LIBRARY USE ONL
NOV 1 4 2002
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Governor Angus S. King, Jr. Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Lee E. Perry, Commissioner Frederick B. Hurley, Jr., Deputy Commissioner Kenneth H. Elowe, Director, Bureau of Resource Management Richard Record, Director, Bureau of Administrative Services Tim Peabody, Colonel, Bureau of Warden Service Andrea Erskine Assistant to the Commissioner Advisory Council Matt Libby, Ashland Chairman Ken Bailey, Camden, Vice Chairman Harold Brown, Bangor Robert Savage, Limington Sally Dyer, New Gloucester David A. Wardwell, Penobscot Ray Poulin, Ripley Tenley Meara, Topsham Don Palmer, Rangeley Lance Wheaton, Forest City Don Kleiner, Editor {ISSN 0360-005X) MAINE Fish and Wildlife is published quarterly by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State St., Station 41, Augusta, Maine 04333, under appropriation 010-09A-0529. Subscription rate is $14.95 per year.
Editorial
4
Comm. Lee Perry
The Department shines on information and education efforts.
Maine Moose
7
Sandy Ritchie & Karen Morris
A new management direction for moose.
BLIP
10
Bob Humphrey
The Maine Bowhunters and Landowners Information Program.
Purple Martins
12
Lisa Kane
The largest member of the swallow family multiplie in Maine.
Gene Bahr
13
Cathy Genthner
An artisan carve his own niche in conservation. '
Kidbits
16
Lisa Kane
Creatures of night and day ... and the in-between times too.
Photo Con~est Winners
18
Don Kleiner
Prize entries in the Department's outdoor photo competition.
MSAR
20
Deborah Palman
A tribute to the folks who come to the rescue of others. Pe.mission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit 1s given to the author and to the Department. Clearance must be obtained from artists, photographers and non-staff authors to reproduce credited work. Š Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 2002. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send both old and new addresses to P.O. Box 1457. Yarmouth, Maine 04096. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to MAINE Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 1457, Yarmouth, Maine 04096. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Call 1-800-276-0883 Out of state call 207-846-9501 Periodical Postage Paid at Portland, Maine The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S Department of Interior. Accordingly, all department programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination with regard to race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against should write to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240 Design and Prepress by Harry Vanderweide
Birds, Dogs & Fall
22
Forrest Wardwell
A young hunter's adventures hunting upland and in the duck marsh.
Recreational Vehicleland 23
Cathy Genthner
Mainers using more outdoor vehicles to enjoy the great outdoor .
Black Brook Flowage
26
Upland and Wetland Wildlife Management Area in Pierce Pond Township.
Hunting with Chip
28
A tiny visitor become a Maine deer hunting companion.
About the Cover: Department photographer Mark Latti caught this image of a Jamie Bray wood duck decoy Fall 2002
3
Editorial
By Lee E. Perry, Commissioner Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Department Rated Best in Nation "The Division of Public information and Education ... is responsible for the administration ofprograms to increase the public's knowledge and understanding of the inland fisheries -Maine Law 12 MRSA and wildlife resources and the management of these resources .... " Section 7016
Fish and wildlife are an important part of Maine. Surveys indicate that over 60 percent of Maine residents participate in some form of fish and wildlife-related outdoor activity. Fish and wildlife provide an important economic base. Maine ranks fifth in the nation in the amount that fish and wildlife contribute to the state's overall economy. Public understanding of the principles of fish and wild Ii fe management and its importance is essential to the maintenance of the Department's conservation effort. Over the pa t four years a comprehen ive information and education program has been integrated throughout the Department and delivered to people through this magazine, television, radio, newspaper, internet, a highly successful wildlife park as well a personal contact with the public at forums, through the Outdoors Partners Program, and in public working groups. This effort has been accomplished by expanding the role of professionals throughout the agency. realignment of the Department's organizational structure and innovative financing. In 1997, re ponsibility for the Department's information and education program rested primarily within the Information and Education Division. With limited staffing and resources, the Department could not provide a significant number of people in Maine with infonnation about fish and wildlife conservation efforts. To achieve the most effective use of infonnation and education staff, the Recreational Safety Division has been combined with the Information and Education Division. The Department also realized that a significant increase in promoting the needs and benefits of fish and wildlife management could not be achieved by merely assigning more people to the Information and Education Division. To be effective, the Department's pub! ic information and education program would be centered in the Information and Education Division but implemented Department-wide by employees who were familiar with the Department's administration, research, management and enforcement activities. Here are some of the things that have been accomplished. As this magazine consumed a considerable amount of the Division's time and money, the publication responsibilities were out-
The Information and Education staff, from left: Lisa Kane (natural science educator), Brenda Chaplin (recreational safety secretary), Betiy Lewis (youth activities coordinator), Denise Brann (secretary) (in back), Mike Sawyer (recreational safety), Don Kleiner (director), Dave Wilbur (superintendent Maine Wildlife Park), Bill Pierce (public relations representative), Mark Latti (public relations specialist) Page 4 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Fall 2002
sourced. Contracting allowed the time and money that was saved by this change to be spent on other activities. A public information staff position was assigned to work with the news media to not only supply information, but also develop a dependable means of publishing material that was provided. At one time only one daily paper was carrying a regular outdoor column. The first success was the creation of an entire outdoor page in the Kennebec Journal - the daily newspaper that covers Central Maine and the state's capitol area. This page included guest columns by Depattment employees, fish and wildlife conservation news and an outdoor calendar. This page • proved to be highly popular and economically successful. Its success encouraged other papers to take similar steps. Insuring that the information was available required a team approach. One person could coordinate but could not gather and prepare information in sufficient quantity to meet press requirements. Wardens and biologists now routinely write articles and submit material for release to daily and weekly Information Center staff, from left, Jenny Dalbeck, Becky Orff, Wendy Bolduc. newspapers. The state's four largest newspapers now have similar pages. The Portland Sunday newspaper, Maine Sunday Telegram , has expanded from one page to a weekly six-page supplement that includes a one page weekly written by Department fish and wildlife biologists. In addition, the Department has columns in the state's two monthly sporting journals, which are sold throughout Maine and the Northeast. The state is now covered routinely by daily, weekly and monthly papers. Television is an important source of information for Maine people. Some activities in which the Department engages are noteworthy enough to be covered as news. Routine news releases advise television and radio stations as well as other media of such events. Unfortunately providing the pub! ic with basic information about the value of fish and wildlife, conservation programs and opportunities for people to engage in related outdoor activilies are not always possible in a news format. Other methods would be required if the goal of broadening public awareness by informing people about fish and wildlife conservation activities were to be achieved. The Department's solution was to enable television stations to deliver the infom1ation through sponsorship of television productions and collaboration with their producers. The first project involved sponsorship of outdoor shows that aired primarily on cable stations in Central Maine. These shows often featured Departmer,t employees as guests and explored current fish and wildlife issues as well as general fish and wildlife topics. These shows now air statewide on various cable channels and two commercial stations. Broadening public awareness required that all Depa1tment employees be aware of the Department's mission and its activities. To assist in meeting that need the Department contracted for the production of a video that conveyed the Department's mission as well as basic fish and wildlife practices. As part of that contract the Department also obtained a variety of 30 second "short stories" that could be aired as commercial ads. The Department offered to sponsor television shows that reached a broad public audience and addressed outdoor issues. As part of the sponsorship agreement, the shows would air the fish and wildlife sho1t stories. The Department currently sponsors shows in four viewing areas of the state over the state's two largest commercial television networks. An estimated 150,000 people view these weekly productions. One of the productions which airs on the state's second largest station would not exist if it were not for Department sponsorship. One of the shorts aired in conjunction with the show won a videographer's award. These activities were initially funded by Legislative appropriation. The Legislature also authorized the Department to establish a revolving account that would receive the revenue from the sale of merchandise that promotes the Department and funds public information projects. This program has grossed $94,000 and is fully funding one show on Maine CBS affiliates. In addition to sponsorship of weekly television shows, the Department has collaborated with Maine Public Broadcasting and the Public Broadcasting system to produce a six-week series of one-hour science programs. One of the shows featured fish and wildlife conservation and discussed deer, moose, bear, turkey and habitat management. It was nominated for an Emmy award and was recognized as runner up in the New England finals. The Internet has been another important vehicle for distributing information to the public. The Department's web site www.mefishwildlife.com is widely advertised and promoted. Last year, over 200,000 people visited the site. We have worked collaboratively to raise broader public interest in natural resource-based tourism. The Department, working with the Maine Orfice of Tourism , has jointly produced adve1tisements that appear regionally, nationally and internationally. These ads focus on the products of fish and wildlife management and seek to increase interest not only in hunting and fishing but various MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Fall 2002 Page 5
wildlife related activities. In addition to encouraging people to visit Maine and enjoy the outdoors, the Departments have jointly published and distributed wildlife viewing, fi hing brochures and a hunting and fishing map. Meeting and working with people is another way the Department promotes the scientific management of fish and wildlife resources. Like many agencies the Depa1iment is required to hold public hearings relating to regulatory matters. Such meetings generally do not allow for any dialogue with the public. The Department has sought ways to open communication with the people we serve. The Department used to spend a great deal of time supporting and staffing one large ew England regional event. After assessing the benefit of continuing that support, the event was scaled back. In its place the Department now is active Maine Wildlife Park staff, from left, Jon Bagley, Dave Wilbur, at 16 events. The Department has created an Outdoor Partners pro- Adam Farrington, Merritt Foster. gram. With the help of numerous businesses, the Warden Service staffs a mobile self-contained information booth that contains publications and displays. Tne trailer has appeared at 70 events during the past year. The Department also holds public forums around the state. Department staff working with a local Advisory Councilor and organizations ranging from hunt clubs to the Audubon Society advertises the public meetings and arranges for staff to be available to present topics of interest in the local area and answer questions from the audience. Ten of the e events were held during the past year. In addition, the Department ha held forums to di cu fish and wildlife management goals and objectives, to share information about management objective and to solicit ideas for improvement. Another opportunity to hare infom1ation and promote fi h and wildlife management occurs at the Wildlife Park in Gray. Located in close proximity to Maine' highest human population the Park provides an opportunity for people to view live displays of Maine fish and wildlife and participate in various educational programs. Each year the Department offers a free open house during which Department employees staff special booths and display and conduct special activities. Over 4,000 people attended thi year' event. Overall, seasonal visitation rates at the park have risen by over 15,000 people in the past two years and arc expected to exceed 100,000 visitors in the near future. Heightening young people's awareness of the natural world and management practices and encouraging participation in outdoor activities is another Department goal. In 1997, the Department initiated a Hooked on Fishing, ot on Drugs program. The program reached 5,000 children the first year. Last year 30,000 children participated in these events. Over 60,000 have been expo ed to the program since its inception. Succe in this area has led to the start of Youth Field Days. Supporied by the Department, sporting clubs around the state hold fall events during which kid receive instruction in conservation and outdoor skills. The first event was held in York County in 1998 and has stimulated imilar annual events in four other areas around the state. Several thousand children have attended. I believe the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has made great progress toward fulfilling our legislative mandate. Others agree. In 200 I, 89% of the public felt that the Department wa doing a good to excellent job of managing Maine's fish and wildlife resources. This fall the International As ociation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies selected Maine to receive The Ernest Thompson Seton Award. The Award is presented to the state, provincial, or federal agency, which has best promoted public awareness of the need to support the science and practice of wildlife management. The Department's Information and Education Division provided a key leaderhip role in this success. However, success would not have been possible without the support provided by others. Thrqugh an integrated approach involving employee throughout the Department and other agencies, organizations and communications media, the Department has been highly ucces ful in di seminating information and gaining public support for fish and wild Ii Fe con ervation programs. I thank all of our staff, our public and private partner and Recreational Safety Coordinators, front, from left, Red Boothby, Rick Tidd, you without whom this recognition could Harland Hitchings, Bill Bean, Woody Thompson; Back, from left Mike Sawyer, not have been achieved. Perry Edwards, Bruce Martin, Reggie Read, Ed Davis, Lou Haskel. Page 6 MAI E Fish and Wildlife
Fall 2002
By Sandy Ritchie and Karen Morris No animal is more symbolic of Maine's northern fores than the moose, as officially attested by its adoption as Maine's State Animal and its appearance on the State's seal. According to the writings of early explorers, moose were plentiful in New England during the 1600s. Native people and settlers valued moose as a source of meat, hides and sport, and moose were important for subsistence and trade. In the 1700s and early 1800s, commercial hunting and hunting to feed crews at logging camps were commonplace. By the early 1900s, statewide moose numbers had declined to a few thousand. Two major factors are believed to have contributed to the decline, unrestricted hunting and clearing of forests for farmland. MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Fall 2002 Page 7
Prior to 1830, there were no laws restricting the harvest of moose. From 1875-1935, the season fluctuated between closed seasons and open seasons. Concerns about a declining moose population in Maine in the early 1900s led to increasing restrictions on hunting them until, in 1935, legal moose hunting ended. During the mid and late- l 900s, protection from hunting, and improving habitat conditions, allowed the moose population to increase dramatically. Reverting farmland increased the amount of forested habitat available to moose in southern and central Maine. In northern Maine, changes in forest practices, which included a greater amount of clearcutting, provided moose with an abundant food source as clearcuts regenerated into young hardwood forests. By 1985, moose numbers had increased more than 10-fold from the early 1900s. Moose Hunting Resumes As the number of moose increased, interest in moose viewing and in restoring moose hunting also increased. Reestablishing a moose-hunting season in Maine required legislative action. In 1943 and 1951 , and during each session of the Legislature from 1957-1975, bills were introduced to reestablish a moosehunting season, but all were defeated. In 1980, following 45 years of no legal moose hunting, Maine's moose herd had increased to the point where the Maine Legislature authorized restoration of a conservative and limited open season. It allowed the Department to issue up to 700 permits to resident hunters and their subpermittees to hunt moose north of the Canadian Pacific Railroad tracks during the last week of September (now known a the Eastern Maine Railway and the Canadian American Railroad). Following the 1980 moose season, Maine legislators overwhelmingly passed a law providing for annual moostl seasons beginning in 1982 in accordance with specific requirements. The legislature established the number of permits that could be issued and the length of the season. Timing of the season and the number of hunting districts were left to the Department to establish. Until recently, moose hunting in Maine was regulated within a framework Page 8 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
set by the legislature. Several bills gradually liberalized the framework under which the Department and its Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council set hunting ¡ regulations. In 1999, the Maine Legislature granted all responsibility for administering the moose hunt in the year 2001 and beyond to the Department. For the first time in Maine history, the Department had the authority to set the length and timing of the moose season and to determine the number of permits necessary to provide Maine's citizens with the moose populations, hunting opportunities, and viewing opportunities that they want in different parts of the State. Since moose hunting was reestablished in the State in 1980, the season framework has featured a number of changes. Some of the notable changes include an expansion of the area open to hunting to encompass nearly 75% of the State and an increase in permit numbers to 3,000 in 200 I and 2002. Currently, moose permits are allocated by Wildlife Management Districts (WMD) rather than larger hunting zones, and the season is a two-week spl it season rather than 6 days. These changes allow the Department to spread hunters out and manage moose and moose hunters in smaller areas. How are Moose Management Goals and Objectives Established? Since 1968, The Department has used strategic planning to establi h population objectives for many of the species it manages, including moose. Though the Department has refined and expanded the process over the years, its basic concept has remained unchanged - a public working group representing a wide array of stakeholders interested in moose is charged with providing the Department with the management goals and objectives for moose for a 10 to 15-year planning period. Public participation is an integral component of the process. In the 1985 revision of the moose strategic plan for the period 1985-2000, the public working group developed 3 objectives: l) maintain moose numbers at 1985 levels; 2) increase the harvest to 1,0001,400 moose per year or whatever level
was needed to maintain populations at 1985 levels throughout the State; and 3) maintain opportunity to view moose and decrease unsuccessful viewing trips by 50%. The Department did not achieve the objective of maintaining the population at 1985 levels. Although the numeric harvest objective ( 1,000-1,400 moose) was achieved, it did not succeed in stabi li zing the moose population at 1985 levels. In addition to the conservative number of permits set by the legislature, hunting had little effect on the moose population, because hunters were selecting bulls, and the vast majority of cows were left to produce calves. Low hunting pressure and favorable habitat allowed the moose population to expand beyond 1985 levels until at le;-ist the mid-1990s. Despite allocating the maximum number of permits allowed by law, the Department knew that we were under-harvesting the moose herd and exceeding the statewide population objective recommended by the public working group. Moose viewing had become a thriving business during this period. More than 600 moose-vehicle collisions were occurring annually. Funding for research was declining, as funds were funneled to other needs. 2000: A New Management Direction for Moose In 1999, the Department convened a public working group to develop goals and objectives that would guide moose management for the period 2000-2015. Members of the working group came from all geographic areas of the state and represented diverse groups and interests (landowners, forest industry, sportsmen, environmentalists. motorists, etc.). In 1985, the public working group recommended keeping moose numbers at 1985 levels in all areas of the state. The 1999 working group suggested more complex goals. When asked the question "What do you want the Department Lo manage moose for?" the working group settled on four issues: I. providing moose hunting opportunity, 2. viewing oppo11u¡nity, 3. insuring motorist safety, and 4. habitat protection. The group refined their management recommendations further by assigning each WMD into one of three moose management areas. Fall 2002
• Recreation Management Area (RMA): hunting and viewing opportunities are the most important goals. • Compromise Management Area (CMA): the goal is to balance recreation and safety concerns. • Road Safety Management Area (RSMA): reducing the number of moosevehicle collisions is the only goal. The public working group felt that maintaining animals in good health and minimizing habitat damage were important considerations in all WMDs. The group also considered it important to maintain large, mature bulls (4 years old and older) in the population for hunting and viewing in the Recreation Management Area and some of the Compromise Management Area. What Do the New Management Goals Mean for Maine's Moose For WMDs in the Recreation Management Area (most of the area currently open to hunting), the public working group wants to have many moose, but not so many that the forest is damaged or animal health is compromised. The group also decided to maintain a component of older aged bulls in the population. For many of the WMDs in the RMA, the moose population is believed to be below carrying capacity but does not appear to be increasing. Tn order to meet the new management objective in this area, we will need to increase the population from current levels. For WMDs where highway safety is equally or more impoI1ant than hunting and viewing (Compromise and Road Safety Management Area, ), the management objective is to reduce the population from current levels. In the Compromise Management Area, the population is to be reduced by one-third, but maintaining a component of older aged bulls i important in some WMDs. In the Road Safety Management Area, the population is to be reduced to as low a number as possible. What are the Research and Management Needs for this New Management Direction'! Over the year~, the Department has used a variety of information to learn more about Maine's moose population. MAI E Fish and Wildlife
These have included: through vegetation management. viewing • moose censuses conducted by helistructures, or improved access to good copter and fixed-wing aircraft in the viewing areas. Moose numbers are ultimately limit1970s and 1980s; ed by habitat. Moose need a mix of for• a study of radio-collared moose in the mid-1980s; est types that provide abundant food, • harvest and biological information shade in summer and relief from extremely deep snow in winter. Future collected by biologists from moose at registration stations since 1980; and habitat condition for moose in the State • moose sightings reported in hunter depend on the amount and type of forest questionnaires since 1980. stands available and their distribution. This data was adequate for monitorCommercial forestry is the ing moose numbers up until the mid-late major factor in determining what Maine's 1990s when the moose herd was above forests will look like in the future. the 1985 population level we were manEconomic, social, political, and legal aging for and we were under-harvesting considerations will shape forest practices. As clearcutting decreases as the dominant the population. However, now we have new manharvest practice, forest tands become agement objectives that are more commore mature and the younger hardwood plex and require us to manage moose for stands preferred by moose decline, the ability of the land to support moose will different reasons in different parts of the also decline. While the public may desire State. To meet the new moose management great hunting and viewing opportunity, it objectives, the Department will need betis not possible to grow more moose if ter information on moose numbers than environmental conditions are not conin the past, including: a reliable, cost ducive. Moose are a great asset to Maine. effective, and accurate estimate of the The Department is aware of the impormoose population, as well as a reliable tance of moose to those who hunt them, estimate of the moose population in relaand to those who marvel at the opportution to the habitat's ability to support nity to view them. Though the two may moose (carrying capacity). We will also seem incompatible, both are dependent need to understand some of the other factors that affect population growth, proon a properly managed moose herd. In ductivity, and survival including: predaother areas of the state, there are road tion on calves, poaching, winter ticks, safety concerns. Through management, we hope to maintain a healthy population etc. Drastically reducing IT)Oose populathat will continue to bring enjoyment to tions, even if socially acceptable, may Maine citizens and visitor and to not reduce accidents as much as many improve road safety in high-risk areas. would like. Consequently, the Achieving the e goals requires better Department will need to explore other information and more refined managestrategies to increase safety along highment than was achievable in the past. ways such as improved road design and visibility, increased signage and warnings, reduced peed limits, and driver education. Conversely, it may be possible to increase moose in an area yet not increa e viewing opportunity. In this instance, we will need to explore opportuniMoose require a complex approach to manage in a ties with landowners way that meets all the various interests in Maine. to improve visibility Fall 2002 Page 9
Bowhunters and Landowners Information Program
By Bob Humphrey Whitetailed deer, like the moose and the black bear, are a sy mbol of Maine wilderness. T hey are also hi ghly adaptable creatures, and have learned not onl y to survive, but also to thri ve amo ng their human ne ighbors. In recent years, they have become more numerous, parti cul arly in popul ated areas, and nuisance problems associated with locally hi gh deer populations are becoming more common, especially where deer are not acti ve ly ma naged. Because of their hi gh reproducti ve rate, deer have the potenti al to increase the ir populati on ra pidl y, parti cul arl y in areas where I) landowners post land that could be safely hunted, 2) land is closed by law to deer hunting, and 3) deve loped parts of c ities and tow ns are not accessible to hunters because o f muni c ipa l ordinances p ro hibiting the discharge of firearms. O ver-abundant deer can become a nui ance due to excess ive costs resulting from damage to crop , orchard , orn ame ntal and woodl and ; increased ri sk to humans from Lyme disease; and pro perty dam age and loss of hum an life from vehicle colli sions with deer. Fro m 1996 to 1998, 12, I58 deer-vehi cle colli sions were reported in Main e, causing an e timated economi c impac t th at exceeded $41 mi llion. Certified Bowhunters The Department has undertake n several programs to address these o bstac les and lessen the impact o f deer populati on probl ems. One o f the newest is the Bowhunter. and Landow ners In fo rm atio n Progra m (BLIP). The Maine Bowhunters Associati on and the Department 's Page 10 MAINE Fish and Wildl ife
More and more bowhunters are finding themselves pursuing deer in urban or semi-urban settings where they need a higher level of skill and a finely developed sense Of hunting ethics. Bob Humphrey photo Landowner Relati ons Progra m developed the progra m, adapted fro m a simil ar progra m in Pennsy lva ni a. It provides the Department, muni cipali ties, and landow ners with a li st of certified advanced bowhunters on whom they can ca ll to ass ist in dea lin g with nuisance deer probl ems. The li st is comprised of names o f bowhun ters who have demontrated their quali ficat ions and res pons ibility by tak ing an addi ti onal, vo luntary course that co ncentrates on ethical behavior, landow ner iss ues and the 1--nowledge
of what landow ners ex pect. The Standards The hope is that landow ners who harbor reserva ti ons about hun tin g will be more wi lling to allow access to th ose hunters th at have de monstrated they are, respons ibl e hunters. In order Lo qua lify for BLI P, bowhunters mu st: A) Have take n a mandated bowhu nter safety course under guide lines set by the In te rn atio nal Bowh un ters Ed ucation Program; Fa ll 2002
B) Have no revocation of any Department license in the past 10 years; C) Be at least 18 years of age and; D) Have taken at least one big game animal or turkey with a bow in the state of Maine in the past four years. Qualifying hunters then take an advanced BLIP course. Because a standard bowhunting safety course is a prerequisite, the three-hour advanced course concentrates on landowner relations, ethics, safety and professionalism. The course stresse the impo1tance of landowner trust and cooperation. Students are reminded that hunting on private land is a privilege. Furthermore, cooperating BLIP landowners may have special conditions or procedures they will request hunters to follow.
Tight Quarters
In many cases, BLIP archers will be hunting in tight quarters under non-traditional conditions. They may be asked to enter and exit the woods in street clothes, changing into and out of their camouflage clothing in the woods so as not to alarm the neighbors. Landowners may request that any deer killed are removed intact and dressed off of the property. They may also ask that archers hunt only on certain days or at certain times. By following these instructions, the hunter builds the landowner's trust and perhaps
MAINE Fish and Wildlife
improves their impression of hunters in general. BLIP students are also familiarized with urban and controlled hunting. Instructors explain deer population biology"and discuss alternate methods to population control, including why, in most cases they don't work. Each student is also given educational materials to share with landowners. This information includes both lethal and non-lethal means of alleviating deer problems. Upon completing the course, the hunter's name is placed on a list of Advanced Bowhunters. If he or she is assigned to a property, the bowhunter is expected to meet with the landowner before hunting to discuss the landowner's expectations. The Advanced Bowhunter will also provide the landowner with a permission slip to sign, and provide pertinent information about themselves such as phone number, license plate number, type of vehicle, etc. Advanced Bowhunter are expected to remove reasonable amounts of litter from the property and report any violations. Any license revocation after completion of course will mean immediate removal from the advanced list. Landowner complaint will be investigated and if warranted, will re ult in removing the hunter's name from the list.
Advanced Bowhunters Successful BLIP students are also issued a card that identifies them as an Advanced Bowhunter. They can then show this card to landowners when asking permission to hunt. Until the program becomes better known. opportunities from the BLIP list will likely be few. Meanwhile, Advanced Bowhunters can use their identification cards and their initiative to open doors on their own. The BLIP courses are run by the Maine Bowhunters Association. The program is still in its infancy. If it works, it will be a step forward for bowhunters, landowner relations and deer management. The Department has been working to develop ways to control the deer herd in more developed parts of the state. Posted land can be the biggest obstacle, and the issue that concerns landowners mo t is the unethical behavior of some hunters. BLIP provides an opportunity for bowhunters to demonstrate they can provide a respon ible. ethical and safe means to address nuisance deer problems. For more information on BLIP, including the dates and locations of upcoming courses contact: The Maine Bowhunters A ociation, P.O. Box 5026, Augusta, Maine 04332, www.mainebowhunters.org, or the Department.
Fall 2002 Page 11
Purple Martins In Maine Photos and Text By Lisa Kane Two summers ago, while bi cycling along Route 32 near China Lake, I heard some unique and unfamiliar birdca lls. I U-turned and observed large, swallow-li ke, dark-colored birds soaring around the surface of the lake, chasing insects. r thought they could be purple martins, but knew they were unusual in Maine, so had to go back and check my fie ld guides. Sure enough, they were purple martins and they were practically in my back yard' [ saw them through August in the same area on my bike rides, and wondered if I could attract them to my fields, a couple miles up the road. I mentioned the martins ' appearance to some enthusiast ic bird-watchi ng friends and then forgot about the whole situation with the onset of cold weather. Corne hol iday ti me, my friends surprised me with a natural redwood martin house. Now I was ready to get martins established in my fie lds. I purchased a 20-foot martin pole, put up the house the fo llowing spring, and was ab le to observe a couple of early arrivals check out the house. The martins sat on it, went inside it, flew around it, talked about it, and left. They didn 't come back either. What was wrong? I consulted some of my birder friends about this dilemma and one recommended painting the house white. I slapped a co uple of coats of white paint on it and again put up the house. This time the martins came, spent time checking it out completely, and evidently passed the word that this was a great spot to spend the summer. l then had 3-4 pairs of purple martins nesti ng, flying, ca ll ing and feeding young until mid August, when two broods fledged and literally flew the coop. At times, over a dozen birds could be seen sitting on wires or performing aerial acrobatics in pu rsuit of flying insects. By the end of August, they were gone, Page 12 MAINE Fish and Wildl ife
Purple martins atop their condo . Lisa Kane photo
Jumbo Swallows The purple martin is the largest member of the swallow family. Males are a glossy, iridescent purplish black above and below ¡¡ no other swallow spotis a dark belly; while females have a lighter belly. They arc strictly flying insect eaters and can be severely affected by long stretches of bad weather that prevent them from foraging. Contrary to popular belief, martins do not eat large amounts of mosquitoes. An _intensive 3?ear diet study conducted in Pennsylvania showed them eating dragonflies, damsclfl1es, flies, midges, mayflies, stinkbugs, leafhoppers, Japanese beetles, June bugs, butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, cicadas, bees, wasps, flying ants, and ballooning spiders - all day-flying insects. Martin houses should be placed at a height of l 0-20 feet in the center of the most open area available, 30-120 feet from human housing, with no trees taller than the martin house less than 40 feet away. Martins typically winter in Brazil, and arrive in Maine to start nesting in late April-early June. Houses should be in place by April. There are a few other purple martin colonies in Maine, including the towns of Belgrade, Princeton, Brownfield and Kennebunk. Jt's great to see that they are becoming more and more established in the state. For excellent martin information, go to www.purplemartin.org. headed south to Brazi l to spend the winter. Now it's time to take the house down and clean it thorough ly. It was great to hear the loud, uniq ue burbl ing ca ll s of the martins, watch their acrobatics as they flew over the
fie lds and my house, zoomed into their 'martin condo ' to feed the young dozens of times daily, and sat on their front porches and "chatted" during the evenings. [ hope they dec ide to return every summer!
Good placement for a martin house. Notice wh ere th e trees are.
Lisa Kane photo
Fa ll 2002
Carving His Own Niche in Conservation Photos and text by Cathy Genthner At the end of the 1990-fishing season, Gene Bahr looked in his freezer and noticed that his stockpile offish scheduled for taxidermy had one thing in common. They were all dead. It was this revelation that inspired him to create life from omcthing else, a block of wood. Through fish carvings, his life-long philosophy of conservation of our natural resources was enhanced and solidified. "I thought to myself, what if I could carve a fish and charge about the same amount that it would cost to taxidermy a fish?" said Bahr. "I would be creating a piece of art and contributing to the conservation of a natural resource at the same time." Bahr tried out several carvings and was pleased with the results from the viewpoint of an artist and a conservationist. "So, l decided to call them catch and release carvings." For the past 26 years, Bahr has worked as a taxidermist, and still does taxidermy work. I le has always considered taxidermy an art form. It was taxidermy that served as his canvas for an even greater artistic endeavor. "When I first started taxidermy, I took art Jes ons from Carol Wilson of Springvale who was very talented. I had wanted to be a fish taxidermist and I always admired the work of David Footer, an artist and a world-renowned fish taxidermist. l considered him my mentor, although I didn ' t gel to MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Fall 2002 Page 13
meet him in person until several years later," said Bahr. Bahr is following in Footer's footsteps as an artist. The fish Bahr carves out of wood will last much longer than taxidermy, which flakes and decays with the passage of time. In addition, the wooden carvings are extremely popular with many of Bahr 's customers, such as Dave Woodward of Manchester, New Hampshire, who does a lot of catch and release fishing. "Most of the people with whom I fish practice catch and release," said Woodward. "It is the only way to make sure that the fish are going to be around. I have no problem keeping a few small trout for breakfast, but if you are going to have trophy fishing, you've got to practice catch and release." Last June, Woodward did indeed catch his trophy fish - a 5- pound, 22-inch brook trout caught in the Rapid River. Bahr made a carving of the trophy.
"Real" Fish? "You can't tell the difference between the wood carving and a taxidermy mount," said Woodward. "ln fact, I think the carving is better because of the artistry that is involved. And of course, you can always add an inch! Who is going to complain or tell?" However, some may believe a carving isn't a "real fish" compared to a taxidermy mount, and is only the artist's interpretation. Bahr takes exception to that comparison. "It is okay to have a wood carving of a fish. Even with a skin mount, it is still the taxidermist's interpretation of that fish." Bahr's vocations in taxidermy, and now fish carving, were spawned from his love of the outdoors. He grew up in Steele, Alabama, where as a boy he spent all of his spare time in the woods. He was always out fishing and looking at nature's creatures such as alamanders, snake and crayfish. At the age of 22, he moved to Maine, where his love of the outdoors grew. Even now, every chance he can get, he is outdoors fi hing or hunting, depending on the season, although now hi fishing is mainly catch and release. lt is the memory of the fishing trip that Bahr preserves, rather than the fish, Page 14 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Gene Bahr displays a huge brook trout carving that he mounted on a plaque made of white birch bark, one of his favorite background materials. Fall 2002
through his catch and release carvings. In preparation for such a carving, anglers are encouraged to include a cloth tape measure in their fishing equipment for length and gi1ih measurements. Several photos of the fish with the angler are especially helpful. If no camera is available, anglers are advised to take mental notes of prominent colors and anatomical characteristics, and length can be estimated using a fishing pole. "People can take a camera along with them and always have a memory of that fishing trip," said Bahr. "It is helpful to have someone along with you on the trip to take the photos."
Handle with Care Bahr cautions anglers to handle fish delicately during the catch and release, as well as the picture-taking process. "It is imperative that fish be treated delicately. They can stress out from being played in the water," added Bahr. "People should wet their hands before they touch the fish and then rock it back and forth in the This brown trout carving includes river stones that are also carved water gently before it is ready to be released." At first, it may seem difficult to release a trophy d . t he wa ter. H owever, w Iia t you are re Ieas- from woo . fi sh bac k mto ing is the promise for future generations of fish and for desire of the customer) along with an engraved inscription givfuture generations of anglers to enjoy the sport. Trophy fish are ing the angler's name, where the fish was caught and its size. usually the largest and oldest fish in any particular body of water. They are also the brood stock. Bahr's Favorites "This is a good method of conservation. The larger fish are Bahr says his favorite fish to carve are trout and salmon, generally breeding stock. They have survived so many peri Is of although he will carve any species a customer desires. nature and perils of fishermen. They are the true breeders fflat we "[ like to carve the trout and salmon the best because l want to keep in our rivers, streams, lakes and ponds," said Bahr. know them the best. I've mounted lots of trout and salmon in "Let's face the facts; we have very few trophy fish remaining my life," said Bahr. "l know their characteristics, their color in Maine, and legions of fishermen. Even places like Labrador are changes during ce1iain times of the year, the different body starting to practice catch and release. Every time someone takes a types among the male and the female. The Atlantic salmon 5- pound fish, they are taking the future from that body of water." male will have a flatter body and a more elongated head. The However, a few photos, measurements and notes of the "big Atlantic salmon female has a more rounded body and a shorter one that you let get away," are all Bahr needs to make a template head." - a drawing on a piece of paper - of the trophy fish. The template While Bahr enjoys carving fish, the real satisfaction is then sent to the angler for approval. From the approved temcomes from seeing the finished product. "It is very gratifying plate, Bahr carves a rough composite of the fish from a block of and satisfying work. When I finish a product, I stand back and wood consisting of several layers of basswood that have been take a good look at it. lt makes me feel good that I've created glued together. something. There is no debate whether it is artwork or not." "The boards are laminated and that actually makes them There is also no debate over whether Bahr's work is a stronger than one solid piece that has cracks and"crevices," said form of conservation. The cost for a carving is about the same Bahr. "One solid slab could warp, but several pieces won't." as a taxidem1y mount. An average carving costs about $750 or Following the rough shaping comes the more delicate carv$33 an inch. The value of the generations of fish that were ing, where the distinguishing features of a species are brought to caught and released, rather than caught and mounted, is priceIi fe. "When I am carving a fish, I think about what sex it is, less. which tells me the contours of the body that I should be looking for," said Bahr. "I think about the species l am carving and the unique distinctions. For example, a landlocked .salmon. is an Atlantic salmon that has been landlocked, and it is a bit ,~horter For more information contact Gene Bahr at: than a true Atlantic salmon that runs up from the ocean . Gene Bahr Wildlife Creations, 1306 Bridgton Road After the carving is finished, the fish is primed with three Sebago, Maine 04029 Tel. 1-207-647-5238 coats, painted with acrylic paints and completed with a polyurethane finish. The fish is then put on a plaque (if that is the www.datamaine.com/catch+release MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Fall 2002 Page 15
As we all learned in school, the Earth continually rotates on an imaginary axis. Each rotation takes 24 hours, and includes a time of darkness and a time of light. When that portion of the Earth's surface faces the sun, it's light. Darkness is a result of that surface rotating away from the sun. The lives of many different kinds of wildlife are regulated by the Earth's daily rotations. Nocturnal wildlife tends to be more active at night, and
includes animals such as owls, skunks, opossums, mice, raccoons and foxes . Diurnal animals
are active during daylight hours; wildlife such as hawks, vultures, songbirds, squirrels and woodchucks.
Crepuscular wildlife is most active at dusk
and dawn (twilight hours), like snowshoe hares, foxes, whitetailed deer, moose and beavers. Not every animal can be placed in just one category. Owls are sometimes spotted flying around in the daylight; foxes are often seen working hayfields in the afternoon after hay has been baled; whitetai led deer and moose can be surprised browsing along a wetland edge at noontime; a fisher can be glimpsed crossing a woods road just after lunch; some wildlife can reliably be spotted at any time of day or night. But we can generalize about the different wildlife we are most likely to see during specific hours of dawn, daylight, twilight and dark.
Page 16 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Fall 2002
The Night Watch Many kinds of wildlife may have adapted to the dark to hide from predators, to beat the heat of the day and to avoid people! "Night eyes" gather as much light as possible by having pupils that can dilate widely and are quite large. Hearing is finely tuned to hone in on potential prey. Bats use echolocation to gobble up thousands of night-flying insects, with huge ears to pick up the echoes of high-pitched sound waves bouncing off prey. Nocturnal predators like owls may use the night hours to avoid competing with diurnal hawks for the same or similar foods. Sense of smell in some mammal species can be up to 100 times more sensitive than a human's. Generally, individual predator species are most active when their prey is too.
The Twilight Zone !Here too, many animals' collective senses (hearing, smell and sight) are adjusted to lower light levels. Nocturnal wildlife heads for dens, burrows, perches and other cover to spend the daylight hours, so are still moving around and may be more visible to early rising humans. Animals that primarily use dawn and dusk to feed and move about may do so simply to start moving around after a long night's sleep; to feed and be camouflaged in more protective low light conditions and to avoid heat and insect pests during the day. If active feeding occurs during dawn and dusk, then energy is conserved if an animal lies down and rests from morning till evening, when feeding will again occur. And then, why bump around in the dark when the low light of dawn and dusk can be used to full advantage?
The Day Shift These animals and birds are most familiar to us, since we humans are best able to see them and share the same preferences for daylight. Songbirds feed at our feeders and use birdbath . eagles, hawks and vultures soar overhead; woodchucks are busy grazing in fields and along roadsides; turtles sun themselves on pond logs and bears feed on raspberries and beechnuts. Camouflage may play a part in evading predators. along with a better tolerance of people and our daily pattern of activities. Some wildlife, like foxes, deer, and wild turkeys, may shift from crepuscular to diurnal behavior when it is beneficial: i.e., more food is available or there is less danger of predation.
What Am I? See if you can identify the animal and then decide if it is nocturnal, diurnal or crepuscular - or a combination.
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Photo Contest Entries These are some of the entries in the Department's 2002 photo contest. Many individuals sent pictures of outdoor memories. Some of the images will be used on the cover of next year's law books. Many thanks to everyone that took part for sharing your memories with us.
"Jig and Pig" by Joe Holland of Jefferson, Maine
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"Fishing Friends" by Gary Wood of Sidney, Maine
Page 18 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
"Sunfish" by James Wright of Skowhegan , Maine
Fall 2002
"Partridge" by Joe Holland of Jefferson, Maine
"Brooding" by Sharon T. Knox of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
"Lunker" by Joe Holland of Jefferson, Maine
"Afterglow" by Terrence Tobin of Panama City, Florida
MAlNE Fish and Wi ldlife
Fall 2002 Page 19
A Tribute to the Maine Association for Search and Rescue and the Volunteer Search and Rescue Units of the State of Maine By Game Warden Specialist Deborah Palman An elderly man is missing in the town of Greene. A chain of events unfolds that results in more than a dozen game wardens, several aircraft, 9 dog teams, 91 trained and certified volunteer searchers and a large number of local people searching for IO or more hours through the night and into the next day before the man is located by an airplane. A news reporter condenses this massive operation - which includes 660 man-hours donated by trained volunteers - into the words: "A missing elderly man was located by searchers today." A climber falls 200 feet and is seriously injured in a remote mountain area. Again, game wardens, members of a high angle mountain rescue team and numerous other people work continuously for 14 or more hours to extract him safely from a steep and rugged wilderness without causing him further harm. The reporters say: "A seriously injured mountain climber was rescued in Grafton today." Only the news media could make search and rescue sound so simple. Few people know that the ground troops at the searches for lost people and those dangling off the ropes with a stretcher on a cliff represent the end result of decades of organizing, politicking, fund-raising, writing, discussing, communicating and training by people who understand that finding and rescuing lost persons requires people with strength, determina-
tion and specialized training who trust each other and work together as a team. The names of the organizations comprised of individuals that train and equip themselves, are seldom heard, yet they are known as Wilderness Rescue Team, Mahoosuc Mountain Rescue Team, MDI Search and Rescue, Maine Search and Rescue Dogs and Dirigo Search and Rescue. The general public is only just realizing the importance of preparing for disasters and rescue after the events of last September 200 I. The members of the Maine Search and Rescue Association and the volunteer earch and rescue units of Maine have been preparing for the last three decades. During the late 70's and early 80's, several volunteer search and rescue units existed in Maine, but there was little coordination between them. Their leaders also encountered problems working with the Maine Warden Service, which had recently been given statutory authority over search and rescue . Lack of communication and knowledge about training standards and methods caused a lack of trust. Sensing a need for a statewide organization to represent and organize volunteers, these leaders formed the Maine Association for Search and Rescue or MASAR in 1991. MASAR immediately increased communication between the
K9s are a key part of search and rescue and training sessions are frequent. Page 20 MAI E Fish and Wildlife
Fall 2002
search and rescue units and agencies while undertaking the difficult task of writing training standards. MASAR formulated a basic curriculum and standards for search and rescue training as well as standards for search and rescue dog training. They arc currently discussing standards for the more technical areas such as high angle rescue. These standards are voted on and accepted by the member units of MASAR, and the Maine Warden Service recognizes their training through deployment of personnel at searches. Certification as a ground searcher requires close to a year of part-time training on the basics of search and rescue, demonstrated proficiency in CPR, first aid and the incident command system and the completion of a physical fitness test every three years. MASAR also provides a statewide call out system for the 220 plus volunteers in its 15 member units. MASAR manages searchers at major events by providing a check-in and check-out system for volunteers and search teams. MASAR has assisted in fund raising for search and rescue equipment like the Night Sun light that was mounted on a Brunswick Naval Air Station helicopter, an air boat for Warden Service and recently the new Command Post for the Warden Service Overhead Team. The individual teams that make up MASAR are constantly raising funds to pay for equipment and other expenses. MASAR maintains a database of search and rescue training offered in the state. ln partner-
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It takes a lot of trained manpower to complete a successful search and rescue mission. ship with the Maine Warden Service, organizes two statewide search and rescue training sessions each year. Search and rescue efforts in other states suffer frQm fighting between agencies about jurisdictional authority, agencies that will not utilize trained volunteers and a lack of trust between volunteer units and agencies. Search and rescue personnel who have ~orked in Maine and other states universally point to Maine as having one of the best search and rescue systems in North America. This excellence is due in large part
It's common for search and rescue work to involve working around water. MAINE Fi hand Wildlife
to the foresight, talent and hard work of MASAR and Maine's volunteer search and rescue units. The members of MASAR and the members of the volunteer units come from all walks of life. They represent experts in management, computer science, engineering, education, the emergency medical field and many other profe sions. Many do mountain , rock and ice climbing as a hobby and all are active in outdoor activities. The talents of MASAR's individual members are numerous and serve them well when faced with the unique challenges of search and rescue. The attitude and talents of the search and rescue volunteers can be summarized in MASAR's motto of "Find A Way." The Maine Warden Service recognizes the tremendous contribution MASAR and the volunteer search and rescue units have made to the State of Maine, not only in the thousands of hours spent helping at search and rescue scenes, bul the tens of thousands of hours spent organizing, communicating, formulating standards, training to those standards and raising the funds to support training and search and rescue missions. The Maine Warden Service couldn't do its search and rescue work without them. Fall 2002
Page 21
Birds, Dogs,
and Fall By Forrest Wardwell Age 15 Hunting game birds in the fall is one of my favorite things to do, especially ducks and grouse . Both of these birds can involve hunting with dogs. l love being in the outdoors with dogs, watching them work. Another reason T love hunting in the fall is that I can smell that winter is starting to come. My love of duck hunting began on Youth Waterfowl Day when I was 13. On opening morning I got up at 4 o'clock and the next thing I knew I was in a canoe on the water with my hunting buddies. We could hear the crunching of leaves as a moose or deer walked along the shore. We could not sec it because it was too dark to see five feet in front of you. The smell is always the same, wet pine needles and spruce trees. love that smell. After we got set up in the blind, we heard ducks quacking and the whistling sound that their wings make as they fly overhead. As daylight broke, a duck flew over within shooting range, I aimed and fired. The loud bang echoed across the
Youth Waterfowl Day got Forrest Wardwell started as a duck hunter. Brad Allen photo
A pointing dog makes woodcock hunting better.
meadow as all the other ducks came flying up out of the tall marsh grass. The one that I hot at went down. Splash! That is a great sound and a great feeling too. The dog retrieved the duck and dropped it into my hand. I enjoyed looking it over. It was really quite beautiful. The ducks I like looking at the most are the males of the specie . I have seen wood ducks, pintails, black ducks, mallards and green-winged teal. My grandfather thinks the wood duck is the prettiest. My dad thinks it's the green-winged teal. My mind isn't made up yet because I haven't seen enough duck . However, I will, becau e l plan to duck hunt for many years to come. The grouse season takes me into the woods, where I love to be. It is so peaceful there. I love watching the colorful leaves fall to the ground. The only sounds I hear are twigs snapping under my and the dog's feet. Sometimes I hear a deer running through the woods away from my dog and me. Then a grouse flies out of the woods or brush in front of me, disturbing the peace. Its wings make a thumping sound. Then there i the sound of my shotgun booming out in the woods. These are some of the greatest sounds I know. nothcr perk of hunting game birds is that you get to cat the meat. Ducks and grouse both taste somewhat like chicken to me. The way my dad cook grouse is the best. He has a secret ingredient. These are some of the reasons that I love to hunt birds in the fall.
Brad
Allen photo
Page 22 MAI E Fish and Wildlife I
Fall 2002
Maine 'Vacationland' Becoming
'Recreational Vehicleland' By Cathy Genthner ou need only to take a drive on any section of the Maine Turnpike or 1-95 to see the thousands of trailers hauling ATVs, snowmob il es and boats. What you see depends on the season. Maine is certainly living up to its li cense plate slogan as "Vacationland." When people vacation in Maine, it often involves the use of recreational vehicles including snowmobiles, ATVs, personal watercraft, boats, canoes, kayaks, mountain bikes and dirt bikes. In fact, the decrease in open land throughout New Eng land is sending people by the hoards to Maine. "We are seeing a big increase in ATV use, as we ll as in the use of canoes and kayaks," aid Mike Sawyer, the Recreational Safety Officer for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wild li fe. "For examp le, people can come from Boston and the surrounding suburbs and make an entire weekend out of recreating in Maine. We have advertised that we want people to come to Maine to vacation. The economy has been good and
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people have been buying lots of new equipment for enjoying their time off from work."
ATV Explosion
The fastest-growing form of recreation in Maine is the sport of "Four Wheeling" or "ATVing." The sa le of ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) is rapidly on the rise, as is the number of organ ized ATV Clubs. There are close to 70 organized clubs in Maine. "Our club has been in Game wardens are now the front line in making sure existence now for almost that ever-increasing numbers of ATVers operate safely. Kathy Genthner photo two years," said David Henderson, the president Mas achusetts asking for a map of our trails up here," said Henderson. "We have of Star City ATV Inc. Club in Presque draft in the process and we are giving Isle. "We started the club because there was a need for more authorized trails. We those drafts to people who come up. We've also sent guides out to show peowant to respect the rights of landowners ple where the trails are." and don't want the ATVers to be going "For an evening out, the wife and I wherever they wanted to." take the ATV down to the Blue Moose in Monticello for supper," said Henderson. County Trails "It is a 120-mile round trip that is a lot of Through efforts of fun because of all the wildlife we see on ATV clubs in Eastern the way." and Centra l Aroostook "I think the ATV trail system is great County, there are now and the railroad bed is good-going too," From Page 17 nearly two hundred said Bill Murphy, an ATVer from Enfield 1. Otter - crepuscular/diurnal in miles of trails stretching who rode the 15-mile trail that leads from undisturbed areas. from Smyrna Mills to Alton to the Pi cataquis River in Fort Kent. The trai ls Medford. "I can't think of a more beautioffer a form of recre2. Black-crowned night heron ful way to spend a Saturday afternoon." ation for many that can -crepuscular/nocturnal "I just like to get out and enjoy Mother be done from Apri l ature. When you do it on an ATV, you through November, Coyote - diurnal, crepuscular, nocturnal; depending on the snow- get to see so much and the Piscataquis River is very scenic," said James showing adaptability fal l in a particular area. Hallowell of Alton, who accompanied ATVcrs from outside Murphy on the ride with his antiquated Maine are taking notice. 4. Porcupine - nocturnal/crepuscular Three-Wheeler, manufactured in 1984. "We've had people "You have to be courteous on the trails. call from New 5. Garter snake - diurnal We have a lot of friends who go ATVing Hampshire and too. The sport is really growing."
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MAINE Fi hand Wildlife
Fall 2002 Page 23
Complaints Explode Too With a growing sport come growing pains as well. There are complaints surrounding ATV use varying from trespassing to destruction of crops. ATVs are not allowed on snowmobile trails without the permission of the owner. "One of the basic problems is that young people are not being responsible, and they think they can just take their ATV on the same trail they took their snowmobile on without any problems. ATVs don't automatically have the landowners consent because there is already a snowmobile trail on the property. We are getting more trespassing complaints from people about ATVs using land without the landowner's permission," said Game Warden Brian Tripp whose district covers Southern Oxford County. "There are probably five times as many ATVs out there as there were five years ago when I started working as a game warden." "ATV use continues to grow rapidly and unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be growth in organized activity or responsible behavior," said Bob Meyers, the executive director of the Maine Snowmobile Association. "There are not a lot of legal riding opportunities out there for ATVers."
Education Is Key However, education, including where ATVers can ride and where they can't, as well as rules for safe operation, seem to be the key towards creating an atmosphere where both ATVs and snowmobiles can exist harmoniously. ATV riders age 10 through 16 are required to take an ATV safety course. And, even though the course isn't required for those over 16 there are courses available for those who want to learn more about ATV operation and trails in Maine. "Everywhere we go, people are asking questions such as 'When is the next ATV safety training course going to be given," said Game Warden Mike Mon-ison, who heads up the Outdoor Partners Program, aimed at helping people have a better time in the outdoors through education. "When we set up the booth at various locations throughout the state, we are also asked about good Page 34 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
In winter, much of a game warden's time is devoted to dealing with problems involving snowmobiles. Photo courtesy Maine Snowmobile Association
While other recreational vehicles are 'c oming on strong in Maine , boating remains a major summer activity. Kathy Genthner photo Fall 2002
places to fish or canoe, or in the winter when we are in Greenville, Rangeley and Millinocket, we are asked safety questions from snowmobilers."
Snowmobiling on the Move There are 12,000 miles of snowmobile trails in the state, accounting for a growing number of people who come to Maine for the great trail system. Most of those trails are maintained by snowmobile clubs. "Snowmobiling activity is very busy in my district," said Tripp. "I have the whole western border between Maine and New Hampshire. People come up for the weekend and start in Fryeburg, especially if there is enough snow. If there isn't, they go to Rangeley or Greenville." "We spend most of our time on the weekend checking snowmobiles and snowmobile accidents," said Morrison. "In Greenville, there is a game warden who devotes his time solely to snowmobile law enforcement and accident investigation." "More and more people appear to be getting into snowmobiling," said Meyers. "We keep looking for a ceiling, but we never hit it. Maine has developed into being the premiere snowmobile destination in the United States." With popularity comes responsibility for the safety of riders. According to Meyers, the MSA along with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are in the process of rolling out a new advanced safety course, designed for the experienced snowmobi Jc rider as a kind of "refresher" course. "It is like someone who drives a car deciding to take a defensive driving course," said Meyers. "We are doing this in conjunction with the Community Warden Program. Being safe on the trails, that is what it is all about."
"The Party River" Being safe on the water is also a concern, with the growing number of people who are taking to Maine's rivers, lakes and ponds in canoes and kayaks. "We arc see ing an increase in canoe and kayak u e and an increase in the number of accidents" sa id Sawyer. "One of the problems with tracking canoes and kayaks is that they don't have to be regisMAINE Fi hand Wildlife
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Kayak use is growling fast in Maine and sales of these craft now far exceeds sales Of canoes. Kathy Genthner photo tered , if they don 't have a motor, which makes it a problem area for Maine game wardens and landowners in the Saco River from Fryeburg to Brownfield. That stretch of the Saco is known as "The Party River" where on a summer weekend as many as 4,000 people will be on the river. "When the Outdoor Partners Program had its booth on tne Saco River a few years ago, there were hundreds of canoes, all filled with cases of beer," said Morrison. "lt is an unsafe situation." "When I first had this district, it was really wild, but this year I've had fewer complaints," said Tripp. "I think the Saco River Recreation Council as well as our department has done a great job educating people on the safety issues. The Fryeburg Police Department has also added an officer. We have joined forces with the local police and other groups in an effort to combat the problem." Still, in the summertime, recreational boating issues take up a lot of a game warden's day. "There are so many more people enjoying the water than there used to be," said Tripp. "For example, on Brandy Pond in Naples, people will buy a camp there and all ofa sudden it becomes 'their ' pond. They don't like it when someone moors a boat in front of their
camp. That is a common complaint that we get." However, any body of water over 10 acres in size belongs to the people of Maine and is available for recreational use, unless specifically prohibited by Jaw.
PWCs Get Restricted For example, the use of personal watercraft (PWC) is prohibited on some lakes and ponds. However, the controversy over their use has somewhat died down. "Personal watercraft are banned on some bodies of the water," said Sawyer. "The noise was a big issue when they first came out. Now, a lot has changed. The machines are much quieter and safer and more people are abiding by the no wake zone. A lot goes back to the responsibility of the operators." Personal responsibility is vital to the safe operation of any recreational vehicle - on the water, on the snow or on the trail. It is up to us to operate any recreational vehicle with common sense and prudence ensuring our safety as well as the other person's. Arrange to take a recreational vehicle afety course. It may be only way that we can all continue to enjoy our recreational vehic les in Vacationland.
Fall 2002 Page 25
Photos by Mark Latti Black Brook Flowage WMA is located in Pierce Pond Township (T2R4 BKP WKR), approximately 30 miles north of the village of North New Portland. This wetland is unique in this part of the state in that it is not affected by water level manipulations for hydropower storage, as are nearby Flagstaff Lake and the Dead River Flowage. Consequently, it is highly attractive to waterfowl because they demand quality wetlands with stable water levels. Anecdotal evidence suggests the use of this area by waterfowl once rivaled more traditionally renowned wetlands.
History Remnants of the log-crib dam that formerly impounded the Black Brook Flowage are barely evident today. When the circa 1900 dam was breached is Page
16 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
unknown, but since then water levels have fluctuated with the repeated construction and abandonment ofbcaver dams at the outlet. The dam , flowage easement, access lot, and right-of-way were acquired by the State of Maine in 1990 using state bond money.
and shorebirds. Resident aquatic furbearers include muskrat, mink, otter, and beaver. Moose, deer, and bear frequent its wetland fringes and riparian zone. Bald eagles nesting on nearby Flagstaff Lake are common visitors.
Management Habitat Black Brook Flowage WMA includes approximately 750 acres, nearly all of which are wetland. Lack of a permanent dam leaves less than I 00 acres of open water and between 600-700 acres of bog, resulting in a low interspersion of wetland types. However, three main tributaries feed the flowage creating attractive habitat with irregular shorelines, islands, coves, and backwaters.
Dominant Species The area provides limited habitat for some species of waterfowl, wading bird :
The intent is to manage Black Brook Flowage WMA to maximize wetland habitat diversity and productivity. Presently, opportunities for water level management do not exist. The Department plans to construct a new dam at the site of the log-crib remnant. Future management will maintain stable water levels to maximize habitat diversity and open water interspersion , and to protect habitat for waterfowl production , broodrearing, staging, and spring and fall migration. Maintaining a diverse wetland habitat will provide nesting cover for waterbirds, and provide for annual or seasona l habitat requirements of wetlandFall 2002
dependant non-game species. Maintenance of stable water levels will also benefit aquatic furbearers.
Activities This area has a long history of waterfowl hunting, trapping, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Water access is limited to hand-carried canoes or shallow draft boats. There is evidence that the area supports a small population of wild brook trout.
Directions From the village of North New Portland, follow the Long Falls Darn Road north for approximately 20 miles, taking a right onto a gravel road marked "Cobb's Pierce Pond Camps." Follow this road to a "T" intersection and take a left. Shortly before this road divides, an unimproved paper company road leaves to the right. Follow this north for several hundred yards. The road ends here,
A bunchberry blossom peaks out from between downed wood. MAI E Fish and Wildlife
Beaver and aquatic animals make their homes in the wetlands at Black Brook Flowage Wildlife Management Area. becoming a trail, requiring a portage of several hundred yards to the old dam site at the wetland outlet. Black Brook Flowage Wildlife Management Arca is owned and maintained by the Maine Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Its operation and maintenance are supported by your fees as well as revenue from the ale of hunting and fishing licenses, and federal monies under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program.
As with other Maine wildlife management areas, spring wildflowers abound at Black Brook Flowage. Fall 2002 Page 27
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Page ~8 MA INE Fish and Wi ldlife
Fall 2002
I reached the bottom of a small hill where it leveled off into an area of thick , small evergreens and alders when I thought I heard a sound over the crunching of crisp alder leaves under my boots. I stopped to listen and heard the unmistakable sound of a deer blowing . It was off to my right , maybe a hundred yards in the thick brush. My heart pounded a little harder and I hoped that it was a buck. I stayed very still and kept listening. Another blow, then silence. I waited some more. Minutes passed as I listened for any indication that it was near, and then directly in front of me I heard it blow again and again , still off in the distance. Even though I have heard that sound many times in the woods, it always startles me. It was pretty clear by that time that I was more the target than the deer - it had me figured out all along. When it finally occurred to me that it was not likely I would see that deer, I thought I would have some fun. I blew right back at it to see if I could get a reaction! I did . . . silence.
he hopped onto my boot. I remained still, not wanting to move just in case my buck was watching nearby. He began to gnaw on the edges of the leather of my boots, which had been with me for all of my hunting years. I thought "What a neat experience. He's too cute to shoo away." I stayed motionless to see what would happen . Chip, as I called him , hopped from one boot to the other and back again , gnawing the edges of the leather on my boots until I could see where its tiny teeth were slowly wearing the edges of it away. He nudged his nose up under the cuff of my hunting pants looking for a tastier bite of leather, and I hoped that would be as far as he would go. But I couldn't shoo him away. This was too interesting. I could always buy another pair of boots, and what's a leg anyway. He pulled at my bootlaces with his teeth , but the laces didn't appeal to his taste buds so he returned to nibbling on the leather. Sling Swing Thinking he would be moving along soon , I -watched him hop back into the leaves and scurry around for a few minutes tossing leaves about, burrowing under them , and surfacing again to sit up and alertjy scan the area, probably watching for predaAs I stood with my rifle by my tors. side he noticed it, and moved toward the butt end resting on the ground to check out the sling. He jumped onto the sling , swung back and forth , and dropped back to the ground. That must have been fun because he jumped right back on the sling , clung
Little One As I waited patiently to see if that deer would be foolish enough to come near me, I watched a chipmunk in the leaves a few feet away. He burrowed into the leaves and surfaced a few times, enjoying the last days of autumn before he would find a cozy spot to sleep away the long winter. He noticed me too , and headed toward me. I thought to myself "Shouldn't you be hibernating by now, little one? It's November you know." Surprisingly, • • • • • •
to it, and looked up at me with those tiny black eyes . This time he moved up the rifle barrel and sat on the hand that grasped it. We stared at each other for a moment, me wondering why this little creature was so trusting , and he probably wondering what on earth I was . Close Inspection I wasn 't prepared for what happened next. Chip scampered up to my shoulder, peeked into my ear and I felt his soft, delicate breath in my ear. Maybe he thought it would be a good place to spend the winter. Then he nibbled the top of my ear. "Ouch! " I whispered . "Stop that." I tipped my head slightly to the side to discourage him , and he scooted back down my shoulder, then quickly changed his mind and returned to investigate the back of my jacket. He moved from my shoulder to my back, sitting on the collar of my hunting jacket, and I was a little concerned that he would get into my jacket. He nudged his little nose under the back of my hat. I felt my hat tip forward and watched the brim come slowly down my forehead . Could he be looking for some nice gray hair to insulate his winter den? That thought must have passed quickly, and he scurried back to my shoulder and jumped into a small fir tree at my side. I slowly turned to watch him, and he jumped back to my shoulder. Before long I was able to move slowly without alarm ing him , and extended my other hand to see if he would check it out. He jumped for it and sampled my glove - not tasty
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enough - then returned to his investigation of what must have seemed like some alien to him. Back and forth from the tree to me , up and down from head to toe , gnawing my boots, investigating everything, he checked every possible inch of me for half an hour. I was amazed at his lack of fear. Then my little friend moved down into the leaves at my feet again , tumbled around for a few minutes, found some tasty morsels of food, and moved on to investigate the rest of the Maine woods . Our relationship ended as quickly as it began , but I surely will never forget him. "Goodbye Chip, have a good winter. I'll come back in the spring to see you ." Then I went back to the task of deer hunting, but there was only silence . I heard the hoot of an owl and felt a pang of concern for Chip. "I hope he finds a safe place to spend the winter," I thought to
myself. I snapped back to reality when I heard Dave's voice out of nowhere. Reaching into my pocket, I took out my two-way radio . He was calling to let me know that he was heading for the truck and coming my way to pick me up. "Have you seen anything?" came over the radio. "I heard a deer," I replied, "but you should hear the great wildlife story I have to tell you!" I smiled to myself as I thought about my experience with Chip. The season ended with neither Dave nor I getting a deer, but I had an unforgettable experience in the woods of Maine. What could be more exciting? Next spring I will return to the woods and wonder if "Chip" survived the winter, and marvel at how nature allows life to begin anew in the spring .
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Phone 207-435-6156 Fal l 2002
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