WILTON — Having just been dumped on by the latest nor’easter, many local residents are ready for the snow and ice to melt and for spring to start. But when will that be? What’s the best guess?

Bruce Dyke of the Wilton Fish and Game Association is caretaker of the Wilson Lake Ice-Out Contest, and he encourages everyone to take a chance that their guess is best. For a $5 ticket, anyone can post their best guess. The winner with the guess closest to when the ice is actually out on Wilson Lake wins $100.

The ice is considered out on Wilson Lake when a boat can go from the boat launch to the big island without touching ice.

Last year’s winner was Bill Fletcher with a winning guess of 9 a.m. April 29. The deadline for this year’s entries is April 1. Tickets are available from Bruce Dyke; Steve’s Market in Dryden; Law Mountain Bakery, Pond Road, Wilton; Robin’s Bait Shop, Jay; or entrants put name, contact number and money in an envelope with the month, day, hour and minute the ice will go out and mail it to Bruce Dyke, P.O. Box 605, Wilton, ME 04294.

Proceeds of the event benefit the Wilton Fish and Game Association.

Bruce Dyke holds a sign announcing the winner of last year’s Wilson Lake Ice-Out contest.