At his retirement luncheon in Augusta, guest of honor Paul Fournier (left) shares a moment with veteran Maine outdoor columnist Gene Letourneau. Fournier served as media coordinator and videographer for the department for 14 years. charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, a felony crime. Participating in the undercover investigation were Warden Sergeant Tim Peabody, Warden Investigators Philip Dugas, Gary Sargent, and Thomas Santaguida, District Wardens David Berry, Mark Thompson and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agents Stott, Bosco, and Dowd. Massachusetts Enviromental Police Officers John Thranghesi and Tony Thranghesi also assisted in the investigation.
Paul Fournier Retires Paul Fournier, media spokesman for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, retired this month after 14 years with the Department. Fournier, a native of Jay, Maine was a bush pilot, guide, and sporting camp operator before he became interested in outdoor photography. His background as a Maine outdoorsman and interest in film-making led to work with the Maine Department of Marine Resources and eventually with the Fish and Game Department. During his career at DIF&W, Fournier produced hundreds of film and video productions that depicted the diverse activities of the department.
According to Fournier, one of his more memorable assignments was his chronicle of the Maine Caribou Project, which took him to Newfoundland. Along with his video productions, Fournier handled all press relations for the department during his career. The Maine media came to rely on Fournier's accessibility and in-depth knowledge, not only of issues related to all aspects of outdoor recreation, but also of the enforcement of fish and game laws. At a recent retirement luncheon for Fournier, former Fish and Game Commissioner Bill Vail acknowledged Fournier's dedicated service to the department, as well as his skill and remarkable ability to always get along. Commissioner Ray "Bucky" Owen presented Fournier with a framed Maine conservation art print. After a winter vacation in Florida, Fournier expects to return to Maine and to work on a number of unfinished video projects.
1995 Turkey Applications Available Next month when the season opens on Maine's expanding wild turkey population, an additional 250 hunters will have permits to bag a gobbler.
A total of 750 turkey hunting permits will be issued this year for the May hunt, which runs from May 2 to May 27. A total of 750 permits will be issued, 75 to nonresident applicants. Application fees are $5 for Maine residents and $10 for nonresident turkey hunters. Although wildlife biologists for the department report that Maine's wild turkey population has expanded its territory to eastern Waldo County, the turkey hunting zone this year remains the same as last year. That zone is bounded by roads and rivers forming a line connecting Kezar Falls, Steep Falls, Naples, Mechanic Falls, Auburn, Lisbon Falls, Brunswick, Bath, and Phippsburg. Coastal islands not connected to the mainland at low tide or by manmade structures are not included. Maine's successful wild turkey introduction program was started by the department in York County in the 1970s, using turkeys trapped from wild flocks in Vermont. Turkey hunting was first allowed in 1986. The highest kill was last year, when hunters took 62 of th~ big, elusive game birds.
1994 Moosehead Lake Fishing Summary Fisheries biologists at Maine's largest lake have released their annual report on the condition of the sport fisheries. The report summarizes findings of 1994 fishery surveys conducted on Moosehead Lake and its major tributaries by biologists Paul Johnson, Scott Roy, and Tim Obrey. Copies of the report, authored by Roy, may be obtained from the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regional office in Greenville. Some highlights and excerpts from the summary: TOTAL ANNUAL USE: In 1994 the total annual fishing activity on Moosehead-winter and summer-was 45,841 angler-days. The figures show a slight drop in winter fishing, but an increase in summer angling activity for an annual increase of about 2,300 angler-days over the 1993 estimate. LANDLOCKED SALMON: While the winter catch rates did improve somewhat over the previous season with ice fishermen catching and releasing 5,600 14"-18" salmon, the summer catch was poor, with the total open water catch about 50 percent below predictions. Biologists predicted that summer fishermen would catch and
Spring 1995
31