Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Spring 2008

Maine State Library

Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

3-1-2008

Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Spring 2008 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine Recommended Citation Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, "Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Spring 2008" (2008). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 57. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/57

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at Maine State Documents. It has been accepted for inclusion in Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine by an authorized administrator of Maine State Documents. For more information, please contact statedocs@maine.gov.

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Page 2 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Spring 2008

MAINE Fish and Wildlife Governor John E. Baldacci Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Roland D. Martin, Commissioner Paul F. Jacques, Deputy Commissioner Kenneth H. Elowe, Director, Bureau of Resource Management Lisa Wilson, Financial Analyst Bureau of Administrative Services Co. Joel Wilkenson, Bureau of Warden Service Andrea Erskine, Assistant to the Commissioner Advisory Council Robert. S. Savage, Limington Ron Usher, Westbrook R. Leo Keiffer, Caribou Sheridan Oldham, Waterville Stephen Philbrick, Oquossoc Frank Dunbar, Bucksport Joseph E. Clark, Millinocket Ray Poulin Jr., Ripley Albion Goodwin , Pembroke Mike Witte, New Harbor

Vol. 50, No. 2

Spring 2008 4

Editorial

Dan Martin

MAINE Fish and Wildlife to cease publication.

Changing Lawbook

5

•

Joe Dembeck

Fishing laws book gets improvements.

Fly Fishing 's Future

6

Noah Rousseau

A middle schoo ler's essay on his favorite activity.

Tyler Pond WMA

7

Lisa Kane

A kettle pond is at the heart of this 128-acre parcel in Augusta.

Turkeys Looking Good 9

Cathy Genthner

Healthy popul ation means plenty of hunting opportunity.

Bow Hunter Education

12

Cathy Genthner

Focus is on teaching and technology in expanded program.

14

Kidbits

Lisa Kane

How to tell Maine's outdoor officials by their uniforms .

Regis Tremblay, Editor Lisa Kane, Copy Editor (ISSN 0360-00SX) MAINE Fish and Wildlife is published quarterly by the Maine Department of Inland Fishecies and Wildlife , 284 State St., Station 41 , Augusta, Maine 04333, under appropriation 010-09A-0529. Subscription rate is $9.95 per year.

Permission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit is 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, 20028.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send both old and new addresses to 183 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04330.

POSTMASTER : Please send address changes to The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04330. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCR IPTION? Call 1-800-698-0883 Out of state call 207-622-4242.

Periodical Postage Paid at Augusta, 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

Visitmaine .com

16

Deborah Turcotte

Tourist website adds information about angling destinations.

Sportsman 's Plate

17

Cathy Genthner

New vehicle li cense plate for sportsmen now available.

Boat Launch Program

19

Tom Seymour

A look at the work being done to expand lake and river access.

Deer Management

22

Tom Seymour

A review of Maine's efforts to keep watch on whitetails.

Hawk Rescue

25

George Chappel

A Cooper's Hawk is rescued and rehabilitated.

Winter Fish Kill

26

G . Russell Danner

Record snowfall may mean lower fish survival.

About the Cover: Game Warden John MacDonald fishes with a young angler at a youth fishing

event in New Gloucester. Emily Jones photo

Spring 2008 Page 3

Editorial

MAINE Fish and Wildlife Magazine to Cease Publishing With This Issue We all know the saying, you to know how your license and "Good things must come to an registration fees are being spent.

So we came up with a solution end." For the employees of the on how to keep you informed in Maine Department of Inland an inexpensive way. It's the comFisheries and Wildlife, it's with puter - which combines words sadness that we have to say it about the Maine Fish and Wildlife and pictures and delivers them almost instantly to viewers. magazine.

Changes in technology are At least the paper edition.

For more than 40 years, biolo- making it easier for people to communicate. Computer processes gists, educators and wardens have been bringing you stories and pic- that once were cumbersome to use now are simpler, opening up the tures of their work four times a year in a beautifully designed pub- world to you one click at a time.

In the next few months, we lication. Your comments to us on will be looking into ways to make how much you enjoyed receiving Maine's inland fisheries and the magazine encouraged us to wildlife programs accessible to continue each year regardless of you through the computer. For th considerable amount of time example, we will be studying how and money it took to produce it. to take the paper version of the We continued because we wanted magazine and put it on our Web to let you know how valuable our site in a user-friendly way. work is to you, and to the state's Eventually it will be available on economy and Maine's future. a quarterly basis and it still will be But several rounds of budget chock-full of the stories you enjoy cuts this past winter and spring forced us to answer a tough finan- reading.

But that's not all. With so many cial question - eliminate jobs or inexpensive communications tools cease publication of the magaavailable these days, such as zine? Unfortunately, given the video, e-mail and subscriber servamount of money we needed to ices, we will be reviewing the best cut, we had to do both. We decidway to keep you informed about ed not to fill a few vacant positions and to stop printing the mag- the fish and wildlife management work that is ongoing in the azme.

Department, as well as the safety Financial decisions like these are made with agony and trepidaand enforcement efforts of the Maine Warden Service. tion. Many of you let us know Many of you may be saying, and your legislators know - that "Well it won't be the same." And you did not want the publication you' re right to a certain extent. to end. either did we. You, our constituents, are vital to the future We're accustomed to holding the magazine in our hands, reading it of the Department, and we want Page 4 MAINE Fish and Wildl ife

at our leisure, keeping it as a souvenir or a resource. In many ways, that won't change. Now you'll be able to go online when it's convenient to you, read the magazine through your computer screen, and print out the stories you'd like to keep. Online editions will be archived on our Web site so you'll be able to go back anytime and look at them again.

So pour yourself a cup of coffee and immerse yourself in this edition. As always, it's packed with interesting articles about fishing and other topics we thought you'd find fascinating. And in a few month , get yourself another cup and visit us online.

We look forward to seeing you in cyber pace!

- Roland D. Martin Commis ioner Spring 2008

The Ever-Changing

LAWBOOK

By Joe Dembeck Research Fisheries Biologist, Bangor How do you best manage fish populations? That's easy. Manage people!

This may seem to be odd logic, but since the last Ice Age fish have been taking care of themselves quite nicely. Then humans came along. We fish, modify habitat, and perform a number of other activities that directly and indirectly impact fish populations. As my college fisheries professor Dr. Ringler used to say, "Fisheries management is 98 percent dealing with people and two percent dealing with fish."

For the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Fisheries Divi ion, the most direct method we have of managing the behavior of anglers is through the rules and regulations in our lawbooks. Like most other things, the easier a regulation is to understand the more useful it is. That is why over the last three years the Fisheries Division slowly has been making changes to the fishing lawbooks.

At this moment, some folks probably are throwing their hands in the air yelling, "Maine fishing law books are too complex! They should be more like

a 'fill-in-your-favorite-state' variety - one book for any state!"

Without a doubt, Maine's fishing lawbooks include a lot of special regulations - and for good reason.

There are more than 6,000 lakes and ponds and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams in the state.

The Fisheries Division staff spends the majority of their time in the field studying waters and analyzing data that guide our management decisions. As our understanding of fish populations within individual water bodies grows, so does the need to tailor regulations to meet specific performance goals. These goals can range from providing high catch rates to producing trophy-sized fish.

Since many anglers in Maine are focused on an individual species, we spend a lot of time studying sportfish and experimenting with regulations to find that right mix that satisfies all anglers. As you can guess, we will never be able to satisfy all of the desires of Maine's diverse angler groups, on every water, but we try.

Further changes are being considered for the fishing lawbooks in the near future, such as combining the Open Water and Ice Fishing lawbooks into one

Recent Lawbook Improvements • Consolidation of bass regulations from 25 different regulation categories to five categories; • Consolidation of lake trout regulations from 30 to 7 categories; • Consolidation of brook trout regulations from 25 to 8 categories; • Consolidation of landlocked salmon regulations from 16 to 8 categories; • Combining the two extended fishing season, S-23 (Oct. 1-31) and S-24 (Oct. I-Nov. 30) into one extended season from Oct. I to Dec. 31. This allows for expanded fishing opportunities on more than 2,000 waters located throughout the state; • Modifying the layout to improve readability and highlight new regulation change~.

Maine Fish and Wild life

STATE OF MAINE

0PENWATER

FISHING REGULATIONS

Regulations Effective January 2008 - March 31 , 2010 annual book. Maine is the only "ice fishing state" that produces separate lawbooks for each of the seasons.

Additionally, we are looking to adopt a two-year lawbook instead of an annual lawbook. As budgets remain stagnant or are cut, there is a renewed focus in finding ways to ave money without sacrificing services. By creating a twoyear lawbook, we will be able to save on printing costs, remove redundant pages and decrease the amount of staff time devoted to the entire regulation/law book process.

Thi year's Open Water Fishing book will be the first to show the new changes. Don't throw it away! It will be a two-year book, in effect through March 31 , 2010. Any changes to regulations will be announced on the IF&W Web site (www.maine.gov/ifw) and in future pre s releases.

A further upcoming focus will be to addres species specific regulations on rivers and streams throughout the state.

For example, the types of regulations that work for brook trout inhabiting lakes and ponds are often not applicable to brook trout populations in rivers and streams, due to differences in available forage, habitat, water quality, and trout (Continued on next page)

Spring 2008 Page 5

How Can I Help The Future of Maine Fly Fishing?

By Noah Rousseau Seventh Grade, Phillips Middle School

There are a lot of reasons to fly fish.

Some people fish because they like to eat fish and others because they enjoy their time with nature. I like to fly fish because it makes me feel related to the river that I'm standing in. Watching the fly drift with the current helps me to understand where the fish may be holding and how I might succeed at catching a fish at the end of the line.

Three years ago, when my mother showed me how to fly fish, I wanted to try something new and I quickly found I liked it. Living on the Sandy River and hearing the beautiful sound of water moving encourages me to fish and be outside whenever I can. Now, even though I sometimes get aggravated if I lose a fish, my tippet breaks or I lose my favorite fly, I still enjoy myself and have the patience to tie a new fly on or search for the one that I lost.

However, you don't need to live on a river to excel at fly fishing. You can learn to fly fish at any age, but I think it is really important that kids learn how to fly fish early. Programs like Live the Legend, the Maine Conservation School and my outdoor education class at school have all helped me to be a better angler and appreciate the places I like to fish.

Programs like these should be more available for kids, so they can get educated in outdoor sports and experience what is historical to the state of Maine.

Getting kid involved in fly fi hing programs where they can have a mentor is a good idea. My mentors, Kash Haley, Kris Thomp on, Aldro French and my parents, have all helped me in the sport of fly fishing. Maybe someday I will become a Maine Guide o I can be a mentor to others.

Additionally, taking care of the land i just a important as taking care of the

Page 6 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

water. Clear water begins with clean land. Coldwater fish need our help in making sure our water stays clean for them. This includes protecting the water from invasive plants, fish and algae.

These are choices we can make, not the fish .

Finally, and probably most important, is to encourage and practice proper catch and release techniques so you don't harm the fish and damage future fish populations. A released fish doesn't always mean it will survive if it isn't released carefully and quickly.

In closing, I think kids should grab a mentor, explore your local waters and have fun!

-Noah Rousseau recently won the 2007 Youth Essay Contest sponsored by FlyfishinginMaine .com. The judges said they were impressed with the two messages that Noah expressed in his essay: first, that an outdoor experience should be available to all young kids, and second, that it is important to be good environmental stewards and protect our natural resources. As a prize, Noah received a complete Orvis outfit, including a fly rod, reel, line and backing. Noah is the son of Shelby and Mark Rousseau .

Shelby is the stewardship director at Rangeley La.kes Heri/C/ge Trust and Mark is a forest ranger with the Department of Conservation.

Lawbook (Continued from previous page) movement patterns.

There will always be fishing regulations, and the Fisheries Division will always be attempting to balance the management of fish populations with minimizing the complexity of the lawbook. No matter what specific regulations are inside Maine 's fishing lawbook, there are a few pieces of information that you will always need to know when using it, be it 2008 or 2018. These items are: • Where you are - county and town; • The name of the water you are fishing; • The date - to know whether open water or ice fishing regulations apply; • Your fishing gear - spinning gear, fly-fishing, ice trap or jigging pole; • Type of bait attached to your fishing gear - fly, artificial lure, live bait or dead bait; • Fish identification.

Regardless of when and where you foh in Maine , keep that lawbook handy and most importantly, enjoy your time on the water!

Spring 2008

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Tyler Pond is a 'kettle pond' surrounded , ' by steep slopes.

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Compiled by Lisa Kane Photos by Lisa Kane The Tyler Pond Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in the towns of Manchester and A ugusta.

Thi s sma ll WMA is 128 acres, consisting of abo ut 98 acres of mature, mi xed fo rest stands, a 4-acre deep fres h marsh, and Tyler Pond at its center, a geologically unique cold water pond about 26 acres in size .

Bordered to the south by one large grave l pit and a series of smaller ones, Tyler Pond is the southern-most pond in the Summer Haven chain of ponds.

Created by glacial action, thi s chain of ponds displ ays an unu sual geologic fo rmation identified as a recessional de lta.

Ty ler Pond itself is a kettl e pond , a dep ress ion fo 1111ed when an isolated bl ock of ice , buri ed in gravel and sa nd ,

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Spring 2008 Page 7

melts and the over lying gravel and sand slumps in, forming a pond. As such, there is no inflow or outflow of water.

The forest surrounding Tyler Pond is largely composed of mature red oak, but there are also moderate stands of softwood forest, especially on steep slopes bordering the shore. A large stand of mature red oak trees provides an abundance of snags and cavities for wildlife, as well as a good mast crop of acorns.

Deer, moose and wild turkey are known to frequent the WMA, and there was fresh beaver work observed recently.

The deep fresh marsh located in the northwest corner of the property provides excellent habitat for waterfowl and wading bird feeding.

This area is owned by the State of Maine and is managed by cooperative agreement between the Maine Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). The Summer Haven Ponds have long been a recreational area for people from the surrounding towns. Tyler Pond's aesthetic quality, undeveloped shoreline, and proximity to populated areas caught the interest of the State Park and Recreation Commission when searching for possible recreation sites near the Augusta area. It was purchased by the DOC using federal Land and Water Conservation Funds and State Funds.

DOC has coordinated ATV/ snowmobile use on this property as well as that of the surrounding private landown-

ATV and snowmobile use at Tyler Pond are coordinated by the Department of Conservation ers. An ATV trail network has been established in part to control use, as well as to minimize some of the erosion problems associated with the pond access sites. DOC has spent a considerable effort in erosion control methods including rock barricades, vehicular gates, rubber water bars, and rerouting of trails.

Maintaining excellent water quality is a large part of managing the cold-water fishery for quality brook trout at Tyler Pond. Tyler Pond sits atop a very large aquifer that is also the water source for the Department's Governor Hill Hatchery in North Augusta. The biggest potential threat to water quality is from direct soil erosion at the various acces sites caused by misuse of ATVs or other yehicles.

Tyler Pond provides a unique fishing opportunity in central and southern Maine. Its undeveloped shoreline combined with good brook trout habitat, make this an exceptional cold water fishery for this geographic area. The pond was reclaimed in the fall of 1989 to remove less desirable fish species that compete with brook trout for food and space. Since then, annual fall stockings of fingerling brook trout have been maintaining this fishery. According to fisheries division records, growth and survival of the e fish has been very good. An illegal introduction of Rainbow smelt occurred sometime after the 1989 reclamation.

However, it appears that the smelts have become established and are actually contributing to good brook trout growth.

Special regulations are in effect at Tyler Pond, de igned to enhance the size of the trout available to anglers. It is closed to ice fishing .

Public recreation i a primary objective of thi management area. Hunting, fishing, trapping, snowmobiling, off-road vehicle use, hiking and wildlife watching provide many opportunities for a variety of public use.

The Tyler Pond WMA can be reached from the Summerhaven road off of Rt. 27. An entrance road and mall parking area is located on the left. There is also a marked recreational trail off of the Sanford Road that leads down to Tyler Pond. Refer to the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer Map 12 85.

Recent signs of beaver work at Tyler Pond.

Page 8 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Spring 2008

Healthy Turkey Population and Expanded Opportunities Attract a Growing Number of Hunters

By Cathy Genthner Even though Maine had a pretty tough winter with a greater than average snowfall in 2008, the wild turkey seems to have survived and thrived amazingly well. It is estimated that Maine's wi ld turkey popu lation is around 50 ,000 birds.

"They are pretty resourcefu l birds. It is deep fluffy powder that inh ibits the ir ability to move and find food, and we don't get those types of conditions very often," said Brad All en, a wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife who specializes in the wild turkey. "One thing that gets them through a tough winter is the number of bird feeders out there. It is not uncommon to see four or five birds under a bird feeder and the birdseed is really good for them. If they can get food, they can survive the co ld."

Brian Smith, a member of the board of directors for the Maine Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation , agrees with Allen.

"The turkeys did well ," said Smith, who is founder of the Washington County Chapter called The Downeast Longbeards. "They know how to get to peop les' bird feeders and, of course, if there is a crust, they can walk on top of the snow."

Widespread Birds The Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris

For more detailed information on turkey hunting regulations please visit: www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting_trapping/hunting/wild_turkey.htm To learn more about the wild turkey and hunting visit: National Wild Turkey Federation: www.nwtf.org Maine Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation: www.mainenwtf.org MAINE Fish and Wildlife

gallopavo silvestris) can be found in the eastern half of the United States - from Maine to Florida and west to Texas, Missouri , Iowa and Minnesota, as well as in southern Canada. The Eastern Wild Turkey also has been successfully introduced in Washington State. It is the mo t widely distributed and hunted of the five subspecies of wild turkeys found in the United States.

The Eastern Turkey's habitat is hard and mixed wood forests, making the woods of Maine a perfect home. French ornithologist L.J .P. Vieillot described and named the subspecies in 1817 using the Latin word ilvestri , which means "forest" turkey. The turkey population was extremely high when colonists first settled the country.

"We had turkeys in the 1700s and early 1800s and they lived along the

Spring 2008 Page 9

coast with the oak trees," Spring Turkey Permits Allen said. "If you can imagine what the forests Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 looked like when the Resident 1617 2065 2741 3880 6792 8730 11656 15170 23026 Mayflower landed, oak 120 208 925 Nonresident 133 185 259 270 344 430 would have been the domiTotal 4000 7000 12000 15600 23951 9000 1750 2250 3000 nant tree. Turkeys love acorns. In the summer, they Year 2007 2006 will eat grasshoppers, crickResident 17434 18710 ets and other insects. They Nonresident 692 683 also like apples and seeds. *Superpack permits 724 953 They are generalists when it 20117 19079 comes to food, which allows Total them to survive." *The superpack permit includes a spring and fall turkey permit and was introduced in As hunting pressures 2006 increa ed and cities and towns expanded, turkey numbers declined dramatiFall Turkey Permits cally. In the 1980s, the Maine Department of Inland 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year Fisheries and Wildlife 2,013 2849 2855 2827 2566 5209 Resident launched a campaign to rein- Nonresident 86 148 73 68 33 9 troduce the wild turkey to Total 2,022 2882 2923 2913 2639 5357 Maine. The fir t limited turkey hunt began in 1986 in in areas such as Bethel, Dover, Lincoln, a trophy bird. If I get one this season, it York County. and occasional ly beyond. will be my fiftieth bird."

"That's when I took part in my first "We brought them back to Maine turkey hunt," Smith aid. "A coll ege because they were native to Maine," Best in the East friend said to me, 'Let's go hunt turkeys.'

I got my first turkey in 1987 when I shot Today, turkeys can be found all along Allen said. "We also wanted to have hunting opportunities in Maine. I tell the coast to the middle section of Maine people we have the best turkey hunting in the East."

The succes of the ree tablishment of the turkey has surpassed all expectations, to the delight of hunters and conservationi ts.

"The numbers have gone above what they thought we would have here in Maine," aid Jim Plourde, the president of the Maine State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

"Historically, it eems there was a range where they thought turkeys wou ld reestablish themselves, which was basicall y in the coa ta! area. But you can find them even up in Aroostook County or Greenville, although not in large numbers."

Hefty Birds

A mature gobbler is recognized as a trophy wherever turkeys are hunted.

Ken Allen photo

Page 10 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

The males, called gobblers or toms, can weigh up to 20 pounds and may be up to four feet tall al maturity. The females arc called hens and weigh usually between eight and 12 pounds. Males generally port a red beard but beards can also be present - although much smaller Spring 2008

known as pipping.

Hens respond to the pipping sounds by making soft clucks at random, communicating with the young while they are still in the egg. The communication between the mother and the young is critical to the young's survival. Still, the young and adults are vulnerable to predators.

"Raccoons and skunks will eat the poults," Allen said.

"Usually about half of the young that hatch actually survive. Bobcats, coyotes, great horned owls, fishers and martens will eat the adults."

In order to help the population thrive, turkey hunting is allowed only in certain designated wildlife management districts in the spring and in the fall. A special turkey Turkeys may not be smart, but outwitting their acute permit is required for senses is a real challenge that makes any successful each season, along with hunter proud. Harry Vanderweide photo a hunting and or archery license. on 10 percent of the hen population. In "There was a dramatic increase in the the northeast, breeding begins in April number of permits last fall because it was with the males gobbling and strutting to the first year that we allowed shotguns to attract a female. be used. Before it was archery only," "In the spring when you are calling said Bill Swan, the licensing director for them, you try to imitate the hen and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries sound seductive," Smith said. "They are and Wildlife. "I suspect we will see a lot sharp-eyed and they can see color. That is of orowth in the number of permits sold b why hunters wear camouflage. Turkeys for this fall as well." have no sense of smell but if they did, In the spring, hunting is allowed from they would be near impossible to bag one-half hour before sunrise until noon because their senses of hearing and seeand is open to archery and shotguns. The ing are so keen." season begins around the last week of The offspring, known as poult , April and extends until the end of May, hatch around early to mid-summer in with hunters allowed to hunt every other Maine. Females usually Jay a clutch of week, based on the year they were born.

IO to 12 eggs with the eggs hatching "Hopefully, they are breeding right after an incubation of about a month. The before the turkey hunting season in late hatching begins with the poult rotating April," Allen said. "It is fun being up at within the shell, chipping a complete dawn in early May. It is so quiet and the break in the large end of the shell. This is MAINE Fish and Wildlife

woods are alive with the turkeys gobbling. You can see a long way into the woods because the leaves aren't out yet and the temperature is nice."

Fall Experience The fall hunt takes place in October with two weeks of archery-only hunting and one week that allows hunting with a bow or a shotgun. Fall hunting is allowed one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.

"My daughter Sarah is 10 years old and I had her out hunting last fall. She missed a bird and she was all excited.

She asked if we could come back out before school and she got her bird on a Tuesday morning. She got a young hen in the fall of 2007 and now all she wants to do is shoot a big bird," Plourde said.

"Turkey hunting is a unique type of sport. It is very interactive. You are always listening for that gobble and there is a real adrenaline rush, especially if one is coming up behind you. The turkeys can get riled up a bit, especially when the male is trying to show his dominance or trying to attract a female. There is a pecking order when it comes to turkeys.

They're always fighting over a woman or fighting over who is the boss."

While turkeys are often seen out in the fields or crossing roads in the southern half of the state, they aren't as easy to bag as one might think.

"For a bird with a brain the size of a pea, they can make a real fool out of you," Smith said. "What I like about turkey hunting is that it is a chance to get outdoors and hunt in the springtime or early fall. It can be real action-packed.

You hear the gobbles first thing in the morning in the trees."

Smith said that every year, more people are getting interested in turkey hunting. He credits the outreach efforts of the National Wild Turkey Federation to attract youth and women hunters.

"Also, the popularity of outdoor channels on cable featuring turkey hunts has attracted people to the sport," Smith said.

Plourde values the outdoors experience. "You get to be part of nature. In the spring you can go fishing and hunting in the same day. It sounds like heaven to me," he said.

Spring 2008 Page 11

Bow Hunter Education Course: Targets Teaching and Technology

By Cathy Genthner Jon Bailey, a contractor and photographer from Tenants Harbor, grew up in a hunting family in Burlington, Vermont.

"I can remember target practicing as a boy with my father and uncle, both of whom were avid deer hunters," said Bailey. "In fact, I used to take the first week of the firearms hunting season off from school and go to deer camp with them - seven miles up a logging road in the Green Mountain National Forest."

Those are great memories for Bailey, although when he moved to Maine 30 years ago, he didn 't hunt at all until three years ago. In 2006, he put his name in the moose lottery, was selected for a permit, and bagged a 801-pound bull moose in Bingham in early fall. About a month later, he shot an eight-point buck. Then in the spring of 2007, Bailey took a bowhunter education course and fell in love with the sport, even before he had fired a single arrow.

training, home study using a textbook and/or computer, and field experience. In the classroom, students also take in scenarios between hunters and landowners to learn proper landowner relations and ethics.

"We have this one skit where a hunter shoots a doe and doesn 't have a doe permit, but then desperately tries to convince his buddy, who has a permit, to tag it. In the end, the hunter takes his medicine for shooting the doe and reports it to the warden service," said Pete Lamarre, a state representative for the National Bow Hunter Foundation, and a trainer and instructor for the archery education

course. "We all have fun with these different scenarios, but they teach very valuable and serious lessons about hunter ethics and the law."

In order to receive certification, students must attend every class and pass a final exam. There is also the opportunity for the tudents to learn by doing.

"We are trying to generate more hands-on experience in the classroom, rather than having students just sit there while instructors do 'chalk and talk.' We are striving to get students more involved," said Lamarre. "As far as the home study course, we will have a class that lasts one or two evenings, then a

Archery Benefits "What attracted me to the sport were the multiple deer and expanded archery zones, which I live very close to . You can start in September and hunt until December; and I can keep getting does ," said Bailey. "There is such skill and precision required just to be in the po ition to take a shot, compared to hunting with a gun. I've talked with hunter after hunter who reassured me they were several years hunting with a bow before they finally connected. The average shot is still from a distance of 17 yards."

The archery education course, which lasts ten hours , includes instruction in a number of areas such as the laws , safety, shot placement, wildlife anatomy, tree stand safety, equipment, big game recovery, first aid and survival, map and compass, landowner relations and ethics. The course is a combination of classroom

Page 12 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Participants at the Becoming an Outdoors Woman archery clinic.

Emily Jones photo

Spring 2008

day-Jong class; along with home study.

Some students report studying only a few hours while others, who are more diligent or have a greater thirst for the material , spend six or eight hours at home study.

Home study prepares the student for class and as a result, the student has much more enjoyment with many of the areas covered because he or she is familiar with what the instructor is talking about.

With home study, we can spend significantly Jess time spoon-feeding information to the students in the class. It is beneficial for the students as well as the instructors."

seem to be more comfortable with someone hunting with a bow and arrow," said Lamarre. "We tell our students to show the landowner the equipment they plan to use , such as the portable tree stand. We strongly discourage the use of the old wooden platform stands built into a tree with the screw-in tree steps."

The classes have received some new equipment through the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund and a memorial gift left by Bruce Dupil of Durham, an instructor who passed away a few years ago. Items such as a recurve bow, turkey and deer decoys, a three-D target, tree stand, and Mathews Genesis Bow (a compound bow that covers all standard draw lengths, allowing the bow to fit virtually anyone) were purchased to assist with the archery education courses.

"The biggest reason I believe there has been a big swing towards bow hunt-

the instructors more time to do demonstrations," said Mike Sawyer, the recreational safety coordinator for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "I head up the safety program and bow hunting is very safe. We hardly ever have incidents or injury from the bow. What is more of a concern are injuries from tree stand falls."

Ethics Stressed

Preventing tree stand falls is an area thoroughly covered by the instructors.

Students are also taught the ethics of taking only good, clean shots in order to kill the animal, rather than wounding it and Power Presentation having to follow a blood trail. Devoting Technology now plays an increasingplenty of time to target practice and ly important role in the archery education being appropriately outfitted before headcourse. Jerome Richard, the president of ing out on that first hunt are crucial steps the Maine Bowhunters Association, has to a successful and safe hunt. been an instructor for over ten years in "We emphasize that one of the most Kennebec and important things to do is Somerset counties.

For more information about the National Bow Hunter to practice so that you Richard utilizes a are efficient with your Education Foundation visit: www.nbef.org PowerPoint presentabow," said Lamarre. tion during his classes.

"We also stress that a For more information about upcoming archery courses, "It seems the visual new bow hunter is best part is really helpful to visit: www.maine.gov/ifw/education/safety/bow. htm served by going to an the students. The stuarchery pro shop where dents say the they can be properly fiting is the additional season for deer huntPowerPoint helped them understand," ted. Bows have to be well-fitted to the ing and the bow turkey hunting ," said said Richard. "During the classes we get shooter. We also recommend that people Reggie Read, a coordinator for into some great discussions about equipare tested to determine their dominant ment, and the students share tidbits about Sagadahoc and Lincoln counties for the eye." the Department. "Bow hunting is a manhunting as well. I think the bow is techLamarre encouraged one of his stuagement tool. It is user-friendly, there is nically more challenging than a rifle." dents, Jon Bailey, to become a certified no noise and people are much more In fact, Richard taught his wife Tina instructor because of his enthusiasm for receptive to allowing people hunt on their how to shoot a bow before they got marthe sport and his excellent communicaried. Now, she assists him with the class- property with bows. Nationally, there has tion skills. been a big increase. It is a fantastic e . Her presence is especially helpful for "Pete Lamarre, one of the instructors, sport." other women in the class, who may have said that I seemed comfortable with peosome reservation about hunting with a ple. I told him that I had done teaching Home Study bow. and workshops, and he thought I would It should be noted that students don't "You only need to pull 38 to 40 be a good instructor," said Bailey. "I was pounds for a shot that will kill. With actually do any shooting while in the concerned about the lack of my field these new bows, you let the equipment class. The home study portion of the experience, but Pete reassured me that do the work. It isn't like the old days ," course does allow instructors to more courses were always taught by teams of aid Richard. "These new bows are more effectively utilize classroom time. people, that they need people who were accurate , faster and easier to use."

"We require everyone to go to a class, articulate, and who could emphasize While expanded archery seasons have and they can read information online. ethics and landowner relations."

What we have done with our home study contributed to a greater number of bow Today, Bailey is teaching students in portion is the same as with the firearms hunters, so have reservations about the the archery education courses, pa sing on safety course. The student will come to use of firearms. his knowledge and Jove of the sport to one or two classes (depending on the "A lot of private landowners will give future generations of bow hunters. schedule) and get assignments for homepermi sion to hunt with a bow when they work. When they come back it allows won't allow firearms hunting. They

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Spring 2008 Page 13

•

How can you tel I between ... those outdoor folks in green?

Many Maine residents often cannot tell the difference between the five outdoor officials that are in charge of maintaining and protecting our forests, coastal and inland waters, parks, fisheries and wildlife. Here are some tips, and then a quiz, to help you understand their jobs and better recognize them in uniform, when you meet them around the woods and waters of the state.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE FROM THE POR TLAN D PRESS HERALD, 4/25/99 , BY ROBERTA SCRUGGS

GAME WARDEN, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife A game warden enforces the laws governing fish , wildlife and recreational vehicles like boats , snowmobiles and ATVs; and searches for anyone reported lost or missing on inland waters or in our fields and forests. Carries a firearm .

FOREST RANGER, Maine Department of Conservation Enforces laws governing forest practices, fights forest fires; works on cases of arson, timber theft , timber harvests and environmental regulations.

Shon Theriault , Game Warden Lieutenant, Dept. Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Alicsha Rautenberg, Forest Ranger , Jefferson District Headquarters

MARINE PATROL OFFICER, Maine Department of Marine Resources Enforces commercial and recreational fishing and boating laws and rules on tidal and salt waters along 3500 miles of Maine coastline. Ensures businesses that sell native Maine seafood are in compliance with regulations. Carries a firearm.

Page 14 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Steve Ingram, Marine Patrol Supervisor, Dept. Marine Resources

Spring 2008

WILDLIFE or FISHERIES BIOLOGIST, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife In charge of managing our wildlife and fish populations to ensure there are enough for everyone to enjoy. Maintains, enhances and sometimes restores our native game and nongame species. Reviews and comments on environmental applications for building and land use proposals.

Judy Camuso, Region A Wildlife Biologist, Dept.

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

STATE PARK RANGER, Maine Department of Conservation Enforces all state park rules, protects natural resources on park lands, maintains grounds, campsites, trails and buildings on all state park properties.

Bruce Farnham , Dept. of Conservation, Mt. Blue State Park

Who you gonna call?

For each of the following scenarios, decide which of the outdoor folks in green you would call for help; then match the correct patch and/or badge they wear with each situation.

1. A deer jumped out in front of your car and you couldn't avoid hitting it.

2. You've found a bunch of large white pine trees cut and removed from the back part of your property.

A

3. You are camping at Sebago State Park, and need to report a group of people littering.

4. An endangered right whale is tangled up in fishing line in Penobscot Bay.

•

.

B

C

5. Someone is poaching moose in Lily Bay State Park, on Moosehead Lake.

6 . There's a forest fire!

7. A hiker is reported missing at Katahdin Iron Works.

8. You have a flock of wild turkeys eating all the apples off your trees in a commercial orchard .

D

9. Someone is selling lobsters that are too small ('shorts') from a truck on the side of the road.

10. You want to build a house on forested land where bald eagles are nesting.

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Spring 2008 Page 15

Visitrnaine.corn Goes Fishing mation about fresh and saltwater fishing, fishing Year-round sport gets billing on regions , Maine's river countourist site visited by more than a try, fish species, family million visitors fishing, sporting camps and

By Deborah Turcotte ice fishing. The Maine Department of Inland Maine is looking to lure more Fisheries and Wildlife is anglers to state waters, and the way it is pleased to have partnered hooking them is through a fishing feature with the Maine Office of on its premiere tourist Web site Tourism to produce the Web ,,. . ,.._............ ___ . _. _ site.

Visitmaine .com . .... ...

"The improvement was To visit the site, go to . - , ....._....... made because Maine's Visitmaine.com and click on "Fishing" .... ... ....... :.::.·.::.·.::.:::·:.o:.-world-class fisheries on the homepage. ........ deserve the spotlight," The Fishing Feature brings one of ._ according to Steve Lyons, the state 's most popular pastimes to the .

Maine Office of Tourism front of a Web site that draws more than marketing manager. "We a million people annually to plan their also know that fishing is Maine vacation. Its' extensive informaAnnual Fishing Report , fish stocking one of the most-searched topics on the tion makes it easier for tourists to join reports, and weekly fishing roundups site, and the new layout will make it Mainers on our lakes and rivers, accordfrom our biologists ." more convenient for anglers to plan their ing to Commissioner Roland "Dan" Also on IF&W's site, visitors wil l visit to Maine."

Martin of the Maine Department of find tips for catching and releasing fish , Fishing is one of three specialty topInland Fisheries and Wildlife. information on the "Hooked on Fishing, ics on the Visitmaine .com Web site, with For more than 100 years, anglers ot on Drugs" youth fishing program , a Maine's extraordinary cuisine and hishave visited Maine to cast a line in our list of Maine lake survey maps , and a list toric lighthouses also featured.

6,000 lakes, 32,000 miles of rivers and of fishing opportunities by region.

"One valuable characteristic of the streams, and 5,500 miles of coastline.

To protect Maine's splendid waterFishing Feature is that visitors will be "Maine's fishing opportunities are withways, visitors on IF&W's site can read able to click on links to the Department out comparison because of IF&W 's about how to avoid introducing invasive strong fish management aquatic plants into lakes and ponds, how to proppractices and its statewide To visit the site, go to Visitmaine.com and click on "Fishing" on the homepage. stocki ng program," erly use live bait , and What distinguishes Maine?

Commissioner Martin how to work with the • Maine has more miles of native brook trout waters - plus ponds and said.

Operation Game Thief streams - than any other state in the country ; According to statis• Maine has the largest wild native brook trout populations in the country ; program to stop poach• Besides Alaska, Maine is the only state with landlocked Arctic Charr; tics kept by the Maine ing.

• Maine leads the country with 160 waters managed for Office of Tourism, fishing "We hope that travelers landlocked salmon ; has been one of the most will use this ite not on ly • The Rapid River in Oxford County has some of the largest wild river popular topics searched to learn about Maine's brook trout found anywhere south of Labrador, Canada. by visitors to the fishing opportunitie , but Visitmaine.com site. Now to plan a trip as well," of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Web the information they seek is being served Commi ioner Martin said . "Come expeite for more information on spec ies, up with beautiful photographs, well -writrience what brings Maine re ident to our licenses and regulation s," Commissioner ten first-hand fishing tales, and detail waters - numerous varieties of fi h, Martin sa id . "While on our site, they'll about native pecies and how to catch including native brook trout, almon and also be able to view a wealth of fishingba s, to catch in pectacular settings. The them. re lated documents including the 2007 The new fishing pages include inferaction is fun and it' fast!"

____ __ _ _ _- ·---·--· ____ -___ ---··-__--_ ·-·--.-- --··-·· -----··-·-·----.-·----· -·_..

-·--··-- -·---·------·-·-----··------..--.

·--

Page 16 MAINE Fish and Wildl ife

_ ~i~i~ ·---·-__________ ·---··--·__-------··-·-----·

Spri ng 2008

Maine Sportsmen Step Up to the Plate A newly created Maine license plate designed for Maine Sportsmen and women now is available.

~M~I- .

SAMPLE

By Cathy Genthner It has been more than a decade in the making, but the first-ever Maine Sportsmen's license plate now is available.

On April 7, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Roland "Dan" Martin, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and invited guests unveiled the license plate at a press conference at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Augusta.

It's already a hot seller, as attempts to get one-of-a-kind messages on vanity plates - such as Go Fish or BLK LAB come up short.

The plate is optional and costs $20 a year, in addition to the regular $25 registration fee . Vanity plates with up to six characters cost more , and, of course, taxes aren't included . The plate is available at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles office or at municipal town offices.

With the Maine Sportsmen's plate now in the mix of specialty plates, vehicle owners have two options to choose from to support Department of Inland Fisheries and Wild life programs.

Proceeds from the Maine Sport men's plate are divided among four different areas: 50 percent to he lp support and redevelop the state's fish hatcheries; 25 percent to develop stronger landowner relationships; 15 percent for boat launch development; and 10 percent for endangered and non-game species conservation .

The other plate - the loon conservation plate - al o raises fund s for endanMA INE Fish and Wildlife

SUPPORT WILDLIFE gered and non-game species conservation efforts, as well as monies for state parks.

who enjoy Maine 's many and varied recreational opportunities a chance to give a little something back."

'Lasting Legacy' "This sportsmen's plate, like the loon plate, provides outdoor enthusiasts and others the opportunity to support a lasting legacy," Commissioner Martin said.

"Further, the funds generated by this endeavor will help drive the programs that matter most in maintaining the ongoing success of the Maine outdoors as a place to work and as a place to play."

During the last year, IF&W has been working with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and 3M of Minneapolis , Minn ., which manufactures the plate's front cover, to bring the idea to reality.

All of Maine's license plates are put together by pre-release inmates in Thomaston . Plates are not cheap to produce. Once the initial plate is purchased, the profit margin is greater, earning the department approximately $15 out of every $20 when a plate is renewed .

Wildlife artist Thomas Merriman de igned the plate, using Mount Katahdin as viewed from the south as a backdrop.

In front are a bu ll moose and a Mai ne native brook trout.

"This plate's design, featuring the instantly recognizable images of Mount Katahdin , a bull moose, and a trout, serves as a great reminder of Maine's long tradition of sporting endeavors," Commissioner Martin said. "We' re happy to give our hunter , anglers and the oters

SAM Proposal The idea for the Maine Sportsmen's plate came about more than 10 years ago , when the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine had legislation sponsored on its behalf to create a plate for sportsmen . The bill surfaced during the first two or three legislative sessions without any luck. The funding for the bill was put into the budget and taken out a few more times during the sometimes rocky deliberations before the Transportation Committee.

Finally, a more creative approach was discovered. First, IF&W promised to put up $40,000 in funding for the plate from the Lifetime License endowment fund, with the intent that the money would be repaid from the sale of the plate. Then Sen. Bruce Bryant, DOxford, and Rep . Troy Jackson , DAllagash , chairs of the Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife traveled to sportsmen 's hows and events across the state in order to collect the 2,000 signatures needed for the plate to be approved by the Secretary of State's office. Collecting the signatures involved a lot of hard work , travel and dedication to the cause.

"It took a little while and like with any legislation, sometimes there were some bumps in the roads ," Sen . Bryant

Spri ng 2008 Page 17

said. "We collected the signatures through sportsman's shows, such as the one in Wilton in my area and Augusta.

Troy collected signatures up north and we collected some from local rod and gun club . I work at the paper mill so T was able to get some there too."

Rep . Jackson said he believes the license plate "really represents my area of the state." Jackson's geographi call y large, but sparsely popu lated d istrict spans across some of the best hu nting and fis hing areas in the state, including a portion of the Al lagash Wil de rness Waterway.

"There was a period of time whe n the lobster was on the plate and that irked people up here," Rep . Jackson said . "The lobster wasn't something that people in northern Maine identified with . It made more sense to have a moose and fi sh o n it. T hat is what Maine is to me ."

'Terrific Seller ' As evidenced by the number of signatures collected fro m sportsmen , the pl ate has stro ng support.

"I think it is go ing to be a terrific seller," said George Smith , executive

director of the Sportsman's Alli ance of Maine and the originator of the sportsmen's plate idea . "People are enthused about having their own plate that indicates they are a sportsman."

According to Rick Hill , president of the Maine Profess ional Gui des Assoc iatio n, "anything we can do to he lp raise funds for the Department is good .

"I' ve talked with several department people who are cryi ng fo r money and they are as bare bones as they can get ," Hill said . " I think our biggest problem in Maine is that we do not have the pro motion that we reall y need or de erve to help direct the sporting public."

The plate may indeed help with marketing Maine as a destin ation for sportsmen . It may also encourage people who have never bought a pec ialty plate to buy one.

"To tel I you the truth . I never had a specialty plate or a vanity plate . But I'll get this one ; ¡ said Rep. Jackson, who lo ves to go partridge hunting and fi shing with his two sons . " I f peopl e want it they can purchase it , or they can contin ue to go with the chickadee plate, which also is fine . There are people out there who like

the jo b the Department is do ing and would like to be able to make a contri bution . Thi s way they get something back in ret urn."

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap , a fo rmer House cha irman of the Inl and Fisheries and Wildlife Comm ittee, was among the first sponsors of the bill to create a sportsman's plate when it first came before the legislature. Years later, he app roved the fin al design .

"Matt has really carried this for a long time in the legislature, so he has been on board for the who le time and he worked awfull y hard," Smi th aid .

Secretary Dunl ap ceremonially secured the firs t plate to his truc k during the press confe ren..,e .

"Sportsmen from all over the coun try and the world come here so they can enjoy world-cla s outdoor pursuits," Secretary Dunl ap said . " Now sportsmen and others can d ispl ay some of Ma ine 's amazing natu ra l wonders right on thc i1¡ vehic les , thus celebrating our outdoor heritage while helping sustain the programs th at benefit Ma ine 's land s and nati ve spec ies."

BECOMING AN OUTDOORS-WOMAN Each year, the Becoming an OutdoorsWoman Program holds several events throughout th e state to provide women who are 18 years or older with an opportunity to learn or improve their skills in hunting, fi shing and outdoor recreation in a safe and comfortable environment.

Swiftwater Canoeing Cli nic June 7, 2008 Southern Maine Guide Service, Parson sfield Maximum : 12 Participants Cost: $60.00 Includes : Instruction, Equipment and Lunch

This year's schedule of workshops includes several Beyond BOW workshops, speci al izing in a specific topic for beginners as well as the annual Introductory Skills Weekend .

Additional Beyo nd BOW workshops will be scheduled for the summer and fall months.

Registration materials can be obtained by contacting Emily Jones at (207) 2878069, or by joining our mailing list.

Registration is available online at www.mainebow.com

June 21 , 2008

Intro to Sea Ka ya king W orks ho p

Ropes Course May 24, 2008 Southern Maine Guide Service , Parsonsfield Maximum : 20 Participants Cost : $60.00 Includes : Instruction, Equipment and Lunch

Page 18 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Brunswick

9am-1pm Maximum : 16 Parti cipants Cost to Attend : $50 Includes: Instruction, Equipment and Lunch White wate r Kayakin g Wo rk s hop

July 12 & 13, 2008 Southern Maine Guide Service, Parson sfie ld, Maximum : 12 Participants Cost: $ 175.00 Includes : Lodging , Meals, Instruction and Equipment

Sunset/Moonlight Paddle August 15, 2008 Sebasco Estates. Phippsburg 6-1Opm Maximum : 16 Participants Cost to Attend : $50 Includes: Instruction , Equipment and Snack The 2008 Introductory Skills Weekend is scheduled for September 19-21 at Camp Caribou in Wins low, Maine. The cost to attend is $210 and includes meals, lodging , equipment and instruction for the weekend . Scholarships are available through the Friends of Becoming an Outdoors-Woman .

Spring 2008

The boat launch on the Androscoggin River at Canton.

Photo courtesy Lands for Maine 's Future.

What's Happening with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Boat Launch Program?

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) own s and maintains some 120 access points to ponds, lakes , rivers and the sea coast th roughout the State of Maine . The stated

confused with State of Maine 's public ownership of submerged lands beneath certain coastal regions, tidal rivers, great ponds and boundary rivers, legal access to public waters means simply, public ownership of a shorefront property which provides access to Maine 's public waters .

This does not necessarily imply access for trail erable boats . A certain percentage

fuel s.

Apportionment of these funds to states is based 40 percent upon land and water area and 60 percent upon the number of licen sed anglers. Each state must allot a minimum of 15 percent of its annual SFR apporti onment for development and maintenance of recreational motorboating access faciliti es . In 2007 ,

mission, "To provide as much legal

of the public access provided by DIF&W

for example, Maine's SFR motorboat

includes hand-carry launches and e ven a small amount of riverbank (riparian) access . The so-called , " Boat Launch Program" is something of a mi snomer. In fact, DIF&W involves itself in all forms of legal , publi c access , not j ust boat

access fundin g was $ 523 ,63 4 .

However in coastal states such as Maine , those funds are divided between freshwater and saltwater needs. Since 2003, that division has remained unchanged at 73 percent for freshwater,

By Tom Seymour

access to the waters of the State of Maine

as possible," has sometimes been misunderstood by the spo11ing public. Not to be

ramps. Also, the Maine Department of

and 27 percent for saltwater use. The

Conservation, the Maine Department of Transportation and numerous towns , companies , land trusts and others provide access to our public waters.

Maine Department of Marine Resources does not have a recreational access site program , so DIF& W has agreed to admini ster the total SFR motorboat access program, according to the established di stribution formula . The SFR pro-

Team A pproach

Ron Taylor photo

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Leon Bucher, Federal Assistance Coordinator/Chief Planner for DIF&W, works with a tean1 of others at DIF&W and contractors to help provide Maine citizens with access to publ ic waters . His is a tax ing job . Bucher works to secure funds from a number of sources, and combines them to purchase , develop and maintain public access sites . The U.S .

Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) Program is a major source of funding for public motorboat access projects . Thi s federal program began 58 years ago with passage of the Dingell -Johnson Act. SFR fund s are generated nationally with input from Federal excise taxes on fishing equipment, import taxes on fishing equipment, pleasure boats and yachts , and Federal fuel taxes on motorboat and small engine

gram can fund up to three-fo urths of the costs of land acquisition , development and maintenance of public motorboat access projects.

Land for Maine's Future Another source of fundin g for recreational access in cludes the Land for Maine 's Future ("LMF") program . Ten percent of thi s program 's bond i set aside for the Public Access to Maine Waters Fund . Accordingly, the LMF program can fund up to two-thirds of the cost of acqui sition of land used for a boat launch site (ei ther hand carry or a trail ered launch site) for bank fishing , or for swimming . Also , LM F grant recipients can apply for additional fund , up to 5 percent of the apprai sed land value , to help with access improvements.

Spring 2008 Page 19

Purchases with LMF funds are limited to the fair market value set by an independent real estate appraisal. The LMF Board uses the priorities established by the State of Maine's Strategic Plan for providing public access for boating and fishing that is prepared jointly by the Departments of Conservation and Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and updated every 10 years. For more information about this program see http://www.state.me.us/spo/lmf/.

In 2007 $150,000 of the state's fuel tax was available for IF&W public water access activitie . Also, a certain amount of assistance for public water access activities comes from donations. These include situations where a landowner sells shorefront property to IF& W at a price below the appraised fair market value or a contractor contributes "inkind" services. These donations are combined with other monies as match to SFR and LMF funds for purchase, development and maintenance of the public water access sites. Maine's new Sportsmen's License Plate will be an additional source of funds in the future.

Williams' Legacy The late Bob Williams, Bucher's predecessor, was a tireless champion of securing water access for the citizens of the state. Williams' priority of acquiring shorefront lands for future development was necessary in light of the rapidly escalating market prices of shoreland properties over the past 20 years. The need to acquire properties for future development was the most acute in outhem and central Maine, although the prices of shorefront lands have skyrocketed throughout the entire state.

Even when a property is available at an affordable price, it may not be suitable as a ite for public access. A number of concerns must be taken into consideration, including access from a public road, physical suitability of the site for the development and use, proximity to abutters' existing structures, community support and ability of the area to handle uch development and use without harm to the land and water re ources.

With an ever-growing number of posted signs springing up at traditional access points to Maine' waters, the

Page 20 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

The very rough boat launch site at Schoodic Lake. value and the need for reliable, legallyas ured public access to public waters becomes abundantly clear. With that inescapable fact in mind, DIF&W has established a list of "Water Access Priorities."

Top Priority Priority I waters are, "Waters with moderate to high value fisheries where fisheries management is currently and adversely affected by the present citizen access situation on that water and access to the water has recently changed and is either becoming severely restricted or ha actually been lost. Where a long tanding fish stocking program has been terminated (or is in imminent danger of being terminated) because of the current status of public access to the water; or there has been a strong desire to start a fish stocking program for a specific water but lack of public acces prevents this action."

Priority 2 waters mu t have a moderate to high value fishery where some public access exists but the acces site is not legally assured, or is not considered adequate to serve public needs and concerns exist about the future of the public access . The water may not be tocked even though it does provide ignificant angling opportunities.

Finally, Priority 3 water ¡ must have a moderate to high value fishery where

Ron Taylor photo

stocking is unlikely but where existing fi heries provide significant angling opportunities and public access is either not legally as ured or is inadequate.

Each year, DIF&W's regional fisheries biologists help to update the priority list. These individuals are considered a "front line" force, since they are the first to identify and report properties where traditional public access is in immediate danger of being lost.

Only the Beginning After acquiring a shorefront property, the journey toward assured legal pub1ic access has just begun. Even given the rising price of shorefront property, often the large t expense involved in establishing a public acce site lies in development. First, engineers, either private contractors or the engineer from the DIF&W Engineering Department prepare a written plan. After the plan becomes final, the permitting process begin . This can involve any number of entities, including the .S. Army Corps of Engineer , Department of Environmental Education (DEP), Maine Land Use Regulatory Committee (LURC), Maine Department of Transportation (entrance permits from existing state roads), Maine Department of Conservation (submerged land lea e or easement from Bureau of Park & Lands) and al o, individual towns.

Spring 2008

The Department's boat access program works to allow people to have access to the state's great ponds.

Tom Seymour photo

After negotiating the permit process, major projects are put out to bid to outside contractors, while some small projects are handled by the DIF&W Engineering Department. Either way, the project is now at the stage where a completion date can be formulated.

Lambert Lake The proposed site at Lambert Lake, Lambert Lake Township, is an example of a current project at just this precise stage. The land for this new site was acquired through Williams' efforts in 2002. Funds for developing the project are in hand, the LURC permit application wa approved and advertisements are being let out for contractors.

Con truction will begin soon and the project is expected to be completed sometime in fall, 2008. However, this is only a plan and as such, plans are subject to change.

While it isn't likely that the Lambert Lake project will encounter any major pitfalls , other projects are not as fortunate. The Mere Point project to provide additional boater access to northern Ca co Bay in Brunswick was initiated back in 1998 . Williams' staunch advocacy of this all-tide site required years of effort to identify, acquire, work with the Town of Brunswick and community group , design and permit. Requirements from the permitting process caused development of the facility to take longer than anticipated. A portion of the permit requirements called for eelgrass mitigation work. Essentially, DIF&W wa obligated to restore eelgrass in the adjacent bay, equal in size to that displaced by the

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Mere Point project.

Bog Lake Bogged Down

difficult for all but four-wheel-drive trucks to back down to the water. After renovations are completed, the site will be accessible to all vehicles.

Basic maintenance at existing access sites can include work on dock replacement and repair, grounds maintenance, float installation and removal, gravel driveway and parking lot upkeep , ramp repair, portable toilet rentals (these are only at high-use sites), ramp sweeping, gate keeping, kiosk repair and access road maintenance fees.

So during your next visit to a public access site at one of Maine's ponds, lakes , rivers or sea coast, remember that the process necessary for acquiring and developing the site was a long and, sometimes, contentious journey.

Nevertheless, Maine's DIF&W will con-

Other sites encounter other hurdles.

The status of the Bog Lake project in Northfield remains unchanged. Here , DIF&W acquired a parcel through Williams' efforts in 2001. After arriving at a point where development could move forward, the project was thwarted by local opposition. This opposition eventually took the form of a town ordinance, which prohibited DIF&W from moving ahead with its work. Since this has become a relatively common problem, DIF&W is urging that state agencies be held to reasonable standards while exempt from certain municipal ordinances such as the one cobbled together to stop the Bog Lake project.

As mentioned earlier, considerable attention is paid to maintaining and improving existing sites. Consider, for instance, the Schoodic Lake Boat Access site in Lakeview Plantation, a traditional but nonpublic access site acquired by IF&W through Williams' efforts in 2003. This location is scheduled for major renovations in summer, 2008. Because of extreme roughness, The boat launch at Jordan Bay on Sebago Lake. the present site is Ron Taylor photo

Spring 2008 Page 21

Maine's Deer Management 'The Best' Deb Plengey photo

"The system is in place, and we are constantly evaluating," says Lee Kantar.

By Tom Seymour Lee Kantar, a wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W), i the state's Deer Speciali t. Working out of a small office in Bangor DIF&W Headquarters, Kantar review reams of data each day, analyzing and assessing figures from countless source , all with the aim of determining the current state of Maine's deer herd. Kantar then works with the regional biologists from each district to determine the number of antlerless deer permits to award across the state. It's a balancing act, though.

For instance, DIF&W's objectives for Wildlife Management District (WMD) 15 are a total of 15 deer per

Page 22 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

square mile. But winter mortality must be accounted for, and the number of antlerless deer permits is computed in accordance with management objectives in mind. Analyzing deer numbers and harvest figures over the last even year sets management objectives.

Kantar calls this, "A snapshot of the population."

According to Kantar, the winter of 2007 /2008 has had some serious consequences for Maine deer. "The winter was bad across the entire tate," Kantar aid. "The number of any-deer permit for 2008 will fall." The que tion on everyone's mind , of course, is how far will the numbers fall?

Current indication are that 51,125 permits will be allocated statewide, which is 15 ,150 less than last year's figure. It appears that antlerle deer permits will be Deer Specialist Lee Kantar

Spring 2008

Deer at the Maine Wildlife Park show winter yarding behavior. awarded in WMDs 12, 13, 15, l6, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 , 25, 26 and 29. But this is all subject to change. Kantar is still in the process of analyzing data (this comes from departmental sources, as well as other groups and agencies, including the University of Maine). New information gleaned from thi may move the number of antlerless deer permits for 2008 up or down.

Management Perspective Maine' management system , according to Kantar, can stand up to that of any other state in the nation. And whi le the technology and data assessment methods may seem complex and foreign to many, Kantar puts the situation in perpective. "The only significant thing we can control i hunting mortality," Kantar said . Kantar pointed out that climate, weather, predation and other factors are beyond anyone's control. Given that limitation , Kan tar pends all his energy micro-managing the herd. "The y tern is

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Deb Plengey photo

in place, and we are constantly evaluating," Kantar said.

What, then, makes this current year different from past years? For an answer, we must refer back to what information Kantar has already gleaned regarding this past winter. The winter severity index (a method of determining the general harshness of the winter using snow depth, temperatures and other climate-related factors) was, according to Kantar, "Off the charts."

Kantar said that some deer die each year, from a variety of causes. This occurs during mild winters as well as severe ones. Given this, DIF&W has developed average mortality rates for all of Maine's 29 WMDs. Kantar uses this information to formulate his long-range goals for each WMD. For instance, normal mortality for WMD 1, northwest Aroostook County, runs about 17 percent.

Because of the past severe winter, that figure jumped to 31 percent, a significant increase.

Overbrowsing Problem Down East Maine has its problems too. Kantar estimates that the normal mortality rate for deer of 6-to-7 percent will be 5-to-8 percent higher this year.

Likewise, deer in northern Maine, particularly the Moosehead Region, had an unusually rough winter. Snowstorms arrived in November and continued through March. Re ulting snow depth consigned deer to their winter habitat (yards) early in the season. Add to this a lack of a traditional "January thaw," and the situation becomes perilous.

"Over browsing occurred in northern Maine," Kantar said. Being limited to their yarding areas, deer soon depleted the available woody forage. Worse, this material does not contain much nourishment; it simply fills deer's stomachs and assuages their hunger pangs. Kantar aid that DIF&W wildlife biologists conduct annual springtime browse urveys in the Moosehead Region. Thi is ju tone of the methods of data collection that

Spring 2008 Page 23

Kantar depends upon in order to formulate his management plan for that region.

Coyote predation had its impact on northern Maine's deer herd, too. This was exacerbated by frequent crusty conditions, where coyotes could move about on top of the snowpack, but deer could not.

All these factors combined to cause a higher-than-normal winter deer mortality for northern Maine. This will be reflected in a decrease in antlerless deer permits.

Such decreases do not always rest well with hunters. For example, WMD 14 was awarded 700 permits last year. But in 2008 there will be none. "We'll get complaints," Kantar said, "But we've got to err on the side of conservation."

Prime Districts Deer in WMDs in southern and central Maine suffered too, but not as much as in northern and eastern districts.

Kantar said, "Expect deer to bounce back in these areas." Consequently, Kantar says that he will stay on plan regarding anticipated deer harvests. Interestingly, allocation of antlerless deer permits in southern Maine is dictated according to ocietaJ demands as well as by the vicissitude of nature. Here, hunters encounter problems in gaining access to many areas, due to posting. This, in turn, creates a surfeit of deer and that exces results in a high number of deer/vehicle crashes as well as damage to shrubs, gardens and orchards. Because of this, Kantar's goal for this region is to decrea e the herd. "They want fewer deer," Kantar said.

Other Results A drop in deer numbers re ulting from severe winter mortality has other implications, too. Kantar predicts that hunter will see fewer bucks in 2008.

Also, Kantar says that antler growth will likely suffer as well. In starvation times, Kantar said, "body fat comes first." That is, instead of growing large racks, deer will work at producing body bulk. As a result, Kantar feels that spikes will greatly outnumber multi-beamed antlers.

While the effects of this pa t severe winter will be made manifest this year, a "lag effect," will, according to Kantar,

Page 24 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Severe winter weather, such as that of the last year, has many impacts on Maine's deer herd. Deb Plengey photo put does and young in poor condition.

That lag effect will be felt not only this year but the following a well. Kantar says that DIF&W must compensate for that.

Finally, Kantar says that he will recommend that in bucks-only di tricts, it will be bucks-only for everyone. This includes archers as well as kids who go afield on Maine's annual Youth Deer Hunting Day.

ln the end, everyone will feel the pinch. But it must be remembered that here in Maine, whitetailed deer are at the near-northern extreme of their range. As such, Maine's deer population is ubject to fluctuations not evidenced in states to the south. But thankfully, Lee Kantar and other profes ionals with DIF&W employ the most modern and accurate method of managing Maine deer.

Spring 2008

Recuperated Cooper's Hawk Returns to the Wild

By George Chappell DIXMONT - For a moment, the Cooper's hawk sat on its handler's fists, whose fingers were wrapped around the bird's legs to ho ld it.

Its alert eyes looked straight ahead, its head and beak were still, as if poised for flight.

In a second, Marc Payne, co-director of Avian Haven, a wild bird rehabilitation center in Freedom where the hawk had been mending for five weeks, handed the bird to wildlife biologist Kelsey Sullivan of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Sullivan turned and with his hands gesturing to the blue, cloudless sky, as if making an offering, he released the hawk to the east.

Within seconds the hawk had flown in a straight line high over the trees sur-

Wielding a butterfly net, Kelsey Sullivan, a Department bologist, approaches the injured Cooper's hawk. John Clark Russ photo, courtesy Bangor Daily News

The Cooper's hawk was successfully released in Dixmont after several weeks of rehabilitation at Avian Haven in Dixmont. John Clark Russ photo courtesy Bangor Daily News MAINE Fish and Wild life

rounding the Kennebec Road farm's open field that served as a launch site .

Two crows flew up to join the hawk before continuing on their journey over the treetops. The hawk then flew out of sight on its journey over the woods.

The young hawk was the same one that had crashed into the photography department window of the Bangor Daily News building and fallen onto a gravel roof beneath the window on Feb. 20.

Payne , who has been worlcing with birds in distress for 25 years in New Jersey and Maine , said the hawk was brought to the center

by DIF& W biologists Sullivan and George

Matula. At first the bird appeared to have a concussion and to have trouble seeing.

It had no broken bones.

During its rehabilitation , the Cooper's hawk , named for 19th century ornithologist William C. Cooper, ate mice and gradually returned to good health .

Normally the Cooper's hawk feeds on other birds .

According to Birds of North America, the Cooper's hawk is a medium-size hawk with a dark gray back and reddish and white underpart. Its size ranges from 15 to 20 inches long, wingspan 24 to 35 inches, and weight between 9 and 21 ounces. The female is a third again as big as the male.

Its habitat is the woods of North America, and it i built for fast flight through an obstacle course of trees and limbs .

Payne said the bird was in good health and he expected it to return to its nesting place, which he assumed was around Bangor. They released the bird from Dixmont rather than Freedom , where Avian Haven is located , because it's closer to Bangor and easier for the bird to make its way home.

(Reprinted with permission Bangor Daily News, Bangor Publishing Company, Bangor, Maine 2008)

Spring 2008 Page 25

Hard Winter Could Mean Fish Kills

By G. Russell Danner Fish and Wildlife Pathologist With record snowfall this past winter, Department biologists anticipate small lakes and ponds may experience winter or spring fish kills.

Ice forms an impenetrable barrier between the water and the atmosphere, P:eventing the exchange of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide over the winter. Typically, oxygen levels decrease as fish respire; and decaying plants consume oxygen while producing carbon dioxide. A small amount of oxygen is generated if sunlight can penetrate the ice and stimulate photosynthesis by algae.

In years when there is increased snow cover on small lakes and ponds, such as this year, light cannot penetrate the snow and photosynthesis is halted.

This creates the environmental conditions conducive for a winter fish kill. If oxygen levels decrease below about 5 mo/L 0 ' fish begin to suffocate.

Bacteria on decaying plant matter can drive the oxygen level to zero, after which anaerobic bacteria begin to produce hydrogen sulfide. Depending upon the time the oxygen level drops, the dead fish may suddenly appear under the melting ice or they may decompose unseen on the lake bottoms. In either situation anglers may expect some small lakes a~d ponds to have fewer fish in them th is spring. Lakes and ponds that went anoxic (oxygen level zero) will have a rotten egg smell.

The second interesting phenomenon that occurs in the spring, and can cause spring fish kills, is nitrogen gas decompres ion illness - or gas bubble disease. ~gain.' ice is responsible for this type of fish kill. Freezing lake water is typically 100 percent saturated with dissolved oxygen and nitrogen gas; however, water has no capacity to hold the gas once it forms ice crystals. This means that the in tant the water becomes ice , the gas is released into the adjacent liquid water below.

The impermeable barrier that floating ice creates between the underlying water and the atmosphere prevents the normal equalization of nitrogen gas from

Page 26 MAINE Fish and Wi ldlife

the lake over the winter; consequently, the unfrozen lake water below the ice becomes increasing ly supersaturated with nitrogen gas from ice fom1ation to ice out.

The water has a high capacity to hold the nitrogen gas as long as it stays cold. On sunny and very warm spring days, just as the ice is ...~..._.. melting, nitrogen Dead perch at North gas supersaturation creates a lethal situation for fish .

The lake needs a little time to slow ly oas release the supersaturated nitrooen t:, t:, once the ice has melted. Th is occurs gradual ly as the wind blows across the surface of the open water. If the water temperature increases suddenly, a it does in sha llow bays on warm sunny days, the supersaturated gas becomes unstab le and forms cavitations, tiny bubbles of nitrogen gas, ana logous to the carbon dioxide bubbles you ee on the inside wal l of a soda glass .

Because the fish has lived in this cold upersaturated water all winter its body is also supersaturated with nit;ogen gas. If a fish moves into a shallow warm area, the cavitations form within the fish's body. Tiny blood ve sels are suddenly occluded, or rupture from the violent and nearly instantaneous nitrogen gas decompre sion. Sensitive va cular tissues like the retina, brain, and swim bladder capil lary networks can be heavily damaged. The fish are blinded by the injury to their retina , they lose the ability to regu late their buoyancy and noat desperately on the water's surface.

Hemorrhages within their brains arc common, gas bubble occlusions cause strokes or aneurism , and the fish typically die.

One of the most common species of fish to be affected by a spring fish kill is

Pond.

Ed Cornwall photo

the largemouth bass. Large, reproductively active males quickly move into shallow waters i~ the spring to begin laying claim to choice spawning habitats and choice shal low feeding hab itats where emerging fry will soon be abundant.

Unfortunately for them, this can be a fatal mistake if they move into an area b~fore the nitrogen gas has equilibrated with the atmosphere. You will see bass each spring floating in shall ow coves, or floundering along a shoreline, victims of sudden nitrogen gas decompression.

The final significant gas trapped below the ice is carbon dioxide. Water ha a very high capacity to dissolve laroe • . t:, quant1t1es of carbon dioxide. As it does so, the acidity of the water increases. The acidity in most lake doesn't change much because of ca lcium carbonate and other natural pH buffers in the water. In the spring, the lake releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide release is part of the carbon cycle of the lake.

Even a lake has a carbon footprint!

U you own a pond and find you have no more fish, order new ones early before supplies run out. If you see some dead fish on the shore or noating aimlessly in the shallows , hopefully you will better understand the natural phenomenon of winter and spring fish kills .

Spring 2008

PROTECT YOURSELF

MAINE GUN SELLERS PROTECT YOUR

GUNS

FEDERAL LAW prohibits the sale of firearms or ammunition to certain individuals.

BE AWARE. DON'T SELL YOUR GUNS TO ASTRANGER. YOUR GUN COULD BE USED IN A CRIME. YOU COULD BE ORDERED TO TESTIFY IN COURT. Sell your guns to someone you know or a federally licensed gun dealer.

CONTACT US FOR A GUN SELLER'S SAFETY KIT (207)771-3294 OR 262-4694

Gun Sellers Awareness Campaign Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force United States Attorney - District of Maine • Portland/Bangor, Maine usame.psn@usdoj.gov

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Spring 2008 Page 27

A.T.V. MAINE WE PROVIDE LOCAL

A.T.V. CLUBS AND THEIR

MEMBERS WITH THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

Answers to Kidbits Quiz on Page 15 1. D - Game Warden

+ + +

EDUCATION

2. A - Forest Ranger

0NEVOICE

3. C- State Park Ranger

+

REPRESENTATION

+

OPEN LANDS

4. E - Marine Patrol

+ +

AVAILABLE INSURANCE

5. DIC - Game Warden,

LANDOWNER RELATIONS

INFORMATION

REMEMBER: WITHOUT ACCESS PROVIDED BY LOCAL LANDOWNERS, WE WILL NOT HAVE PLACES TO RIDE

SOUTH

A.T.V. MAINE PO Box2292 PORTLAND, ME 04116

WWW.ATVMAINE.ORG

Park N.anger 6. A - Forest Ranger 7. D - Game Warden 8. B - Wildlife Biologist 9. E - Marine Patrol 10. B. Wildlife Biologist

Dead River Hatchery

All sizes Rainbow Trout available Brook Trout available in 4-6 IF&W permit required

207-628-2816

State certified Page 28 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Spring 2008

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Hats (one size fits all)

Gildan T-shirts 100% cotton pre-shrunk

17

-

....

Green Waxcloth

Pine Green Deer

..

-

..-1'

Cotton LED wl Trout

Canvas wl Suede Bill

Quantity Item Hane ' s Beefy T's (*If ordering XXL please add $2.50 per item) Pine Green Deer M - -L - -XL - - *XXL 1- - Olive Trout L - - XL - - *XXL M Jade Moose *XXL XL L M Hats Trout Moose Deer Green LED N/A N/A -Green Waxcloth --- Green Suede Bill

Price Ea.

Postaa;e Rates

Subtotal

$

Sales Tax

$

Postage

$

TOTAL DUE

$

$15.00 $15.00 $15.00

Hats

(plea~ ca/cu/ale lhe smppmg cod. by lhe number of ll"""s per category)

- $1.35 each x Qty._ _ = $

(Maine residents add 5%)

~

$ $ $

$20.00 $ $16.00 ~-$ $ $16.00

~

Olive Trout

Total

T- shirts - $2.31 each x Qty._ _ = $

- -

f--

Postage Total $

Name: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mailing Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ State: _ _ _ Zip: _ _ _ __ Jade Moose

Phone:

In-stock items are shipped within 5 business days.

Items that are out-of-stock may take four to six weeks for delivery.

-----------------------

Method of Payment (Please make check payable to: Treasurer, State of Maine) OCheck/Money Order

OVisa

OMastercard

0 Discover

Card#: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Shipping costs on returned items are non-refundable.

Expiration Date: - - - - -/- - - - Signature: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Mail order, with payment. to: Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Information Center 284 State St. 41 SHS Augusta, ME 04333-0041 207-287-8000

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Check out our online store:

www.maine.gov/ifw ..... for these items and more.

Spring 2008 Page 29

etwork Program Schedule Program

~~, ME~l!l.4 G R O

Market

N etwork/Channel

Day

Portland

WGME CBS Ch 13

Sot

7 :30am

Portla nd

WGME CBS Ch 1 3

Sot

7 :30pm 7 :30am

Bangor

U P

Time

WVII ABC Ch 7

Sun

Time Worner Ch 9 / Ch 12 Bgr

Tue

11:30am

Time Worner Ch 9 / Ch 12 Bgr

Wed

8 :30pm

Time Worner Ch 9/ Ch 12 Bgr

Fri

11 :30am

Time Worner Ch 9 / Ch 12 Bgr

Sun

6 :30pm

NE SN Showtimes are sub1ect to chon.9e due to sports.

Please visit www.northeastjournal.tv for the current NESN schedule .

WGME CBS Ch 13

Sat

WGME CBS Ch 13

Sun

11 :00am

WVI/ ABC Ch 7

Sun

7 :00am

Ti me Warner Ch 9/Ch 12 Bgr

Tue

11:00am

Time Warner Ch 9 / Ch 12 Bgr

Wed

8:00pm

Time Worner Ch 9 / Ch 12 Bgr

7 :00am

Fri

11:00am

Sun

6 :00pm

Hamlin's

"JI&"-

Weekly Fishing and Hunting Reports From Maine's Fishery and Wildlife Biologists T

..- Fishing Hotspot of the Week Maine's Best Waters ..- Fish and Wildlife Trophy Gallery Send Us Your Trophy Photos T Page 30 MAINE Fish and Wild life

Maine's Best Outdoor Almanac Spring 2008

Maine Fish & Wildlife

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I

Write: Kennebago River Kamps, A. Hammond PO Box 677, Rangeley 04970 207-864-2402

Need to know about Maine Outdoors?

Check the DIF&W Website: www.maine.gov/ifw

on FISH RIVER LAKE

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MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Spring 2008 Page 31

.. ...,,, . .

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THANK YOU! SUPPORT WILDLIFE $20 ANNUALLY, PLUS REGULAR REGISTRATION FEES. VANITY PLATES UP TO SIX CHARACTERS EXTRA.

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WILDLIFE! cfioose

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PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE (207) 287-8000

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