If you’re old enough to remember the first space shuttle launch a quarter of a century ago, then you’re of an age when Septembers were barren and bleak months for outdoorsmen. Fishing seasons were over and bird hunting was a long month in the future. September became a “changeover” period, a time to clean, organize and store away all the angling apparatus and to locate and prepare hunting equipment, guns and gear. The 30-day conversion period from spinning gear to scatterguns and fly rod to rifle was a monotonous wait-and-wish time.

Fall hunting

Year by year, season by season, things changed. Now, September is full of fun and exciting choices and challenges for cast-and-blast enthusiasts. Many fishing seasons now extend to the end of September, and several counties allow catch-and-release on lakes and ponds until the last day of November. With autumn comes spawning season for trout and salmon, and as the leaves gather color so do the brookies.

Fall fish head for gravel bottom stretches of waterways and congregate along these annual spawning runs. Thoroughfares between lakes, lake and pond inlets and outlets, and brook mouths are likely spots on the still waters, while creek inlets and small brook mouths are sure spawning spots along rivers and streams. I located one of the best fall fishing spots I’ve ever seen while wandering the woods preseason scouting for partridge.

I heard a brook, walked over to investigate and this pool not much larger and wider than a pickup truck exploded with thrashing, splashing fish scaring the life out of me for a few seconds. Less than 50 yards below, the cool clear creek empties into a small river, and every fall these brightly speckled brookies from 8 to16 inches return. I don’t overdo, visiting only once or twice, but the catch-and-release fly fishing is fantastic. Spawning fish are very protective of their lies and aggressively strike any interloping intruder.

Since fall fish often strike from aggravation more than hunger, colorful attractor flies are more productive than bait fish imitators. Use the same patterns that work as tandem spring trolling flies, except on size 6- to-10, 3X small streamer hooks. Proven fall favorites include a Miss Sharon, red gray ghost, Mickey Finn and Ouananiche Sunset.

Shallow trolling on favorite lakes is very effective once the weather cools, if that’s preferable to wading and casting brooks and streams. Once a spawning run is located, chances are it will provide consistent action each and every autumn unless the river bed changes. September anglers often catch some of the largest fish of the entire season, but it is spawning season so think of the future and practice catch-and-release. Comfortable, cool weather, multicolored leaves, and cooperative fish – now that’s the way to spend a September morning.

Moose mania

Lucky permit holders will inundate the central and northern Maine woodlands for the initial installment of a two-part moose season. This early session can be extremely exciting and fulfilling since proper calling can bring the Pine Tree State’s largest game animal right into your lap with an amorous attitude. Some sports call with their own vocal cords, others use tube-and-reed style mouth calls and a few stick with the old tin can and wet rawhide calling contraption to imitate a moaning, lovesick cow.

Calling big bulls up close and personal is essential for bow and handgun hunters, and each September a number of moose are shot at 7 to 10 yards. Many muzzleloaders and regular rifle hunters coax moose close and take 25- to 50-yard shots. Not only does calling increase the excitement of a moose hunt, but bringing the big beast nearer decreases the chance of wounding the quarry or missing completely on longer shots.

Most of the September moose hunting zones are in the Crown of Maine and literally thousands of acres of Aroostook agri land in these zones are planted in broccoli. These green leaves are a true taste treat for moose, and smart early-season gunners will get landowners permission and stake out a forest-edged field. Just last week one northern Maine parcel of broccoli land had 22 moose enjoying a morning munch, and most farmers would be glad to lessen the crop damage. As weather cools, more moose will seek out the easy food source of Aroostook’s newest market crop, and sharp hunters will make dawn and dusk visits as well.

Hometown honkers

Waterfowl enthusiasts have 17 days, from the 6th through the 24th to take full advantage of Maine’s native goose season. The early hunt is a perfect introductory session for young or novice honker hunters. Native geese are birds that hatch and are raised in local wetlands so there are many juvenile geese in the early flocks, full size but inexperienced and less wary. Unlike migratory honkers that stop to rest, feed and fatten up in regional grain fields during their flight south, and have been shot at regularly during their travels, native geese haven’t been hunted and are less cautious and vigilant.

Even hunting hometown honkers is seldom easy due to their natural wariness and exceptionally sharp eyesight. In the gunners’ favor are the summer habits established by local birds such as favorite feeding fields and fight paths, specific roost ponds and regular midday resting spots on local waterways. Sportsmen can take advantage of these routines by jump-shooting watering holes or setting up a decoy spread at known feeding fields.

An early-season daily bag limit of four geese, compared to only two during the regular season, makes September hunts more challenging and exciting.

Since there’s only a moderate population of native geese, preseason scouting is essential to assure action. Local honkers respond well to decoys and even a small spread of only a couple of dozen will lure geese within range. Calling is less important than during October, and neophytes who can do a credible hail call in conjunction with waving an attractor flag will get the attention of passing flocks and then let the decoys do the rest.

Native geese are grain-fed and haven’t flown long distances, so they are tender and tasty tablefare. Roast goose with chestnut and mandarin orange stuffing is mouthwatering. Exciting gunning and great flavor makes September goose hunting doubly rewarding.

Bag a bear

If the prodigious sightings of sows with multiple cubs over the last two years is any indication, there should be a trainload of good size black bear around this fall. Hunting over bait sites, using hounds, and spot-and-stalk shooting at crop fields and wild fruit plots are all available during September. Regardless of methodology, assuring a lethal shot at a 200-pound or larger bruin is no simple matter. Since most sportsmen refuse to shoot cubs or sows with cubs, the difficulty increases, and for archers and handgunners the difficulty factor raises even higher.

Part of the intrigue with bear hunting is how so large a creature can appear without a sound and disappear like a black ghost at the slightest irregular sight, sound or smell. Just spotting and watching the often reclusive black bear is a treat, even if a shot isn’t fired. On the other hand, to tag a 350-to-500-pound bear, perhaps a record book trophy, is quite a feat.

Patience is a prime requisite for successful bear gunners; waiting for the best bear, not always the first one, and waiting for the best shot position, and often waiting for the next day to try again. For those who prefer to hunt with a camera, the thrill of a perfect shot is still exhilarating. September is Maine’s best month to pursue bruin.

Other options

Partridge, woodcock, duck and deer season are in the near future, as are the second sessions of goose and moose hunting, so shooters need to sharpen their skills. A few rounds of skeet, trap or sporting clays at the local rod and gun club will help wing shooters tune up. If there’s a pheasant preserve nearby, spend a few hours chasing roosters to strengthen your legs, let the dog fine-tune his nose and smoothe out your shotgun swing. Crow season is open all month as well for those who want a real calling and shooting challenge.

Rifle, handgun, muzzleloader and bow hunters also need to visit the local target range to sight in and practice. Big-game animals seldom offer more than one shot and it better be a good one. Practice may not make perfect but it sure will improve the odds. Use a bench rest to fine-tune scopes or open sights, then try a few shots off hand, kneeling, sitting and even prone to raise comfort levels under any condition.

September sure has changed over the years, and all for the better as far as outdoorsmen are concerned. No more “changeover” month, no more wait and wish, now it’s a matter of selecting fur, fowl or big game to pursue. There is still one problem with September that sportsmen are trying to deal with, however, with so many outdoor options now there are too few days.

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached via e-mail at bgravesoutdoors@ainop.com