Overview:
As the year draws to a close, columnist Mike Roche reflects on the past year's uncertainties and personal health challenges. He finds solace in hunting and plan to make lifestyle changes in the new year. The writer also shares their passion for hunting and fishing, and provides safety tips for ice fishing. They look forward to a better year ahead, filled with adventures and good health.
December is counting down and the new year will be ushered in on Thursday. This would be a time to look back and reflect on 2025, but maybe less of that and more looking forward to the promise of a new and better year in 2026.
There are certainly, for me, a lot of things about 2025 that are not great memories and there was more uncertainty and conflict than most years in recent memory. Those with as many candles on the birthday cake as this writer find life throwing more issues of personal health in our way than during our golden youth. When they pop up, my reaction is to deal with the matter and remember that there are many who face health problems which are much more challenging than mine.
The health system is not perfect, but those who have been part of my history have been great and offered good, sound guidance as to how to deal with matters. Whenever possible, eating well, getting regular exercise, and adequate sleep have made a positive difference. The period of the year we are in, Thanksgiving through Christmas, presents too much temptation and living on cookies, candy and chocolate has predictable results. Come January first, we will make major lifestyle changes.
One thing that saves me in the fall is hunting. Upland hunting gets me outside walking and the two to four miles walking on a typical upland hunt through thick covers keeps me in shape. Deer hunting also includes considerable walking and the cold, outside air energizes the body. There must be something positive to say about sub-freezing temperatures and harsh, strong winds, but nothing comes to mind at this time.
Besides trying to do things that make me healthier, it would be part of my plan to try to get in some adventures. The long thought about a trip to Nova Scotia in October was a huge positive in my 2025 review. It was worth every mile of travel and my time with Todd Kennedy, Tina, and their two great dogs was one of the best weeks ever, with outstanding hunting and superb food to boot.
A fly-fishing trip to Lakewood Camps in Rangely, Maine, with Paul Rullo and Clay Morin was fun and more of those trips need to be planned, and planned early. Most of my regrets are things that I did not do, rather than things that I did. Lots of places to go and things to do, and January to March are a time to ‘get away.’
Short-term, there is still a week of deer hunting locally and fresh snow again. Nothing wrong with taking a muzzleloader for a walk. On that topic, one of my favorite firearms is a Thompson/Center .50 caliber White Mountain Carbine. This is a neat gun T/C came up with by shortening the barrel and removing some wood from the popular Hawken and creating a great and much lighter gun. It served me well and dropped a few of whitetails quickly when loaded with the 355-grain T/C Maxi Hunter bullet.
Like all caplocks, the carbine features an ignition system using a percussion cap that can misfire. The biggest buck I ever saw walked away on Pasque after a misfire on my first trip hunting that island. The White Mountain Carbine was put in the gun safe when a T/C Omega with shotgun primers providing ignition was acquired, and it has been my muzzleloader of choice since.
Recently, it was brought to my attention that a New Hampshire company, Classic Firearms Parts, was selling a kit that replaces the percussion cap nipple with one that allowed the use of a shotgun primer. That update, and the use of black powder substitute Hodgdon Triple Seven, significantly increases the reliability of the carbine, which is a joy to carry and shoots very well. It is the perfect gun for still hunting when a quick shot is needed. Still a few days to look for a buck.
Another consideration is ice fishing. It has been a long time since ice conditions allowed ice fishing so early. Please take every precaution, as always. These precautions and safety tips from MassWildlife are great advice for every ice fisherman and I run them every year.
Ice tips to remember:
- New ice is stronger than old ice – Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not.
- Ice doesn’t freeze uniformly – Continue to check ice conditions frequently as you venture out onto the ice.
- Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often more dangerous – Avoid traveling onto ice-bound rivers and streams, as the currents make ice thickness unpredictable. Many lakes and ponds may contain spring holes and other areas of currents that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots.
Before heading out onto the ice:
- Tell someone your plans – Including where you are going and when you expect to return.
- Come prepared – Carry a cell phone in case of emergency. Always carry ice picks and rope with you on the ice. In case of emergency, drive the nails into the ice and pull yourself to safety while kicking (see tips for falling in below).
- Consider wearing a life jacket – If you fall in, a life jacket will keep you at the surface and can provide insulation against the effects of cold water. There are winter ice fishing coats available with flotation.
Ice thickness guidelines
The guidelines below are for clear, blue ice on lakes and ponds. White ice or snow ice is only about half as strong as new, clear ice and can be very treacherous. Use an ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill to make a hole in the ice and determine its thickness and condition. Bring a tape measure to check ice thickness at regular intervals.
| Ice Thickness (inches) | Permissible Load (on new clear/blue ice on lakes or ponds) |
| 2″ or less | Stay off |
| 4″ | Ice fishing or other activities on foot |
| 5″ | Snowmobile or ATV |
| 8″–12″ | Car or small pickup truck |
| 12″–15″ | Medium truck |
If you fall in
- Don’t panic – Call for help if there are people nearby.
- Don’t remove winter clothing – Air trapped in your clothes can provide warmth and help you float.
- Turn the direction you came from – Ice you previously walked on should be the safest.
- Place your hands and arms on an unbroken surface and kick your legs – If you have ice picks or a pair of nails, use them to pull yourself up onto the ice while kicking.
- Lie flat and roll away – Once your torso is on firm ice, roll toward thicker ice to distribute your weight.
- Find shelter and get warm – Change out of wet clothing and find warm, dry coverings. If you are in a remote area, get to or start a campfire. Otherwise, get to a car or house. Seek medical advice from your physician on medical attention.
If someone else falls in, remember the phrase “Preach-Reach-Throw-Go.”
- Preach – Call 911 if you can. Shout to the victim to reassure them help is on the way.
- Reach – If you can safely reach them from shore, extend an object like a rope, jumper cables, tree branch or ladder to them.
- Throw – Toss one end of a rope or something that will float to the victim.
- Go – If the situation is too dangerous for you to perform a rescue, call 911 or go to find help. Untrained rescuers can become victims themselves.
If a pet falls in, do not attempt to rescue the pet, go find help. Well-meaning pet owners can easily become victims themselves when trying to assist their pets. Remember to always keep pets leashed while walking on or near ice.
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 Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.