We need to fight this trend to restrict our hunting rights. If this is implemented next year it will decidely impact your hunt and make up of your bag.

This type of Daily Bag Limit will severly restrict yours and my hunting rights and opportunities.

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Merrymeeting Bay, Brunswick 10-19-2005 14:01
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
It felt as though I hadn’t gone to sleep once the alarm finally went off. I kept waking up at 0130, 0230 and 0330 thinking that I had hit the snooze and just needed to get up and get it over with. Must have been the sickness, I mean anticepation. Was the first at the ramp which is what I like. Once I found my spot and started setting up I heard another boat coming from the launch. Got set up with plenty of time to spare. My pup was driving me crazy. Since he couldn’t see me while setting the decoys he kept wineing. Legal shooting time came and there were not that many ducks in the air. I noticed one hunter just starting to set up about 2 miles from me. Minutes later I saw hundreds of blacks and mallards get up from the marsh. All and all I shot once and missed. Every group I saw were really checking things out and were “high flyers”. As I was tracking and calling some mallards, I was following them to my right and noticed my lab pup had a radar lock on em. For me it was kind of like watching your child walk for the first time (he’s my child). And all the other hunters around me shot very little. The birds were high and fast. I have come to the conclusiond that these birds are being worked hard and have turned a little weary. The dozens of empty hulls on the shore only convinced me more. There are a few hunters who must hunt there every day since I have noticed there car and trailer more than once. Hope to go after some sea ducks next week depending on the weather. Later

[Edited By Andrew-White on 2005-10-19 20:03]

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

10-16-2005 17:31
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One interesting item I forgot to mention on my last post. Has anyone ever come across a duck with it’s head riped off? Was sitting in the blind and we kept looking at this object bobbing in the water. Couldn’t figure out what it was with the binos. While adjusting the decoys I walked over and found a nice black duck and it’s head a few feet away. I have seen this with turkeys and have been told that a great horned owl does this. Interesting. And no it wasn’t shot off. The head had part of the spine with it. Nothing was eaten off of it.

[Edited By Andrew-White on 2005-10-16 17:33]

Posted By:
rrattie
Guest

Hartland 10-15-2005 09:08
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Will be in the Hartland area next weekend doing a little grouse hunting. I was wondering what the chances are finding some ducks to hunt in that area.

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Merrymeeting Bay, Brunswick 10-14-2005 10:04
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
Had a great day on Merrymeeting Bay yesterday. Woke up @ 0400, on the raod @ 0425, arrived at the boat ramp @ 0515 and had the boat in the water by 0535. The tide was half way in so I couldn’t get to where I wanted but made do in the main channel. There were lots of ducks in the air @ leagal shooting time but it was way to dark to even think of shooting. Had a nice group of teal come in with a whistle or two up wind of the spread and let them drift down before my friend jumped them and missed all 3 times! It was a special day for me because I had my 8 month old black lab Murphy (8 months this Sunday the 16th)on his very first hunt. He snuck out of the boat while setting out the decoys and proceeded to drag every decoy to shore. Of course he would not let me catch him. I just let him get the crazies out of his system before I caught him and put him on a leash in the boat. We had some wood ducks come in and managed to knock one down. I put murphy on a 25′ lead and sent him after the duck while I followed from behind. He fetched it, brought it back and dropped it in my frineds hand on command. What a good feeling that was!! That was the only duck we got due to horrible shooting from both of us. Once the tide came up we moved against the shore where there was a good lee and where we were seeing most of the ducks fly over and land. Had 4 singles come in without calling–mallards, blacks and wood ducks. The action stopped at about ten and we picked up at quarter of 11 or so. It was a day to remember! May go next Tuesday with the dog again. Hopefuly this beautiful Maine wheather clears out.

Posted By:
Scott Pope
Guest

Hey Andrew 10-13-2005 08:10
– – –
Andrew,
I saw you private message but the server deleted it when I clicked it on. Please send again if you can

Thanks
Scott

Posted By:
Scott Pope
Guest

10-11-2005 08:22
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Andrew,
I enjoy your posts..My buddy and I are flying out your way from Iowa for a little Sea duck hunting at the end of the month. We have never done it before and are looking forward to it. What are the prospects? Have you seen birds? The fact that you are reworking decoys into old Squaws must mean there are a few of them around.
Any info would be appreciated

Scott

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

10-10-2005 07:52
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
The alarm went off @ 0400 and I anxiously lept out of bed Sat (not realy) and walked into the living room and saw that it was a downpoor and very windy, so I set the alarm for 0630 and went back to sleep. Got up again and saw the same thing, no hunting for Saturday. This week is going to be a nice blustery one. I hope to hunt Pleasant Bay marsh on my way home from woork on Wednesday, we will see. Haven’t hunted that yet but driven by it countless times.
Last week I spent about 5 hours converting Flambou and Carrylite pintail, red head and blue bill dekes into common, white winged and old squaw decoys and now have about 40 for my spread. Also painted up about 6 odd ball dekes I have found over the years. They came out pretty nice. Not sure when I will get out for sea ducks again. Will have to see when this wheather flops out.
Oh, I tried this recipe for an orange sauce I read about in Wildfowl, it’s awesome. Made my eiders taste darn good. Calls for 1 can frozen orange juice concentrate, 1/2 cup reg sugar and one stick of salted butter. Mix up in sauce pan on low heat and serve over thinly slcied med rare duck breats. Tasty!!

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Southern Maine 10-04-2005 09:32
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Hunting season is finally here!! the regular archery season opened on the 29th with high winds and warm temps. I did go out and sat on stand for a few hours with no results then did a bit of walking and saw some sign around some large oak trees. Lots of acorns on the ground this year. Sat Oct 1st marked the first day of Maine’s sea duck season. I awoke at 0400 and arrived at the public launch on the Saco River about 5 after 5 and was shocked to see four other hunters launching there boats. I was the last one out but did manage to find a spot away from the crowd. I did see one member of the journal there that I recognized from the photo gallery from last years season. Not sure of his name but will look him up. So I found a spot, set out three strings and got anchored up at 0606. Legal shooting time was @ 0603. the tide was also perfect with a low at 0446. All ledges would be exposed. Knocked two hen eiders down about 5 min after I set up and continued to hear other boats shooting. Overall it was fairly slow. I only saw one drake eider in all the groups that went past, mostly out of range. Hopefully the temps will drop and start moving the birds around. The seas and wind were a real nice bonus allowing set up to go a little quicker. There is nothing like the smell of two stroke and gun powder in the morning! Monday Oct 3rd marked the opener of the regular duck season. I was going to head up to the Merrymeeting Bay but the tides were wrong so I went to a pond and set some mallard, teal and wood duck dekes out. Only saw 3 blacks fly past. 2 were close enough for a shot which I missed. The sun came up straight in my eyes so I decided to move around the point. As I did the sky filled with blacks and woodies. I managed to take one black. Seeing and hearing all the woodies flying around I decided to try some stealth jump shooting wich I did with good results as those little critters are tough to sneak up on. I knocked 2 drakes down, one unfortuatley had enough gas to dive and never resurface. The other one I retrieved and dispatched. This one I brought to the taxidermist. It had taken me about 8 years to shoot one of these critters. So far for me the season has gone well. I would be interested in hearing from other hunters on there sucsess. All for now. Hope to jump shoot some more woodies this Fri or Sat. Later

Andrew White VFE Maine

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

09-13-2005 22:09
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So it is September! Where the #$%& did summer go? I am ready for Fall but wish I could skip Winter and head into Spring. Oh well. I have been seeing and hearing decent flocks of resident Canada gesse flying about. Have also seen LARGE rafts of eiders from the Boothbay Harbor area to the Kennebeck river. The Kennebeck seems to have the most abundant rafts I have ever seen. The Sheepscot also holds a good number. The early season for honkers is open till the 24th. Haven’t been yet. Just doesn’t feel like Fall yet. I hope to put my boat blind on soon. I keep saying I will get out for stripers and blues one more time, who knows. The blues have been hitting pretty good off the Saco River. Take a look at the Trina Lyn’s fishing report (under Captain’s notes) on Capt Todd’s web site. So far I have gone a total of 7 times in the salt. Put about 40 or so stripers in the boat and one 34″ blue. Got skunked twice. Need to start going through all my duck hunting gear and make sure I find all of the would be suprises. I have decided to get a wader dryer. Nothing makes me more grumpy than cold damp waders. Found one for $40 in Cabela’s. Well all for now.

[Edited By Andrew-White on 2005-09-22 20:42]

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

07-23-2005 16:43
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Yes, it’s about time! As summer flies by for me (at least) I find my self thinking about the upcoming duck season and what I need to build or fix regarding all my duck hunting stuff. I am thinking about building a fold down cunduit blind for the boat. My sea duck spread needs some attention i.e. droppers need to be shorter. Am also wondering how my new pup will be when Fall rolls around. He loves the water and can’t get enough of it. We have to stop throwing his dummies in the lake after a while and let him rest up a bit. All in all he is shaping up.

The striper fishing has been great so far. I have found a rare charter captian who does a weekly report. He is Captain Todd off the Trina Lynn, Saco River. I say reare becasue there are a lot of charter services but few take the time to type up a report! I have been fishing 5 times this year and have caught from 3 to 20 stripers/blues each trip. In doing so I have found a new spot I would like to try for sea ducks this Fall.

As for duck sitings I see small groups of eider, mostly hens and imature drakes. Haven’t seen much else. Fall is right around the corner. I may be going to the Outer Banks this fall for some casting and blasting with a couple of good friends. We’ll see!

All for now

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

05-14-2005 07:50
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Well it has been a while for some sort of a report. Last evening I confirmed the rumors of Baldaci giving turkey permits to all who applied in time for the opener. The article can be found on the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website. Next year there will be NO lottery! It’s great to know the turkey population is doing great to support a regular season. The only down side I see are people walking through your set up or setting up to close to you or vise versa. Oh well, It comes with deer and duck hunting. I pulled a permit for Season A and have not been out yet. Have not seen but 3 turkeys this year.
On April 4 my wife and I picked up a 6 week old black lab (male). He has since grown to around 25 lbs. He almost has his obediance down pat. He needs to learn heel, down and long stay/sit. The little critter saprised me Thursday evening when he retrived his fun bumper 1/2 dz times. He also stayed after I through it and then released on command. I have been very frustrated with him but have now seen the light at the end of the tunnel!! The wife and I are already talking about getting another one from the same breeder, maybe a yellow girl. I think we will wait on that!!.
The moose drawing will be on june 16. Foe any of you who put in cross your fingers and toes. The spring has turned out to be a wet and cool one. We shall see how the grouse and wood cock handle it. The shad should be running into the rivers by now. Stripers should follow. Mid May through mid June is an excellent time to catch large amounts of schoolies at the river mouths and estuaries. Have not been out fishing yet. My house is like a magnet, to many small projects to complete. One of these days. My boat is untarped and needs to be registered along with my trailor. Well all for now.

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

southern to mid coast 04-20-2005 18:22
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With Spring finally here (we’ll see) I have been seeing pairs of eiders in close to docks and shore. Good time to break out the camera and get some close ups of eiders and maybe an old squaw. I have also been seeing groups of honkers 30-60 birds flying over my house. Time to go over my gear and make improvments or fixes for this fall. Once the lakes open up it’s time to break out the smelts and catch some nice landlocks and brookies.

Tight lines

Posted By:
gearhead
Guest

04-12-2005 21:12
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Anyone on the Maine page live in central Maine? I was born and raised in a little town in central Maine called St.Albans. I now live in Kentucky. I left when I turned 18 and never moved back.Since then I have become an avid duck hunter. I am planning a trip back to duck and partrige hunt in October. I have no problem finding partrige because I hunted them alot when I was young but have never hunted ducks in Maine. I was wonering if anyone would want to take me duck hunting when I get there. I will be bringing a 15′ alumacraft boat with an 18hp Go-Devil and all the gear I need. My cousin lives in Ellsworth and we will probably take a day and do some sea duck hunting. The rest of my family lives in Hartland ,St. Albans and Exeter.My E-mail is gearhead@vci.net

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Mid coast 02-15-2005 19:35
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Lots and lots of eiders around the mouth of the Kennebeck and surrounding ledges. Never seen so many ducks! Have seen smaller bunches of surf and common scoters along with oldsquaw here and there. Can’t wait till next year.

Posted By:
glitterperegrine
Supporting Member

01-23-2005 00:12
– – –
Help a little girl out everyone

Mackenzie Maier needs a postcard from you! Mac is a 4 year old with very serious cancer. Her goal is to collect a postcard from every state in the US. Please help her reach her goal by mailing her one today!

Her address is:

Mackenzie Maier
23037 Magnolia Glen Drive
Valencia, CA 91354

They have a website with a guestbook and pictures of her with Santa at:

www2.caringbridge.org/ca/mackenziemaier

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Boothbay and surrounding area 01-14-2005 08:17
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Well the sea duck season is still on til the 31 of Jan. I have seen lots of eiders. The old squaw are starting to thin out as well as the scoters. Lots of nice colered eiders around. Am starting to regret putting my boat up for the winter but I have to focuss on my new house which is coming along nicely. Seems as though Tod Jackson of Penneobscot Bay Outfitters has been getting some buisiness from some .com members. It’s alomost over for the year. Now if the cold can last longer thean a few days we may have some ice to fish on this winter. Have also heard the smelting has been ok. That’s on my list for this Jan. Later

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

12-19-2004 07:55
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Well I am all done for the season. Winterized my outboard and tarped up the boat. My house is sucking every minute out of me. Had a good year, no complaints. One tip I would give is winterize your outborads/engines. It’s worth it. Took me about 20 minutes. Put some fuel stabalizer in the tank (Stor-N-Start) and ran it through the engine. Also spray some fogging oil into the carb(s) (Starbrite) until it stalls the engine out and then remove the spark plugs and squirt about an oz into each cylinder, spray tips of spark plugs and turn over engine a feew time with your safety cord off then reinstall plugs. Lastly change youre lower unit oil and give your engine a wip down and spray down with some WD40. I also put a piece of wood under each tire and then leaned a pc of ply agianst each wheel to keep the snow off.
Hopefully the spring comes sooner than later and the stripahs start up the rivers.

Posted By:
leatherman
Guest

Down East ME 12-13-2004 12:15
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Good eider hunting, large flocks of mature birds, decoyed well.
Many old squaws in open water, layout boats a must, decoyed well, good shooting.
Blacks in the tidal marshes, not call shy, decoyed well.

Posted By:
leatherman
Guest

12-08-2004 08:19
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Leaving MN in about 4 hours for Frenchmans Bay to hunt with Cpt. Pidgeon. Andrew, I will post a report upon my return. Hoping for some good Eider and Old Squaw with perhaps a black if we are lucky!

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

11-26-2004 17:58
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Have not been out since my last report. I bought a house on the 19 th and am doing a bit of remodleing. Not sure if I will go again before the seson closes. Will have plenty of time to go for sea ducks! Has anyone out there been doing well. I really don’t hear much at all from anyone in Maine.

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Southern Maine 11-17-2004 09:32
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
First I want to correct an error on my post from 2 Nov. I reported shooting a drake surf scoter. It was a white winged scoter that I shot. I have yet to even see a surf scoter down here. Have only seen them off of Boothbay and surounding areas.

Went sea ducking again yesterday morning. It was not to cold and the winds were light 5 kts or so out of the NE, seas 2-4. It was very dark due to being overcast so I took it slow as I headed towards the mouth of the river. I set up in my usual spot with 2 strings of dekes out(ind blocks). The tide & wind was perfect. Of course the ducks started flying after I had two stings out so I put my anchors out and waited. Beleive I had about a dozen and a half out. There were lots of surf scoters and old squaw flying around. I really didn’t see to many eiders, maybe half dozen or so. My aim was was absolutley horrible. I missed a nice drake eider at 20 yards twice, along with a lot of short shots i.e 2 feet behind the birds. Give them a good leed. Had a couple nice drake squaws come in but of course I was fidleing around with my anchors and not paying attention. A hen eider came in and I shot once. She did a touch and go and kept on going. Hate crippleing birds. Ended up with a drake and hen white winged scoter. Wished I had another person to help set the strings out. I got one in my prop and realized I didn’t have a knife to cut it out as I was drifting towards the rocks. Got it out in the nic of time. All for now.

[Edited By Andrew-White on 2004-11-17 15:43]

[Edited By Andrew-White on 2004-11-18 13:05]

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Southern Maine 11-12-2004 15:02
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Went deer hunting Thursday morning. Got to my stand about 0545. At 0630 I had just put on my camo fleece balaclava and was starting to doze off when I heard leaves cruncing to my left. Was hunting on the side of a small gully that opened up into a scruby clearing. Had a button buck come in a bit out of breath and grunting. I fugured he was coming from an area ahead of me where there was alot of shots or chasing a doe. So I took the 40 yard shot and he droped. I could not see him from my stand due to the scrub brush and finaly saw him at 5 yards away. He had droped in a small 4′ wide stream at the bottom of the gully. Was using my good old Remmington 30/06, 700 ADL with 180 GRN silver tips. Was back at my apartment to enjoy the rest of the day by 0900. Weighed out at 108 LBS. Ya it’s no monster but it’s meat in the freazer. Now I can concentrate on ducks for the rest of the year.

[Edited By Andrew-White on 2004-11-12 15:04]

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Southern Maine 11-08-2004 11:22
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted sea ducks on the 2nd. Was a bit bumpy! Managed to scratch a drake eider and surf scoter + one hen commoon scoter. Saw lots of old squaw and eiders. Took two anchors to keep me in one spot once they sanded themselves in. Of course when I was messing with the anchors or something else a good bunch of birds would come in. Was done and back at the launch by 0830. Stopped flying by 0730 or so. Tide and wind was right! Will try aging depending on the marine forcast.

Posted By:
Mark-King
Field Editor

10-31-2004 14:54
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HI TO MAINE. I’M A VFE FROM MICHIGAN AND AM PLANNING A HUNTING TRIP FROM THE 29TH NOV. THRU DEC. 2ND.
ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREAT.
SHOT SIZE?
WEATHER CONDITIONS
CLOTHING NEEDED.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO SEE ? DO SEA DUCKS DECOY WELL? DO THEY FLY ALL DAY ? PLEASE SEE STATE TOPICS TO REPLY THANKS

To a true sportsman being out there is what it’s all about.

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Mustard Island to Chops Point, Merrymeeting Bay 10-29-2004 17:07
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted this past Thursday on Merrymeeting with some friends. Up at 0330 out the door by 0400 and at the launch by 0450. Due to the full moon we were in the the middle of an outgoing tide. I beleive the tide finaly turned around 0800+-. Hunted on the bank with about 20 or so dekes out which we had to move twice to keep them floating. Saw 2 huge flocks fly over but went way up towards the power lines and landed in the middle. We moved the boat after two hours of nothing and went up river a bit to a spot we hunted last year with great luck. Since the tide was so low and still going out we could only get 200 yards from it. Barely floated the boat in and then were left high and dry until the tide turned. Once the dekes were floating again we had small groups break off of massive flocks and a few would give us a fly by. Shot at some but did not connect. I’d reccomend the 3 1/2″ mags for distance as they were not going to come right in. Also saw some scoters out in teh middle to! So do ducks in the bag but the sight of 1000+ ducks funneling down by the power line was awesome. Being a week day we did see 4 other hunters and be weary of the marine patrol. They checked licenses, plugs, shells registrations, id’s and boat gear.
One thing that turned most ducks that gave us a look was some good calling ang face masks. Once they come in put the call down and get ready. Will try some sea ducking next week now that the season is closing this sat.

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Southern Maine 10-26-2004 11:44
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
As mentioned in ealier reports I hunted twice in the early honker season and did not shoot or see any honkers. In fact I have not even seen but one small flock and a couple loner honkers flying about. Have been hunting mostly the same 5 acre pond and have seen very few ducks. All the times I have gone I usually have 2-3 fly by just before legal time. Mostly woodies and maybe blacks and mallards. This past Saturday I only had 2 wood ducks fly out of range and a half dozen scaup fly in behind us and then flushed when I went to grab some coffee. Managed to call them in and they landed just out of range. So I have not really seen a whole lot on the move. I thought the cold snap would get them moving and I think it did a little but then it droped out. I have recently seen some Maine sea duck pictures in the photo gallery. On that note I have seen old squaw, scoter and a few eider (note fully featherd out yet) around the Boothbay harbor area. Have not hunted for sea ducks in Southern Me, yet this year but would assume it is up and furious as usual.

Andrew White VFE
Later

Posted By:
teal tumbler
Guest

10-24-2004 19:31
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Wow, seems pretty quiet over here. Is anybody hunting ducks, or your just keeping all the info to yourselves.

Posted By:
teal tumbler
Guest

Freeport / Brunswick 10-12-2004 21:19
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I know this isn’t the right place for this but I’m looking for some help. The guide that I hunt with is going to deer camp the week we are going to be in the Freeport area.Nov. 8 through 14 and I really want to get after the Eiders and Oldsquaw again. So if anybody could recommend a guide please contact me.

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

Boothbay & Southern Maine 09-28-2004 10:15
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Have been meaning to post this for the past three weeks so here it is both past and present.
Several weeks ago I ran into a raft of about 1,000 eiders off the Sheepscott river. Along with some small (40-50lb) blufin going after the spike mackerel. Have not seen any scoters or old squaw yet. Lots of honkers on fields off Rt 27. Have been hunting a small pond(southern Maine)for the early honker season and have not seen any fly over while hunting or any roosting on the pond. Need a good cold snap! Went out this past Sat in Southern Maine for the last day of early honker season and again no geese and no ducks seen flying. Last time I went I saw blacks and mallards with a few small groups of woodies flying over. I may try Merrymeeting for the opener to see if anyting is moving up there. Opening day for the first half is Oct 4. The regular bow season opens up Sep 30, Thursday. Will give that a go. Still need to put my stands up. One of my spots has a house going up, no suprise. So far I think I have the leaks in my boat patched, decoys all rigged up and everything else ready to go for the hunting season. Hopefully I can get a deer with my bow and concentrate on ducks for the rest of the year. Happy hunting.

[Edited By Andrew-White on 2004-09-28 10:16]

Posted By:
leatherman
Guest

09-23-2004 17:14
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Jesse,
consider yourself lucky, as a child I spent a lot of time “Down East” and am planning a hunt there this Dec. You’ll find it very much like MN ( where I currently live), great people,very hospitable, lots of game both waterfowl, upland, and large, and the weather and country feel and look like MN.
Enjoy and keep in touch, maybe we’ll touch base in early Dec.

Posted By:
JESSESMALL
Guest

09-15-2004 23:33
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HEY GUYS IM NEED SOME INFORMATION:
IM LIVING IN MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW AND HERE BEFORE TO LONG ILL BE MOVING TO MAINE TO BECOME A STATE TROOPER:
I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN AND CANT HUNT UP THERE?
WHAT KIND OF WATERFOWL IS UP THERE AND WHAT NOT.

JSMALLZ21@AOL.COM

Posted By:
Mike M.
Guest

York Beach 08-14-2004 21:36
Cloudy, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Just got in from surfing this evening at York Beach. While out sitting on my board for the next set of waves, 8 white wing scoters flew by and landed not more than 100 yards from where I was surfing.

Having never sculled before, I figured this was going to be about my best chance to see what sculling is like in a sense. So, I started paddling out towards the scoters. I got to within about 50 yards of them before they realized I wasnt a big seal on a floating log (hehehe). They didnt flush though. They merely swam away from me without a care in the world.

Just thought I would share it with you here as it certainly got me thinking about the upcoming season.

Take care

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

07-20-2004 17:29
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Well I thought it was about time to post some sort of report here. Have been doing some striper fishing out of the Saco river and along with many slot size stripers and 25″ blues I have seen huge rafts of eiders along the break wall. Can’t wait until this fall, already getting the itch, no pun intended. My 14′ aluminum boat has been leaking more and more during use. Will have to break out the 5200 caulking which seems to hold up for old aluminum boats. I am in the market for a used Lund 18′ boat, motor and trailer if anyone nearby southern Maine has one for sale! I am picky and the whole package better be in great condition. Olive drab would be a nice color and I prefer Honda. Not looking for a fancy model just the bare bones model.
On another note I got married on Friday July 9th at Saint Anns Church in Kennebunkport. Following the carraige ride to the Nonantum resort was a great reception. Went buy real quick. left the following Sunday for Saint Lucia in the West Indies. Went to a sandals resort called the Regency for 6 nights. Was an all inclusive palce. Worth the money if anyone is planning on going, go! Now it is back to the grind. Think Fall.

Posted By:
btrout
WFC Sponsor

Where else? Mid coast, Downest Maine 05-11-2004 07:40
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Spring is here. Time to repaint old scuffed decoys, get the duck boat off the lawn so I can run the lawn mower, fill the pot holes on the road into the duck camp and start cutting/splitting wood for next season’s wood stove at the duck camp on the marsh.

Seen several nesting pairs of mallards & blacks on local fresh water ponds… good sign. These guys need all the help they can get. Watch out for the snapping turtles.

Starting to work the retriever again and thinking “Waterfowling” again. Can’t help it … it’s in me blood!

[Edited By btrout on 2004-05-11 07:43]

[Edited By btrout on 2004-05-11 07:48]

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

York County 05-05-2004 11:33
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 40-45 Degrees
Well I made it out of bed Tuesday morning at 0350 to go turkey hunting. The wheather was side ways rain and 15-25 kt winds, around 45 degrees or so. Here’s how it went. Drove to parents house and grabbed my kayak (had to paddle to my hunting spot). Arrived at my spot at about sunrise, it was fairly light out so I was rushing to get the dekes out and find a tree to lean against. I gave a few yelps to try and locate a gobbler. I was hunting a corn field where I had seen 60+ turkeys last fall during duck season. I heard nothing over the wind so I found a good clear spot to sit, put the decoys out and got set. Gave a few yelps and heard a very faint gobble. My heart started to race. Didn’t have time to scout the area the day before and try and roost a gobbler. Let out a few more yelps. Again a gobble. For each yelp I was gobbled at. At one time I thought I heard two. The gobble grew stronger and then didn’t get any closer. The bird was to my right and I couldn’t see him from where I was sitting so I belly crawled out and saw him about 150 or so yards way down to my right. Crawled back and started calling some more. I heard a another gobble and then nothing for what seemed like an eternity. I crawled back out and he was gone. What did I do wrong I asked myself. Maybe he was a lazy old guy that didn’t wan’t to walk all that way in the rain and wind?????????????????.
I left that field at about 0730 or so and decided to warm up a little. My left knee high boot was swamped while I was getting out of the kayak. At about 0930 I drove up to Scarbourgh and tried to hunt a new housing development but all the land and a field where I had seen turkys before was posted. I took a breakfast break and went back down to near where I was hunting before. While driving I saw a big tom walking through somebodys back yard in Scarbourgh and figured I would never get permission to hunt so I left that one alone. I got to where I had seen turkeys brfore and saw another tom in a posted field. Drove to some other fileds but saw nothing but new houses going up. It was about 1150 by the time I got to my last spot and managed to see a hen sneaking away from me as I was trying to locate a tom. I gave it hell anyway!!!!

Posted By:
btrout
WFC Sponsor

Mid Maine coastal and march areas 04-26-2004 14:57
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 35-40 Degrees
SEASON REPORT: Gunning downeast Maine marshes and bays for most of the split seasons was a disappointment. The usual bright spot of every season is in the first week of October when we are graced with the arrival of those cooperative little darling B W & G W Teal. Not so this year … or last. Local Blacks were cautious and few and far between. We never got the cold weather we expected, until after the season closesd on the 22nd of December. We normally enjoy the excitment of ample whistler gunning but not this year.What birds we did put on the water the retrievers works well and earned their kibble.Ahhhhh, but there is always next season … Nature and longevity willing!

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

04-07-2004 16:40
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Well I am starting to see a lot of canada geese by the Taste of Maine restaurant off Rt 1, about 2 hundred last week. Also seeing a lot of buffel head while heading over the RT bridge in Wisscasset. The eiders are starting to pair up and come in real close for a tasty snack off the pilings of our pier. The old squaw are pretty much every where. Went up to Port Clyde by boat last saturday. They were holding in closer and in the small pockets/coves of shore. Common ganzers and the hooded variety are also out in both fresh and salt water. Spring is here! I need to scout for the turkeys now.

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

03-16-2004 17:03
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I counted 60+ turkeys in a corn field off this one slow moving river late last fall while jump shooting, stoped counting at 60. The most I’ve seen at one time. Could also hear more yelping in the woods.

Posted By:
chessie-man
WFC Sponsor

03-11-2004 20:52
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nope didn’t get my permit this year…. kinda sucks cause I had them all scouted out with plenty of good toms and I just got a new gun not too long ago and now nothing to do with it all

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

03-10-2004 12:00
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It’s turkey time. Did anyone get a permit for this year? I got one this year also. Time to scout.