Youth day kicks off season for turkey hunt

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With a full week of snow-free scouting behind us, it’s now time to start thinking about spring. In these parts, that often means it’s time to talk turkey.

Maine’s wild turkey reintroduction effort, which began 30 years ago, has been a huge success, with birds now spread between York County and Aroostook County.

On Saturday, permit-carrying youngsters between the age of 10 and 15 will get first crack at this year’s crop of birds during the annual Youth Turkey Day.

On Monday, the first session of the split season will begin, with hunters who were born in odd-numbered years heading afield.

The season breakdown: Season A (odd birth years): April 30-May 5, May 21-26, May 28-June 2. Season B (even birth years) May 7-12, 14-19 and May 8-June 2.

While some hunters have complained that they aren’t allowed to hunt with buddies because their birth years don’t match up, there is a way around that problem.

Even if you’re not the one holding the shotgun, you can still enjoy the hunt: Take a friend hunting during his season and volunteer to do the calling for him. Then let him call for you during your session.

As recently as 1995, Maine’s turkey season was limited to just York and Cumberland counties. Now, 17 of the state’s Wildlife Management Districts are open to hunting, and last year 20,089 hunters bought permits.

If you’re looking for more information on the hunt, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife has plenty of valuable tips to share.

Just go to the DIF&W’s Web site at www.mefishwidlife.com.

You’ll find a turkey hunter’s guide and all the rules and regulations. One feature first-timers should make sure not to miss: A video that can serve as a safety and ethics primer for hunters.

The video is about four and a half minutes long, and is worth watching.

Area lakes losing their ice

Last week’s rain and wind, combined with a couple of 70-degree days over the weekend, has paid huge dividends for anglers looking for open water.

Earlier this week I received an e-mail from Larry Ferrell, who awoke on Tuesday, looked out his window, and saw that the ice on Sebasticook Lake in Newport was gone.

Last year, he said, the ice went out on April 2, but in the three or four years before that, ice-out took place between April 20 and April 22.

As Ferrell enthusiastically put it: “Time to go fishing.”

The same day Ferrell’s e-mail arrived, I got a call from a reader looking for some information on a few popular Hancock County waters, and I loaded up my truck for a quick scouting mission.

Here’s what I found: Phillips Lake, Green Lake and Beech Hill Pond all looked ice-free.

Notice, I said “looked.”

As anglers often find out (to their chagrin) a lake that looks ice-free may not actually be totally free of ice.

The ice may be … um … hiding.

Plenty of fishermen have headed out onto their favorite water, trolled around for a few hours, then noticed that a shift in the wind has driven all of that “hiding” ice back to the other side of the lake … blocking the boat ramp.

From all the vantage points I used, those three Hancock County lakes looked pretty fishable.

Of course, today’s another day … and the wind might have switched.

If you do get out there to fish, be careful. It’s no time of year for a dunking, and your survival could depend on making a few decisions in a very shot period of time.

Of course, the decision you make before you head on the water – whether to wear a personal flotation device, or to just toss it in your boat – will likely make the most difference of all.

Web site helps canoeists

In Tuesday’s editions, I had a bit of fun at the expense of the canoeists and kayakers who learn … the hard way … how unforgiving Kenduskeag Stream can be.

Many times, I pointed out, paddlers end up swimming, and boats end up floating downstream, eventually fetching up at points unknown.

One veteran paddler e-mailed to say that buying some floatation bags and installing them in your boat can make all the difference in the world.

Of course, it’s too late for this year. But if you’re missing a boat, or a paddle, or your cell phone, you may still be in luck.

Michael Alden, a photographer and avid Kenduskeag-watcher, has a Web site dedicated to the stream and the popular canoe race.

Included as a service for paddlers: A lost and found section in which folks can try to track down their lost items.

The Maine Canoe & Kayak Racing Organization also features a message board where you might find help.

Check Alden’s site at www.kenduskeagstreamcanoerace.com, or for MaCKRO info go to www.mackro.org.

Blue Hill shoot on tap

If you’re up for a bit of old west fun, you may want to head to Blue Hill Rifle & Pistol Club on Saturday for their cowboy fast-draw shoot.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and practice for the shoot will run from 10 until 1 p.m. A 3x elimination shoot will run between 1 and 2.

Equipment and instruction is available for new shooters.

The cost is $5 for the practice session if you bring your own ammo, or $5 for 15 shots if you use club ammo. An additional $5 fee gets you into the afternoon contest.

Also, cowboy action side-by-side setup will available.

For more information check the club’s Web site at www.bluehillr-p.org/index.htm, or contact Dan Koch at 667-3586 or dankoch@adelphia.net.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.