Woods full of lessons for hopeful hunters

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Ever since I joined the blaze-orange brigade and began spending hours perched in trees, skulking through the woods and sitting on stumps, I have insisted on treating my November obsession as a learning experience.

That, for the uninitiated, is a pretty nifty way for deerless deer hunters to rationalize the fact that we’re spending hours sitting in trees and on stumps and looking for piles of deer excrement.

Having another “learning experience,” after all, sounds a lot more fun than “wasting another afternoon sitting by myself in the woods.”

Last week, I took a week of vacation, spent most of it in the woods, and I learned a few more things I’d like to share.

Never shot a deer. Never saw a deer. But learn? You bet I did.

Lesson No. 1: Woodpeckers travel in packs. Honest.

At least, the ones in Otis do.

I’m not a bird expert and can’t quite figure out which variety of woodpecker I’ve been watching, but I have learned that on certain days (usually the ones that seem especially perfect for deer hunting) these tough-billed, redheaded noisemakers descend, en masse.

On two different days, I watched as eight or 10 of the birds surrounded my tree stand and began pecking.

Some pecked live trees. Some pecked fallen trees. Some (apparently the not-too-bright woodpeckers) pecked leaf-covered rocks.

Or so it seemed.

At first, I thought it was cute. Then I thought it was cool. Eventually, I recognized it for what it was: A concerted effort by the denizens of the woods to cover for each other.

With all the racket, I couldn’t possibly hear any approaching deer. And approach they did.

I didn’t see them, of course. But I’m certain that they tip-toed past while their beaked buddies were providing the cover noise.

Lesson No. 2: In the woods, there is no such thing as a shortcut.

I learned this valuable lesson (again) after deciding to abandon my swamp and meet up with a hunting buddy at his car.

Spying a ridge that I had scoured for deer droppings on more than one occasion (several years ago, unfortunately), I set my course and started tromping on what I was sure was a shorter route to the road.

A path awaited. At least, it had the last time I trudged to the top of the ridge.

And what could have changed in a few years?

How about this: Everything.

Apparently, a pack of woodpeckers had laid siege to the area, knocked down all the trees and created a mess of blow-downs.

Of course, it was impossible to appreciate the magnitude of the mess until … well … I was in the middle of it.

And by that point, I figured I had no choice but to keep clambering over toppled woodpecker debris. It was, after all, a shortcut. And I was determined to prove that my uncanny sense of direction was accurate.

It was … I think. I also think that the woodpeckers destroyed the path I was looking for and were trying to get me lost.

Or something like that.

Lesson No. 3: After a day of hunting, after everyone else in camp leaves you all alone as they run into town on various errands, be very careful about your recreational choices.

What a day it had been! I had tromped in the woods, had a wonderful time and seen plenty of evidence of deer (and woodpeckers).

With camp to myself, I realized that the old wood stove was really cranking, and I decided to vent a bit of hot air by propping the door open.

Then, I headed for the most comfortable chair, which coincidentally sits underneath the brightest gaslight, and cracked open my new book.

Good idea, in theory.

Bad idea, in practice.

The book was “20th Century Ghosts.” It was written by a young guy named Joe Hill.

You might have heard of his dad, who has also sold a few books over the years: His name is Stephen King.

For the record, his son, Joe, is good at sharing scary tales. Very good. As it turns out, too good.

At first, I was fine. Then I turned a page. Got to a pretty creepy part.

And outside (with the door propped wide open, mind you) the noises started.

Low at first. Moaning. Then high-pitched and yipping. Then screaming and howling.

Right on cue (just like in a particularly gory Stephen King novel … or a Joe Hill tale), the coyotes had come for dinner.

And I was on the menu … or so it seemed.

I crept to the door, shut it tightly, and hunkered down in the well-lit hunting camp.

After years of reading the master of horror, that’s one lesson I didn’t have to head into the woods to learn.

Moose hearings scheduled

If you’re interested in the state’s moose management efforts, you may want to mark a couple of dates on your calendar.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife will hold public hearings on a proposal that would increase the number of moose permits allotted in eastern Aroostook County.

The first hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4 at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln. The second will be held Dec. 6 at the Caribou High School Performing Arts Center. Both hearings will begin at 6:30 p.m.

According to a DIF&W news release, the department is proposing a substantial increase in permits in order to meet a goal expressed in previous public sessions: reducing the moose population in certain areas.

The DIF&W is proposing to increase the number of permits in Wildlife Management District 3 from 455 to 635 (40 percent) and in WMD 6 from 500 to 715 (43 percent).

The area affected covers the northeastern tip of the state.

WMD 3 includes Fort Kent and some of Caribou, while WMD 6 includes Presque Isle, Ashland, part of Houlton and part of Caribou.

Previous public input has helped the DIF&W formulate its management goals for the state, and in that section of Maine, decreasing the herd is a goal.

According to the release, the Caribou hearing was scheduled due to the proposed increase in permit numbers there. Lincoln is located in WMD 18, which would not be affected by the proposals, but the DIF&W decided to hold a hearing there after receiving a petition signed by 1,800 people asking that the moose herd be reduced in that area as well.

Written comments on the proposal can be submitted until Dec. 17. Comments can be sent by e-mail to Andrea.Erskine@maine.gov, or by mail to Andrea Erskine, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 284 State Street, 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333.

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