What a difference a couple of weeks make. Just a few weeks ago, golfers were hitting the links in Bucksport, open-water anglers were fly fishing at locations across the state, and ice fishermen were … well … downright depressed.

Now, after a couple weeks of frigid air and a snowstorm or two, it looks like winter … it feels like winter … and it’s derby time.

Across the state various organizations will host ice fishing derbies this weekend, and hundreds of anglers will try their luck for cash and prizes.

One of the most anticipated events will take place in the St. John River Valley as the second annual Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby is on tap for Saturday and Sunday. The derby is sponsored by the Black Bear Rod and Gun Club, and derby headquarters will be the Long Lake Sporting Club in Sinclair.

According to derby organizer Paul Bernier, conditions are expected to be favorable, and as many as 500 people may take part.

“Where I fish in town, I’ve probably got anywhere from 12 to 18 inches of ice,” Bernier said. “Overall, it’s very safe. I’m not telling anybody to go on in vehicles, but vehicles have been going out [on the lake].”

Bernier said organizers met with a state fisheries biologist in August and revamped their derby plan for this year.

Two concerns of the state Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife – putting undue pressure on just one lake, and holding the derby so close to the usually productive opening day – were addressed.

The derby was moved back a couple weeks, and opened to Cross, Square, and Eagle lakes, in addition to Long.

Bernier said he expects anglers to disperse among those lakes and take pressure off Long’s fishery.

“I think … Eagle Lake is going to get hit hard for togue,” Bernier said. “The [winning] brook trout could come out of Cross and Square, and the cusk could come out of anywhere, so I think you’ll see activity on all the lakes.”

And Bernier said anglers on Long Lake needn’t kill everything they catch, hoping to earn a prize.

“Word of mouth is, with salmon 5 pounds or under, release it,” Bernier said. “That’s what I’ve been telling people. I really think the winners are going to be five and over.”

Other derby options for the weekend:

. At Pushaw Lake in Hudson, the Pushaw Lake Snowmobile Club will hold its 27th annual derby on Saturday and Sunday.

The event always draws a good crowd, but this year’s derby may be even more successful.

The reason: In addition to avid warm-water anglers who like to target the abundant bass and pickerel of Pushaw, cold-water conservationists have been given an added incentive to take part this year.

Special prizes are being given to those who catch and kill northern pike, which were illegally introduced into Pushaw and pose a threat to the Penobscot River watershed and its fisheries, including Atlantic salmon.

In addition to the regular prize pool, two pike prizes will be awarded to the anglers based on the total weight of pike caught on Saturday and on Sunday.

Pushaw Lake Snowmobile Club officials met with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife biologist Gordon “Nels” Kramer and Atlantic Salmon Commission biologist Richard Dill and decided that putting a bounty on the voracious feeders was a good idea.

. At Pickerel Pond outside of Milford, Maine’s Youth Fish & Game Association will hold its annual youth derby on Saturday.

The event provides a great opportunity to introduce children to the sport, and no equipment or experience is needed.

Maine’s Youth Fish & Game Association provides all the traps and bait and will teach parents how to use the traps if needed. In addition, volunteers will be cooking up a free lunch for all attendees.

To get to MYF&GA, go out Old County Road in Milford until it intersects with the Stud Mill Road, then turn right. The clubhouse will be on the left. The derby runs from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m.

. In Jackman, a derby will be held on Big Wood and Little Big Wood lakes on Saturday and Sunday. The weigh-in is at the boat landing in Jackman.

. In New Limerick, a derby will be held on Drews and Nickerson lakes on Saturday and Sunday. The weigh-in is at 1028 County Road in New Limerick.

. In Hope, the Knox County Fish & Game Association will hold a derby on Sunday on all bodies of water within 25 miles of the Beaver Lodge in Hope. The weigh-in is at the Beaver Lodge.

Deer kill numbers pending

Typically, I field plenty of seasonal questions from hunters and anglers looking for a tidbit of useful information.

And though deer season ended in December (for black-powder folk, at least), many hunters are still talking about their favorite pastime. Their favorite question at this time of the year: Has the state released its deer-kill number yet?

I suspect that most of those who are asking are those who (like me) didn’t end up filling their tag this year and are hoping that their lack of success was just part of a larger statewide trend.

Of course, it may be that those who keep asking the question have been successful and are just looking for another piece of data to lord over their hapless hunting buddies (like me).

Either way, the answer is “No.” The DIF&W has yet to release that final total.

According to DIF&W spokesman Mark Latti, the deer-kill tally is usually finalized in mid-February.

“We’re getting all the information from the tagging books that were distributed to more than 1,000 tagging agents and more than 100 game wardens, and then entering all that data into an electronic database so that we can crunch those numbers,” Latti said.

There are two factors that add to the perceived delay, Latti said. First, it takes some time for those tagging agents in far-flung locales to actually send their records to Augusta.

And second, after those books are received, the real work has to start.

“It’s pretty much [a result] of the number of tagging stations, the number of wardens, and then entering all that data from a paper-based records system into a computer-based records system,” Latti said.

For now, all we have is the DIF&W’s preliminary estimate, which has historically been quite accurate. This year’s estimate: 29,000.

That number would be respectable: The 20-year average is about 28,000 deer killed per year in Maine.

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