By: Andrew Pelletier
Andrew Pelletier
Welcome to the February-March edition of the CT Sportman’s Journal. Well, I jumped the gun and offered up a piece on ice fishing last month and much to my chagrin, it looks like fishing the hard water this year is going to be a bust! As much as I’m enjoying this reprieve from the snows that plagued us last winter, I’m developing a textbook case of cabin fever. The warm winter has been a windfall for local maple syrup producers, who have been collecting sap since the beginning of the month, getting a jump on filling their arch pans and boiling off an early flow that is sure to produce some fancy-grade light-amber syrup. Each year I collect 30 gallons of sap from maples in my yard which I boil down for my yearly gallon supply of fresh, homemade maple syrup.
This month I’ll delve into a type of hunting that even the gentlest of animal-friendly souls can partake in. With spring fast approaching, it’s almost time for mushroom hunting. I’ve been a member of the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society for a year now and next month on the 25th, at 9:00 a.m., CVMS will host its March Mushroom Madness event at Sessions Woods WMA in Burington. The public is invited and I encourage those who have ever wanted to seek out local edible mushrooms to come spend a day with the club and maybe even join us as a paid member. CVMS was founded in 1975 and is a club “for those interested in mushrooms as food, study and as an art form”. The club meets every Sunday of the season at an undisclosed location – usually at a state forest or park in Connecticut. Members fan out and bring back everything they’ve found for expert identification and hopefully, you can bring some of your find home for the table.
I’ll share some thoughts about fishing and hunting from the comfort of a belly boat, an inflatable craft that can be utilized to get yourself into some areas that traditional boats just can’t get to. I’ve used mine for early season trout fishing, duck hunting and even once, I used it to hunt a deer run I discovered that followed the back side of a beaver pond.
I’ll offer up a recipe for a smoked trout chowder in which you can use all those delicious wild mushrooms along with fresh-caught trout and asparagus – a savory dish that heralds the arrival of spring. I’ll also be at the fly-tying bench demonstrating how to tie one of the most effective flies on the Farmington River: the Blue-Wing Olive Parachute. Blue-winged olive sulphurs are prolific throughout much of the warmer months of trout season and are a staple of our local trout population. A highly buoyant and visible fly which helps when you’re tying them down to a size 24 dry-fly hook. Toss another log in the fireplace and enjoy a cup of tea as you enjoy the February-March edition of the CT Sportsman’s Journal.
Stalking The Illusive Mushroom
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There are old mushroom hunters and there are bold mushroom hunters… but, there are no old, bold mushroom hunters. An age-old adage that sums up the semantics of mushroom hunting. One wouldn’t, or certainly shouldn’t, go out into the forest and start munching on every mushroom you find. Field books for identification are helpful but there is nothing better than first-hand knowledge. The Connecticut Valley Mycological Society has been sharing expert knowledge with the public about mushroom hunting since 1975. For a layman such as myself, the wealth of member expertise available regarding edible and non-edible species is invaluable and spares one the risk of mistaking look-alike species that could mean the difference between an incredible dining experience and a trip to the hospital.
Morel mushrooms
My first outing with the Connecticut Valley Mycological society took place on a perfect Sunday morning in April, on state land at Bulls Bridge in Kent. Being a fledgling member of the club, I didn’t know what to expect but I recognized some faces from the March Mushroom Madness event that had taken place a week or two earlier at Sessions Woods WMA in Burlington. I was taken under the wing of long-time member Jean Hopkins, and we splintered off into groups. Being early spring, the grand prize this time of year is the illusive morel, a mushroom that is as delicious as it is camouflaged, residing in the leaf litter covering the awakening earth. “Look at the bases of the white ash… the trees whose bark looks like a woven basket… and look on the sunny side of the bases,” advised Jean, as we scoured the woodland floor. A couple nearby that I had met at the March Mushroom Madness event excitedly proclaimed some success when they found two morels at the base of an ash, just as Jean had described. As we admired their find, I looked down and I found my first morel close by. It was no bigger than the tip of my ring finger but I was encouraged by the diminutive fungus to look all the more closely. As luck would have it, I would find two more morels that day along with an assortment of other early spring mushrooms that I stowed in the basket I brought along.
At noon, the group gathered at a picnic table and everyone laid out everything they had found. Latin names of fungi began to flow off the tongues of club sharpies. Bill Yule, CVMS vice president and education chairman, is one such sharpie. His knowledge of mushrooms is voluminous and he is the “go-to” man when even some of the other veteran sharpies are stumped. The group’s interests are varied. Some are merely into the aesthetics of fungi, some are serious researchers who investigate medicinal qualities of certain species. Others, like me, are in it to gain knowledge of mushrooms for the kitchen table as well as how to identify mushrooms that will make you uncomfortable or even kill you.
Puffball mushrooms
As I stated, I’m a layman when it comes to mushroom hunting, I tend to seek out species that are delicious and have no known look-alike. Species such as puffball mushrooms are a personal favorite, especially scrambled with eggs. These are the common mushrooms that grow in open fields and lawns and look like a round, tan globe and can grow quite large. Eat only those that come from areas you know that aren’t treated with pesticides or chemicals. The flesh in the center must be perfectly white and a knife run through them squeak when sliced. Puffballs that are greenish-grey in the middle are beginning to spore and should not be eaten. Other species I am comfortable with are the spring morels, oyster mushrooms, hen of the woods and parasol mushrooms. The advantages of becoming a member of CVMS is that you can expand your knowledge of other delicious edibles such as chanterelles, black trumpets, honey mushrooms and boletes, which have deceiving, inedible impostors that one could possibly mistake without the guidance of club member experts, who are more than willing to explain the difference.
If you are interested in the gentle sport of wild mushroom hunting, please join me at Sessions Woods in Burlington on March 25th for CVMS’ March Mushroom Madness. Admission for members is $5.00 and is open to the public free of charge per arrangement with Sessions Woods. There will be coffee at 9:00 a.m. followed by general admission and a welcome from CVMS president, “Bolete Bill” Bynum, at 9:30 a.m. Bill Bakatis, will be a guest speaker and will present “The Ecology of Mushrooms”, which will be geared toward beginner mushroom hunters at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. From there, members will have a social break, business meeting and lunch from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. From 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. there will be a slide show presentation to include 20/20 offerings, a raffle and clean up.
If you would like to become a member of the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society (CVMS), You can make checks payable to: CVMS/Woozie Wikfors, 104 Seymour Road, Woodbridge, CT 06525. Dues per calendar year are $15 for an individual, $20 for a family (2 or more persons at one address, requiring one club mailing). Lifetime memberships are $200 per individual and $250 per family. They don’t have a website, but you can also get more information at: tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cvms.
All said, mushroom hunting is a wonderful way to spend a day outdoors in the fresh, spring air. You’ll get to visit a different state forest or park throughout Connecticut when you follow the club’s Sunday outing schedule. You may even find a new hunting or fishing area you’d like to explore. With some guidance, a keen eye and a little luck, you too can start hunting mushrooms this spring and bringing home some delicious foraged edibles that will complement many game and fish recipes.
What’s In Season for February?
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For current Licensing, Tagging & Reporting, permits, bag limits, hunting areas and special conditions go to www.ct.gov/dep/hunting.
Ice Fishing
According to CT DEEP regulations, Not more than six tip-ups, floats (bobbers), similar devices, or hand-held jigs or any combination thereof not exceeding six in the aggregate may be used at one time. Persons under sixteen years of age may use not more than two devices. Not more than three baited hooks, with or without attractors, or three ice flies, or three artificial lures, or any combination thereof not exceeding three in the aggregate may be used with each tip-up, float (bobber), or similar device or hand-held jig. Devices must be personally attended. The name and address of the user must be legibly stamped on or attached to all devices.
Upland Bird Hunting
Pheasant ends on February 29th (a series of pheasant tags are required to hunt pheasants)
Crow ends on February 29th
Waterfowl Hunting
Requires a Valid Federal and State Waterfowl stamp as well as a CT H.I.P. Permit.
Season dates listed are relative to the AP unit, local to the New Hartford area.
Extended seasons are available for waterfowling in AFRP & NAP-H units and in the Southern Zone of the state. For more Waterfowling info go to the 2011-2012 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide section of the DEEP website.
Snow and Blue Geese starts on February 22nd and ends on March 10th
Small Game Hunting
Grey Squirrel ends on February 29th
Cottontail Rabbit ends on February 29th
European Hare ends on February 29th.
Fox and Coyote Hunting
Red and Grey Fox ends on February 29th
Coyote is open throughout February and ends on April 24th
Know and completely understand all hunting regulations BEFORE you head out!!!! Questions? Go to the Hunting and Trapping section of the DEEP website.
Local Hunting Areas
(Maps for most of these areas can be found at the Hunting and Trapping section of the DEEP website.
State Land
- People’s State Forest – Barkhamsted (2942 acres)
- American Legion State Forest – Barkhamsted (1037 acres)
- Nepaug State Forest – New Hartford (1367 acres)
- Tunxis State Forest – Hartland (9518 acres)
Wildlife Management Areas
- Cedar Swamp WMA – New Hartford/Torrington (278 acres)
- Roraback WMA – Harwinton (1975 acres)
State Leased and Public Access Areas
- MDC – Greenwoods Pond – New Hartford (400 acres)
- MDC -Colebrook Reservoir/ Hogback Dam – Colebrook/Hartland, etc. (4159 acres)
The Versatile Belly Boat
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Opening day trout in Connecticut has always been an anticipated event that stretches back to the earliest of fishing memories. It used to be the social event of the year, involving friends, camping, boats and as many libations that could possibly fit in an icy cooler. As time slipped away, so did friends and the mindset that one had to be mustered from sleep to fish for trout with a hangover. I still carry on the tradition of opening day, only now, it is usually a solo venture. Gone are the party days of yore. It is quiet sport that I long for now. Yet, I still try to celebrate spring trout fishing in a way that appeals to the intrepid nature that still resides within.
Andrew and his belly boat
Some 25 years ago, my brother bought me a belly boat for Christmas. The diminutive craft is nothing more than an inner tube covered with a strong, nylon skin. It comprises of a seat and a separate inflatable bladder that becomes a backrest. Simplicity and versatility are the main reasons why I’ve brought the belly boat into service in recent years. Since most of my fishing is done solo, tubing makes sense. Everything fits in the back of my Forester and no need for a boat launch. It also makes sense economically and environmentally. I don’t need to pay boat and trailer registrations or tax, nor do I need gas or maintenance. All that is required are a pair of waders, kick fins and water. Waters such as remote beaver ponds to larger lakes and even tidal estuaries and harbors can be investigated at a leisurely pace with spinning or fly-casting equipment.
For me, the appeal of tubing is the comforting feeling of floating weightless, much like a duck. I can only last so long while fishing in a canoe because my rump tends to give out long before the fishing does. When tubing, it’s as comfortable as being in your favorite lazy boy recliner. Water temperature and wind can be a factor, so I wear layers of silk long johns and wool socks, fleece, and a hooded, waterproof jacket in the spring and fall. It’s also a good idea to wear a life vest while tubing in the colder months. On the other hand, I’ve bass fished in my belly boat during the summer wearing nothing but shorts and dive fins. Tubing is versatile and I’ve used mine not only for fishing, but for duck hunting as well. Once while duck hunting on the Connecticut River, I witnessed an early morning meteor shower. One meteor streaked in so close, I could hear it crackling like fireworks as it burned out overhead. The same morning, I watched a group of a dozen deer, nonchalantly feeding only yards away from my position. This led me to believe there is another layer of versatility to tubing… deer hunting.
The following week, I tried my theory on a beaver pond in a Connecticut state forest. I noticed good buck sign during bow season on the opposite side of a river that divides the state forest parcel in two. It’s an area hard to reach on foot, but not by float tube. I quietly drifted with the slight current before daylight and tucked into brush near the buck sign where a beaver dammed the river. Unfortunately, I waited for the buck that never showed. I was convinced that my ploy might have come to fruition, and although I’ve not tried it again since, I’m still encouraged that the plan might someday payoff.
On another duck hunt, as I waited for first light I floated serenely, concealed in flooded cover before sunrise. I almost jumped out of my skin as the water behind me exploded, as if someone crept up and threw a cinder block into the water, four feet from me! I spun around bewildered and saw the dark form of a large beaver swimming back and forth. The beaver dove and slapped its tail again, reminding me of whose pond, I was an uninvited guest on.
With the belly boat it has been possible to transcend an aqueous world and feel closer in tune with nature and even celestial events. To ponder the workings of the beaver, that creates habitat for ducks and brook trout, that creates the deer run, that inspires you to think outside the box… as you float weightless… maybe take a few fish today… released some nice ones last week. You hear a wood duck’s call and you long for October, but it’s only April. You kick back toward the shore… just in time for the evening rise… aahhhhh, bliss.
CT Sportsman’s Wild Game Cookery
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Springtime is in the air… the earth is coming alive again. Fiddleheads and asparagus push up through the moist, warm soil as well as early season mushrooms like the tasty morel. The trout are dappling the surface of the Farmington, feeding on the Hendrickson Hatch, brought on by the warming rays of the sun. The fresh air and mild temperatures set one’s mind to foraging for the gifts that springtime offers. The following recipe utilizes the holy trinity of nature’s springtime bounty… trout, morels and asparagus. Morels are not easy to find if you don’t know where to look. Whole Foods sometimes carries them but you can substitute chanterelles, black trumpets or porcini mushrooms.
Smoked Trout Chowder with Morels and Asparagus
Butterfly 4 or 5 trout for the smoker and retain the heads, backbones and tails for a stock (you can make while the trout fillets are smoking), which consists of:
Fish Stock:
• trout trimmings
• 1 thinly sliced carrot
• 3 cups water
• ¼ tsp. thyme
• 1 cup white wine
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1 bay leaf
• 3-4 peppercorns
• salt to taste
Combine all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes, strain and retain 4 cups of fish stock.
Chowder:
• 2 ½” salt pork, cut to ½” cubes
• 4-5 smoked butterflied trout fillets
• 1 medium onion, sliced thin
• 2 cups half and half
• 3 peeled potatoes, diced
• 6-8 asparagus spears, cut on the bias ½”
• 3 cups morels, cut in half (or substitute other type mushrooms
• 4 cups fish stock
• salt & pepper to taste
Over low heat, try out (render) the salt pork in a skillet. Retain the chitlins, if desired, after they brown. Measure out 3 tbsp. pork fat in a soup pot and sauté the onions. Add 3 cups fish stock and potatoes and cook on medium.
In a food processor, pour 1 cup fish stock and add 1 smoked trout fillet, 2 asparagus spears and ½ cup mushrooms. Process coarsely and add to the pot. When the potatoes are cooked, add the half and half but do not let boil or it will curdle. Add the balance of the mushrooms and asparagus then flake the smoked trout fillets into bite sized pieces and add to the chowder. Cover and let simmer for 15 – 20 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into serving bowls and top with crumbled chitlins, if desired.
Nothing screams springtime like this chowder… a true celebration of nature’s gifts after a long, cold winter.
Fishing And The Fly Tyer’s Bench
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This month I’ll demonstrate how to tie a Blue Wing Olive Parachute. Blue winged olives imitate olive sulphurs that are prolific from the middle of April, all the way to the last week of November. They are categorized as mayflies, but their persistence throughout most of the season make them a “go to” fly that the trout readily take.
Materials:
• Standard dry fly hooks 18-26
• Olive 8/0 thread
• Dun hackle barbs for the tail
• Olive silk dubbing
• Hare’s foot wing post
• Dun Hackle
1.) Start by laying a foundation of olive thread 1/3rd the hook length and working back to the end of the bend in the hook.
2.) Snip some hackle barbs for a tail and tie them in.
3.) Wax thread and apply olive green dubbing material. Create a body that tapers thicker toward the eye of the hook. Stop 2/3rds the length of the hook from the bend.
4.) Tie in a hare’s foot wing post. I like to use hares foot because it is highly buoyant.
5.) Tie in a dun hackle and wrap it around the wing post then tie it off.
6.) Wax thread and apply enough olive dubbing to finish the body.
7.) Whip finish and cement the head.
8.) The finished Blue-Wing Olive Parachute.
Share Your Photos And Experiences With Us!
We encourage those who hunt, fish or observe wildlife to share their pictures and stories with us and other readers. Please send your photos with and stories to: newhartfordplus@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to post them in future editions of The CT Sportsman’s Journal.
We wish all of you a safe and successful season!
On Wednesday, February 22, Ash Wednesday, St. John’s Episcopal Church will do something new – offer the imposition of ashes to those driving by the Pine Meadow Green on Route 44 in New Hartford. In order to make it easier for those who want to stop, the priest will be standing in front of the church during the morning (7:45 – 8:30 a.m.) and afternoon (4:30 -5:30 p.m.) commute times. She will say a short prayer and place ashes on the guest’s forehead in the shape of a cross, which will take only a few seconds. The recipient can then be on his or her way. This new effort will be in addition to the usual Ash Wednesday services at 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., which is for those with more time to worship.
Barkhamsted residents reported hearing helicopters during the night of Tuesday through Wednesday, February 14 and 15, searching for the missing person. The next morning, residents reported that East River Road was closed off for a period of time and they noted the presence of Vernon Police Department vehicles in the area. Sometime during the morning the search ended with the discovery of the body of Sgt. Moore on the Bowen Trail off East River Road.
Presidents’ Day is traditionally the time of the year when maple trees are tapped and the sap is collected to be boiled down into maple syrup. With the warm weather this year, plastic tubing is already in evidence, strung from maple tree to maple tree, sometimes for hundreds of yards alongside our country roads until the tubing ends in large, plastic collection tanks. Modern, clean and very efficient.
Building a new home is a complex process to manage, but what about building an eco-friendly and energy efficient home? Karann and Jeremy Schaller did just that – earning 2nd place in the Connecticut Zero Energy Home Challenge. During the first half of this program, Karann will discuss the details of her house and share her experience of building and living in the home. Topics will include:
During the second half of the program, Everett Barber will discuss his book, Convert Your Home to Solar Energy (co-authored with Joseph R. Provey). A definitive homeowner’s guide to solar energy, it covers all the relevant technologies, including solar space and water heating, as well as photovoltaic electricity. It’s a practical resource, with cost calculators, tips on taking advantage of rebates and tax incentives, and advice on finding specialized contractors.
North Congregational Church in New Hartford will host its next free community meal from 6:00 to 7:00p.m. on Friday, February 24. All are invited to join with neighbors and friends for good conversation and a hearty winter meal of Spanish rice (chicken and vegetarian versions will be offered), salad and desserts.
