Tom Chessie of Hermon was hunting in the Mattamiscontis area when he downed a buck sporting six-point antlers – at least he thought it was a buck. “But when I rolled the deer over to field dress it,” said the veteran outdoorsman, “I was mighty surprised to see that it wasn’t what I thought. Tom’s hunting partners, son, Todd Chessie, and Chet Knights, were equally surprised when they realized the 170-pound deer was an antlered doe.

An unusual deer, I’m sure you’ll agree, but making it a bit more interesting was the fact that the antlers were polished. According to wildlife biologist Gerry Lavigne, deer project leader for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, true antlered does – fertile females of normal weight – grow spike antlers that remain in velvet. “Their antlers are never hardened or polished and are never shed,” said Lavigne. The biologist said the heaviest polished-antlered doe he had on record weighed 210 pounds and was shot in Bethel during the 1980 hunting season. Also, in the past couple of weeks, two area hunters have tagged antlered does. David Kane of Bradford bagged one that weighed 155 pounds, while Don Landry of East Orland shot a 164-pounder in Winterport.

It’s no secret that Maine is famous for producing big, heavy-antlered bucks and it’s those “ol’ basters” that attract deer hunters from far and wide. That doesn’t mean, however, that we don’t have does that leave deep tracks. Perhaps you recall that, last year, a 185-pound doe was shot in Seboomook.

Regarding antlered does, Gerry Lavigne requests hunters who shoot such deer to report them to DIFW biologists. The information will be used in studies to determine how frequently the abnormalities occur.

Ron Brokaw, regional fisheries biologist at Region C headquarters in Machias, sends word that Simmons Pond in Hancock County was reclaimed recently. “Things went well,” Brokaw reported, “and the rotenone appears to have achieved a complete kill of the golden shiners and hornpout. We will now be able to manage this water intensively for brook trout.”

The biologist said the pond will have a “no live fish as bait” regulation and a two-trout daily limit, both of which are standard for newly reclaimed waters. Referring to a planned “artificial lures only” proposal for Simmons Pond, Brokaw allowed: “We know that Simmons is popular with anglers who cast worms from shore and realize our proposal to go to artificial lures will be controversial. But if anglers want the pond to yield increased numbers of 14- to 17-inch trout rather than lots of 8- to 10-inch trout, the ALO proposal is definitely the only way to go.”

Keep in mind that the DIFW’s Quality Fisheries Initiatives hearing for Down East waters will be held Dec. 1, 7 p.m., at the University of Maine Machias, Torrey Hall. No matter which way your reel runs in regard to the initiatives’ proposals, set a course for the meeting and make a cast or two for consideration. You can’t catch ’em at home.

Duck hunters from western Washington County are sounding greeting calls to attract members to the Narraguagus Bay Chapter of Waterfowl U.S.A. At a meeting held Nov. 6, the chapter’s by-laws were accepted and the following officers elected: Joe Goulart, Cherryfield, chairman; Butch Moore, Milbridge, secretary; Tom Carter, Cherryfield, treasurer.

George and Maggie Openshaw of Cherryfield will organize the chapter’s first dinner, which is scheduled for Feb. 11, 1995. The raffle committee is under the direction of a couple of drakes named John Trapp and Charlie Robbins, whose respective home marshes are Jonesport and Columbia Falls.

On the first Monday of each month, the fledgling chapter will “raft up” for regular meetings at the Pleasant River Fish and Game Association’s clubhouse in Columbia. The association is a sponsoring organization of the Narraguagus Bay Chapter.

Waterfowl U.S.A. is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of waterfowl habitat and increasing waterfowl populations. Its efforts are not intended to compete with other conservation groups, but, rather, to complement their achievements. Local chapters retain 60 percent of funds raised to finance projects in their areas. All projects are conducted in cooperation with private landowners, the DIFW and are reviewed by wildlife biologists.

Anyone interested in joining the Narraguagus Bay Chapter’s newly hatched flock is invited to attend the monthly meetings. For further information contact: Joe Goulart at 546-7421 or Tom Carter at 546-3735. A great sport, duck hunting, and a grand American tradition.