Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2022 i Game & Fish East

This is it. October. The month we’ve all been waiting for. From whitetails to wood ducks, salmon to smallmouths and bears to brant, just about anything that lives in the woods and waters of the Northeast is on the agenda this month. Knowing how stoked we all are to get outside to hunt and fish, let’s take a peek at some of the best bets around the region in fabulous and funfilled October. 1 NATIVE BROOKIES Is there any fish more beautiful that a native brook trout in its fall spawning glory? Is there a more beautiful place to fish for them then in the colorsplashed woods of northern New York and Vermont? New York’s massive Adirondack Park and Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest combine spectacular fall foliage with outstanding brook…

Fall bass fishing offers the angler the opportunity to target both big bass and big numbers of bass, as the fish put on the feed bag to fatten up before winter. One of my favorite ways to target these actively feeding fall bass is by fishing with topwater baits. Fishing topwater baits is an exciting and fun way to fish, with bass—especially smallmouths—treating you to an acrobatic show as you bring them to the boat. Fishing with topwater baits isn’t just done for the novelty or excitement, though. There are times, depending on the location and water temperature, when the action of a topwater bait is exactly what you need to get a hungry fall bass to bite. The topwater bite can be good all season long, but it really…

Pre-season floats will offer insight on what to take on a drift hunt. Keep in mind you’ll likely be outside all day and on the water most of the time. The weather can change from sunny and balmy to cool, damp and windy, and chances are you’ll get thirsty and hungry at some point. Take what you know is required to hunt and what is necessary to stay warm and safe. Your needs may vary some, but along with standard hunting gear, here is what I bring: □ Life preserver(s)□ High-energy snacks□ Plenty of water□ Cell phone and power bank□ Paper maps□ First aid kit□ Fire-starting kit□ Headlamp or flashlight□ Warm gloves and hat□ Hip boots□ Change of warm clothing□ Rain gear□ Length of rope□ Small tarp□ Small hatchet or…

MAINE: Southwest coast boulder fields of Casco Bay and Cape Elizabeth within 60 feet of water Best Times: July to September MASSACHUSETTS: Boulder fields, reefs in 50 to 120 feet of water in Nantucket Shoals and Buzzards Bay Best Times: May/June, August to October NEW YORK: Manmade reefs and shipwrecks in 50 to 120 feet of water off the north and south shores of Long Island Best Times: April/May, October/November NEW JERSEY: Spots ranging from 50 to 150 feet at 17 Fathoms, The Farms, Axel Carlson Reef, Sea Girt Reef, Deepwater Reef and Shark River Reef Best Times: April/May, October to January DELMARVA: In 50 to 130 feet of water at Reef Site #11, Del-Jersey-Land Reef and 15- to 30-mile shipwrecks Best Times: December through March…

We woke at 3 a.m. to hot black coffee and a steady, 25 mph wind howling down the junction of the St. John and Allagash rivers. After loading the truck, we headed out for an hours-long, spinejarring ride down logging roads. As I bounced around inside the cab, I thought about how I had been waiting nearly half my life to be here, the North Maine Woods, hunting moose. I climbed stiffly out of the truck as the thermometer rose to 28 degrees, a temperature I rarely see anymore, having moved to Florida 17 years ago. After several close calls with fully loaded logging rigs whizzing past us in the dark at high speed on the dirt road, we were happy to be out of the truck. My guide Nate…

It’s a simple tactic but one that works: Get away from crowds by hunting areas that require long walks to access. Not many hunters are willing to put in the effort to go the distance, and pieces of public ground that are relatively undisturbed often become havens for game. A hike measured in miles instead of yards is more enjoyable, and typically takes less time, when your gear isn’t a burden. Even when the hike isn’t a long one, lightweight rifles encourage you to keep them in your hands, ready for a quick shot, instead of slung over a shoulder. There are some extremely lightweight rifles available from manufacturers who specialize in cutting weight, but any well-balanced model that weighs less than 7 pounds will usually feel pretty good cradled…

It was a warm evening in early October when Shane, his father and his father’s new employee, Wayne, hopped out of the pickup truck near the lake shore. Wayne said he had fished often in his home state of Minnesota, but he hadn’t gotten to fish much since moving South. As the men carried the boat to the water, Shane grabbed the tackle box and looked over an assorted pile of fishing rods. “Mr. Wayne,” he asked, “what rod and reel do you want? There’s an Ambassadeur with a medium-heavy rod, a Shimano Curado on a fast action and a Zebco 303.” “Got a spinning reel?” asked Wayne. “No sir.” “What do you use?” “I’m a Shimano man myself,” replied Shane, “but I use a real stiff rod because I…

CATCH HUNGRY LARGEMOUTHS Season 3 of our exclusive online series, “Beyond the Bait,” focuses on the most popular tactics to catch largemouth bass. Find new episodes under “Watch.” LOVIN’ LITHIUM Read why lithium-based batteries are a game-changer in “Lithium Energizing the Way We Harness Marine Power” by Dr. Todd Kuhn from ICAST 2022. BE A PEPPER You’ll find dozens of great ways to prepare venison on gafmag.com, including fun-to-make Dr. Pepper Venison Jerky. Get more tasty ideas under “Recipes.” OWN YOUR HUNT Hunting in America finds its groove in October with multiple seasons in full swing. Check out “Ultimate Season” for videos, tips, new gear, recipes and more. HEAVIER THAN AIR Adam Heggenstaller takes a look at advancements in air guns, including the .25-caliber Umarex Origin, in “Hunting with Air…

1 BAGLEY KNOCKER B A compact, walk-the-dog-style plug, the Knocker B casts far and has a unique knocking sound as it is retrieved. ($8.99; shop.northlandtackle.com) 2 BAGLEY BANG O LURE TWIN SPIN This stickbait features a spinner blade on each end. It’s a great topwater choice when the bass are tight-lipped or a longer pause is needed. ($9.99; shop.northlandtackle.com) 3 EVERGREEN SHOWER BLOW (SB-125) Another walk-the-dog style plug, but with a bigger profile and a cupped face to produce additional spitting action as the bait is worked.  ($17.95; evergreenbaits.com) 4 REBEL POP-R A classic and must-have topwater bait for any bass fishermen. After making it spit water, pause to entice an interested bass lurking below to strike.  ($6.99; lurenet.com) 5 SNAG PROOF BOBBY’S PERFECT FROG This soft-plastic, hollow-bodied frog is…

With some pre-season research and planning, you’ll find thousands of waterways to drift-hunt here in the Northeast. Make a point to check state regulations concerning hunting from watercraft and on waterways that course through private property, as well as any special rules or regulations that might exist pertaining to public land. Pre-season drifts are also advised, keeping in mind that water levels and conditions vary from season to season. With that in mind, here’s a handful waterways worth considering. 1. LITTLE OSSIPEE RIVER, WATERBORO/LIMINGTON, MAINE This stretch of water offers hunters an easy morning or late-afternoon drift. Put in below Ledgemere Dam on New Dam Road in Waterboro and take out at the Route 117/Cape Road Bridge in Limington. Distance is approximately 1 1/2 miles. 2. SENECA RIVER/HOWLAND ISLAND WMA,…

This simple yet delicious blackfish dish comes to us from Chef Josh DeChellis of Juniper Hill restaurant in Annandale, N.J. TAUTOG WITH GINGER-SOY DRESSING PREP TIME: 10 MIN. | COOK TIME: 10 MIN. | SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS: • 4 6-oz. Tautog fillets, scaled with skin on• 1/4 c. gluten-free soy sauce• 1/4 c. distilled white vinegar• 3 tbsp. grated fresh ginger• 2 tbsp. honey• 1 pt. steamed rice• 1 12-oz. bag broccoli slaw• 1/4 c. softened, unsalted butter• 18 shitake mushrooms• 2 egg whites, beaten METHOD: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees with two cookie sheets inside. Mix soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and honey together, and set aside. 2. Season fish with salt on each side. Rub the center of four sheets of parchment paper with butter. Place the slaw,…

While doing research prior to my hunt, I connected with Alaina Woods, a doctorate student at the University of Maine Wildlife Disease Genetics Lab, to assist with the lab’s Maine moose health study. The study is being led by Dr. Pauline Kamath and conducted in collaboration with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The moose population in northern Maine has, for the last hundred years or so, been plagued with an ever-increasing number of winter ticks, also called moose ticks. Some of the animals that have been collared and tracked have had up to 90,000 ticks on them. Most adult moose can survive the infestations, though they rub so hard on trees to get rid of the ticks that they remove most of their hair and are referred…

When you’re not able to get into the field or on the water, find the adventure you seek by accessing exciting hunting and fishing content through MOTV. The video-on-demand service caters to the outdoor lifestyle, and it’s available through mobile phones and tablets, desktops and laptops using an Internet browser, smart TVs and other devices. Catch all the past episodes of programs such as North American Whitetail, In-Fisherman TV, Petersen’s Hunting Adventures, Bowhunter TV, Guns & Ammo and more. Plus you’ll get access to special how-to series like Ultimate Season, and “Just Shot” or “Just Caught” content exclusive to MOTV. You can choose what you want to watch from more than 20,000 searchable episodes. Or, you can just lean back and watch MOTV Huntstream, a new live channel featuring the…

The most productive way to hunt Eastern black bears is with dogs. But dog hunting is a lifestyle and a commitment that the masses can’t make. So, one option is to hire somebody to supply the dogs. It’s an exciting way to hunt bears, and because you can look the bear over before you shoot, a great way to trophy hunt. Sadly, though, the “woke folk” have hunting bears with dogs targeted for extinction, and this option is dwindling fast. The second-best way to hunt bears successfully in the East is with bait. Don’t turn your nose up at that until you have actually tried it. Baiting is challenging and difficult. It takes a physical and mental toll. For me, it is some of the toughest hunting on earth. But,…

Maine’s moose are huge, and their habitat can make recovery difficult, so be sure to take a rifle and cartridge capable of quickly downing an animal that averages 1,100 pounds. I went with the bolt-action Benelli Lupo in .300 Win. Mag (benelliusa.com). The rifle’s excellent ergonomics aided handling in difficult terrain and thick vegetation, and its accuracy resulted in one well-placed shot—the only one needed to drop my bull. I paired the rifle with Remington 180-grain Core-Lokt Tipped ammunition (remington.com), a load that features an updated version of Big Green’s flagship big-game bullet. The polymer tip improves the bullet’s ballistic coefficient and helps initiate expansion, while the mechanically locked core and tapered jacket help retain weight. The wound channel created by the bullet in my moose was wide, deep and…