A Maine icon in the sport of archery is featured in a video by the Maine Bow Hunters Association, which stresses ethics, safety and a strong relationship with the landowner.

Last fall, 52-year-old Jim Wambolt of Enfield was asked by Andy Collar, co-owner of Ursus Production in Waterville, to display some of his archery skills, including a few of his refined trick shoots, at the request of the Maine Bow Association.

Collar was called on to film “Certified Bow Hunter” by the Maine Bow Hunters Association. The video was completed this spring. Many bow hunters seeking to attain a Maine archery license will be viewing this footage if they haven’t held an adult archery license since Jan. 1, 1980. This tape is now offered in many of the Bow Hunters Safety Courses.

Wambolt is well-known to Maine archers as someone who can rise to the occasion and steal the show at a moment’s notice.

He’s been knocking arrows since the age of 7, and doing it well. Before his 16th birthday had expired, he’d taken his first white tail deer with a bow – a recurve (traditional) at that. But that was only the beginning. In three consecutive years, Wambolt captured top honors at some 50 archery tournaments, including the New England State Championship in 1991.

In 1992 Wambolt carried his archery skills to their maximum test, entering with some 500 contenders for the World Championship title in the recurve bow division – a trial that placed him 15th among the world’s top shooters.

Today Wambolt is no longer seeking out competition. Much of his energy is inserted into running his Lincoln business (Jim’s Citgo) and, of course, keeping up with the demand of his Big Rack Buck Lure. A product that has been proving its worth among hunters since 1994.

In the “Certified Bow Hunter” video, Wambolt narrates in great detail on topics such as bow safety, how to recognize maxim effective shooting range, and – very importantly – showing respect for the landowner and his property. This tape paints a clear picture of what is expected of a certified bow hunter.

However, even though safety is a large part of hunting, this video shows the importance of respecting the landowner’s property. After all, let’s face it, many of us would never have a hunting story to share if it wasn’t for a neighbor’s large parcel of land. A message this tape clearly illustrates is the landowner’s expectations of a hunter. It explains how the bow hunter can maintain a lasting relation with the property, and possibly a hunting ground for years to come.

I’d urge non-hunters and landowners to view this tape, especially if you’re considering giving permission for a bow hunter to hunt your property. It’s a great manual to keep the bow hunter in line.

Wambolt received plenty of help in the video. There were other big players involved, such as Harry Vanderweide, editing manager of the Maine Sportsmen Magazine; Mike Rovella, legislative lobbyist for the Maine Bow Hunters Association; Sgt. Dave Peppead of the Maine wardens service, who’s in charge of the state’s land owners relations; and Gerry Levigne a state wildlife game biologist. Land owners also provided a big assist for the video’s making. Anyone interested in viewing the video can do so on the Internet at:

mainebowhuntersassociation.org.

Gauging the right depth

If you’re seeking out a battle with some oversize small bass in Big or West Grand Lake, you might want to fish depths ranging from 20-25 feet, according to Kurt Cressey, owner of The Pine Tree Store in Grand Lake Stream. If it’s landlocked salmon you’re searching for, depths between 12-30 feet seem to be most desirable in West Grand, said Cressey. Fishing the 12-feet range was showing best results during the waning hours of the day, he added. The word on Grand Lake Stream is low water conditions with the majority the action taking place at the Dam Pool, during the final hours of the day, said Cressey, adding that the Adams and brown elk hair caddis flies should be among your inventory in the late hours.

Low water, few fish

The lack of water has decreased fishing opportunities, on the Penobscot River in the West Enfield, according to state fisheries biologist, Mike Smith. On Monday, the stretch of river set a record, reaching its lowest level in 98 years. The river flow dropped to 2,740 cubic feet per second. The normal flow for this time of year is 7,000 CFS, said Smith, who added the previous record low was 3,140 CFS.

If white perch are part of your diet, it’s time to start targeting your favorite water for them. Perch school up starting about mid-August to mid-September, said state fisheries biologist Ron Brokaw, who has a number of waters holding these tasty fish in his region. Here’s a few of those waters that hold some hardy feeds, according to state fisheries biologist, Greg Burr. In Washington County: Third Machias Lake in T42MD, Gardner Lake in East Machias and Rocky Lake in Whiting. In Hancock County: Toddy Pond in Orland and Georges Pond in Franklin.

Outdoor calendar

The Hermon Skeet Club will host its “Lobster 200” fun shoot Saturday at 9 a.m.. It’s a 200-target event that will take place on the sporting clay course, followed by lobster feed at noon. For more information, contact Henry or Joan Trial at 207-394-2655.

Question of the week

True or false: Landlocked salmon caught soon after ice-out sometimes have a yellowish hue.

Answer to last week’s question: What fish are usually the most plentiful and dominant species in waters in which they exist? White Perch.

Terry Farren’s Outdoor Report is published Friday. He can be reached at 990-8067 or by e-mail at outdoorreport@bangordailynews.net