Meet the 2022 LIFETIME OUTDOOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT

Courtesy Of The Maine Department Of Inland Fisheries

Galen Ruhlin began hunting and fishing at an early age. His daughter Meghan recently saw some old films from the 1940s showing Galen hunting deer with his family at the age of 6 in Township 16, as well as lobstering and fishing off Gouldsboro Point as a kid.

Galen passed that love of the outdoors to his daughter, who has fond memories of waking at 3 a.m. to go salmon fishing on the Narraguagus. It’s clear Galen knew how to get young people hooked on the outdoors, as part of his daughter’s memories included stopping for a glazed donut at the local bakery. With incentives like that, it is no wonder his daughter Meghan was cleaning fish and skinning deer by the age of 6!

In the many nomination letters submitted for Galen, folks talked about his expertise and passion for the outdoors, gleaned over decades, and how he gladly passed that along to others through conversation or actions. He was a teacher to all, whether it was friends, children, or those that he guided. He shared in all their successes, from just viewing a bear while on a hunt or taking one himself. There is also a compassionate side to Galen that shines when dealing with others who love the outdoors. Several Game Wardens have shared that Galen always had coffee or tea with biscuits or pie for anyone who may stop by. Galen has been an excellent source of information regarding fish and wildlife resources in the area, and many game wardens and biologists have leaned on him and his woods expertise.

Warden Dave Simmons shared that over the years Galen has always been willing to assist anytime there is a sick or injured moose, or a moose/vehicle accident, no matter the time of day or weather conditions. While that is commendable, Simmons also noted that Galen would never keep the meat to himself, but instead would always provide it to those who needed it the most, spreading the meat throughout the community.

Galen has had a significant impact on Maine’s black bears as he became a driving force that helped influence one of the state’s largest blueberry companies to adapt to nonlethal methods to keep bears away from beehives in the blueberry barrens, including encouraging the company to spend money on exclusionary fencing and relocating bears.

Galen’s efforts over the years certainly exemplify stewardship and wise use of our natural resources. That combined with Galen’s compassion for others and passion for the outdoors made him the clear choice to be honored as the 2022 Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award Winner.

Past Recipients

Over the years, DIFW has honored many deserving individuals.

2015 HARLAND HITCHINGS AND JOSEPH BOUDREAU

2016 GARY COBB, JIM MARTIN AND OSCAR CRONK

2017 CAROLE DYER AND GABRIEL GIGUERE

2018 DANA JOHNSON AND ROGER MILLIGAN

2019 CHARLIE MANN AND GEORGE SMITH

2020 (AWARDED IN 2021) DAN AND SALLY MCALLISTER

2022 GALEN RUHLIN

Nominations Now Being Accepted For The 2023 Outdoor Lifetime Achievement Award

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Annual Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award. This award, which is presented by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, honors individuals who are dedicated to the stewardship and wise use of our natural resources, and who have been or are active in Maine’s rich outdoor traditions.

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