Jericho Wildlife

...or wild wife. I'm back in Vermont for a few days from Babylon on the Potomac, as Fr. Rick refers to DC. Back home, time to check my Bushnell® HD Trophy Cam game camera to see what exotic wildlife it captured.

The rarely seen Vermont wife

The camera took 22 photos since the second week of July. Twelve of the photos are of some nut dog named Cabot racing through the woods after, most likely, squirrels. Squirrels were the stars in 4 photos. One photo was of me setting the camera.

Karen beat out the squirrel photos with 5 featuring her going to and from the compost bin.

I have to admit that I was hoping for something a bit more, shall we say, exotic. I should put out a mineral block. My luck, Cabot will consume it and require a visit to the vet. Maybe I'll leave it be and just let the camera take photos of my country wife.

It could be worse. There could have been a picture of my wife walking in the woods with a new, secret, illicit...horse!

“Every dog must have his day”

(as published in the Mountain Gazette, July 18, 2013, p. 1)

(Quote by Jonathan Swift) Every once and a while a story comes along that just warms your heart. You see the good in the world and forget, at least for a time, all that is so troublesome. I heard such a story the other day from my wife, which led me to call the people involved, and to put “pen to paper” as it is.

Back in mid-June, Priscilla Emerling and John Hanf looked out their window in Waterville and saw a man walking down Route 109 carrying a fly rod in one hand and a deer fawn in the other. This seemed a bit curious, even for Vermont, so they went outside to investigate.

The man carrying the fawn was Dalton Harben, a co-owner of Vermont’s own Worth Skis (www.worthskis.com). Dalton and his dog, Bo, were fly fishing the north branch of the Lamoille River when Bo started running around in a circle and barking, like Dalton said he does when he’s playing with another dog. Bo found a fawn. The fawn wasn’t sure what was going on and jumped into the rain-swollen river at a section of water with some small rapids. Bo went in the water right after the fawn. Dog and fawn were swept a couple hundred feet down the river. Dalton said that Bo, who is a strong swimmer, caught up to the fawn and was pushing his shoulder into the fawn to steer it towards land. Dalton said you could tell the fawn was frightened and was trying to keep its head above water. Bo then started pulling the fawn from the nape of its neck towards shore. On shore, Bo sniffed the fawn, licked it a few times, best friends forever.

Even a little fawn can recognize a good dog! Bo, a Plott Hound, with fawn
(D. Harben photo)

After picking up the fawn, Dalton started to look around and found a doe, most likely the fawn’s mother, that had been hit and killed by a car.

While Priscilla stayed outside talking with Dalton about the rescue, John went inside to call the State Police to see what they should do with the fawn. The State Police contacted the game warden and the final verdict was – set the fawn somewhere outside and “let nature take its course.”  That sounds good and fine, except that nature’s course isn’t something you’d always like to think about when it comes to God’s youngest critters.

John decided to bring the fawn up to a field where he knew there to be a fair number of doe with the hope that the fawn would be adopted. So he, Dalton, and, of course, Bo drove the fawn up to the field. John and Dalton set the fawn in the field and walked away…followed by the fawn. John set the fawn down again, lightly touching its head. He said as soon as he pressed on the fawn’s head it lay down and stayed in place.

John came back the next day to check on the fawn. He located it about 40 yards away from where he first lay it down. He saw several does in the woods near the field and there were fresh deer paths through the meadow. When John tried to touch the fawn to check its health, it bleated and ran about 20 yards and lay down. The does watched from the woods.

The third day John went to check on the fawn it was not to be found in the field. There were lots of deer tracks and no signs of predation. So, since I am the storyteller, we will assume that the fawn was adopted and everyone lived happily ever after. In fact, several weeks after the fawn was released by John and Dalton, Priscilla saw a doe with two fawns that were clearly of a different age. Happy ending, I say yes.

Nature’s course isn’t always the straightest or most gentle path(D. Harben photo)

Special thanks to Dalton, John, and Priscilla for sharing this story with me. Unfortunately, Bo still has not returned my phone calls, so I’ll have to take Dalton’s word for his side of the story. I leave you with another quote; this one from Gene Hill – one of my favorite outdoor writers. “Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot about little puppies.” I’m not sure how it is relevant, but it makes me smile.

Send me your stories and I’m still hoping to receive some photos, game or regular camera. Send me your best photos with some background information – general area the picture taken (unless it is a trophy animal), time of year, etc. I’ll include the best ones in to the Mountain Gazette over the next several issues. E-mail me at kristopher@sportingafield.net.

Please visit www.sportingafield.blogspot.com for more news, musings, and interviews or to leave questions or comments.

Beer Tie Night in Arlington

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  John 21:3

The fact is that sometime you go fishing and you catch nothing.  It happened to Peter and his friends and it happens to us as well.  So what is a guy, or gal, to do if Jesus doesn't come and help you out?  Well, if it is the second Monday of the month, you can always head to Whitlow's on Wilson Bar & Grill in the Clarendon Community in Arlington at 7 PM for the Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders' Beer Tie. (Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders' events)

Club officers, Dan Davala and Dalton Terrell, welcome tyers

The Beer Tie concept is simple.  Get together.  Drink beer and eat 1/2 priced burgers and tie some flies...or drink beer, eat a burger and watch other people tie flies.

Dan Davala started the Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders in 2009.  Dan is the fishing manager at Orvis's Clarendon Boulevard store and is a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Master Casting Instructor.  The Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders is a charter club of the Federation of Fly Fishers.  The club started the Beer Tie in 2011 and they have already had to change locations once due to the large number of people who attend.

a large table was set up to provide tyers with some instruction

There was a good mix of people, from a 6 year old to seniors.  I was also pleased to see several women.  I spoke with one couple who was there with their two young sons - one 6 and the other 9.  The 9 year old loves to tie and his little brother is just starting.  I'm not sure I had that patience at that age.  In fact, I know I didn't.

Dan was joined at the Beer Tie with his very pregnant wife, Melody, who is also club treasurer.  (It looks like Melody will miss the next session.)  I also met Dalton Terrell, the club secretary and web master.  It is a very welcoming crowd.

Casey Peltier ties with a 9-year-old friend

Once her 9-year-old friend left her table, I sat down and had a nice visit with Casey Peltier.  Casey is a member of Casting for Recovery's Mid-Atlantic Program Planning and Outreach Committee (Casting for Recovery).  Her and her husband took up fly fishing later in life and along with that, fly tying.  Casey probably had the most elaborate fly tying set up and she was producing some very nice flies.  I know that I would certainly need supplemental lighting and magnification if start tying at Whitlow's.  Casey was very generous with her time and I noticed that the seat at her table was almost always occupied.

In short, the Beer Tie is a great idea and was a nice way to spend a Monday night, and I did win a book on kayak fishing in the raffle.  You can bring your own vise and materials or use one of the extra vices that Dan brings.  Even if you don't tie, the Beer Tie is a great venue to swap fishing stories with other fly fishermen and women.  The food and beer is a nice added extra.  Second Mondays of the month at Whitlow's, 7 PM until around 9 PM or so.  I know I'll be back in August.

Black Flies and Trout Fishing

(as published in the Mountain Gazette, June 20, 2013, p. 10)

Like baseball and football, fly fishing has its own season. The forest browns turn into green. The days grow longer. Your senses know the trout will soon be rising for the fly. An annual May fishing trip only adds to this normal level of seasonal anticipation.

Snowmelt in May on the West Branch of the Ausable

Once again, my dad, brother, and cousin met at the end of May to fish the West Branch of the Ausable in Wilmington, NY. Unlike last year, the trout seemed better educated this year, while our casting should probably have repeated a grade. I shouldn’t include my cousin, Jim Boucher, in that statement. Jim is a good fly fisherman and has guided us to some nice fish the last couple of years.

Normally the West Branch of the Ausable runs about 700 cubic feet per second. When we hit the river on Friday morning, the river was running at over 2,000 cubic feet per second. That’s a lot of water, but not as much as earlier in the week when the river was running at almost 10,000 cubic feet per second. Why so much water? You’ll recall that with the big storm the end of May

that ruined so many local roads and driveways also dumped over 13 inches of snow on Mount Mansfield. Well the same storm dumped 3 feet of snow on Whiteface Mountain. The Ausable is right beneath Whiteface, hence the increased flow.

When I first stepped in the river, my first thought was that if my 10-year old nephew Jack had come…whoosh, there’d go Jack down the river. As it was, wading was tough. The water was a refreshing 54 degrees, but would heat up to a boiling 57 degrees by the end of the weekend.

Our compensation for the high, fast water was that the black flies were out in full force. When I go fly fishing I can usually outfit several people. I will bring extra waders, an extra rod, reel; you get the idea. You’d think I would have brought at least one mesh head net, but nope. Luckily, the black flies liked chewing on my brother Kirk much more than they liked me. Poor Kirk. It certainly adds flavor to the experience. (Jim said that the black flies didn’t bother him. A day later, with bite welts on both sides of his neck, Jim clarified. He reiterated that the flies did not bother him, but added that he never said they didn’t bite him.) Basically, Friday beat us up. No wonder that my dad and Kirk didn’t want to go out fishing again after dinner.

Jim and I were game to return to the river to fish at dusk. We stepped out of the truck after arriving at a likely spot…and the black flies attacked. At Jim’s suggestion, I tied on a “usual” fly. It’s called a usual because it usually works. As the flies feasted we fished. It’s funny, the flies don’t bother you as much when you catch some fish. 

Jim had put me in a good spot where we could see at least two trout rising. I managed to catch (and release) them both. The “usual” did not disappoint – and I probably would not have selected it without Jim’s suggestion.

So where’s the picture? I knew my dad and brother would not believe I caught anything, so the first thing I did upon bringing my first fish to net was to take a picture with my iPhone, which was in a zip-lock baggie. You can see the fish, but the photo won’t win any awards.

Sherdan and Jim trying to find less educated trout

Saturday started out with more of the same, biting black flies and no fish. Jim loves to fish, but he always tries to put us each in a good position to catch fish. I had my opportunity Friday night and that was it for me catching fish. Dad caught his fish Saturday morning.

Kirk almost hung it up after that morning. His waders were leaking and his feet were wet and cold. The black flies continued to torment him and he wasn’t getting as much as a strike. It is amazing how much better the world looks when you are well fed and back in dry clothes. Kirk’s second effort in the afternoon (in new, waterproof waders) got him his trout.

Kirk lands a nice rainbow trout

Once we had our fish, Jim went to work. He caught 5 or 6 nice rainbows. I believe they were trained fish who recognized him, recently released hatchery fish, or otherwise gullible, easy fish left over from last year. Jim certainly highlighted the fact that there were fish in the river, high water or not, and they could be caught.

  

While trout fishing comes each year to the North Country, no two seasons are the same. My dad and I told my brother, “You should have been here last year.” “You should be here next year” also applies. The only way to make sure you are on the river when the conditions are perfect is to make sure you are on the river consistently. This is true even when “consistently” means the one family trip each year. Happy days afield.

Send me your best game camera photos with some background information – general area the picture taken (unless it is a trophy animal), time of year, etc. I’ll include the best ones in to the Mountain Gazette over the next several issues.

Please visit www.sportingafield.blogspot.com for more news, musings, and interviews or to leave questions or comments.

Old man vs. Stony Man

Last weekend I decided to take a drive out to Shenandoah National Park to do some hiking.  My goal was to hike to the summit of Stony Man mountain, then continue hiking along the Appalachian Trail ("AT").  I saw a beautiful photo taken from Stony Man in Backpacker magazine and was hoping to get a picture or two using my iPhone.

The signs are right "Watch for Deer"

I won't bore you with stories of DC-area traffic...coming and going, but will say that you have to love getting out to the country to suffer the traffic.  I guess you take the bad with the good.

It was a relatively cloudy day, so I knew my visibility would be limited.  What I did not know or could not recall knowing was how high some of the mountains are in the Park.  Stony Man is just over 4,000 feet, only about 300 feet shorter than Mt. Mansfield in Vermont.  The summits of each mountain are very different.  There is no tree line on Stony Man like the one on Mt. Mansfield.  It was about 10 degrees cooler on the summit of Stony Man than in the valley.  I'll take cooler, even if it is only 10 degrees!

A sneaker-friendly trail

The other big difference between the peaks of Shenandoah National Park and Vermont is that Virginia has Skyline Drive which runs along the peaks and is parallel to the AT through the Park.  I recall reading that FDR's Administration had a similar proposal regarding building a Skyline Drive in Vermont that would run along the backbone of the Green Mountains, but that Vermont - then being very independent and wary of too much government intrusion - rejected the idea.  Virginia's mountains are more accessible than Vermont's, but something is lost when you can just drive right up to a high peak.

I know something is lost because that's how I began my hike, driving to a parking lot just south of Stony Man's summit.  Fortunately, there were many other trails, because the hike to the summit was not too long or too challenging.  It was, however, a great place to eat lunch.

Hiker looking down on the clouds

There was a front moving in while I sat at the summit and ate my ham and cheese sandwich.  Luckily, the clouds below did offer some nice views.  It wasn't as breathtaking as the photo I had seen in Backpacker magazine, but still pretty impressive.

I'd love to plan a nice long hike along the AT, but I'd need a free weekend to do it.  I'd have to stay down close to the Park to insure I could get an early start.  Perhaps later this summer.

Another first for me happened on my hike.  As soon as I got back to the car, it started to rain.  It really rained...and I was done and sitting in a dry car.  It was a nice almost end to the day.  I still had the traffic to fight as I got closer to DC.

another view from the summit

another another view

A Quick Spring, Family Fishing, Hiking, and Bullwinkle (the moose) Permits

(as published in the Mountain Gazette, June 6, 2013)

I saw spring come to Jericho all in a couple of minutes. While my statement is true, it was with the help of my Bushnell Game Camera. This past Monday I retrieved the memory card from my game camera. There were only about 500 photos on the card, but I was able to see the trees leaf out and the ferns come up right before my eyes. It was pretty neat to see how quickly everything happened over the span of a few days.

                                                           

The first week in June I’ll be joining my dad and brothers for a fishing trip on the West Branch of the Ausable River in New York.  While we try to get together every year, it seldom works out that way. This is our second year on Ausable, and we hope to have the full complement this year.

We tried, several years ago, to fish a couple of different rivers in Vermont, but the trout seemed to be too intelligent to be caught in any number. Being the opportunists that we are, we figured we’d have better luck out of state where the fish weren’t so educated. This year my younger brother was thinking of bringing his son Jack.  Jack is almost 11. It would be wonderful to have Jack participate in our fish-trip tradition. That and we can tell him stories, some real about his dad. Unfortunately, Jack has never fly fished and where we are going you can only fish with a single hook, artificial fly – no bait. So…now Jack isn’t going because my brother thinks he’ll be too bored – which is probably right (and Jack’s friend is having a birthday party, which is more attractive than fishing with old guys). How do you get kids interested in family outdoor traditions and keep them from going crazy with boredom?

It seems to me that you first need to get your junior outdoor partner interested in the activity or event. This begins by building up anticipation for what will happen. Talk up past trips and stories. This gets them excited about participating. Involve them in the planning. Ask them what they want to do, within parameters of the trip. If the trip involves certain skills, make sure the child has mastered the basics before you leave. Once they have reached some level of proficiency, consider treating them to a new or upgraded piece of equipment – some new tackle, reel, fishing vest, or fishing boat. OK, start small. No boat.

Encouraging kids to get involved in outdoor activities can take some time and patience, but it can be rewarding for years to come. It is also important to recognize that hunting and fishing isn’t for everyone. You don’t have to hunt or fish to enjoy the outdoors or to participate in some way in family traditions. Be content if you can get your child to accompany you fishing, even if she wants to sit on a rock and watch the birds eat the hatch, rather than match the hatch.

So let’s get your kids outside.  Why not start with participating in National Trails Day^®? American Hiking Society's National Trails Day^® is the country's largest celebration of trails. Mark your 2013 calendar for June 1^st to make sure you don't miss out on the thousands of National Trails Day^® activities happening all over the country. Events include hikes, biking and horseback rides, paddling trips, birdwatching, geocaching, gear demonstrations, stewardship projects and more.  There are 11 events planned in Vermont this year, with four just a short drive away.  For more information, please see  http://www.americanhiking.org/national-trails-day/

Time to sign up for your moose permit. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has proposed 355 moose hunting permits for the regular October 19-24 moose season and 50 permits for an archery moose season October 1-7. More information and an application can be found at http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunttrap_mooselottery.cfm.

Happy days afield. Please visit www.sportingafield.blogspot.com for more news, musings, and interviews or to leave questions or comments.

Fly Tying at a Bar. Can it get better?

Greetings from Babylon on the Potomac.  I've promised myself to blog more frequently when I get a table to sit at.  For now, I'll be an infrequent breakfast-bar-sitting-on-an-uncomfortable-chair blogger.

I took time in my busy schedule the other day to walk into the local Orvis store.  The good news is, it is only about two blocks away.  The bad news is, it is only about two blocks away.  When I walked in they had several tables set up in the middle of the store.  I asked about the set up and found out that they offer several introductory fly fishing courses (free).  They also offer advanced lessons for a fee.


I asked if they offered any fly tying classes.  That is when I found out about the "Beer Tie."  The Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders meet most second Mondays of the month to tie flies at a local bar!  Proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Whitlow's

The club meets at Whitlow's on Wilson Boulevard in Arlington from 7:00PM to 9:00PM to tie flies, watch fly fishing films, and consume food and drink. You are supposed to bring a vise and materials and they will also have a table set up to teach beginners how to tie.  (Whitlow's is on the same block as Orvis.)

While I'll be in the middle of an arbitration on June 10th, I'm hoping to join the group at Whitlow's.  I guy still has to eat.  I doubt I will have had a chance to ship my vise and materials by then, but it should still be worth stopping by to meet the group.

New flatwear and the trillium hike with a few friends on the Appalachian Trail

Gathering at the trail head

I've been working in DC for over a month now and have made significant progress in integrating myself into a new firm, finding and renting an apartment, and buying essentials to furnish the apartment.  Yes, a 42 inch TV is essential - especially as one ages, the eyes fail....  While it is true that setting up a new place is absolutely thrilling, sometimes picking out new flatware in 18/10 stainless on Amazon.com just isn't enough.  So on the advice of a friend, I signed up on meetup.com.

Contrary to suspicions of my oldest daughter, meetup.com isn't an adult dating site.  It is a way to meet people in your local area who share your interests.  What the heck.  I searched on hiking and saw that the Capital Hiking Club was hosting the Trillium Hike.  Trillium?  Sounded like a flower, so I called my

Vermont Trillium

wife and asked her what a trillium was.  Shortly after asking my question, Karen sent me a picture of a trillium she took not too far from our house.  Who knew!

Virginia Trillium

I confess that I was far less interested in seeing the trillium than the hike.  The Capital Hiking Club has its own late model commercial bus for its outings.  I caught the bus in a Northern Virginia Metro parking lot for the ride out to the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area.  Two hiking routes were offered, a 6 and a 12 mile hike.  I was going to do the 12 mile hike, but I didn't want to get too far ahead of my "fitbit" competition.  So far that hasn't been an issue.

When I arrived at the Metro lot, I saw several people, who were clearly dressed to go hiking, standing next to a car.  I went over to introduce myself.  Unfortunately, they were another hiking group.  It turns out that three separate groups were meeting at the same lot that day.  Clearly a lot of hiking demand around the Nation's Capital.

It was quite a diverse group that showed up for the hike.  There were some younger couples, but I'd guess the median age was mid-to-late 40s.  I wasn't close to being the oldest (or in the worst shape).  It was a very nice group of folks.

view from the trail

The weather was pleasant, sunny and mild.  While all the leaves were out in the suburbs of Washington, the mountains were still greening up.
Interestingly, I was surprised at how few people could recognize poison ivy...even when hiking right through it.  It bordered both sides of the trail in one section.  Despite the amount of time I've spent in the woods, I have yet to have a reaction to poison ivy.  No complaints from me.  I hope I remain so fortunate.

The only problem with taking a bus to a hike is that you can't leave when you are done.  The good news is that someone brought several coolers of beer and sodas for purchase while you waited.  It was nice to talk with the other hikers and hear about some of their other hikes.  One woman had recently returned from hiking Mount Kilimanjaro and was preparing to hike to the Everest base camp.  That is a woman with clearly more disposable income than me.  It was certainly an interesting and diverse group.

No matter where you are, it seems like you can always find people who enjoy the outdoors.  It may not be hunting or fishing, but being outside is still invigorating.  I'm sure I'll be going on several more hikes with the Capital Hiking Club in the future.

Can you ever see enough trillium?

As you will read in my next post, sometimes it is hunting or fishing, or at least fishing.  If there's water (and an Orvis store) you will find fishermen and women.  And I have an Orvis store just down the street from my Virginia apartment.  For the record, I did not select my apartment because of the Orvis store; really, Karen, I didn't.

Daughters, Dogs, and Fishing

(as published in the Mountain Gazette, April 18, 2013)

Once again I’m writing from the road – an all too often occurrence. It’s a bit more of a challenge writing about the outdoors when you are in the city and you don’t have the great outdoors staring you in the face like you do back in Vermont.

So here I sit, surrounded by my outdoor reading material, lugged all the way from Vermont for writing inspiration – a Ruffed Grouse Society magazine; Fly Fisherman magazine with a “cannibal trout” on the cover; a spring edition of Northern Woodlands, featuring an article on “how young animals disperse” – clearly aimed at graduating seniors from college; and two issues of Northwoods Sporting Journal, featuring articles on “big trout tactics,” “ice out brook trout,” and “a boy’s first gun.”

My daughter Katie called and suggested that I write about the difficulty of training a bird dog in suburbia, which is where we got our first bird dog. Now I can’t get the thought of dogs we’ve had over the years out of my head. I trained my first bird dog about a mile away from where I’m now writing. (OK, for those keeping score, he was about the only really trained dog I’ve had.)

It wasn’t really that hard training a bird dog in the suburbs of Washington. It was most difficult training a bird dog with two little girls around who tried to undo any obedience I tried to instill. I remember coming home one night after a long day and was greeted by my two little darlings giggling hysterically. I asked them what was so funny and they said in unison, “Look at Daddy’s bird dog!” Then old Tupper comes running to the door wagging his tail. I think he was wagging his tail, but it was tough to see since he was wearing Little Mermaid panties. My little girls couldn’t have been more proud of themselves. Never has a good bird dog been more disgraced.

It was in training Tupper (a Brittany) that I first got published in Gun Dog magazine. I had sent in a training tip and a picture of Tupper. I still have the page from the magazine framed and hanging in the house. I even sent Tupper away for a few weeks to be worked on birds. When I went to pick him up the trainer was telling me all that he could do, all obedience training stuff. I think the trainer was hoping I’d be impressed. I wasn’t. “He could do all that when I dropped him off,” I said. Truth is you don’t have to live in the country to train a bird dog well on basic obedience commands you will use in the field.  Obedience training can be done anywhere…except maybe around a house with two little girls and a dog-indulgent wife.

Maddie helping to pick out our first gun dog

Tupper was a great dog. He had a good nose, was biddable, loved to hunt, and he could play “dress-up” with the best of them. He has been gone for over five years, but you never forget a really good dog…or a really bad one. My dad still hasn’t forgotten or forgiven Bentley, our first pound-rescued dog, for drinking his martini. Stories of Bentley could fill a book. He was a miscreant from the beginning – chewing everything, soiling the carpet, the refrigerator door, cabinets…don’t ask. His most redeeming characteristic, and it may have been his only one, was that he was great with children – especially ours. Whenever we returned from a walk the first thing he’d do was find the girls, then plop himself down and watch over his flock. He was a Bearded Collie after all.

The memory of each dog we’ve had recalls a stage in the life of our family. Thinking of Bentley, after suppressing memories of cleaning up after him, brings up memories of being newly married and starting a family. Tupper and Dixie (an Australian Shepherd) saw our transition from Virginia to Vermont. Calvin Coolidge, aka “smiling” Cal (a Brittany) and Cabot (an English Setter) are our “native” Vermont dogs and kept the nest from becoming too empty.

“Dogs,” thanks for the idea, Katie. You can train a dog anywhere, just like you can start and raise a family. But when it comes to “finishing” a bird dog or a child, is there any place better than Vermont?

OK, what about fish? As if I had forgotten. Fish are good to eat, but more fun to catch. Bass catch & release season opens April 13^th. Regular Bass season opens June 8^th and runs through November 30^th. Trout and Landlocked Salmon season opens on April 13^th and runs through October 31^st (no closed season on the big lake). Finally, Walleye season opens May 4^th and runs through March 15^th (2014) for all waters except the Connecticut River and Chittenden Reservoir.

Happy days afield. Please visit www.sportingafield.blogspot.com for more news, musings, and interviews or to leave questions or comments.

House Broken in Harpers Ferry

View from St. Joseph's Church

Saturday I decided to take a drive up to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. It has probably been 15 years since I've been up that way. Saturday was forecast to be a nice spring day, high around 70 and lots of sun.

Harpers Ferry sits on a point of land at the confluence of the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers. It is a place steeped in history. It was visited by George Washington, when he was a young man surveying the area. Thomas Jefferson visited there on his way to Philadelphia. The town is also where Robert E. Lee and Jeb Stuart captured John Brown, after Brown's failed attempt to break into the armory and use the weapons to launch a slave revolt. Stonewall Jackson captured over 12,000 Union troops there during the Civil War.

I love the history. Walking around town is great exercise. I could also visit the Appalachian Trial (AT) headquarters and hike some on the Appalachian Trail.  In the immortal words of Grampa Boushie, "Beautiful."

When I got to town I immediately started hiking up to St. Peter's  Catholic Church, which overlooks the town. St. Peter's is right off of a walkway that goes past the church up to a cemetery that is the highest point over the town. Hiking up to St. Peter's is where I made my first discovery - the AT goes right by the church. I was already on the AT and didn't know it.  Beautiful.

St. Joseph's Church

From St. Peter's, I headed up to the cemetery. It was on my way up to the stone steps to the cemetery that I noticed a wooden post with a white blaze on it. The white blaze signifies the AT.

Note white blaze on post (sign of the AT)

It is a very steep, but short climb from town up the hill to the cemetery.  Many of old stones in the cemetery told sad stories of children lost young.  While it may have been common during the period, I'm sure it was no less painful.  What a beautiful spot to be laid to rest.

From the cemetery I walked over to the old Cliff House Hotel.  Sadly, the old hotel was fenced off awaiting some unknown fate.  The side yard of the hotel still provided a pretty good view looking down the Potomac towards where the Shenandoah enters it.

View from the Cliff House

From the hotel I headed up the street to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters to stop in and pick up a Virginia trail map.  It was here that I met "House Broken."  House Broken is what is referred to as a trail name.  Many of the "through hikers" take on or are given trail names.  A through hiker is someone hiking the entire AT from Georgia to Maine, just over a 2,000 mile walk in the woods.

I met House Broken, a through hiker, when I was looking though pictures of this year's current crop of AT through hikers, all documented at AT headquarters.  I inquired whether he had a trail name, to which he replied House Broken.  Interesting name, I thought.  "So, how'd you come by the name 'House Broken'?"  Turns out it should have been "not" house broken and it followed an evening of heavy drinking on the trail.  You can figure out the rest.

After visiting the AT center, I hiked down into town and across the Potomac River on a railroad trestle.  I then hiked up the river some before it was time to turn around and head back to the traffic of Northern Virginia.

Visiting Harpers Ferry was a great side trip.  It got me out of the city.  It was wonderful exercise and it was a great way to pass the day.  My only regret was that I didn't bring a fishing pole...they are all back in Vermont.  Both the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers hold a ton of Small Mouth Bass and Sunfish.  I'll bring a  rod and reel next time.  You have to enjoy your days afield where you can find them and I could have done a lot worse than Harpers Ferry.

Man’s business, God’s business, dogs and Other musings

(as published in the Mountain Gazette, April 4, 2013)

A couple weeks ago I was traveling down to Washington, DC for business. Like all Vermonters, I’m often stopped on the street when traveling out-of-state and asked about our well-managed state government…sorry, I forgot this is a non-fiction column. I can truthfully say that I am often asked about Vermont and the quality of life we enjoy, but too often take for granted. I know I certainly miss the mountain views, being outdoors, and watching the wildlife when I’m away. However, even when you are in the city you often meet people with a passion for the outdoors that seems contradicted by the urban environment.

 Like many Catholics and non-Catholics alike, I was following news of the papal conclave and the election of the new pope with interest. After hearing news of white smoke coming from the chimney on the roof over the Sistine Chapel, the traditional sign that a new pope has been elected, I turned to Twitter for current news as to who had been elected. One of the first Twitter posts to report news of the white smoke was Matt Crawford, a public relations specialist for the outdoor world (@MattCrawford). Matt’s next “tweet” is what caught my eye, “Looks like there’s a few sugar houses in the #VT hillsides electing popes today, today.” Proving, once again, that news from the Vermont outdoors world is always timely.

You’ve heard it said that “eyes are windows to the soul.” While this may be true, I think dogs can tell a lot about a person as well. My most recent foray into the land of regulation and seemingly unlimited fiscal waste brought me to a restaurant breaking break with four corporate attorneys, three of whom I was meeting for the first time. We exchanged background pleasantries about families and pets and the conversation turned to dogs. Two of the attorneys’ interest perked up when they heard that I had two dogs. They became even more animated when I told them that I had a Brittany and an English Setter. “Do you hunt them?” They asked. I said that I had hunted them, but they were in no way finished dogs. They then asked, “are you a good shot?” I said fair. I then learned that one of the attorneys bred and hunted champion Vizslas. The other attorney’s family had a large quail plantation down South. This attorney was a “good shot,” hunting quail with a 410! The conversation then drifted back to work and a new matter on which they wanted to retain me. This is the only time I can remember that having two hunting dogs may have helped me land a work project.

At the beginning of the year I published a list of New Year resolutions. One of those resolutions was to “take up a new and complimentary “hobby”; something to get you out in the woods during the off season.” This winter I’ve snowshoed quite a few times, including several trips up Mount Mansfield, either with my wife or by myself. After some recent snow, I decided to get out again this past Saturday. I figured this might be my last time out this year.

I got up early and was the first snowshoer on the trail. Near the end of Nebraska Notch trail, I was passed by another snowshoer. I was grateful to be passed and to let him break trail for a bit. Upon hitting the Long Trail, the other snowshoer turned north while I turned south to Taylor Lodge. Once again, the snowshoer overtook me – thinking he had taken a wrong turn looking for the summit. I told him he had been correct the first time and he was now heading away from the summit. We met again at Taylor Lodge, where we shared some food and exchanged stories. His name is Sergio and he is visiting from Spain and is studying Buddhism. We had much in common. I have heard of Spain and have been said to have a Buddha-like physique. I offered to take Sergio’s picture and e-mail it to him. I handed Sergio the hiking register for him to leave his mark and we parted ways. Even in our small corner of heaven you never know what pleasant souls you’ll meet seeking the peace and beauty found in Vermont’s mountains.

Happy days afield. 

Jericho Wildlife

As I mentioned in a recent post, I've been trying out a Bushnell® HD Trophy Cam game camera, provided courtesy of Bushnell®. This is the first game camera I have used and I am very impressed with the quality of the pictures over varying conditions. I am also impressed with how sensitive the camera is to movement. A small Red Squirrel climbing a tree triggers the camera, as does a dove landing under the feeder. Snow and wind doesn't seem to set off the camera, which is a good thing in Vermont.

Startled Deer

The camera records the camera name (useful if you are using multiple cameras), the temperature, the moon phase, the date, and the time the picture was taken. After viewing dozens of pictures, a certain repeated sequence of events has started to emerge: animals feeding around the bird feeder; startled animals flee; Cabot (the wonder dog) appears in the next picture frame. Needless to say, I have at least as many pictures of Cabot as I do of any "real" wildlife. Cal (the Brittany) is also in a couple pictures, but, at 13, he's a bit slower out of the gate.

I've also learned a thing or two playing with Bushnell® HD Trophy Cam game camera. First, if you don't push the camera on switch all the up, the camera stays in the set-up mode. If the camera is in the set-up mode, you get no pictures. Second, you can tell a lot from the sequence shots - where the animals come from, how long the feed or stay in the area, and how frequently they return. I've also learned that the dogs will chase anything off that little hill.

The infrared flash also works great. The benefit of an infrared flash is that you can take night photos without scaring off game.  Early this month I woke up to the smell of skunk. It smelled like it was in the house...just terrible. My wife didn't smell anything since she could sleep through Armageddon (or my snoring). I went up to the game camera a couple days later, took out the memory card, plugged it into my computer, and, sure enough, the camera caught the skunk heading off after its odoriferous ruination of my sleep.

So far the camera has taken pictures of an English Setter named Cabot, deer (lots of does), Red Squirrels, an English Setter named Cabot, Grey Squirrels, an English Setter named Cabot, Karen going to the compost bin, Karen returning from the compost bin, birds of all sort, and an English Setter named Cabot. I can't wait for spring and the possibility of getting photos of more game. I'm hoping to catch a bear when the weather improves. We've also seen Fisher and Barred Owls around the house.

Cabot, center of picture, stalking his shadow

I was talking with my friend Leo the other day about the game camera and he told me of all the wildlife he has seen over the years. Leo travels Brown's Trace Road four days a week to work and, as one would expect, Leo has seen quite a few critters. He has seen a great number of deer and several moose.  In one month period a few years ago, Leo saw a Fisher cross the road six times at the same spot and at almost the exact same time of day.  Just a couple weeks ago, Leo saw a bobcat about a mile past Clark's Truck Center, an animal he has only seen twice before, despite having been a hunter for over 60 years.  The last bobcat Leo saw was over 40 years ago.

I have to admit I absolutely love the Bushnell® HD Trophy Cam game camera.  However, I am wondering if maybe I shouldn't just strap a camera to Leo and send him on his daily commute!

Bob Howe and the Pine Grove Program for those who served

Mountain Gazette, March 7, 2013 edition, p. 10.
click here for the Mountain Gazette

Bob Howe (right) at Yankee Sportsman's Classic

One of the seminar speakers I was fortunate enough to hear speak at the 2013 Yankee Sportsman’s Classic in Essex Junction back in January was Bob Howe. Bob is a Registered Maine Master Guide with a lodge in Pleasant Ridge Plantation, Maine, who started hunting and trapping at age 10. Bob spoke about hunting coyotes and snowshoe hare, the latter with beagles from his pack of 27. Bob comes across as a quintessential Maine Guide – tall, bearded, self-deprecating, dry sense of humor, and exuding competence.

Bob has been guiding professionally for almost 40 years. He said he goes to about 14 sportsmen and trade shows a year where he sells his snowshoes and snowshoe furniture to raise funds for his Pine Grove Program (more about that below). Most of Bob’s guiding business is generated by word of mouth. Bob guides about 250 times a year – hunting and fishing for just about all legal game in the State of Maine.

In 1998, Bob and his wife, Andrea, bought Pine Grove Lodge (http://www.pinegrovelodge.com/). The lodge is a four-season sporting camp with room for up to 45 people. They offer guide service, cabin rentals, bed & breakfast stays, and many activities.

Back when Bob was just 18 he started taking military Veterans on fishing trips. He’d go to the local VFW and offer older Veterans rides to the lake and fishing tackle to use. Once Bob and Andrea bought their lodge, Bob began offering free sporting trips to Veterans and members of the armed services he would meet at trade shows. This was the beginning of the “Pine Grove Program.” After 9/11, they started inviting first responders to 9/11 and other disasters to participate in the wilderness adventures. The program has grown into a plan of action, with many helping hands, fundraisers, and organized events for groups, as well as private trips for the American hero and his or her family. Bob is a big believer in the natural therapeutic benefits of the Maine outdoors. The mission of the Pine Grove Program is to provide free outdoor experiences to Service members, Veterans, Gold Star Families, and first responders to major man-made and natural disasters. You don’t have to hunt or fish to enjoy the program. It provides an opportunity for participants to enjoy the outdoors and relax and reconnect. If you or someone you know could benefit from the program, you can obtain more information at www.pinegroveprogram.com/. The program is also wonderful at accommodating people with disabilities.

Bob and Andrea are truly generous people. Bob loves the outdoors and it shows. He can tell a good story, especially about hunting with his beagles. How could stories about 27 beagles not be entertaining? Even without the generosity of running the Pine Grove Program, it would be tough not like a guy who is so devoted to his dogs.

If you are interested in the Pine Grove Program, please give Bob and Andrea a call, they are expecting you. If you’re simply a humble sportsman or woman, too old to enlist in the military, but otherwise interested in some great hunting and fishing opportunities, you can also give Bob and Andrea a call. I’m hoping to get up to the Pine Grove Lodge next March for snowshoe hare and coyotes.

Upcoming Local Events:

-Ruffed Grouse Society Banquet, March 9, 2013, for more information please contact Jay Pierce at 802-425-3329 or bcjtpierce@gmavt.net.

-Trout Unlimited Banquet, March 23, 2013, for more information please contact chapter president, Gary West at dewey2475@me.com.

-Duck’s Unlimited Banquet, April 6, 2013, for more information please contact Art Bristol at 802-899-2460 or awbrist@myfairpoint.com or Christy Incerpi at 802-598-6279 or cincerpi@hotmail.com.

Please visit www.sportingafield.blogspot.com for more news, musings, and interviews or to leave questions or comments.

Bird Dogs are more expensive than planned, Part 2 of 3

Katie and me riding in the car.
Katie:  "Daddy, we thought that Mommy would be really happy with the puppy, but she wasn't.  She was really mad.  But it isn't my fault right?  Because I'm just a kid.  You're big and you should have known better.  Right?"
Me:  "That's right honey.  It is Daddy's fault.  He should have known better."

Katie loves the new puppy

Burdock was a good puppy.  He was very sweet and easy to house train.  I took a week or so from work to start his training.  Coworkers commented that I took more time off after getting the puppy than I had taken off when my girls were born.  That may be true, but my mother-in-law didn't offer to come over to help out when I brought the puppy home like she did when the girls came home.  And while Karen had no interest in anything puppy-related, she had stopped working (outside of the home) and reluctantly picked up with puppy care when I was at work.

Burdock's arrival put a distinct chill in my relationship with my children's mother.  In fact, for the better part of a month Karen and I hardly spoke.  It was a time of quiet reflection.  One day, while I was at work, Karen was bringing Burdock back into the house after he took care of his puppy business and she found Maddie "choking" on a Barbie shoe.  At least that is the story.  Karen seemed to think it was rather thoughtless of me to expect her to watch both a two-year old and a puppy.  I found it somewhat ironic that I'd get in trouble because the two-year old was chewing on things and not the puppy.

Something had to give.  I really liked that puppy, but I new the children were very fond of their mother.  Would it be the puppy or the wife.  I considered my options.  There weren't many.  I told Karen I'd get rid of the puppy.  The Soviets won the Cold War.

Brother Kirk gets a new pal

I didn't feel right advertising or trying to sell Burdock.  He was a very good puppy and I hated to see him go.  Katie wasn't too happy about it either.  She kept reminding me, "but Daddy, I really love that puppy."  It was a fun time, really.  Then I got an idea.  I wondered if my brother Kirk would like a puppy.

So I called up Kirk, who lived in Connecticut at the time, to see if he'd like a great little puppy.  He said he'd have to ask his wife Anita.  I told him that I thought it was a good idea to ask his wife before bringing home a puppy.  (I may be slow, but I can be taught.)  Kirk got back on the phone and said he could have the puppy, but he had to promise Anita she could have another baby.  I don't know whether that is true or not, but they did have another daughter after Kirk got Burdock.  I used to tell my niece Jessica that she needed to be very nice to Burdock because she owed him a lot!

We drove up to Connecticut to visit my parents and to meet Kirk to give him Burdock.  Kirk said he was getting dagger eyes from Katie as he led Burdock away.  Katie was certainly sad to see her puppy go, but I'm sure she never gave Kirk dagger eyes.  She didn't learn how to do that until she was a teenager.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger

Frozen pond off the Long Trail

One of my New Year's resolutions was to get outside more during the off season, both to scout and to get some exercise.  The last couple of weekends I've headed out snowshoeing up to Vermont's Long Trail on Mount Mansfield.

Yesterday I snowshoed up the Nebraska Notch trail to its intersection with the Long Trail, then took the Long Trail south.  It was mid-twenties with wind gusts up to almost 5 mph (thanks to WeatherHawk for the WindMate 350).

One or two snowshoers had gone up the Nebraska Notch trail before me, but I was the first snowshoer to head south on the Long Trail.  My destination was Taylor Lodge.

View from Taylor Lodge

It is just over two miles up to Taylor Lodge.  As you'd expect, most of the climb is up.  Lots of up. However, there are many relatively flat areas and some descents as well.  Total ascents for the round-trip hike are over 7,800 feet.

I took a short break upon reaching the lodge, after doing a brief "Rocky" dance.  I was packing up to head back when a group of three middle-aged ladies arrived.  (If they read this, I just assume they were middle-aged based on their wit and maturity.  They all look much younger.)  The ladies thanked me for breaking trail for them - which I thought was kind.  If nothing else, I am a superb trail-breaker.  I have fairly large snowshoes and that snow ends up pretty well packed down.

Another view from Taylor Lodge

On my way back from the lodge I met quite a few snowshoers heading up the mountain and one back-country skier.  Almost everyone I met on the  trail was accompanied by a dog or two.  Whenever I couldn't find a blue or white blaze I could always locate a yellow "blaze" left by a four-legged hiker.

It was great to get outside and it was great to get such good exercise.  Snowshoeing up a mountain is pretty exhausting and is difficult enough that you don't need to be carrying extra weight.  I'll add this to my growing list of arguments to lose some pounds.  Good thing I gave up donuts for Lent.  Maybe I'll get a lighter pack.

Porch of Taylor Lodge

Now that I'm inserting photos in this post it has dawned on me that perhaps I should have taken a picture as I approached the lodge.  I'll have to go back and do that, but not today!