Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Fall 1982

FISH AND WIL' FALL 1982

MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Vol. 24, No. 3

Fall 1982

Governor Joseph E. Brennan

INSIDE Hunting Season Review

2

Hunting Ethics: A Problem of Perceptions

4

KID-BITS

8

The Black Duck Needs Help!

10

Howard E. Spencer, Jr.

Atlantic Salmon Spawning: Full Circle

13

Kenneth F. Beland

From the Fly Tying Bench: THE MARCH BROWN NYMPH

17

Peter G. Walker

Fish And Wildlife Briefs

19

Annual Report Section

20

James Lyons

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Glenn H . Manuel J . William Peppard Kenneth H . Anderson

David 0. Locke John F. Marsh Lyndon H. Bond Peter C. Brazier Robert W. Boettger W. Thomas Shoener Norman E. Trask Clayton G. Grant Henry R. Sleeper Lorenzo J. Gaudreau Alfred L. Meister

Commissioner Deputy Commissioner Director, Program Development and Co -ordination Superintendent of Hatcheries Chief Warden Director, Fishery Division Business Manager Director, Wildlife Division Director, Public Information Director, Regulations Division Chief, Engineering Division Chief, Realty Division Director, Licensing Division Chief Biologist, Atlantic Salmon Commission

THE COVERS Front: The black duck-a species whose troubles seem to have worsened regularly over the years , until the populations are alarmingly low in our most recent censuses . This striking shot of a flock of blacks was taken by Dr. Scott Nielsen of Superior, Wisconsin. See related article beginning on page 10.

Inside Front: A sight we all look forward to as summer draws to a close and bird hunting approaches. This Irish setter looks almost as happy as the hunter undoubtedly is-just to be afield with such good company! Photo Š Leonard Lee Rue III. Inside Back: A complete chart of Maine's 1982-83 hunting seasons.

Back: The beaver-a builder by nature-is a truly fascinating creature to watch! Whether he's gathering food, building dams, or tending the young kits, this family-oriented animal is a delight. Photo by Henry Hilton.

Advisory Council Rodney W. Ross, Chairman Brownville, Maine George E. Prentiss Dennis L. Smith

Rumford

Otter Creek

Nathan Cohen

Alva S. Appleby

Eastport

Skowhegan

Robert E . Moore

Francis D. Dunn

Casco

Patten Marc Plourde

Eagle Lake

Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine W. Thomas Shoener, Editor Thomas J. Chamberlain , Managing Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photographer Patricia J . Hogan, Editorial Assistant

MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE (ISSN 0360-005X) is published quarterly by the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State St., Station 41, Augusta, ME 04333, under Appropriation 4550. Subscription rate: $6.00 per year. No stamps, please.

Second class postage paid at Augusta, ME 04330. Š Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 1982 . Permission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit is given to the author and to MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE. Clearance must be obtained from artists, photographers, and non-staff authors to reproduce credited work.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send both old and new addresses to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Magazine, 284 State St., Sta. #41, Augusta, ME 04333. Allow six weeks for change to take effect. Your post office cannot forward copies unless you provide forwarding postage.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Circulation Section,

All photographs in this issue were made by the Public Information Division unless otherwise indicated .

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Magazine, 284 State St., Sta. #41, Augusta, ME 04333.

1

DEER HUNTING

'81 SEASON REVIEW ESPITE BEING hampered by poor hunting conditions, Maine deer hunters last fall had above-average success for recent years. The 32,167 registered deer harvest in 1981 was about 9 percent above average for the previous 10 years.

Compared with the 1980 season, though, last year's may have been something of a disappointment to those who forgot that 1980 was an exceptionally good year, both for hunting conditions and in hunter successthe best, in fact, since 1968.

About the 1981 season, Commissioner Glenn Manuel said "a good supply of deer available to hunters made the harvest possible in spite of prolonged warm, wet weather and a definite reduction in hunting pressure."

Hunters-particularly in central and southern Maine where the most deer are found and hunting pressure is heaviest-faced days of sustained rain. Although snow covered northern Maine during the latter part of the season, there are relatively fewer deer and less hunting pressure there.

Although hunting pressure was evidently off, due to the inclement weather, total sales of licenses allowing deer hunting were up. Over 235,000 hunters were legally licensed to hunt big game last year-202,994 residents and 32,373 nonresidents. The resident figure represented about a 4,000 increase over the 1980 figure and was a new record high, while nonresident license sales were off by about 2,000.

By counties, the 1981 totals of deer registrations (and rank in deer kill per square mile) were as follows: Androscoggin, 593 (8); Aroostook, 3,817 (16); Cumberland, 1,201 (7); Franklin, 1,239 (12); Hancock, 1,507 (11); Kennebec, 1,942 (2); Knox, 827 (3); Lincoln, 1,100 (4); Oxford, 1,343 (15); Penobscot, 4,964 (9); Piscataquis, 2,959 (12); Sagadahoc, 507 (5); Somer-

D

E

0

5

"O C OS

>

...

~

>.

.D

@ 0

0

.c C.

2

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

set, 3,965 (10); Waldo, 2,503 (I); Washington, 1,786 (14); and York, 1,914 (6).

Of the 32,167 deer taken by hunters in 1981, Maine residents accounted for 24,986, or 78 percent. Fifty-eight percent of the deer registered were taken by a Maine resident hunting in his or her home county, 20 percent by a resident of another Maine county, and 22 percent by a nonresident. Nonresident hunters accounted for 42 percent of the deer registered in the Northern Zone, 39 percent in the Western Zone, and 15

percent in the Southern Zone.

The total deer kill included 15, 714 adult bucks and 9,103 adult does.

Archers took 140 deer in 1981-an increase of 33 over the previous record, set only the year before. In the first year of the two-year muzzleloader season trial, primitive firearms users took only seven deer, but two of their three days of hunting were rain-outs.

T

HE Biggest Bucks in Maine Club just missed setting

a new record for memberships in 1981 with 656 new entries. The record is 665, set in 1980.

Entry to the club-sponsored by The Maine Sportsman, Box 507, Yarmouth, ME 04096-requires the taking of a buck deer weighing a minimum of 200 pounds, woods dressed.

Space does not permit listing information on all deer entries in the club each year, but we do try to give recognition to the largest ones. The following table lists the biggest of the biggest bucks entered in the club in 1981.

BIGGEST BUCKS, 1981 Address

Name

Center Merrill Edward Lemire, Jr. Bruce Bellemeur Artell Crowley, Ill Francis Bartley Brenda Jencks Lane Benoit Jack Davis Betty Freeman Joseph Watkins John Graham Harold Kauffman Joseph Leo Floyd Joslyn Chris Martin Dana Goodwin Kelly McDonough William Peterson Jeffrey Schencks Cecil Danforth Byron Fairbanks Alexander Runyon Leo Fournier, Ill Willard Levesque Conrad Cyr David Moore Richard Ames Clarence Babnean Scott Burr Stephen Cross Patrice Guimond Leon Nason Kevin Woodbury Alston Crocker Philip Marcucio David Pike Shelley Seavey Philip Andrews, Jr. Newton Gould Charles Huff David Moores Mark Mouse Stanley Brooks, Ill Robert Collura Terry Warren

A

Londonderry, VT York Beach, ME Turnbridge, VT Cumberland, ME Monticello, ME Caribou, ME Waterbury, VT Northeast, MD Rockland, ME Woodlyn, PA Oakfield, ME Mifflintown, PA Milton, VT Brownville, ME Howland, ME E. Harpswell, ME Princeton, ME Princeton, ME Bangor, ME Litchfield, ME Yarmouth, ME Cumberland, ME Southington, CT Buckfield, ME Shrewsbury, VT Derby, VT Auburn, ME Dublin, N.H. Duxbury, MA Bethel, ME Orrington, ME Skowhegan, ME Parkman, ME Winn, ME Derby, CT Cornish, ME Strong, ME Poland Springs, ME Phillips, ME Waterville, ME Lewiston, ME St. Thomas, PA Newport, ME Bangor, ME Farmington, ME

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

Date Killed

11-9-81 11-10-81 11-6-81 11-10-81 11-2-81 11-2-81 11-4-81 11-12-81 11-7-81 11-6-81 10-31-81 11-9-81 11-2-81 11-5-81 10-31-81 11-19-81 11-9-81 10-31-81 10-31-81 11-12-81 11-12-81 11-14-81 11-20-81 11-7-81 11-7-81 11-3-81 11-10-81 11-21-81 11-12-81 11-12-81 10-31-81 11-9-81 11-7-81 11-7-81 11-11-81

11-13-81 11-10-81 11-9-81 11-7-81 11-12-81 10-31-81 11-10-81 11-24-81 11-9-81 11-11-81

Where Killed

Firearm

Dressed Weight

Live Weight

T.3,R.5 Mass . Bog Seboomook Harmony Monticello Perham Spencer Bay Bald Mountain Twp. Rockland Bog Spencer Mtn. Oakfield Mt. Chase Big Bog Brownville Demo Seboomook Twp. Kossuth Forest City Vanceboro Litchfield Montville Cumberland The Forks Canton Beaver Brook Soldier Town New Vineyard Hardwood Hill Pittston Albany T .6R.12 WELS Deadwater Twp. Parkman Winn Thorndike Bethel Strong Industry Phillips Pittsfield Jackman Moro Plt. Palmyra T.4,R . 13 WELS New Vineyard

.308 .30-06 .30-06 .308 .308 .22 mag . .30-06 .30-06 .243 .30-06 .30-30 7mm. .308 .444 marlin .308 7 mm. mag. .32 .44 mag. .308 .30-30 .35 20 ga. .30-30 .30-06 .30-06 .7mm. .30-06 .30-06 12 ga. .30-06 .308 .35 .30-30 .32 .308 .308 .35 .308 .30-30 .308 .30-06 .30-06 .32 .35 .308

276 265 264 261 260 260 258 258 256 256 255 255 255 254 253 252 252 252 252 250 250 250 249 248 247 247 245 245 245 245 245 245 245 244 244 244 244 243 243 243 242 242 241 241 241

359 345 343 339 338 338 335 335 332 332 331 331 331 330 329 328 328 328 328 325 325 325 324 323 321 321 318 318 318 318 318 318 318 317 317 317 317 316 316 316 315 315 313 313 313

3

By James Lyons

HE PUBLIC VIEW of hunting and the hunter is a complex mixture of different perspectives. First, it consists of the views of public agencies and private individuals who maintain the land base which supports our outdoor recreational activities. Secondly, it consists of the views of the user groups: the hunters and fishermen, backpackers and birdwatchers, whose impact upon the resource and whose actions are our ultimate concern.

An important third group must also be recognized in addressing the public view-the public at large. This group includes individuals who may neither manage nor participate in those outdoor recreational activities which will affect our natural resources. They do, nevertheless, significantly influence the manner in which these resources will be used.

The impact of the views of this group, equal to or greater in number than the first two groups combined, warrants considerable attention. This group and its attitudes toward 4

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

Percep~ ¡ons ,~ .,

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

s

hunting and the hunter are the subject of this article.

Public attitudes toward hunting have been studied, measured, and analyzed using state and national surveys. The results have emphasized the fact that a large portion of the public is opposed to hunting. A recent national study by Dr. Stephen Kellert (1979), for example, reported that approximately 40 percent of the public opposed any form of sport or recreational hunting.

This figure appears ominous until one looks more closely at the factors related to opposition. Three issues become apparent: 1) concern that hunting is pursued solely for recreation, without any practical use, 2) concern for the morality of killing an animal, and 3) concern for the behavior of hunters, especially issues of safety and improper ethical conduct.

Of those reported opposed to hunting in Kellert's first national study, only 4.5 percent opposed all forms of hunting (including sport, meat, and trophy hunting). His more recent national study, however, sheds additional light on specific factors which relate to hunting opposition.

Traditional native hunting and hunting for meat were approved overwhelmingly. In contrast, hunting game mammals and waterfowl for recreation and sport was opposed by a substantial number of respondents, and trophy hunting met with even more disapproval. Perhaps most interesting was the public's view of hunting for recreation and meat, approved by 64 percent.

The use of meat in conjunction with sport or recreational hunting is not a new concept, and long has been part of the "hunting ethic." Yet hunting opponents continue to express concern for waste and deemphasize the practical use of game associated with the hunting experience. Several surveys have indicated public concern that hunters waste meat, are "game hogs," and get their satisfaction ''mainly from hitting the target."

6

What factors are responsible for this viewpoint?

N A 1974 STUDY of social trends in public views toward wildlife, William Shaw suggested that changes in supply of the resource relative to the number of humans have had a substantial effect upon perceived wildlife values. He suggested that the relative value of wildlife resources has been constantly changing as human populations increased and wildlife supplies decreased. The result, he stated, has been a system of values evolved from utility or nuisance value (a function of wildlife abundance) to consumptive recreational value (focusing on the annual harvest of population surplus) to aesthetic or existence value (the result of a perceived scarcity of wildlife resources). If such values can be interpreted as indicators of ethical

concern, that portion of the present opposition to hunting which is based upon concern for waste can be more clearly understood.

Several studies have clearly illustrated the relationship between concern for wildlife scarcity and hunting opposition. Kellert reported that among those opposed to sport hunting, human over-population and hunting were cited as the most important reasons for the endangerment and extinction of the greatest number of wild animal species in the United States during the past 25 years. Other authors have recognized a preservationist or appreciative philosophy among anti-hunting groups, and a trend away from more traditional views of consumptive resource use.

Concern for the morality of killing animals was the primary reason for hunting opposition Kellert cited in his 1980 study. Of those opposed to any form of sport or recreational hunting, 56 percent cited the feeling that it was morally wrong. Other reasons they gave were-presumed pain and suffering experienced by animals and a general feeling of love for animals.

Opposition to firearms and the disrespectful and unethical conduct of hunters were cited by only 4.8 percent and 5.6 percent respectively, of those opposed. Similar findings from Kellert 's 197 5 survey reflected a general objection among this group to a wide variety of activities involving general human exploitation of animals: â‚Źircuses, trapping for fur, roping calves, riding broncos, and killing seals for skins.

These findings and others suggest that much opposition to hunting is deeply rooted in ethical and emotional factors.

Philosophical or ethical opposition to hunting is as culturally oriented as is participation in the sport. In fact, the hunting/anti-hunting debate may be viewed as a clash of two very distinct social groups. Research has characterized anti-hunters as individuals from more densely populated areas, primarily white collar workers, and more often women than mena group distinctly different from the

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

blue collar, rural-oriented, maledominated hunting segment of the population. Differences in income, education levels, and population density of past and present residences serve to emphasize the socio-cultural differences between these groups.

Though individual concerns related to the proper utilization of game and the morality of killing for pleasure or sport may be attributed to the antihunting viewpoint, anti-hunter sentiment may be attributed to other distinctly different concerns.

Concerns cited by college students in a 1974 study-strongest among those from small towns, rural areas, and those who hunted-included disregard for and damage to property of others, violation of game laws, and the wounding or killing of people.

Other studies serve to emphasize this anti-hunter sentiment.

One study of landowners found that only a small percentage of them could say they had never had a bad experience with hunters, and though most approved of hunting, many indicated that hunters' behavior was problem enough to cause them to post their lands.

The problems of hunter conduct and public attitudes were addressed directly by a National Shooting Sports Foundation study that focused upon the attitudes of a ''neutral group" of individuals who were neither hunters nor trap, skeet, or target shooters. Among the top 20 problems cited by the participants in four cities across the United States, factors related to improper ethical conduct, a lack of knowledge of hunting skills, and disregard for safety were the dominant concerns.

Additional and substantial concern for the wounding of animals and resultant presumed slow and painful death reflected both a concern for the lack of hunter skill and the anthropomorphic issues raised by Kellert's most recent findings.

In review, the scope and nature of the public view toward hunting and hunters reflect three primary areas of concern . The first pertains to public perceptions of wildlife supply and the impacts of hunting. The implications Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

are clear-"that hunting is too serious an activity to be pursued solely for the entertainment value, but should also be related so some practical use or need.''

The second concern addressed was that of the basic moral and ethical reasons for opposition to hunting.

Research indicates that concern for the suffering of individual animals and general opposition to domination over and utilization of wildlife is considerable. Such opposition is culturally oriented and may in fact reflect a ''process of cultural evolution'' in which the aesthetic value of wildlife surpasses consumptive values for a substantial segment of the public.

Finally, concern for hunter conduct and issues related to safety, knowledge of equipment, violation of game laws, and respect for landowner rights have been tied to anti-hunter sentiment. These concerns have been expressed not only by the general public, but by sportsmen as well.

What can be done to address these issues?

First, we must recognize that certain attitudes are not likely to change quickly. Opposition to hunting based upon moral and ethical concerns which are culture-based is not likely to be transformed. To the extent that opposition to hunting is based upon misconceptions of game scarcity and the impact of hunting on wildlife populations, some changes may be affected.

Development of public education programs aimed at correcting such misconceptions is critical. The relationship between knowledge of animals and their habitats and attitudes toward hunting has been illustrated by Kellert and others.

Those most knowledgeable about wildlife are the ones who support its consumptive use. Research findings on the impact of mass media upon individual attitudes suggest that dissemination of any public education materials must be widespread and employ various forms of communications media.

Finally, improving the ethical conduct of hunters is an immediate need. The studies reported appear to indicate that the effect of unethical conduct upon attitudes toward hunters is substantial, both for the general public and the sportsman himself. Hunter education programs provide a means of dealing with this issue. However, it is apparent that programs must emphasize more than weapon safety if they are to be effective. Greater understanding of the effectiveness of present programs is essential and studies emphasizing this aim should be promoted. Studies of hunter behavior and attitudes must continue and the findings of these studies used to guide the development of more effective programs.

A critical need is a code of ethics emphasizing safety, respect for game laws and landowner rights, and the utilization of game. Such a code must be developed and enforced within the hunting community itself to be effective. Concern for proper conduct within the hunter ranks has been widely recognized. Hunters must begin to practice what they preach, however, in order to reduce the conflicts which breed public discontent and anti-hunter sentiment.

The significance of the public view about hunting and hunters can be illustrated by the following quotation from John Hendee and Clay Schoenfeld (1973): "In the final analysis, the fate of sport hunting is not in the hands of the wildlife manager or even the hunter; it is in the hands of the general public. Consequently, it behooves us to analyze very carefully the sentiments we confront, and marshal our creeds and conduct accordingly."

•

Editor 's Note: The author is a program analyst in the Division of Program Plans of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The original paper, " The Scope and Nature of the Outdoor Ethics Problem: The Public View of Hunting and the Hunter," expresses the views of Mr. Lyons and does not represent official views of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

7

UNDERSTANDING BIRD MIGRATION

When the autumn leaves turn to brilliant reds and golds, waterfowl and other birds can be seen heading to warmer climates. When looking at these birds, one may pause and wonder when and in what way did this mysterious behavior begin? Both of these questions may be partially answered.

The biological reason for waterfowl migration is survival. Most of the waterfowl would not survive if they did not migrate. Like most animals, including man, birds tend to be creatures of comfortable habit and they will change their habits only when absolutely necessary. Ecological

; .: I

/

stresses such as food shortages are probably the most common cause of the migratory habit. The water areas where most of them breed freeze over, making food unattainable.

Individuals of numerous species migrate as short a distance as possible to find open water and food. As conditions change in the winter or from year to year, the migrants alter their winter areas to meet their needs. Food supplies determine where and when large segments of waterfowl migrate.

Migration routes are determined more by climatic change and its power to vary the food supply than by any otHer environmental factor. The more rigorous the climate, the greater the number of birds that migrate. Not so easily explained are large-scale migrations among most species of waterfowl that occur before food supplies become a main concern.

Scientists are only beginning to fully understand the migratory habits of waterfowl, but with continued research, we may one day be able to unravel this complex mystery.

Most birds live in the northern hemisphere of the world. It is in this location that the seasonal north and south bound migration takes place. A migration species often winters in a region ecologically similar to its breeding area. This is our explanation why some birds breeding in the far north make such tremendous migrations to similar habitats in the far south.

Birds have their preferred times of day for migrating. The majority of smaller birds feed by day and migrate by night, when they are safer from predators and when the air is generally more stable. Larger birds such as eagles, hawks, herons, and crows migrate by day and rest by night. Some waterfowl may migrate either by day or night. Many experiments have been performed on the psychological reasons responsible for bird migration, yet scientists are still unable to fully understand the complexities that govern the particular timing of bird migrations.

In order to get to their winter areas, birds must use a means of navigation. Scientists believe that waterfowl make extensive use of landscape when navigating across the country. Immatures learn the different landscape cues on their maiden flights. This enables them, in later years, to repeat the sequence of stopping places from their breeding areas to their winter areas.

The degree that waterfowl use landscape at night probably depends upon the visibility of these landmarks. Scientists now have evidence that under low, heavy overcast at night, these birds often overshoot their home areas, forcing a reverse migration the following day.

Scientists have also found that certain species of waterfowl also use the sun and stars as a means of navigation. It is also thought that another means of navigation may be the use of the earth's magnetic field to navigate when other means, which may be easier to use, are unavailable.

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

Letters should be sent to: Patricia Hogan, KID-BITS Editor Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine 284 State Street, Sta. #41 Augusta, ME 04333 9

HE BLACK DUCK (Anas rubripes, to the ornithologist) has been Maine's principal game duck since the days of the aborigines. Kissing cousin to the widely distributed mallard, he's comparable to the greenhead in most respects except for color, behavior, and distribution . In fact, taxonomists and geneticists seem uncertain as to just how this most elite of the puddle ducks evolved.

The similar coloration of both sexes may have been an adaptation to the wooded habitat of their breeding range, which extends from Ontario eastward through the maritimes, north to the tree line or a little beyond, and southward at least to Maryland . Significant production is currently occurring from Maine and Quebec northeastward.

Blacks winter from Nova Scotia to Georgia, but concentrate from North Carolina to Long Island. In terms of range-wide management, Maine is important in the role of a production area. Unfortunately, this great bird has long been subject to declining population problems. As early as 1947, Dr. Ira Gabrielson, one of the fathers of modern wildlife management, expressed serious concern for the black. At that time, there were few hard facts on which to base management.

National winter inventories did not become routine and comparable until the mid-50s. Since then, these inventory results show a decline from 720,000 plus to 280,000 plus (Figure 1). Regardless of how good or bad this inventory may be, it's carried out the same way each year and the downward trend seems more than obvious. Maine wintering black duck inventories are but a small and variable part of the overall picture. These data are almost meaningless without similar data from the wintering range. As a matter of interest, however, the Maine figures for 1980, '81, and '82 were on the order of 13,000, 5,000, and 13,000 respectively, compared to a 20-year average of more than 20,000!

T

Figure 1. Black Duck Populations, Winter Surveys, 1955-1980

800

0 0 0 .,...

A second survey also provides cause for concern. Comparable annual harvest studies go back a least to 1963 (Figure 2). Hunting pressure (i.e. total hunter days) more than tripled between 1963 and 1970. This increased hunting effort resulted in more black ducks being killed each year until 1969 (Figure 2). After 1969, the population Figure 2. Duck Hunting Pressures: Total Harvests and Black Duck Harvests, Maine 1963-1981

10 0 '----------------------• 1963 64 115 116 117 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81

apparently could not sustain the kill rate-harvests have declined ever since. Annual harvests vary considerably due to weather patterns and other factors. But even multi-year averages reveal a seriously declining trend (Figure 3).

As if the situation wasn't bad enough, perhaps the most disturbing data of all are the losses in annual production detected by analysis of data going back to 1956. No other state or province is known to have similar data, so we have little with which to compare. Our data indicates that annual black duck production is currently less than onefourth that of the 1956-65 period. In other words, Maine has lost more than three-fourths of its black duck breeding population. This study was based on 37 areas statewide, encompassing over 15,000 acres of wetlands (Table 1).

W

II(

"' ~

()

:::::, C ~

() c(

..J

m

60

65

70

YEAR Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

75

80

HAT ARE THE CAUSES of this declining population? There are several. Certainly, the increased recreational use of our waterways in recent decades has not been beneficial. DDT, widely dispersed over the salt marsh wintering grounds, has also taken its toll, though present day blacks are recovering nicely from residue loads. Lead poisoning has affected some areas of the range. Budworm spraying and acid precipitation have possibly affected critical invertebrate (insect) food supplies. Predation, illegal harvest, and disease are also mortality factors. Despite all these "natural" mortality factors, the role of the legal hunter cannot be denied. A 11

recent analysis of all band recoveries from black ducks banded anywhere, anytime, in North America illustrates this. To paraphrase a list from the report: The proportion of black duck mortality related to hunting is considerably different than that reported for the mallard. A comparison of our findings shows:

Figure 3. Average Black Duck Harvests, Maine, 1969-1981

Hunting Mortality as a Proportion of Total Mortality Black Duck Mallard

Adult Males

Adult Females

Young Males

Young Females

57 55

47 42

66 51

64 46

50

40

Maine annual mortality survival figures look like this for blacks: Adult Males

Survive Die from hunting Die from other causes

65 20 15

Adult Females

51 26 23

Young Males

45 34 21

Young Females

45 34 21

An important aspect of black duck hunting to Maine hunters and wildlife managers is the fact that under normal conditions Maine produces a large proportion of the birds that it harvests. Hence, only by reversing the declining breeding population trend can we hope to have harvestable surpluses in the future. Although some of the additional blacks we might send south (as a result of protecting them in Maine) will be killed by more southerly hunters, the survivors become mixed with many thousands of birds from other breeding areas. Consequently, the odds become highly favorable for a Maine black duck wintering in Virginia. Control of hunting is our one immediate and possibly effective tool.

I

N THE FINAL ANALYSIS, it is our goal to halt and reverse the declining breeding popu-

Table 1. Waterfowl Production Trends (Average Annual Number of Broods) by Species for Three Time Periods, Maine, 1956-1981 (37 Areas Surveyed, Total of 15,156 Acres of Wetland)

Species

(/)

30

0

z<(

(/)

::::,

0

:a: I-

20

10

-----------------------------0 - - - -1969-73 1974-78 1979-81

AVERAGE HARVESTS

lation so that increased stocks of black ducks will provide hunting and pleasure for our children and grandchildrenand hopefully for us. We will continue to monitor population status through all of the methods discussed above and with particular emphasis on production surveys and banding programs. We look for your support! â&#x20AC;˘

Period 3 Period 1 Period 2 1977-81 Change P ,-P i 1966-76 1956-65 Percent , No. Percent No. No. No. Percent Broods Composition Broods Broods Composition Broods Difference

102.4 Black Duck 45 .1 Wood Duck Ringnecked D. * 29.0 Goldeneye 30.8 H. Merganser* 15.8 Mallard* 1.0 C. Merganser* 3.5 B-W Teal* 5.3 G-W Teal* 0.0 33.4 Unknown Ducks Canada Geese* 0.0 Total Av. An. Broods 266.3 Percent Change

38.5 16.9 10.9 11.6 5.9 0.3 1.3 2.0 0.0 12.5 0.0 99.9

52.2 24.8 17 .1 32.6 35.4 36.4 30.1 24.7 13 .2 20.7 0.7 2.0 4.8 5.4 6.2 5.4 1.4 0.0 3.8 37.7 0.8 3.4 198.0 160.8 -26 -19

15.4 20.3 22.6 15.4 12.9 1.2 3.0 3.9 0.9 2.4 2.1 100.1

- 77.6 - 12.5 + 7.4 - 6.1 + 4.9 + 1.0 + 1.3 + 0.9 + 1.4 - 29.6 + 3.4 -105.5

- 76 - 28

+ 26 - 20

+ 31 + 100 + 37 + 17 + 100 - 89

+ 100 -40

â&#x20AC;˘ Increases

12

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

There are many obstacles which face Atlantic salmon during their lifetime, and only a small percentage survive to propagate their species. Here is the story, from spawned to spawner, of how this popular species comes . ..

FULL CIRCLE

By Kenneth F. Beland Salmon Biologist

HE BRIGHTLY COLORED LEAVES of autumn have dropped from the hardwoods along the stream's edge, and with them have gone the last of the fishermen. Air temperatures are frequently below freezing, and water temperatures have been steadily dropping.

At the head of a shallow riffle, beneath an overhanging maple tree, lies a female Atlantic salmon in spawning colors. She is resting between spells of digging a nest, called a redd, in the gravel beneath her. This is where she will deposit her eggs. Two male salmon lie downsteam from her like sentinels, jockeying for a position closest to this female, two bruised warriors waiting for the opportunity to spawn with her. Male salmon, each with a hooklike kype protruding from its lower jaw, may become quite aggressive in their attempts to drive other males away, causing this shallow riffle to boil with spray.

Each October, on this and many other Atlantic salmon spawning streams in Maine, similar scenes are being repeated many times . The salmon which spawn in Maine's Atlantic salmon rivers are the survivors of a brutal life that has seen most of their cohort perish. These fish have survived drought, flood, and numerous predators during two or three years of stream life. They have left the river in spring as silvery smolts, headed for the rich feeding grounds of the sea, and have grown sleek and powerful while eluding seals and the many predatory fishes of the ocean. They have avoided capture in the nets of commercial fishermen off the coasts of Greenland and Canada, and have entered their home river after two years at sea as the powerful silvery fish so eagerly sought by fly fishermen.

These fish, weighing from eight to 12 pounds, typify the Atlantic salmon in Maine rivers. Once in fresh water, they have avoided an army of anglers awaiting their arrival, typically outfitted with graphite fly rods and the latest in "killer" flies. During the hot days of summer, these fish have survived by retreating to areas where cool springs enter the river. The remarkable individuals that endured these many perils now occupy the spawning areas of the salmon rivers. These salmon are left with the important job of assuring the continuity of their species.

T

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

This article will take a detailed look at Atlantic salmon spawning and attempt to describe the development of the fish from fertilization of the eggs through the emergence of the fry from the gravel in the spring. I have here (hopefully) answered many questions that anglers and other interested persons often ask about the life history of the Atlantic salmon. Most of the details of Atantic salmon spawning behavior and egg development also apply to the landlocked salmon.

Altantic salmon commonly spawn on shallow gravel bars where the current begins to accelerate. These bars are frequently found at the tail of a pool, along the sides of a gravel island, or where large rocks create a constriction in the water flow, causing the increase in velocity. In Maine rivers, Atlantic salmon generally begin spawning between Oct. 13 and Oct. 16, and generally finish within two weeks.

Most of the spawning usually takes place during a peak period of three or four days. Much of the spawning activity takes place at night, although salmon may be seen spawning at any time of day during the peak period. Water temperatures average a chilly 48°F (9°C) at the beginning of spawning activities, and are usually much colder then that when spawning ceases.

In a recent study, water depths and velocities were found to be important to the female salmon choosing a place to locate her redd. Female salmon were found to construct redds in water with an average depth of 15 inches, and an average water velocity of slightly less than two feet per second. These measurements indicate that Maine salmon utilize habitat similar to that reported for Atlantic salmon in Canada.

The gravel in spawning areas is a somewhat coarse mixture, with most of the stones being between V4 " and 3" in diameter. The proper mixture of coarse and fine materials in the gravel mixture is critical to the survival of the eggs.

As the salmon embryo develops within the egg, it must obtain oxygen and rid itself of its metabolic wastes. These wastes can be toxic to the embryo if allowed to accumulate. Water percolating through the gravel of the stream bed carries oxygen to the egg and removes metabolic wastes. An excessive amount of sand or silt in the gravel mixture can slow the flow of water so that the embryo may 13

die from a lack of oxygen, or by poisoning from its own wastes .

A

lthough the actual spawning act may take place very quickly, many hours (or even days) are spent by the female salmon in redd preparation. The fem ale salmon chooses an area to construct her redd and begins to excavate the area where she will deposit her eggs.

She digs this pit by turning on her side, arching her back, and forcing a jet of water onto the stream bottom with powerful strokes of her tail. This dislodges gravel from the stream bottom in the same manner as would a garden hose directed into a gravel driveway. The salmon's tail does not act like a shovel and physically dig the egg pit.

The current carries the dislodged gravel downstream, leaving a large depression in the stream bottom. These episodes of digging last from five to 20 seconds, and are repeated at intervals of from 30 seconds to several minutes.

During the digging period, the female salmon may occaFemale salmon arches her back as her tail surges back and forth, dislodging gravel from the stream bottom. One male waits to spawn, and the nose of another can be seen at lower right. Photo by Rick Jordan

14

sionally return to a quiet pool for rest. The female may begin and abandon several trial or test redds before finally digging one into which she will deposit her eggs .

The digging continues until a pit of suitable size is constructed . The completed pit is usually about as long as the salmon, and nearly as wide. The egg pits average IO inches deep; they range from eight to 16 inches deep.

Throughout the digging process, one or more male salmon may accompany the fem ale. If more than one male is attending the female, there may be fierce competition among the males to determine who will occupy the preferred postion, slightly downstream and to one side of the female. The dominant male, usually the largest, will usually attempt to drive away any other males. The riffles are frequently alive with spray as males compete for the dominant position.

During the final stages of digging, the female salmon will lie in the newly dug pit, and extend her anal fin downward, as if to check the dimensions of the egg pit. During this period, the male salmon will often approach the female and lie at her side quivering, possibly to check whether she is ready to spawn.

With the digging completed, the female lies in the egg pit with pectoral fins extended, mouth open, and back arched downward. Salmon can maintain this position in the cur-

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

A typical salmon redd as seen from shore. Photo by Rick Jordan

rent without having to swim. One or more males approach her side and assume similar positions. All then begin to quiver, and within a few seconds, eggs and milt are simultaneously released in an act that lasts approximately 20-30 seconds. The fish appear surrounded by a cloud of whitish milt. The eggs sink to the bottom of the egg pit, surrounded by the millions of sperm cells present in the male's milt. One sperm cell will enter each to fertilize it. Studies of Atlantic salmon spawning indicate that virtually 100 percent the eggs are fertilized.

During redd preparation, one or more male parr can be seen near the perimeter of the redd. These small males (four to eight inches long) are sexually mature, and are capable of fertilizing eggs. Due to their small size, these precocious males are probably incapable of stimulating the female to spawn; they do shed milt during the spawning act, however, and may fertilize some of the eggs.

After the spawning act, the male salmon leave the redd, and the fem ale buries her eggs. She moves upstream from the pit and begins digging in a manner similar to redd preparation, until the eggs are covered with four to 10 inches of gravel. The eggs will remain buried until the fry emerge in the spring .

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

The female salmon often leaves the redd for a period of rest prior to preparing another egg pit, where she will spawn again. She may add to her first redd, or she may construct a new one in a different location. She may spawn several times, until all her eggs are shed. There is evidence that fem ale salmon in Maine rivers frequently construct two or more redds. A female salmon may spawn with the same male more than once, or different males may be involved. During the spawning period, males are frequently on the move, searching for females ready to spawn.

The number of eggs produced by a female salmon depends directly upon the size of the fish, with larger fish producing more eggs than smaller ones. An average ninepound fem ale salmon produces about 800 eggs per pound of oody weight, or approximately 7,500 eggs . Very large females may produce 15,000 or more eggs. These large females produce fewer but larger eggs per pound of body weight than do smaller fish. The average salmon egg has a diameter of about one-quarter inch.

V

ERY SOON AFTER SPAWNING is completed, the salmon leave the shallow spawn15

ing riffles. In smaller rivers, many adult salmon will return directly to the sea, but in larger rivers, the spent adults, known as kelts or black salmon, usually overwinter in lakes or deadwater areas. These fish leave the river in the spring, and resume feeding on their way out to sea.

Kelts have gone a long time without feeding, and are usually in very poor physical condition. In most years, only about one kelt in 10 survives to spawn a second time.

Fewer yet survive to spawn for a third time. The record for Atlantic salmon is seven spawning trips. Most salmon from Maine rivers spend 12 to 15 months at sea between spawning trips .

After eggs are fertilized and buried in the gravel, the development of the young Atlantic salmon begins. Over the next seven months, each single-celled egg will change into a fully-developed fry. During the first few months of development, little change in the egg is visible to the naked eye, although under a microscope, a careful observer would see a young salmon in development. By midJanuary (80 days after spawning), two black spots are visible on each egg. These spots will become the fish's eyes.

The egg is now considered to be in the eyed stage of development.

Over the next two to three months, development continues, and the young salmon becomes visible to the naked eye, looking like a pink streak wrapped around the yolk of the egg. The yolk is the sole food source for the salmon embryo. By late April or early May (195 days after spawn-

Male (left) and female Atlantic salmon during the spawning act. Note cloud of milt in the egg pit. Photo by the author

16

ing), the young salmon will hatch from the egg by breaking through the tough outer covering, called the chorion.

After hatching, the young salmon or alevin remains buried in the gravel, and continues to draw nourishment from the yolk, which is now found in a bulging sac under the fish's belly. After several weeks in the alevin stage, the young salmon moves upward through the gravel and emerges under cover of darkness as a fully developed fry.

The total time from spawning to emergence averages 210 to 220 days. Fry average about one and one-quarter inches long, and begin feeding very quickly. For any given redd, emergence may be spread out over a two-week period, although most of the fry emerge over a two- to three-night peak period. These fry will remain in the vicinity of the redd for most of the summer. They defend their feeding territories from one another, and may double or triple in length by the end of their first growing season.

Within a few weeks after emergence, the young salmon are referred to as parr, a stage that may last two or three years, while the fish remains in fresh water. At two or three years of age, the highly territorial parr undergoes a behavioral change to become a schooling fish, and undergoes the physiological changes necessary to adapt to life in salt water. It is then referred to as a smolt.

In the open ocean, the schools disperse, and the fish spend one or two years feeding and rapidly growing before returning to their home river as adult salmon. Mortalities have been very heavy. Out of 7,500 eggs spawned, perhaps 100 may reach the ocean as smolts. Of those 100 smolts, only two or three will probably live long enough to return to the shallow riffle to spawn and assure the survival of the species. That's only about .5 percent-not very good odds!

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

~

the Fly Tying Bench

MARCH BROWN NYMPH

NYMPH #1

By Peter G. Walker ABOUT THE FLY The average May fly's adult life lasts about 48 hoursconsiderably less than one percent of its total life span. Yet the majority of fly fishermen spend most of their efforts trying to imitate this stage. Trout, on the other hand, probably consume more May fly nymphs than they do adults.

Nymphs are sometimes difficult to tie, and often even more difficult to fish properly. The angler who masters the art of presenting them convincingly will bring home fish far more consistently than will dry fly purists.

Although we tend to think of nymph flies as realistic, they at best only suggest the real thing. But if the trout are fooled by these crude decoys, who are we to argue?

Our first nymph pattern is one of the family of flies col-

1

lectively called March Browns. The name is of English origin, but is properly used in these parts for a species of brownish May fly that appears early in the open water season. This nymph is an effective imitation of many greybrown May fly nymphs, and may take fish in any season.

THE PATTERN HooK: 3X long in sizes #10, #12, & #14 THREAD: brown, tan, or orange TAIL: a few stiff, red-brown hackle feathers BooY: dubbing of mixed grey and tan furs WING CASE: a section of barred mallard flank feather LEGS: a red-brown hackle feather. (Select one with soft, flexible fibers and a good deal of webbing.)

Secure the tying thread to the rear of the shank with a few overlapping winds.

The tail is constructed by lash¡ ing the butts of a few hackle fibers to the shank near the top of the bend.

Attach the outer tip of the section of barred mallard flank feather to the top of the shank as pictured.

2

Attach one end of the dubbing near the base of the tail with 2 or 3 firm wraps of tying thread . (Instructions for making fur dubbing are featured at the end of this article.) Now wind the tying thread forward about two-thirds of the distance between the bend and the eye of the hook.

Prepare the hackle by trimming off the fluffy butt end and rubbing the fibers the wrong way with thumb and forefinger.

Now attach the hackle stem to the shank with tying thread as shown and wind the thread forward towards the eye.

3

5

Create the nymph's abdomen with tight, consecutive wraps of the dubbing. Secure the dubbing to the bottom of the shank at the 2/J point with a couple of wraps of tying thread and leave the remainder attached.

Attach hackle pliers to the tip of the hackle and wind the feather two or three turns around the shank towards the eye. Secure the remainder with tying thread and clip off the excess.

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

4

6 17

7

With left thumb and forefinger, carefully bend the hackle fiber legs down and backwards while wrapping the dubbing material over and ahead of these fibers. Build up the thorax with overlapping layers of dubbing, then secure this material near the eye and trim off the remainder.

To make a wing case, pull the mallard flank over the top of the thorax and tie it down near the eye. Trim off the remaining feather and create a head with a few more wraps of tying thread . All that remains is a finish knot and a coat of lacquer for the head.

8

- - - - - - - - MAKING FUR DUBBING- - - - - - - - , Traditional dubbing is made from the underfur of animals such as fox, muskrat, and beaver. The fur is available from most fly tying shops, usually in the form of scraps from furriers. Dubbing made from space age synthetics is becoming increasingly popular, but here's how to make your own from fur. Tools and materials you will need include sharp scissors, a spool of cotton sewing thread (of a color which closely matches the fur), some beeswax or a commercially prepared fly tying wax , and whatever natural or artificial dubbing fur you wish to use.

1

3 18

To prepare natural fur for dubbing, snip off a small bunch near the hide.

Then, grasping the base of the bunch tightly between one thumb and forefinger, carefully pull out the heavy guard hairs with the other thumb and forefinger and discard.

By rolling the fur and thread back and forth with your hand, a yarn of fur is created around the thread core.

2

Spread out the fine underfur evenly in your lap.

Lay the thoroughly waxed cotton . thread down the middle of the material.

4

The dubbing that you have created can now be used as body material in much the same way as prepared yarns and flosses.

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS BLACK DUCK COMPROMISE

Following a public hearing and meetings with the Maine Waterfowl Council and the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council, Commissioner Glenn Manuel set duck hunting seasons for 1982 that struck what he called a ''commonsense, reasonable compromise" on the question of hunting black ducks.

Manuel cut the daily limit of the popular species to one in the inland portions of the state, while hunters in coastal sections, who have a split season, must wait until the second season before they may shoot black ducks but then may take two daily.

Populations of black ducks are widely acknowledged to be declining throughout the Atlantic Flyway (see article on page 11), and considerable support developed in Maine this year for complete protection of the species. Many duck hunters and the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine felt, though, that Maine should not take such drastic action unless other states also made voluntary sacrifices.

More recent developments have included voluntary black duck harvest reductions in several other states and an unsuccessful suit in federal court in Washington seeking to stop the hunting of black ducks throughout their range. The suit was filed by the Humane Society of the United States and the Maine Audubon Society.

PERSONNEL NOTES

Edgar Foster, a veteran employee at the Dry Mills fish hatchery, died suddenly in August. He was 57.

Foster, foreman at Dry Mills since 1972, had been employed there for 35 years. He is survived by his wife_. and four children.

Retiring in July after 32 years with the department was Dana K. Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

Holmes of Bangor. Holmes, a wildlife biologist, began work with the Wildlife Division but later transferred to the Engineering Division.

Promoted to game warden pilot and assigned to Division D., Greenville headquarters, was district game warden Roland A. Tarr of Blue Hill. Tarr, an 18-year veteran of the Warden Service, has considerable flying experience and since 1980 had been acting in a part-time capacity as a warden pilot.

Also in the Warden Service, game warden Gregory T. Maher of Charlotte was promoted to the rank of sergeant and reassigned to Division E. Maher, who has been a warden for 10 years, will supervise district wardens in the Presque IsleHoulton area of southern Aroostook County.

WILD TURKEY PROGRESS

Maine's wild turkey project continues to show signs of promise.

Wildlife Biologist Philip Bozenhard reports that last year, following another summer of good reproduction, Maine's wild turkeys went into the winter of 1981-82 in good shape and, although the winter was cold and long, the birds survived well.

A highlight of the winter was the start of a "trap and transport" program to try and increase the distribution of turkeys in Maine.

Fifteen toms and 18 hens were moved from Eliot, in southern York County, to Waldo County-approximately 150 miles away.

Results of this move have been encouraging, Bozenhard reports .

Through late summer, six broods had been reported.

Bozenhard asks that reports of wild turkeys in the York County area be reported to him at 328 Shaker Rd. Gray, ME (phone : 1-800-322-1333).

Turkey sightings in the Waldo County area should be reported to Wildlife Biologist Gary Donovan, 8 Federal St., Augusta, ME (phone: 289-2536).

WOODCOCK HABITAT

Recently published was a fine booklet for the small landowner who is not a biologist but who wants to do something for woodcock on his or her land.

Copies of "A Landowner's Guide to Woodcock Management in the Northeast" may be obtained from the Life Sciences and Agriculture Experiment Station at the University of Maine at Orono.

MOOSE SEASON '82

Hunters took 880 moose in the first of Maine's limited, annual moose seasons. A detailed report will appear in a foture issue.

I was very interested in the pictures of wardens in your summer issue.

James Walker (#66) from Oxford was our district warden when I was growing up. When I was about 15 years old he picked me up for a violation of the game laws (/ do not remember the specific charges). I do remember the fine was $15. I had only $10, but he loaned me the other $5. We were good friends before and continued to be the rest of his life. I am now 76 years old.

-G. W. Dyer Augusta

19

Annual Report of Operations July 1, 1981 to June 30, 1982 Financial Statement .

Transfers from Snowmobile and Watercraft Registration 2.8% Fines and fees 2.8% 1

AI1 other revenues 2.4%

1 General I I 1 Contributions from Fund 0.1%

The Income Dollar Summary of Operationsa Adjusted Cash Balance July 1, 1981 Add: Revenues $ 9,089,030 Transfers 260,000 $ 9,349,030 $10,339,980 Deduct: Expenditures 185,693 Encumbrances $10,525,673 Unencumbered Cash Balance June 30, 1982 Less Cash Reserves: Operating Capital Balance of Unreserved Cash

$2,815,038

By Peter Brazier Business Services Manager The increases in revenues in fiscal year 1982 were far outweighed by the increases in expenditures. We experienced a decrease of $1,005,512 in our year ending cash balance.

Payroll and vehicle operating cost made up the largest proportion of the expenditure increases. However, the general inflationary trend affecting all other goods and services necessary to operate the Department programs was still apparent in Fiscal 1982.

We feel that our year ending cash balance should be maintained at least at the current level in order to provide cash to alleviate the cash flow problem. Expenditures at certain times of the year exceed revenues, therefore creating the need for this operating capital.

We expect that inflation will continue to erode the buying power of the dollar for some time to come; therefore the Department will continue to reevaluate priorities, to minimize the impact of inflation on our management programs.

The Expense Dollar Departmental planning 3.4%

I

1,638,395 1,500,000 $ 138,395b

Excludes Snowmobile and Watercraft Registration, land acquisition, and Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission

a

Balance available to cover salaries and other costs of collective bargaining, as well as other unspecified projects

b

20

Safety programs 1.0% J

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

Licensing Division Lorenzo J. Gaudreau, Director

This new division came into being in October of 1981 by administrative action. The purpose of the division is to consolidate all license, permit, and registration activities of the department in one central location. As a result of this action, we can now process right at our front counter all licenses, permits, watercraft registrations, and snowmobile registrations sold at our Augusta office.

The division also supervises the activities of more than 1,000 license agents across the state and in many out-of-state locations.

An additional function of the Licensing Division is the processing of applications, and later of permits, for Maine's moose hunting season.

More than 60,000 applications were received and processed during this fiscal year, from which 1,000 were drawn at public lottery in May of 1982. As the fiscal year ended, we were involved in processing these 1,000 permittees (995 of them re-

sponded, and five were subsequently chosen from the alternate lists).

Our automated licensing and permit system is growing; trapping licenses and the moose permits were added to the online system this year, and guides and senior citizens (free to residents over 70) will be added as well.

As of December 31, 1981, we showed 115,090 legally registered watercraft on our file. We also registered 57,178 snowmobiles during the 1981-82 season, and increase of 5,667 over the previous season (due primarily to excellent snow travel conditions during our winter just past).

Following is a summary of licenses and permits issued during the fiscal year: Combination Over 70 License Live Bait Dealers Camp Trip Leader Permits Hide Dealers Taxidermist Resident Salmon Stamps Non-resident Salmon Stamps

6,050 423 604 134

65 5,227 452

Pheasant Stamps Fur Seals Other Miscellaneous Licenses RESIDENT Trapping Guides Serviceman Combination Archery Junior Hunting Combination (hunt / fish) Hunting Combination Fishing & Archery Muzzle Loading Fishing ALIEN Small Game Big Game Archery Combination (hunt/fish) Fishing NON-RESIDENT Big Game Small Game Archery Combination (hunt/ fish) Trapping Junior Small Game Muzzle Loading Junior Fishing Guides 3-Day Fishing 7-Day Fishing 15-Day Fishing Seasonal Fishing Exchange Fishing

4,035 52,904

955 4,547 1,100 2,594 4,166 23,345 78,560 93,198 31 407 94,960 47 1,964 4 67 210 29,591 1,639 773 933 16 199 8 7,009 45 34,894 19,240 7,990 9,360 548

Fishery Management Fishery Division Lyndon H. Bond, Chief

REGION A-Sebago Region Without a doubt, one of the most prominent events happening in Region A this year was the retirement of Stuart DeRoche as regional fishery biologist after some 30 years of service in that post. Stu has accomplished much as a biologist with this department, the most notable being the recovery of the Sebago Lake landlocked salmon fishery. He will certainly be missed by many. We wish him well during his retirement years.

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

Southern Maine is very fortunate to have Sebago Lake in its midst. The fishing quality at Sebago is without a doubt not equalled by many other places in the world. Lake trout still continue to perform well at Sebago.

Natural reproduction has been observed, so our lake trout stocking program there will now be discontinued. A wild native lake trout fishery should now gradually develop.

Natural reproduction of landlocked salmon also is continuing to

increase. Electrofishing surveys conducted on the Crooked River last year showed record numbers of young salmon pr~sent. Sebago was not the only lake producing nice catches of fish last year, however. Excellent fishing was had on other notables, including Thompson Lake, Auburn Lake, Kezar Lake, Moose Pond, Great East Lake, Mousam Lake, and Square Lake.

Angler counts by aircraft were again conducted, both summer and winter. This technique is providing us with valuable information on fishing pressure. Such surveys being conducted throughout the state are showing that fishing pressure on lakes and ponds in southern Maine is four to

21

five times greater than that in northern Maine. If fishing pressure continues to increase in southern Maine, more restrictive regulations may be needed to maintain fishery resources.

The Little Ossipee River project was conducted again this year. Much is being learned about stocking and recovery of hatchery fish. The Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited is again assisting with the project, and this assistance has been invaluable to the success of this project.

Much time was spent getting biological data from bass populations.

Bass fishing is becoming very popular in this region and we will be monitoring our bass POJ?Ulations closely to ensure adequate management and to maintain the high quality bass fishing currently being enjoyed by anglers.

We also introduced splake into Keewaydin Lake in Stoneham. Splake are a cross between brook trout and lake trout, and may hold promise for lakes and ponds where brook trout fisheries have failed. We will be studying this introduction to evaluate their progress.

Along with the census surveys, electrofishing surveys, and special projects, environmental reviews also occupied a great deal of time.

Many thanks to the hundreds of people who have assisted us in stocking fish, conducting creel checks, providing data, and assisting with field work. As monetary restraints during these tight times force cutbacks in personnel, it will be harder to provide the same services we have provided in the past. If we have any hope of staying on top of these demands, it is going to have to come through efforts like those expressed by the many dedicated groups of sportsmen we are so fortunate to have.

We hope that this excellent cooperation we have had from individuals and groups in the past will continue for the benefit of our fishery resources.

REGION B-Belgrade Region The first positive identification of a northern pike (Esox lucius) captured in Maine waters was verified by

22

Region B biologists. Pike were taken by anglers fishing Great Pond in Belgrade and North Pond in Smithfield.

A number of other northern pike were also reported by anglers from waters in the same drainage. Evidence of natural reproduction has not been observed, but several of the waters in the drainages have habitat suitable for spawning. Therefore, it is only a matter of time before northern pike become firmly established in these central Maine lakes.

Maine does not have a northern pike stocking program. Since the state has strict laws against the importation and stocking of fish, it is apparent that northerns have been introduced into the state illegally. The effects of introducing a large predator such as northern pike into a species assemblage which includes smallmouth and largemouth bass, landlocked salmon, chain pickerel, and white perch cannot be predicted with certainty.

The ice fishing season of 1982 was characterized by a shortage of baitfish for sale. In response to this shortage, due in part to a department program calculated to intercept and discourage illegal shipments of baitfish from other states, Maine bait dealers have begun to apply increased fishing pressure to instate sources of baitfish.

Assistant Regional Fishery Biologist Bill Woodward conducted a survey of a commercial fishery for smelts on Sand Pond, a 177-acre water located in Litchfield (Kennebec County). The survey was conducted during the 1982 ice fishing season.

Bill estimated that bait dealers fished 650 man-days ("man-nights" in this case) and caught approximately 50,000 smelts at Sand Pond last winter. The commercial value of these baitfish probably exceeded $12,000!

Regional Fishery Biologist Dennis McNeish has been conducting a study of a black bass population in a water closed to all fishing. He hopes to learn how Maine bass populations respond to the strict regulations being instituted in many other parts of the country. The results of this study are

expected to be presented at the annual meeting of the Atlantic International Chapter of the American Fishery Society to be held this year in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. The theme of this year's AIC/ AFS meeting will be black bass management in the Northeast.

REGION C-Grand Lakes Region Three brook trout waters were trapnetted during the fall of 1981 to collect data on the fisheries. Netting results from Peaked Mountain Pond were extremely discouraging, as only one brook trout was captured. Biologists had transferred over 700 finclipped wild trout from four to nine inches in length into the pond in 1979 and 1980. These native trout had been collected by electrofishing a number of streams. It was hoped that these trout would grow to a good size in the pond and thereby augment the depleted spawning population of brookies; however, our intensive netting effort conclusively revealed that this project was a failure.

Netting results on the other two waters, Long Pond and Rift Pond in the Aurora area, confirmed that each water is still producing some large brook trout weighing from two to four pounds. The large trout from Rift Pond were all wild fish which exhibited excellent growth. Survival of hatchery-reared fall fingerlings in Rift is negligible; spring yearlings will be stocked beginning in 1983 in an effort to increase survival.

Native trout are also making a significant contribution to the fishery in Long Pond. Spring yearling trout stocked in this water attain lengths of 14 to 16Yi inches in the year following stocking.

Intensive ice fishing censuses were conducted on Molasses Pond, Donnell Pond, Green Lake, and Beech Hill Pond. Progress reports were written on the first three waters; the Green Lake report summarizes findings collected over an eight-year period. Togue fishing was poor on the latter three waters, despite the fact that other field work indicates that hatchery togue are reasonably abundant in Green Lake and Donnell

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

Pond . A resurgence in the smelt population at Donnell Pond has contributed to an increase in growth rate and condition factor of age four to six hatchery togue.

Because the public access problem has been resolved at Beech Hill Pond, this water was stocked with salmon in 1982 for the first time since 1978. As was the case in 1981, ice fishermen made fairly good catches of threeyear old salmon at Molasses Pond in 1982. Also of interest, a five-pound, six ounce pickerel was caught in February at Molasses Pond.

As usual, transfer of smelt eggs was a high-priority job during the months of April and May. Smelt eggs were successfully transferred into West Musquash Lake, Donnell Pond, Molasses Pond, and Flanders Pond in an effort to improve the growth rates of salmon, togue, and brown trout.

The 1982 spring fishery at West Grand Lake was very good. Although the catch rate was probably not as high as in 1980 (an excellent year), anglers caught good numbers of plump, 16- to 17 Yi -inch fish. Salmon checked during our annual spring spot census averaged 16.8 inches in length and one pound, ten ounces in weight. These figures are the highest recorded during the past four years, which further confirms the wisdom of reducing the stocking rate at West Grand from 40,000 to 14,300-one per acre. A screen was placed in the fishway in the West Grand Lake dam in early May (this procedure will be repeated each spring) to prevent migration of anadromous alewives into the lake. This was done for two reasons: 1) adult alewives can carry a virus which could pose a serious threat to the Grand Lake Stream hatchery if the disease organisms should become free-swimming in the lake water, and 2) because young alewives eat the same types of food as juvenile smelts, the presence of large numbers of these competitory fish could jeopardize the survival rates of the critically important young smelts.

The early season action in Grand Lake Stream was fair for landlocks.

The big surprise was the three to four Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

dozen togue which stream anglers caught. One angler landed a 12 \14 pound beauty in early April after it had been seen taking swipes at hooked salmon which were being played by anglers!

REGION D-Rangeley Region The highlight of the past year in Region D was the improvement in fisheries in the Rangeley Lakes. A season-long creel survey and angler count conducted at Mooselookmeguntic Lake showed that salmon and brook trout are growing well and are producing an excellent fishery.

Reports from Rangeley Lake and the Richardsons indicate that these lakes are also providing good fish.

The 1981 fishery at Quimby Pond in Rangeley exceeded the averages for both numbers of fishermen and harvests of brook trout, thanks to better survival of a new strain of hatchery fish, the F. Assinica hybrid.

In addition to investigations of routine alteration applications, environmental work centered around proposed hydroelectric generating facilities, development of a "streamlined" goldmining permit, and monitoring the effects of acid rain.

Winter creel survey work was concentrated on the following lakes: Embden, Porter, Wesserunsett, Webb, and Clearwater, where a reduced salmon stocking schedule is apparently resulting in an increased forage fish supply and increased salmon and lake trout growth.

REGION E-Moosehead Region The final report of the Moosehead Lake Study was completed and submitted to the printer. Proofs have not been received at this time, but the report should be ready for distribution some time this year. We netted Moosehead Lake for lake trout in the waters off Moose River and examined the lake trout stomach contents for the presence of mysids but failed to find them. Mysis relicta (oppossum shrimp) were introduced to Moosehead Lake by us in 1975 and they should become evident soon if they survived and reproduced.

Netting Moosehead Lake for lake whitefish was a failure. A few whitefish were reported caught during the past two or three winters, but we did not see these fish and it is possible that they were the round whitefish which is common in Moosehead.

Parlin Pond, closed to the taking of trout for one year, and closed to all fishing for two years, was opened to fishing this summer under a 12-inch length limit, a two-fish bag limit, and restrictions to trolling and casting with artificial flies only. Hatcheryreared fall yearling brook trout did not survive or grow well under the severe competition encountered at Parlin Pond, but young wild trout are increasing in numbers and growing well. The district warden reported many sub-legal trout caught and released, and some legal size (12-inch) trout harvested.

Several campowners have volunteered to keep a record of their 1982 summer angling for us. We trap Parlin Pond in the spring and fall to follow this experiment. Salmon trapping was conducted, as usual, at the Greenville Junction area of Moosehead Lake last fall. The salmon averaged larger than usual; they were marked with metal jaw tags. Some recoveries were made this spring and summer, with one from Seboomook-more than 30 miles north of the tagging site!

Winter censuses of Moosehead Lake, Chamberlain Lake, Sebec Lake, and Wood Pond were conducted during the past ice fishing season.

Chamberlain, a popular mecca for winter anglers, did not produce lake trout, brook trout, or whitefish as well as it did two or three years ago when many anglers were taking limit catcqes. Moosehead Lake winter fishing was quite good, with larger salmon and lake trout. Brook trout catches were good, but they averaged slightly smaller because of the abundance of smaller fish. Some trout over five pounds were caught. We have become concerned about the status of lake whitefish in regional waters, where they have been recorded in past surveys but have now 23

become very scarce. We are now in the process of netting these waters to determine their presence, growth, and reproduction.

Several new dams have been built, are in the process of construction, or are proposed. Great Northern Nekoosa has built new concrete dams on Long Pond (Dale), Penobscot Lake, Loon Lake, Nesourdnahunk Lake, and Caucomgomoc Lake. Three of these have vertical baffle fishways.

Fishways were not required on Penobscot Lake and Long Pond dams.

Bangor Hydro is in the process of rebuilding the Telos Lake dam with a new structure made of squared, pressure-treated Southern pine shipped from Virginia. No fishway is required at this time.

Proposed structures are a 50-foot concrete dam and generating plant on the Moose River, above Brassua Lake, which would inundate the three-mile rocky whitewater section of the river below Long Pond in Long Pond T. The flooded area includes extensive salmon spawning and nursery habitat for Brassua Lake and Long Pond salmon. Another proposed structure is the publicized "Big A" project on the West of the Penobscot below the "Big Eddy." This impoundment would eliminate the West Branch salmon fishery as we presently know it. A hydroelectric project is proposed for the existing dam on the outlet of Sebec Lake.

REGION F-Penobscot Region The East Grand Lake fishery evaluation project was started in spring 1981 and continued through summer 1982. Plans are to continue this project for at least one more year. Creel censuses were conducted during the open water fishing seasons in 1981 and 1982, and during the ice fishing season in 1982. Trapnetting was attempted during the fall of 1981, but heavy rains and rising lake water levels decreased the effectiveness of the trapnets.

In 48 census days, clerks interviewed a total of 1,640 anglers and checked 778 salmon and togue. Data 24

collected showed a large population of fast-growing landlocked salmon.

A sample of 296 two-year old salmon averaged 18.2 inches in length and 2.1 pounds in weight.

Deepwater trawling for young lake trout in Millinocket Lake was conducted to net young togue. All togue stocked in Millinocket Lake since 1972 have been fin-clipped, so any young togue captured that were unmarked would be evidence of natural reproduction. Trawling and inspection of potential togue spawning areas in Millinocket Lake is an ongoing project to determine if natural reproduction is occurring.

Farrow Lake in Topsfield received several yearly stockings of Assinica strain of brook trout. Trapnetting in the fall and spring to evaluate this strain failed to capture any of these brook trout.

Region F fishery biologists assisted Research Biologist Fred Kircheis with the second stocking of eyed Sunapee trout eggs into Johnston Pond, TARIO. A considerable amount of time was spent evaluating regional river and stream fisheries and developing management plans for these fisheries. The increase in hydroelectric developments is having a significant impact on our river and stream fishery resources.

One smelt egg transplant was made into a tributary of Molunkus Lake in an attempt to establish a spawning run to increase the smelt population for food for salmon in the lake.

The predominant open water field work continues to be surveys of the lakes and ponds to obtain biological information for the continued management of the fishery resource.

Regional biologists also fin-clipped and stocked about 110,000 fish in regional lakes and ponds.

REGION G-Fish River Lakes Region Fishery division personnel had a busy summer field season checknetting regional waters to assess stocking programs and the effectiveness of

current fishing regulations. One week was spent trawling St. Froid, Nickerson, and Second Musquacook lakes for evidence of lake trout reproduction. Electrofishing was conducted on Drew's Lake outlet and the south branch of the Meduxnekeag River to check for brown trout progeny. The Prestile Stream and the Mattawamkeag River were also sampled for salmon reproduction. Regional biologists worked in close association with private biological consultants hired

by Superior Mining Company to gather background data for the proposed Bald Mountain Copper Mining Project. Time was also spent reviewing many other environmental applications.

Fall trapnetting was done on Long Lake and Eagle Lake in the Fish River Chain to obtain information on age and growth and also the percentage of hatchery salmon in the spawning run. Regional personnel were granted time to attend the annual meeting of the Atlantic International Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, hosted in Duchesnay, Quebec. This time was well spent exchanging fishery management information with fell ow biologists from northern New England, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces.

Work study students from University of Maine at Presque Isle were utilized throughout the 1982 ice fishing season to conduct intensive creel censuses on Cross, Square, and Eagle lakes. Censuses were also conducted in the month of January on St. Froid Lake and several waters in the Houlton area by students participating in the Unity College Intern Program.

Department personnel conducted aerial flights over lakes initially being opened to ice fishing to obtain angler use data. Regional biologists represented the department at the Caribou Sportsman's Show in February.

The spring season was spent tabulating data collected during the ice fishing season, stocking salmon and togue, checking smelt runs and making smelt egg transplants, and censusing anglers on the Fish River Chain of Lakes.

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

FISHERY RESEARCH UNIT The Fishery Research Unit at Bangor is responsible for developing management principles that can be directly applied to improve sport fisheries statewide. Research is designed to assist in fulfilling goals and objectives developed for strategic and operational plans for the major freshwater sportfishes. Close liaison was continued with the Maine Cooperative Fishery Unit and other University of Maine at Orono researchers on monitoring aquatic populations in areas treated for spruce budworm, and with the Great Northern Paper Company in the cooperative salmon study on the West Branch of the Penobscot River Research Biologist Keith Havey received the "Professional Award of Merit" from the Northeastern Division of the Fisheries Society for his outstanding research resulting in development of vital fishery management principles. During more than 30 years as a management and research biologist, he has developed and implemented many modern management practices to enhance the resource in the face of mounting fishing pressure. During his 10 years as a research biologist, he has established himself as one of the leading fishery scientists in the Northeast.

Specific research studies in operation are summarized below: -Research Biologist Phil Andrews is heading a new project involving splake, a hybrid cross between brook trout and lake trout (togue). Juvenile splake have been stocked and are now of catchable size in four study lakes.

It is hoped that the splake may be used in the future in some stocked fisheries . First, however, it must be determined whether or not the splake will provide better growth rates, survival, and longevity than current brook trout strains.

-Research Biologist Fred Kircheis confirmed the fact that successful spawning of Sunapee charr has taken place in three of his study waters.

Wild fish were checked in Coffee Pond in Casco, Long Pond in TD & C, and in the South Branch Ponds in Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

Baxter Park. Wild Sunapee charr were also taken by otter trawl from Green Lake in Ellsworth. Green Lake at one time had a healthy population of Sunapees, but they have not been reported by anglers in recent years.

These fish, which were taken in very deep water, were quite small, yet mature. It may be that there is a remnant population of these small Sunapees living in the deep waters of Green Lake where predation and competition from larger fish, especially togue, may be limited.

-Kircheis was also senior author of a paper co-authored with Dr. Jon Stanley, leader of the University of Maine Cooperative Fishery Unit. The paper, entitled ''Theory and Practices of Forage Fish Management in New England," appeared in the Transactions of the American Fisheries Society and has generated requests for reprints on a world-wide basis.

-Research by Keith Havey, Dave Locke, and Les Smith continued on the brook trout selective breeding project. The new phase C?f this project, centered at the Monroe ponds in Washington County, yielded excellent data concerning relative growth and survival of progeny of selectively bred and standard brood stock at minimum cost. Hybrids of the cross between our standard Phillips brood stock and the wild Assinica strain grew well at Eagle Lake at Bar Harbor and showed a better-than-average

survival. In fall 1981, hybrids between the so-called Tomah stock and the Assinica strain were generated and will be tested for growth and longevity at Eagle Lake and the Monroe ponds starting in 1982.

-Havey and Smith are continuing to evaluate the effect of the 16-inch limit imposed on salmon at Eagle Lake (Bar Harbor) in 1978. At light stocking rates (0. 7 fish/ acre), salmon are now coming into the fishery as three-year-olds.

-In 1977, a small experiment was started at Eagle Lake (Bar Harbor) to evaluate the effect of light stockings of larger-than-average togue. To date, more than 22 percent of the togue planted in this 1977 stocking have been recovered by fishermen. A similar stocking in 1978 is yielding poorer recoveries, but growth is fast.

A stocking made in 1980 is now in the fishery as age three fish averaging four pounds in weight.

-A strictly scientific paper by Havey, Locke, and Smith involving brook trout population estimates was published by the American Fisheries Society in an issue of its new Management Journal.

-Ken Warner and Keith Havey continued with the tedious task of updating their bulletin, ''The Landlocked Salmon (Sa/mo salar)-Its Life History and Management in Maine,'' which is currently out of print.

Hatchery Operations David O. Locke, Supt. of Hatcheries The Hatchery Division raised and stocked some of the best fish ever during 1981-1982, but we also experienced some great tragedies during the year. No serious fish disease problems affected any of our hatcheries, and the quality (size, fin condition, and general health) of our hatchery fish has improved steadily during recent years. This improved quality can be attributed to the installation of filtration and ultraviolet light (UV)

treatment equipment on the water supply lines of some of our fish hatcheries, the better diets that are now available, and good hatchery management practices.

Tom Spring, hatchery manager of the New Gloucester Fish Hatchery, died as the result of an airplane accident at Sabbathday Lake last February. Tom, a private pilot, had been ice fishing at the nearby lake with a rental plane which crashed shortly 25

after take-off. He was alone in the plane at the time. Tom's tragic death has been a great loss to the Hatchery Division, as well as to his family and many friends.

Another disaster also occurred this past winter-the loss of a building at our brood stock hatchery at Phillips as the result of a fire caused by an improperly installed wood stove. This building, originally built in 1930 as an ice and feed preparation room, was renovated in 1965 and utilized since as a combination hatchery, office, and garage. In addition to the considerable loss of equipment and supplies, about 40,000 brook trout eggs and fry of three different genetic Hatchery strains, i.e.

Maine (Phillips), Assinica, and Tomah, were lost. We were able to transfer two of these strains (Maine Hatchery and Tomah) from our Enfield Fish Hatchery back to Phillips where they were placed in a hastily prepared temporary hatchery facility in the cellar of the hatchery manager's house.

This minimized the impact upon our brood stock program and will have no effect whatsoever upon trout stocking. The adult brood stock at the hatchery were not affected by the fire.

Insurance will partially cover the costs of a replacement building, which will be constructed during the summer of 1982 by Hatchery Division personnel. The new building will be a wood-frame, gambrel roof design, with a two-bay garage, a hatchery room, and a small office on the first floor-the upstairs will be utilized as a workshop and storage area.

Landlocked Atlantic salmon eggtaking operations at West Grand and Sebago lakes have been very successful in recent years due to healthy salmon populations in these two lakes. A number of large four- to sixpound salmon were taken on the spawning run in Panther Run at Sebago last fall, and the quality of eggs taken at both sites was excellent.

Most of the salmon taken at these lakes are of hatchery origin and are not "wild" (naturally produced) fish.

These hatchery salmon are an exam26

pie of "survival of the fittest," and probably produce the best possible eggs for a hatchery stocking program where the fish are expected to survive for an extended time after stocking.

Wild lake trout captured from Allagash Lake have been the source of most of the eggs for our togue stocking program for more then 10 years. The number of hatchery-reared lake trout requested annually by the Fishery Division for biological stocking programs, however, has declined from more than one-half million to less than 100,000 spring yearlings during the past five years. This reduction in the lake trout stocking program makes it no longer necessary to trap wild togue at Allagash to satisfy our egg requirements. Sufficient lake trout eggs can be obtained from a hatchery-reared brood stock at the Governor Hill Fish Hatchery, and from other states, to satisfy our needs.

The Maine Public Broadcasting Network from the University of Maine at Orono produced a 25minute television tape entitled ''The Fish Hatchery" for the "Field Trip" series on educational TV networks.

This was filmed at the Grand Lake Stream Fish Hatchery and depicts the annual cycle of activity at a fish hatchery. Although this program was designed for school children, it is very interesting and informative for all age

levels. It was shown a couple of times this past winter on ETV and undoubtedly will be seen again on these channels in the future.

An intensive in-service training school for hatchery personnel was held at the Merrymeeting warden camp in Bowdoinham this past March. This was attended by 10 new fish hatchery employees, all of whom have started work with the department within the past three years.

Walter Snell, a fish hatchery worker at the Palermo Rearing Station for more than 29 years, retired last September. Dean Varney transferred to this vacancy from the Enfield Fish Hatchery, and Michael Boyer, a graduate of Unity College, was hired to fill the position vacated by Dean.

Frank Bagley resigned from the fish hatchery worker position at Grand Lake Stream in October and was replaced in this full-time position by Walter Brown, a former seasonal employee. Bradbury Shaw was hired for the seasonal conservation aide position vacated by Walt at Grand Lake Stream. Jeffrey Hutchinson resigned from his seasonal conservation aid position at New Gloucester; he was replaced by Fred Farrington. Tom Spring's position has not yet been filled at New Gloucester, but Miles Maltby, assistant fish hatchery foreman, has been in an acting capacity status since Tom's death.

Program Development and Coordination Kenneth H. Anderson, Director Division personnel participated in a number of internal operations as well as interagency, federal, and private agency matters relating to fish and wildlife resources. The division also provides staff assistance to the commissioner. Our data processing and analysis section continued to maintain many of the department's automated data files, including hunting, fishing, and trapping registrations, questionnaires, and biological data.

Routine processing included coding, key punching, and the production of

basic information display and computer reports for project and regional personnel and the Warden Service.

The environmental coordination section issued more than 150 stream alteration permits. The regulations for the issuing of stream alteration permits for gold mining were modified to simplify the application procedure for hobbyists without compromising the integrity of the Stream Alteration Act. More than 1,000 reviews for Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Land Use Reg-

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

ulation Commission (LURC) environmental permits were carried out and coordinated with regional fisheries and wildlife personnel.

Through the Small Hydro Act (a one-stop permitting process for certain small hydro projects), the DEP Site Location and Great Ponds Act, and our Stream Alteration Act, we are routinely involved with most hydro power projects in the state from their inception and planning to construction and operation, assuring adequate stream flows and other safeguards for fisheries and wildlife habitat. In this regard, our staff cooperated with and assisted the Dept. of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Atlantic Salmon Commission in the preparation of the River Fisheries Plan as directed by the governor's energy policy.

Another activity related to the governor's energy policy during this fiscal year was organization and funding of a Peatland Wildlife Research Project. This three-year project, funded from outside private and governmental sources, is being conducted by the Maine Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Maine in Orono.

In other internal matters, this division assisted with plans to consolidate department research operations in Bangor and Orono into one central facility at Hedin Hall near the Bangor Mental Health Institute complex.

Personnel also assisted with the reorganizing of the Licensing Division; it now issues or distributes most licenses, registrations, and permits from one central location. The division also coordinated the relocation of the Region A office from Scarborough to Gray. Plans were developed for a Visitors Center at the Gray Game Farm Complex. Our staff also assisted the Warden Service in developing Game Thief and other programs to encourage public participation in enforcement and landowner/ sportsman relations.

The procedures for carrying out species assessments are being further refined following completion of the first five-year update for both fisheries and wildlife. The staff, in con-

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

junction with the United States Forest Service, worked on the 1980 Resurvey of Forest Lands and the application of the results to the species updates.

We also worked closely with the Wildlife Division in regards to ongoing research on moose, predators, deer, bear, and other species. In addition, special emphasis was given to: development of a deer population simulation model for western and southern Maine; representing the Department on the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (SAM) Deer Task Force; and assisting in the formulation of new legislation expanding the commissioner's authority in setting deer hunting regulations.

Considerable time and effort was devoted to formulation and implementatiQn of the permit application and selection process and a myriad of other activities associated with the forthcoming moose season.

Members of this division continued to represent the department on the Superior Mining Coordination Committee, the Land and Water Re-

sources Council, the Maine Mapping Committee, the Governor's Task Force on Economic Development for Washington County, the Maine Tourism Council, and the Indian Land Settlement Coordinating Committee. Assistance was provided to LURC for the establishment of wildlife protection districts, and to the Bureau of Public Lands, the Bureau of Parks and Recreation, and the Bureau of Forestry on their respective management plans and policies.

Division personnel continued their participation in the Maine Landsat Demonstration Program. The satellite computer images were used to map the land cover for a predator wildlife study area in western Maine, and will also be utilized in the study designed to evaluate pine marten habitat in the Moosehead Lake region. We also worked with Virginia Polytechnic Institute on a geographic informational system which would integrate Landsat images, topographic information, and road and stream systems for the study area.

Wild/ife Division Robert W. Boettger, Chief The 81-82 fiscal year marked the second year of operation under the second segment of the Long Range Comprehensive Wildlife Plan. Work has continued on schedule and, in some instances, weather conditions helped to make up for lost time. For example: the past, comparatively severe winter, while stressful to wildlife, allowed division personnel to conduct field investigations which justified placing many important deer wintering areas under permanent Land Use Regulation Commission protection zoning.

The absence of typical winter conditions during the previous two years had created a backlog of this type of work. This winter also provided suitable conditions for moose census work, and the status of the population over approximately one-third of

the state's primary moose range was updated.

Work on black bear has been consolidated under the new project leader. Increased efforts are being made to gather information on bear habitat requirements and any changes occurring in the population, to allow better management of this important and popular resource.

By means of a trapper survey, small game-forbearer project personnel have obtained important information on the activities and concerns of those utilizing fur bearer species. They have also been able to refine information on the population structure of the v&rious furbearers and are now in a position to provide regional biologists with some basic data required to manage furbearers in the various regions of the state. Recommendations

27

were also formulated for the 1982 forbearer trapping and hunting seasons.

During recent years, there, has been growing concern for the black duck among those agencies and individuals responsible for waterfowl management. Information on black duck populations in Maine and the Atlantic Flyway shows long-term declines in production, survival, populations, and harvest. This is particularly important to Maine waterfowlers because a large proportion of United States production of black ducks occurs here and approximately 65 percent of black ducks known to have hatched in Maine and harvested throughout the Atlantic Flyway are killed in Maine.

Although there are no doubt several different factors adversely affecting the black duck population-such as loss and degradation of habitat and environmental pollutants-hunting is the only one that can be effectively and immediately controlled.

Therefore, migratory bird project personnel, supported by other professional groups and the department's Waterfowl Advisory Council, have recommended closing the hunting season on black ducks for three years.

If hunting is a limiting factor, an increase in the populations of Maine black ducks should be evident at the end of this time, allowing for future hunting seasons. Also, this definite action by Maine may convince other states and provinces in the Atlantic Flyway to take some similar action to conserve this important species.

On a brighter note, plans were made for another stocking of Canada geese in suitable habitat. This has been an on-going project that has resulted in establishing breeding populations of geese in Maine. These birds are obtained at no cost from more populated states to the south.

The marine bird and seal census and habitat survey, after completing the Casco Bay area, continued its important work in the mid-coast area.

The original stocking of wild turkeys in extreme southern Maine has now expanded to an estimated popu28

lation of over 400. Consequently, the second phase of the reintroduction plan was undertaken this past winter by live trapping and stocking 18 hens and 16 toms in Waldo County. Since this stocking, adult birds have been sighted several times and reports of three broods have been received. It is hoped that they will fare as well as the original stocking.

This past year, the state legislature granted the commissioner the authority to regulate the annual harvest of deer by restricting the take of antlerless animals anywhere in the state.

This authority will not be effective until January 1, 1983. It is timely legislation, since hunting pressure is becoming a major concern in southwestern Maine and there is a practical limit to how much a deer season can be shortened before it actually results in an increase in hunter concentration and in the deer kill.

A special study of the deer situation in Wildlife Management Units 5 and 6 was undertaken during the past year due to concern about long-term decline in the hunter success in this eastern Maine area. Briefly, the results of the study indicate that this decline reflects a drop in the population, which is primarily related to changing habitat.

This past year was the first during which pheasants for the cooperative pheasant rearing and stocking program were purchased on contract from a commercial game farm instead of being raised by the department. This new procedure has worked well so far and has proved cost effective, considering the limited amount of funding available for this program. Meanwhile, work is continuing on changing the State Game Farm at Gray to a department visitors' center and educational facility.

To improve efficiency and- better serve the public, reservations for visiting the Swan Island (Steve Powell) Management Area are now handled through the area manager at the island rather than through department headquarters at Augusta .

The Wildlife Division has continued to use legitimate outside monies to fund projects, such as the Maine Cooperative Wildlife Unit's forbearer studies and the marine bird census, which are a part of the department's Long Range Comprehensive Wildlife Plan.

Efforts toward more efficient administration and operations which benefit both the wildlife resource and Maine citizens and visitors will continue to receive top priority.

Warden Service John F. Marsh, Chief Warden This fiscal year has proven to be one of change and surprise for Warden Service. Warden Service history buffs had looked forward to 1982 as being the 100th anniversary of Warden Service, and appropriate festivities were planned. One can imagine the surprise and embarrassment when research by Warden Sergeant Eric Wight found that we were actually 100 years old in 1980, rather than 1982. Luckily, production of the Smith & Wesson commemorative revolver had not started, and Maine current and retired wardens will be purchasing an heirloom that is histor-

ically correct, but two years late in production. These revolvers are being purchased at the wardens' own expense, in cooperation with the Maine Warden Service Relief Association.

As the Maine Warden Service enters its second century, premium costs for the traditional Maine Warden Service blue necessitates the change to a green uniform of a modern fabric and color which can be purchased at a substantial savings. It is with mixed emotions that we don these new permanent press uniforms and leave the blue wool pants that, Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

although scratchy and heavy, have proven to be very functional on cold, wet nights.

Costs have not only affected uniform changes, but also personnel services. Changes have been made in the past year to steamline Warden Service into five divisions, having a total of five lieutenants, 18 sergeants, 98 district wardens, two detectives, a major, and a chief warden . The five lieutenants administer regional headquarters at Gray, Augusta, Bangor, Greenville, and Ashland.

In addition to the usual complemen.t of sergeants and district wardens, each lieutenant now has a plane assigned to his division; the Greenville maintenance complex has been disbanded again in an attempt to save dollars and provide better public service. By assigning aircraft to regional headquarters, they can be better utilized in nighttime surveillance, which has proven to be quite a deterrent to some nighthunters, and they can quickly be called on to assist in the search for lost persons .

In this area of search for lost persons, Warden Service has made significant changes. Although Warden Service has searched quite successfully for lost persons for many years, it was decided last summer to look for a better way-and a better way was found. In September 1981, a Search and Rescue School for Warden Service was held at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Waterville. The course was taught by rangers from the National Park Service and a representative from the National Association of Search and Rescue . Curriculum included the use of overhead teams, computer science, air scent dogs, clue finding, probability factors, and efficient aircraft use. These new skills and the efficient use of highly trained overhead teams should help us find victims quickly, in better physical condition, and at far less cost.

The summary of warden activities for the fiscal year is as follows: Hunters Checked 41,209 Anglers Checked 77,035 Trappers Checked 2,953 Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

Complaints Investigated 7,088 4,481 Persons Prosecuted Warnings Issued 1,781 Vehicle Miles Driven 3,088,407 Searches for Lost Persons 309 Searches for Drowning Victims 23 Unannounced road checks such as the one on 1-95 at Sidney during the deer hunting season, or the one in unorganized territory on the Studmill Road in rural eastern Maine, were very effective and well received by the sporting public, who fully realize that there is no way a warden can check all the hunters or fishermen in his assigned district; such roadchecks provide opportunities to quickly check large numbers of sportsmen in transit. These checks act not only as a deterrent, but wardens also gain valuable information on how to better allot their wilderness patrol time .

In keeping with the Warden Service tradition of being diversified in knowledge and techniques, all wardens attended two training sessions this past year. One was designed to acquaint them with environmental statutes ranging from pesticide application to construction of logging roads, and to assure Warden Service assistance in the enforcement of these in an attempt to keep Maine's wilderness environment conducive to healthy and adequate fish and wildlife populations.

The second training course, an entirely different one, was offered by the Criminal Division of the Attorney General's office. This Warden Homicide Investigation Seminar, taught by officers of the Maine State Police and various Canadian agencies, acquainted our wardens with updated methods used in investigation of deaths in the woods-either results of hunting or those that are premeditated and perhaps made to appear accidental.

Since wardens are sometimes the only enforcement. in wilderness areas, and are often the first to respond, it is not unusual for wardens to have to make decisions dealing with evidence and its preservation, confessions, etc.

In addition, Major Charles Merrill attended the 129th session of the FBI

National Academy. This is a threemonth school for law enforcement administrators, which is recognized across the nation for its modern techniques. We will now be looking to Major Merrill for innovative ideas, not only in law enforcement matters, but also pertaining to budgeting, financing, training, etc.

The recruit exam was given in November, and a list was established, but no new personnel has been hired.

Retirements and promotions this past year were as follows: Retired-Russell E. Dyer, Russell S. Cook, Duane G. Lewis, Charles A. Cochran, Gray B. Morrison, Gene E. Mallory, Charles A. Bessey, E. Leonard Ritchie, Walter R. Bissett, Jr., Norman A. Gilbert, Theodore D. Hanson.

Promoted-To Lieutenent: William J . Vail, John G. Crabtree, Larry Cummings; To Sergeant: Langdon F. Chandler, Roger E. Wolverton, Michael Ritchie, Michael Pratt, James Davis.

As Warden Service enters its 103rd year, we look forward to many changes-one is the possibility of a program utilized in 14 other states for rewarding the public for reporting game violations. This program is called Operation Game Thief. Its success in other areas certainly is impressive in the prosecution of the more serious fish and wildlife violations, and the Warden Service feels, therefore, that it should be considered for Maine.

Warden Service wishes to thank not only the other agencies but the general public for all assistance given this past year. A public service announcement of how to contact a warden, plus much publicity over a severe dog I deer problem in southern Maine during the spring, brought a tremendous amount of public support. It is hoped that, with toll-free numbers in each of our regional headquarters, it will be easier for the public to contact Warden Service and help put us in a better position to protect Maine's fish and wildlife resources and apprehend those who violate the various statutes we are charged with enforcing.

29

Support Services Public Information Division W. Thomas Shoener, Director The fiscal year that ended in June was one of continued change in the effort the department makes to create greater public awareness of its programs . Although the responsibility for coordination of the public information activities rests with the sixperson Public Information Division, virtually everyone in the department is involved-some to a considerable extent.

The most conspicuous of the division's program changes last year were in the areas of television and displays.

New efforts here gave willing department staff members many new opportunities to explain to the public the importance of their work. Significant changes were also made in Maine Fish and Wildlife magazine.

Broadly categorized, the following are the Public Information Division's major programs and their status during the fiscal year 1981-82: Exhibits and displays. For the first time in many years, the department had a major display program-providing higher visibility for the department and new opportunities for direct contact between department personnel and the public. Coordinated by Tom Carbone and staffed by volunteers from throughout the department, the new and distinctive log cabin style booth appeared at sportsmens shows in Augusta, Bangor, and Caribou; at the Maine Boat Show in Portland; and at the Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta. Out-ofstate appearances were at sportsmens' shows at Boxboro, Massachusetts; Suffern, New York; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

In-state, the display objective is primadly informational, while outof-state, the emphasis is on promotion of hunting and fishing in Maine.

Graphic displays, publications, and 30

staffing are varied according to show objectives.

Although generating direct revenue is not an objective of the display program, it is worthy of note that the activity was larely self-supporting financially in its first year. Income from sales of fish and wildlife cookbooks and other items approximated the total cost, except salaries, of attending the shows.

Also part of the department's exhibit and display effort is the annual staffing of the permanent display in the Maine building at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. "The Big E" ran for 12 days last September, with more than one million people attending.

News Program. The biggest news out of the news program is the acquisition and use of videotaping equipment. During the past year, Media Coordinator Paul Fournier has taped seqt1;ences of a variety of department activities, which have been used in several ways to gain them valuable television exposure.

Tapes are sometimes duplicated, scripted, and distributed to television stations for use on news broadcasts.

Tapes of field activities are also used as visual support for interviews and talk shows.

Production of public service announcements-usually 30 seconds in length-is another important use of the videotaping equipment. PSAs, which the stations broadcast during commercial breaks, are used repeatedly and are very effective for getting certain kinds of messages out to the public. In the past year, we've produced them on a variety of subjects, including the dog-deer problem, bald eagle protection, hunting and boating safety, night hunting, littering, least

tern protection, and wildlife adoption.

The Public Information Division was also instrumental in the initiation of a commissioner's guest column in The Maine Sportsman. This is coordinated monthly under the news program.

Other activities of the news program include written news releases, which are distributed to news media and other outlets, and initiating contacts between news media personnel and department staff members.

Maine Fish and Wildlife. Production and circulation of the department's quarterly magazine is the most time-consuming and expensive function of the Public Information Division. Steps were taken during the year to make this commitment more costand time-effective.

Subscription rates were raised, reflecting higher production and postage costs. Circulation matters, previously handled in-house, were contracted to a private firm to permit an increase in the number of subscribers without a corresponding increase of staff time and eventually, numbers.

Major steps taken to increase the number of paid subscribers included a pre-price-increase promotion of all subscribers, testing of samples of boat and snowmobile registrants, an expanded renewal reminder series, and a new invoice system.

Both to improve the appearance of the qiagazine and to take the "sting" out of the subscription rate increase, the use of color illustrations was initiated inside the magazine.

The bulk of the magazine production and circulation is the responsibility of Tom Chamberlain, managing editor, and Pat Hogan, editorial assistant. Although neither works on the magazine on a full-time basis, they have had their hands full during the last year implementing the new circulation system and, late in the year, changing printers.

Information services. The division annually receives thousands of mailed and phoned requests for information on fish and wildlife, fishing and hunting, and a great variety of other subMaine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

jects . Norma Layne answers many of these requests with publications from the division's reprint library. Others are answered by phone or letter-a responsibility shared by all division staff members.

Promotion. Althugh the department now has legal authority to pro-

mote hunting and fishing in Maine, a planned program for promotion has yet to be implemented. However, some of the work the Public Information Division does, such as attending sportsmens' shows out-of-state and coordinating presentation of the presidential Atlantic salmon, are basically

promotional.

Also during the past year, a new publication-''Maine Freshwater Fishing" -was produced, to serve as a promotion piece and trip planning aid. It is used to answer letters of inquiry and as a handout at shows and elsewhere.

Regulations Division Norman E. Trask, Director

There have been several changes in the Regulations Division within the past year. Bill Mincher, who had been director of the division since its creation in 1980, retired from state service early in the year and was replaced by myself, Norman E. Trask of the Maine Warden Service.

I must say that preparing annual budgets, drafting regulation proposals, and attempting to meet the various deadline requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act is a drastic change from supervising district game wardens, investigating hunting accidents, and sitting out all night watching for night hunters. Although I often miss being in the field, I have already found the complexities of the rule-making process to be both interesting and challenging. In addition, I am finding that 15 years of experience as a game warden is invaluable in ensuring that new regulations are written in such a way as to be understandable and enforceable.

The Regulations Division is given the responsibility to oversee all aspects of the department's rulemaking procedures, from the time a rule change petition is received from the public to the time an adopted rule is filed with the Secretary of State and

takes on the effect of law . In addition, the division has recently been assigned considerable involvement in formulating the department's annual legislative package. This activity includes soliciting proposals from field personnel to resolve enforcement or management problems, drafting these recommendations into legal terminology, testifying at legislative hearings, and staying abreast of all fish and wildlife related legislation.

During fiscal year 1981-82, the Regulations Division initiated rulemaking on 103 different items, including such topics as moose hunting zones, furbearer seasons, whitewater rafting, and gold mining applications. Seventy-nine of these proposals pertained directly to fishing on inland waters .

One of my major objectives in overseeing the operations of the Regulations Division is to simplify the format and the language of the various law books which we put together each year. Simplification of these publications is no easy task. For example, the 1983 open water fishing regulations booklet alone will contain in excess of 800 different fishing regulations, including the new complex "general law" bag limit which was

enacted in 1981 .

If all goes well (with time and budget), I plan to make some major revisions in our 1982-83 law books, as follows: (1) The hunting and trapping laws will be consolidated in one booklet. The format will be changed considerably to ensure that laws relating to a specific topic are all printed in the same section of the booklet, (2) The ice fishing regulations will be printed in a booklet rather than in a folder, and there will be one section devoted specifically to laws pertaining to live bait, and (3) The open water fishing regulations will also be printed in booklet form, and general law regulations will be rewritten to eliminate interpretation problems which came to our attention during the 1982 season.

Hopefully, these changes will make things easier for sportsmen, game wardens, and other members of the department who are frequently called upon to interpret our regulations.

Perhaps, too, these changes will play some part in strengthening the relationship between the sporting public and this department.

Engineering Division Clayton G. Grant, Chief Engineer Efforts of Engineering Division personnel during the past fiscal year were devoted primarily to the con-

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

struction of a new area headquarters building in Gray. For many years, office space for the Sebago Lake

Region was located in a rented building in Gorham. About 10 years ago, the old State Police barrack on Route

31

1 in Scarboro became available and was leased by the department for an area headquarters. Along with the current energy crisis, it became apparent that retrofitting of doors and windows, insulation, and replacement of the entire heating system was imperative. After careful consideration of capital costs to accomplish the building overhaul, it became apparent that the department could erect its own energy-efficient structure for nearly the same cost.

A suitable site was selected on department-owned land at the State Game Farm in Gray, and construction by our Engineering Division personnel began in early August, under the supervision of Don Taylor.

Work continued through the fall and winter and the building was occupied in early spring. The 38' x 110' frame structure provides approximately 4,000 square feet of office space on

the ground floor and an equal amount of storage space on the second floor.

Access for the handicapped was provided throughout the first floor in accordance with recent legislation pertaining to public buildings. The heating system consists of a forced hot water boiler, wood fired, with an oil backup which comes on line at times when the building is unoccupied .

The entire project was accomplished through the efforts of department personnel, with the exception of electrical work and drilling of the well. Engineering division crews completed the structural work, and biologists, game farm personnel, and even a convicted poacher helped to install insulation, windows, etc.

Commissioner Manuel called for volunteer painters-and most of the secretarial personnel from the Augusta office turned out with coveralls and paint rollers!

This truly "do-it-yourself project" cost the department around $55,000, about half the price of work done by contract construction, and will be amortized in a very short period through savings in rental and heating costs associated with the old Scarboro building.

Lumbering and fuel wood harvesting operations were carried out on a limited basis due to the previously . mentioned construction act1v1t1es.

Several maintenance and repair projects were also completed by the crew.

Division personnel remained the same during the fiscal year, but shortly after July 1, Dana Holmes, a 34-year department veteran, retired . ''Tiny'' spent most of his career as a wildlife biologist, but for the past several years was a member of the Engineering Division-every member of the division joins me in wishing him a happy retirement.

Safety Program Gary Anderson, Director The 1981-82 hunting year was the safest statistically since the department has kept records. We regret each accident, but can take heart in the reduction of mistaken-for-game accidents, which usually account for the severest injuries and most fatalities. We posted a total of 33 accidents last year, two of which were fatal.

We graduated 2,676 students and certified 191 new hunter safety instructors. In some years we have had a 22 percent student drop-out rate, but we retained 95 percent of our students last year, indicating a sincere interest by the public in hunting safety.

Our program was voted second highest in the United States and Canada by an international judging body (under the supervision of the International Association of Game Fish and Conservation Commissioners).

A video cassette TV system was added to our Public Information Division, and our division used it to make safety oriented PSAs which

32

were used by many stations in Maine.

We anticipate using this capability extensively in the future as a training tool for students and instructors.

Our system of recreational safety coordinators (part-time paid people)

FIND A SPACE; SHOW YOUR FACE! The Department is in the process of initiating a new educational program for youngsters and their parents. Called "Find a Space; Show Your Face," the program will teach people how not to get lost, what to do if you do get lostand finally, how to be found by a search party.

Video cassettes illustrating principles and techniques of search-and-rescue (particularly as they relate to night searches, which are notoriously frightening to youngsters), will be made available to schools. The responsibility for these programs will be shared by your local search-and-rescue organization.

Watch for this program-and urge your school to take advantage of it!

enables the department to give greater help to the volunteer instructors and better service to Maine citizens.

We're now approaching 60,000 certified students-their names have been placed on microfilm and are retrievable very quickly. This has reduced our file space needs from several large cabinets of cards to two films that can be held in one hand!

There are excellent reasons for the success of the Maine Voluntary Hunter Safety Program. Heading the list is the staff of volunteers who donate their time to teach and their hours as in-kind match for Pittman-Robertson Aid to Wildlife Restoration funds.

These funds pay very nearly every expense in the hunter safety budget.

The various safety-related laws that have been passed by recent legislatures have also helped reduce accidents-especially the hunter orange law, which has cut the number of mistaken-for-game accidents so drastically . And finally, the excellent support of the public gives us the courage to keep trying for an accident-free year.

Maine Fish and Wildlife-Fall 1982

1982 MAINE HUNTING SEASONS EFFECTIVE THROUGH MARCH 31, 1983 This is not a legal presentation. See hunting regulations booklet for full details.

BASIC LIMITS DAILY POSSESSION

FIRST DAY

LAST DAY

Firearms season, Northern Zone ......... . ........... .. .

Firearms, Southern Zone .................... ... ........ .

Firearms, Western Zone . .. ... ............ .... . . ...... . .

1 Nov. t 8 Nov. t 8 Nov. t

27 Nov. 27 Nov. 20 Nov.

Archery, Northern Zone . ........ . ....... .. . .... ..... ... .

Archery, Southern Zone ............ .... ...... . . . .... . . . .

Archery, Western Zone ...... .. ... ....... ....... . ..... . . .

1 Oct. 1 Oct. 1 Oct.

29 Oct. 5 Nov. 5 Nov.

Muzzle-l oading, Northern Zone .... ..... .............. . .

Muzzle-loading, Southern Zone . . ........... . ..... . . . .. .

Muzzle-loading, Western Zone ..... . ...... ... .. . .... .. . .

29 Nov. 29 Nov. 22 Nov.

1 Dec. 1 Dec. 24 Nov.

BEAR: *t t .. . ...... ...... .. .. . .. .... ......... . .. .... .. . .......... .. .... . . .... . .

1 Sept.

30 Nov.

RUFFED GROUSE: (No open season on spruce grouse) .... . ... . .. .. ....... . .

1 Oct.

31 Dec.

4

8

PHEASANT: . ........ ..... .. . . .. . ... ... . .. .. ........... .... ... . ... . ........ . . . .

1 Oct.

31 Dec.

2

4

WOODCOCK: . ....... . ....................... . ...... . .. . ....... ... .. . .. ... .... .

5 Oct.

8 Dec.

5

10

WILSON'S SNIPE:tt . ... ...... .... ... ... . . . ... ...... . .. ..... ....... .. ..... . . .

1 Sept.

15 Dec.

8

16

DEER:

DUCKS, GEESE, BRANT: ... . ........ . . . ........ .. .............. .. .... . .. . .. .

ONE DEER OF EITHER SEXt t t

ONE BEAR OF EITHER SEXt t t

Seasons set annually, in late August or early September. Copies of regul.a tions may be obtained at post offices where federal duck stamps are sold, or from Maine game wardens.

SEA DUCKS (Scoter, eider, old squaw):*** . ... . . . .... ..... ..... . .. . ..... .. . .

1 Oct.

15 Jan.

7

RAILS (Sora and Virginia): t t . . . ... .... . .... .. ... ... . ... . ....... . ......... . . .

1 Sept.

7 Nov.

25

25

GALLI N ULES: t t . . ...... ......... . .......... . ........ . ... . ..... · .. ... ... .. . . . ·

1 Sept.

7 Nov.

15

30

CROW:tt ....... . . . . .. .. .. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

14 Mar.

30 Apr.

-

-

16 July

29 Sept.

-

-

1 Dec.

28 Feb.

-

-

BOBCAT: ... . .. .... ....... .. ......... . ... ........ .... ...... ... . . . . ... . ........ .

COYOTE: . . .. ... ......... ... .... . . . .... .. .... ... .. ... . . .. ... . . ......... . ...... .

FOX:

14 (IN AGGREGATE)

NO CLOSED SEASON FOR HUNTINGt t

Northern Zone ....... ... .... . ......... . ......... .... . .. .

20 Oct.

15 Feb.

-

-

Southern & Western Zones . . ... ... ....... ... ....... . . . .

28 Oct.

15 Feb.

-

-

1 Oct.

30 Nov.

4

8

GRAY SQUIRREL: .... . ................... ... .. .. . . ..... . .... . .......... . ... .. .

PORCUPINE: .. . .......... ... . .. . ....... .................... . . ... . ...... ...... .

RABBIT (Cottontail) and HARE (Snowshoe): ...... .. ........ .... ......... .. .

RACCOON: .... ..... .... . .. .. .. . .. . . . .... . .. ... . .... .. .. . ........... . ......... .

NO CLOSED SEASON FOR HUNTINGt t 1 Oct. ** 28 Oct.

RED SQUIRREL: .... .. .. . .. ... . .. .. . ........... . ............. . .. . ... .. ....... .

SKUNK: . . ... .... ..................... .... .. . . .. .. .. . .... . . . .. ... .. ..... ..... . .

WOODCHUCK: . ....... ...... . ... . ....... . ... ... .. .. ..... .... ..... ... ......... .

31 Mar. 30 Nov.

4

8

-

-

NO CLOSED SEASON FOR HUNTINGt t 20 Oct.

15 Dec.

-

-

NO CLOSED SEASON FOR HUNTINGt t

tThe Saturday before this date is open for Maine residents only. t t Regardless of dates listed on the sheet, there will be no huntingforanyspeciesexcept moose NORTH OF THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACKS for the period of September 20 thru September 25 , 1982. t t t All deer and bear must be registered at registration stations. See regulations booklet for details. * No bear hunting with more than 4 dogs. No bear hunting with dogs during the regular firearm season on deer in that area. ** Unlawful to hunt rabbits with dogs during any open firearms season on deer in Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and Washington counties. *** The special sea duck season is for all coastal waters and all waters of river and streams seaward from the first upstream bridge; in all other areas, sea ducks may be taken only during the regular open season on ducks.

SUNDAY HUNTING:

Illegal in Maine.

SHOOTING HOURS: On animals, 1h hour before sunrise to 1h hour after sunset, except that during any firearms season on deer, hunting closes at sunset for all species except raccoon. On game birds, shooting hours are 1h hour before sunrise to sunset.

LICENSES: Hunting license is required. To hunt during muzzle-loading season on deer, special license is required in addition to regular hunting license.

Archery license authorizes hunting, with bow and arrow only, during any open season on that species, except as otherwise provided; a person with a regular hunting license may also hunt with bow and arrow, except during the special archery season on deer. _ STAMPS:

Don't forget to purchase a federal duck stamp and/or a Maine pheasant stamp if you intend to hunt these species.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

284 State St.

Sta. #41

Augusta, Maine 04333