Now that 1998’s trail is shorter than a noon shadow, let’s stop and read some of the tracks sportsmen left along the way and study a few signs leading into the new year. Word from wildlife biologist Gerry Lavigne, the head guide of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s deer-management program, is that this fall’s total deer kill will be about 27,000. “About 5,000 less than we expected,” said Lavigne, whose preseason predictions usually hit dead center. But, what the heck, nobody’s perfect; especially when dealing with weather and wildlife. As an aside, DIFW records show that more than 3,500 deer are killed annually by collisions with vehicles.

Maine deer hunters, however, left impressive tracks with regard to safety. Only three hunting accidents – each self-inflicted as the result of accidental discharge of a firearm – were recorded during deer season. The one fatality that occurred in Cornish when a hunter was shot by another hunter unloading a rifle was ruled an accidental shooting death – not a hunting-related accident – by the Maine State Police.

Colonel Tim Peabody, chief of the Maine Warden Service, credits several laws for the decline in hunting accidents, particularly fatalities, during the past decade. Not the least among them is the blaze-orange clothing regulation implemented in 1973. Initially, more than a few deer hunters objected to going into the woods dressed like they were headed for a Halloween party. But there’s no denying that the highly visible color that seems to glow even brighter on dark days has reduced hunting accidents dramatically.

Peabody also attributes the improvement in hunter safety to the Hunter Education Course mandatory for beginner hunters to bag adult licenses, the “doe-permit” system that requires hunters to be positive in identifying deer, and legal shooting time ending at sunset instead of a half-hour later – when the woods are an hour darker.

Backtracking the past eight years, the totals of hunting accidents (and fatalities), respectively, were: 1997, 15 (1); 1996, 7 (1); 1995, 11 (0); 1994, 12 (1); 1993, 13 (0); 1992, 17 (1); 1991, 13 (0); 1990, 7 (1). Impressive, considering that back in the 50s, annual hunting fatality figures were in the teens.

This fall, Maine waterfowlers reported increased sightings of snow geese. It’s no secret that the geese, historically uncommon hereabouts, have overpopulated to the extent that they are destroying their northern nesting grounds. As the “snows” expand their northern range in search of new nesting habitat, it’s possible that Maine gunners will have reason to include a few snow goose decoys among their Canada goose rigs.

Around these parts, Ol’ Man Winter’s ice-making machine was slow in getting started. Although the recent blast of cold weather sealed a few ponds, the mercury in the backdoor thermometer will have to drop below the welcome mat to make ice on sprawling, wind-churned lakes. Even then, eager ice fishermen should consider the adage, “Discretion is the better part of valor,” before venturing onto frozen-water fishing grounds.

Earlier this week, Lt. Mike Marshall of Division E warden headquarters in Ashland said some waters were fishable but urged anglers to be cautious: “Squa Pan has 2-5 inches of ice in the coves, providing some smelt fishing. Millimagassett Lake has about 4 inches of ice, Portage, about 9 inches. The larger waters, like Big Eagle, are open.”

A blanket of insulating snow will, of course, slow the ice-making process. In accordance with that, snow is deceiving in that it makes a mere skim of ice appear solid. Right now, I’m as eager to swim a bait beneath ice as anyone. But for the time being, I think it makes more sense to check my traps and maybe buy a new bit for the auger. There’s a lot of winter ahead.

Speaking of ice fishing, if you rig traps on Chesuncook Lake in Piscataquis County, be informed of a proposal to change the lake’s regulation regarding the daily bag and legal length limit on landlocked salmon. The proposed regulation, which will apply to the upcoming ice fishing season and the 1999 open water fishing season, reads: “Daily bag limit on salmon: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 14 inches.” Current special regulations restrict the daily bag limit to one salmon with a minimum length limit of 16 inches.

Region E fisheries biologist Paul Johnson says that sampling data indicates a substantial increase in the population of Chesuncook’s wild salmon, resulting in a loss of size quality and an increase in sub-legal fish. Consequently, anglers are keeping few salmon. Obviously, the proposed regulation will allow anglers to keep more fish and thereby speed the recovery of Chesuncook’s storied wild landlocked salmon fishery.

If you know a Gray Ghost from a Green King, you probably know Long Pond in the Rangeley region is an outstanding landlocked salmon fishery. But are you aware that walleyes are now pumping Long Pond through their gills? Jim Lucas, fisheries biologist at Region B headquarters in Sidney is keeping a tight line on the voracious fish that were illegally introduced by “bucket biologists” about three years ago: “In 1996 we caught one walleye in our trap nets. We caught four in 97 and 14 this year. The ones we netted this year averaged 23 inches long and weighed almost 5 pounds. We don’t know yet if the walleyes are reproducing; but if they are, with their appetite and growth rate they’ll surely impact the salmon fishery by feeding on smelts and young salmon.” Offhand, I’d say the catch-and-release ethic is not being encouraged regarding walleyes in Long Pond.

And here’s wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Tom Hennessey’s columns can be accessed on the BDN Internet page at: www.bangornews.com.