By Mike Roche

This writer and his wife spent this week in Maine on a long-awaited vacation. We house-swapped with Sue and Jim Richardson.

Sue and I go back a long way. We were classmates in the legendary Mahar Regional Class of 1969 and neighbors for years on Mechanic Street in Orange. Sue and her husband Jim now have place in Maine where they ‘summer’ and a home in Florida where they escape from New England each winter. They love coming back to Orange to connect with friends and enjoy staying at our home on White Pond, so it is a win-win.

Before heading to Maine, a call was made to my old friend and former boss, Al Mexcur. Al was my department coordinator when my teaching career at Mahar and our common love of hunting and fishing led to many enjoyable days pursuing fish and game. Al was the advisor when the middle school Mahar Fish’N Game Club was established—as the club had grades 9-12 only—and did a superb job mentoring its members. He was part of the club when we made seven trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and two to Alaska. His daughter Susan was one of the best presidents the Fish’N Game Club ever had and she really stepped up when my first heart attack kept me from being there when school opened.

Al suggested that we shoot sporting clays at the Scarborough Fish and Game Club and did not have to twist my arm. The club has a great reputation, a top-notch shooting facility and a number of people have commented on what great shooting ranges are found there. He told me that they shoot sporting clays on Wednesdays and that Keith Rich—who lives in Orange but spends his summers on the Old Orchard Beach—often shoots with him.

We set up a 9:30 start time and the Browning Citori Lightning Combo shotgun, shells, shooting vest and bag were the first things packed. Wednesday morning finally arrived and the club was impressive as soon as you enter the driveway. There are paved walkways along the extensive sporting clays course, which is a circle around a high berm. At the main clubhouse, Al was waiting with his grandson Allen, Keith and their friend John. After signing a release, the gun was assembled and we were off.

All the good things about the Scarborough Fish and Game Club that had been related to me did not do it justice. The others were all members and each shooting station required that a membership card be inserted. That card would then sync and there would be an accounting of how many targets were thrown. Remarkable. The technology was really impressive as every station would present options for two targets and a choice between single targets, double targets, or targets sent on report (when you fire at the first).

Al mentioned that the course is changed every week so shooters have variety at each of the 16 stations. Some targets were outgoing, some crossing, some incoming, some rising sharply and ‘rabbits’ that were targets that literally bounced along the ground. It would be fair to say that every possible target presentation was possible. The paved paths were used by some for golf carts (some shooters had their own golf cart or ATV and you could rent for $20). Al and Allen pulled a shooting cart which held their shotguns, ammo and other gear. The shooter had his shells in his vest. All the others were shooting very nice 12-gauge over/under shotguns. That could be my excuse of being “low gun” or the fact that I had not shot since last fall, but the number of targets broken was not a big deal, except when Allen out-shot his grandfather at stations!

Al informed me that the club has 1,500 members and showed me the nine trap fields, four lighted fields, four skeet fields, and multiple rifle and pistol ranges. Most of Maine’s law enforcement agencies (state police, sheriffs’ departments and local police) use the ranges set aside for their training as well. If you are a shooter, you really should experience this club, it is as good as it gets!

Aug. 1 was the date when you could go online to see if you have been selected for a Massachusetts Antlerless Deer Permit. The system is a lottery, but it makes no difference when to check in. Either you were selected or you were not. This writer will check when I get back home from Maine.

Last Saturday, the Massachusetts Hunter Education course at Mahar Regional in Orange had 50 students participate to complete the requirements for hunter education certificate, which is required to purchase a hunting license. The volunteer team of Evelyn Cunha, Tim Donovan, Don Theriault and yours truly, aided by Billy Devine (pending certification), presented lessons and hands-on activities as part of the curriculum. The results were outstanding as a vast majority of the students scoring very high in the final exam, which requires a score of 80% to successfully complete the course.

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the MaharFish’N Game Club, Counselor and Director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.

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