Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Spring 1997 by Maine State Library

Maine State Library

Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

3-1-1997

Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Spring 1997 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine Recommended Citation Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, "Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Spring 1997" (1997). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 92. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/92

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

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MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE SPRING 1997

EDITORIAL by Ray B. Owen, Jr., Commissioner

A Warden's Worry Maine game wardens enjoy a proud history. The highly dedicated and hardworking men and women in the green uniforms, whose central mission is to protect Maine's fish and wildlife resources , take their jobs seriously, as do most state law enforcement officers. In fact, 13 wardens have died in the line of duty over the years. So it is little wonder that "bad press" cuts to the quick when wardens are accused in the media of being arrogant or abusive as a group, or are subjected to headlines that read "Maine Wardens Out of Touch " or stories that claim that "relations with the public have deteriorated. " That was the case recently . A front page Maine Sunday Telegram story by Roberta Scruggs , rewritten and circulated to newspapers statewide by the Associated Press, would have you think that the Maine Warden Service had fallen into a public relations abyss , that Maine's once highly regarded conservation officers suddenly thrust themselves into public disfavor by their arrogance and intimidating ways. This "critical " reporting, while it may have reflected some honest sentiment from sportsmen who have felt the sting of a summons in the field , failed to acknowledge the larger sentiment of the sporting majority who continue to regard the Maine game warden with respect and , yes, even admiration. Not mentioned in these one-sided news stories were the long, lonely vigils of district wardens in pursuit of game poachers, or the Warden Dive Team's underwater recovery of a drowning victim from icy waters, or an aerial search by a warden pilot in marginal weather for a missing Alzheimer patient, or a snowmobile fatality investigation and the dreaded visit to notify the next of kin. And no, game wardens are not without imperfections. As with all working people who deal daily with stress, frustration and fatigue , they have days. As commissioner, I do get some complaints. All are looked into and , in most cases, we have found that the warden acted in a professional manner. If not, corrective action has been taken . With more than half of our warden force relatively new (less than five years in uniform) , we face a "seasoning" challenge , but also a wonderful opportunity. Our new wardens are the cream of the crop. We train them to be customer-friendly, yet fair and firm when dealing with violators. Our warden training program is built upon a plan. First, we select the best candidates by determining their ability to deal effectively with people. During their basic and advanced training , we stress public relations and continue to stress it in continuing education . We promote those with proven abilities to deal well with the public, which makes these promoted wardens mentors for the younger district wardens. Equally important, we have recognized the pitfalls. Wary of being lulled into complacency by the Maine game warden 's proud tradition , we actively seek ways to improve our techniques in the field. Last year, the Maine Warden Service developed a public relations committee . At our request, the University of Maine has completed an appraisal. Overall , the report was complimentary, but some areas for improvement were found and will be implemented.

continued on inside back cover

AINE

J9711

VILDLIFE

FISH AND WILDLIFE

VOL. 39, NO. 1

A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2yearsonly $15 D Please bill me later

by V. Paul Reynolds

e patch! H ere's the scoop/

.Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Gary Anderson in earlie r days

OB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

e==~ ==~ ================~

AINE

J9711

ction .. .some letters f rom happ y campers

by Craig McLaughlin

)

ving discovery of this "big can id "

FISH AND WILDLIFE

but where do bass go? Interesting answers

A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

by Christine Force and Marilyn Tourtelotte

SPECIAL HALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

by V. Paul Reynolds

D 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later

participant and from organizer

I, 1

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ __ _

services to blow their own horns

.Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

AINE

)

J9711

by Bu tch Carey

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2yearsonly$15 D Please bill me later

)

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

.Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

~atlve"-a painting by Mark Wings, Lake City MN 55041 . matlon or to order a print. 1ks on recyclable paper

Place

Sta.mp Here

EDITORIAL

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 AugusÂˇta ME 04333 Maine game wardens er women in the green uniforn take their jobs seriously, as the line of duty over the yec So it is little wonder that being arrogant or abusive a Touch " or stories that claim That was the case recer rewritten and circulated to r the Maine Warden Service conservation officers sudde intimidating ways . This "critical" reporting, 1 have felt the sting of a sumi sporting majority who contir admiration. Not mentioned wardens in pursuit of game drowning victim from icy We missing Alzheimer patient, 1 next of kin. And no, game wardens with stress, frustration and Âˇ are looked into and , in mos not, corrective action has b1 than five years in uniform) , new wardens are the crean when dealing with violators Our warden training pro determining their ability to c stress public relations and < proven abilities to deal well younger district wardens. Equally important, we h, Maine game warden 's prou Last year, the Maine WardE University of Maine has car areas for improvement wer1

Place

Sta.mp Here

MAINE

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

Place

Sta.mp Here

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

•

Governor Angus S . King, Jr.

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Ray B. Owen, Jr., Commissioner Matthew Scott, Deputy Commissioner Frederick B. Hurley, Jr., Director, Bureau of Resource Management Richard Record, Di rector, Bureau of Administrative Services Parker K. Tripp, Director, Bureau of Warden Service Advisory Council Wilmot Robinson, Millinocket Chairman Stanley D. Milton , Andover Vice Chairman Charles F. Beck, Presque Isle Millard A Wardwell, Penobscot Eric N. Davis, Vinalhaven F. Dale Speed, Princeton Richard A. Neal, £. Lebanon Ellen N. Peters, New Gloucester Russell E. Dyer, Bowdoinham Lila Ware, Skowhegan

Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine V. Paul Reynolds, Edito r Thomas L. Carbone, Photo Editor V . Paul Reynolds, Advertising All photographs in this issue were made by the Public Information & Education Division unless otherwise indicated. MAINE ASH AND WILDLIFE (ISSN 0360-00SX) is published quarterly by the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, Station 41, Augusta, Maine 04330 , under Appropriation 01009A-0529. Subscription rate: $18.00 per year. No stamps, please. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Augusta , Maine and at additional mailing offices. IC Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife , 1997 . Perrnission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit is given to the author and to MAINE ASH AND WIIDUFE. 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 WIIDUFE Magazine, 284 State St., 41 State Hse . Sta., Augusta ME 04333. Please allow six weeks for changes to take effect. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Circulation Section, MAINE ASH AND WIIDUFE, 284 State St. , 41 State Hse. Sta. , Augusta, Maine 04333 QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Just call toll-free 1-800-288-8387 The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior Accordingly, all department programs and activities must be operated free from discrimina lion with regard to race , color, national origin , age, or handicap . Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against should write to The Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S . Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. & prepress by graphltl belfast me 04915

magazine design

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE VOL. 39, NO. 1

SPRING 1997

Features Becoming A Maine Guide

by V. Paul Reynolds

What 's ahead of you if you 'd like to wear that guide patch! Here 's the scoop!

from The Photo Archives

Our "old photo " of the day-veteran Safety Officer Gary Anderson in earlier days

The Rest Of The Story

by V. Paul Reynolds

One man 's moose hunt . ..some details about the auction .. .some letters from happy campers

Wolves In Maine

by Craig McLaughlin

Spelling out the department 's latest thinking following discovery of this "big can id"

Where'd They Go, Anyway?

Some of us go after bass while we're on vacation- but where do bass go? Interesting answers

Becoming A Maine Outdoors- Woman

by Christine Force and Marilyn Tourtelotte

Perspectives on this new education program-from participant and from organizer

Outdoor Roster

A chance for providers of Maine outdoor recreation services to blow their own horns

Departments KID-BITS

FROM THE FLY TYING BENCH: fire&. Ice

MARKETPLACE

RECIPE CORNER

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS

by Butch Carey

The front Cover: "Mountain Stream Natlve"-a painting by Mark Suslnno. Reprinted courtesy of WIid Wings, Lake City MN 55041 . Telephone (612) 345- 5355 for Information or to order a print.

#• Printed with vegetable-based " . , inks on recyclable paper

Becomin Maine G by V Paul Reynolds Photo by the author

is a registered Maine Guide." In outdoor circles over the years, that identification has always held some sway. Oh, maybe not as much as say, a Texas Ranger, or a Mountie, but the appellation has always been held with some very special regard. The term engenders an image of a self-reliant, woodswise soul who, through experience and temperament, is qualified to lead you in the Maine outdoors, to get you and your canoe safely through some wild whitewater, or get a warming campfire going in a chilling June downpour. What is a Maine Guide, anyway? Who are they? How does one become a licensed guide? Is there a school, a process? How much does it cost? Where do you get information? How many guides are there? What's the history behind the Maine guides? This year the Professional Maine Guides Association will celebrate its 100th anniversary! That's right. Its official beginning dates back to March 23, 1897 when Maine enacted a law

Maine Fish an d W ildl ife

requiring that outdoor guides be licensed. The law was an outgrowth of a number of factors. Sporting camps and summer resorts began to spring up throughout Maine as the affluent leisure class from the industrialized urban Northeast sought outdoor recreation. Additionally, Maine people became concerned about the welfare of Maine's forests and wildlife. The guides of that era, who were usually seasonal lumbermen or farmers, were looked upon as likely stewards who could serve as agents of conservation. The law that created licensed Maine guides envisioned them as assistant wildlife managers who could provide biological data about wildlife that would help the state Fish and Game Department manage the state's wildlife populations. The act read in part..."to further prevent forest fires and to facilitate the gathering of statistics relative to the amount of inland fish and game killed and taken in the state, and for the further protection of inland fish and game, and for the registration of guides." According to Richard Scribner, there were about 1,700 licensed Maine guides in this state in 1899. Today, according to Connie Latno who coordinates the guide

licensing program for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, there are 2,006 active licensed guides in Maine. For many years, a Maine Guide was not required to submit to any standardized testing. He (or she, in the case of Maine's most famous early female guide Fly Rod Crosby) simply had to pass muster with The author is Director of Public Information for the department, and editor of Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine. h ttp://w~w .state.me. us / i fw/homepage. h tm I

the local game warden. If he considered you qualified and fit to guide people in the outdoors, presto! You were duly registered as a Maine guide. This all changed in 1975 when a standardized test and procedure was established for licensing Maine guides. Today there are nine different categories of Maine guide licenses. They are: hunting, fishing, recreation, hunting and fishing, hunting and recreation, fishing and recreation, sea kayaking, tidewater and master guide. http: //www .s ta te.rne .u s/i fw /hornepage.htrnl

One becomes a Master Maine Guide by successfully qualifying in the written and oral tests for fishing, hunting and recreation. Sanctioned by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Maine Guides program is administered by a seven-member Guide's Advisory Board. Three of the board members are game wardens, three are registered Maine guides and one is a non-guide citizen of the state. For the purposes of testing prospective guides, the advisory

board is then broken down into two or three member testing boards. One member of the testing board is always a game warden and the other member is either a registered guide or a laymen representative from the larger advisory board. Once a guide applicant has satisfied the paperwork requirements and received appropriate study literature from the Department, separate testing dates are scheduled for the written examination and the oral examination. An applicant who scores 70 or Spring 1997

higher on the written test goes on to take the oral examination, which normally lasts from one hour to an hour and a half. According to Latno, the success rate on the written test varies from 80 to 90 percent. The oral test is a tougher hurdle; approximately half or more of the applicants fail the oral examination

the first time it is taken. Applicants who fail may re-apply for a testing date. Tests are given at the various regional warden headquarters throughout the state. A list of formal guide training programs is available from the Department. There is a non-refundable $100 application fee to cover adminis-

trative costs, associated paperwork and study guides. Fee for a three-year guide's license is $79. Anyone wishing to apply for a Maine guide's license may write to: Connie Latno, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Sta# 41, 284 State St., Augusta, Maine 04333, or call 207-287-3614. â&#x20AC;˘

Department's Regional 1-800 Numbers No Longer In Service ... In the face of reduced revenues and increasing budgetary constraints, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has found it necessary to discontinue its public toll-free telephone lines serving the five regional headquarters, located in Gray, Sidney, Bangor, Greenville, and Ashland. According to Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Ray "Bucky" Owen, this cost-cutting move is a temporary measure that will help the department meet its cost-cutting goals for the remainder of this fiscal year. The toll-free lines are expected to be reconnected later this year. Meanwhile, the public is reminded that all five of the regional headquarters remain accessible via their regular telephone numbers, which are listed in area telephone directories.

. .. But You Can Still Reach Us At These Numbers Operation Game Thief 1-800-253-7887 or 1-800-ALERT US to report violations of Maine hunting and fishing laws, including dumping trash in the woods or on the roads

***** 207-287-8000 for Administration, Fisheries and Wildlife, MaineWarden Service, general information about fish and wildlife, licenses, and boating and recreational vehicle registration.

***** 207-287-8003 to reach the automated Fish and Wildlife line. This line provides 24-hour information and updates on hunting and fishing seasons and new laws.

Or Try Our Website http://www.state.me. us/ifw/homepage.html 4

Maine Fish and Wildlife

http ://www .s ta te .me .u s/ i fw / homepage .html

~~~~--=,._-

A look back into the photo files of the Maine Fish and Game Department

A few decades ago, Gary Anderson, who was safety officer for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, was caught by an IF& W photographer in a little piscatorial pursuit. Anderson, who helped create and nurture what is reputed to be one of the most effective hunter safety program in the country, retired this spring after nearly 25 years of service.

http://www.state.me. us/ifw/homepage. html

Spring 1997

Moose auction hunter Pete Papac of Montesano, Washington bagged this large bull moose while hunting with guide Matt Libby of Libby Camps. Papac and his wife Virginia (left) said that they "really enjoyed their trip to Maine " and that "the foliage was beautiful!"

by Rick Oncken Photos by V Paul Reynolds Editor's note: Missoula, Montana hunter Rick Oncken was one of two high bidders to capture a 1996 Maine moose hunting permit in the 1996 Maine Moose Auction. For three mooseless days, Rick, guide John Richardson, and I wandered about rolling clearcuts west of Chamberlain Lake. I left Nugent's Camps for civilization Wednesday night-a little worried that this able and personable Westerner, whose auction fee would send about 400 Maine youngsters to conservation camp, might return to Montana without his Maine moose! Then, on Thursday, Rick's luck changed. A nasty frontal system swept into t he Allagash Waterway, replacing the warm, bright days-soon after, our guest filled his tag. What follows, from a letter he wrote to me, is what he jokingly described as "the rest of the story."

hursday was grey and overcast. The first hour and a half I sat on a brush pile glassing several clearcuts. There was no wind and fog hung above the stream and beaver ponds. Nothing moved. John arrived with his boat and we headed for Amzookas Lake where we launched at a boat ramp and headed for Brandy and Black Ponds. The water was shallow

Maine Fish and Wild life

and we hit a number of stumps and the bottom with the motor as the water color merged with the sky color and made water visibility very difficult. There was a lot of old sign along the shore line but nothing that looked very promising. As we continued up stream we rounded a small peninsula and saw the palms and head of a bull moose about 250 yards away.

About the same time he hears us as the wind was blowing directly at him. We headed for shore but the moose was having no part of our plan. He ran one direction for about 50 yards then swapped ends and high stepped out of the bay and into the trees. We went upstream and attempted to enter the woods to see if we could call this moose, but the old clearcut had trees http ://www .s ta te . me . u s/ i fw / h om ep age .html

about 9 to 12 feet tall and very thick. The bull had eluded us but at least we had finally seen one. About this time it started to rain and John found out that he had brought the wrong cooler leaving both his rain gear and our lunches at home. It was a slow, chilly wet ride back to the boat ramp and John got chilled. Friday: we were going to try a repeat of Thursday, but with rain gear. But the weather was changing from bright stars to heavy overcast so John decided to hunt an area that he had shot his moose in a couple of years ago. Legal shooting time came and passed but it was so dark all you could see were shadows. Looking to the sky over Sourbungie Mountain for any hint of light we saw instead that it was snowing up high and appeared to be moving toward us. As we continued along we thought we saw two moose, or what looked like two moose. Mostly just darker black against lighter black. John held back and I crept toward the animals to see if one of them might be a bull. I was about 50 yards away and still could not tell if either animal had horns even though it was probably 1/2 hour past the start of legal light. My 1 1 /2 - 4 1 /2 power Zeiss scope resolved the issue. The first animal was a very large cow, then the second came into view, it was a young http: //www.stale.me. us/i fw/homepage .html

On the next to the last day of his six-day hunt, moose auction hunter Rick Oncken of Missoula, Montana killed this medium-sized bull with a single shot. This hunt marked Oncken's first trip to Maine. bull, not the antlers of dreams but the size indicated good eating. Not finding a useful rest and with the cow already out of sight behind a small hill, an off hand shot with my .375 H&H Mag seemed my only option. At the shot the bull appeared to stumble and fall but then I couldn't see any of the animal. As I moved forward ready for a second shot, an animal suddenly reappeared just where the bull had dropped, but as I reached a

follow up shot my scope again saved me a big mistake by showing a bald head. I still couldn't see the bull and then there he was, dead. He hadn't moved from where he stood when the 300 grain Nozler bullet had broken his neck. A quick clean kill. As we admired the bull, snowflakes were starting to blow around us. John had me holding a leg while he started to clean the moose when in a calm voice he Spr i ng 1997

finished cleaning the moose in a snow squall. John had a very clever tool, a chain saw winch, with him when he returned and after a little work we were able to get the moose on a snowmobile sled. Then we headed for the emergency room and the check station. At the hospital they advised to go on to Bangor as

John had cut his tendon and it should be repaired as quickly as possible. After dropping off the moose at a butchers we made the trip south where John had surgery and gained a cast. By the time we got back to camp it was 9 p.m., we had left at 5 a.m. A bittersweet ending to an otherwise great trip to Maine. â&#x20AC;˘

At sunrise on opening day of the 1996 moose hunting season, Montana hunter Rick Oncken keeps a watchful eye in a clearcut west of Chamberlain Lake. said, "I think I cut myself and I may have done more damage because my thumb is numb and won't move very much." John headed out to the ranger station to get some first aid and I

Nugent's Camps guide John Richardson (left) prepares to launch a canoe at a remote pond in moose country east of Chamberlain Lake. His moose hunter, Rick Oncken (right) scans the pond for moose activity.

The Maine Moose Auction Traditionally, Maine's annual moose season has been an early fall hunt mostly for Maine residents lucky enough to win a permit in the spring lottery and for a few even luckier nonresidents. Next fall, for thethird season, however, a select few will join the October moose hunt in the North Woods because they were willing to pay for the privilege. And support a worthy cause as well!

Maine Fis/, and Wildlife

All revenues generated by Maine's Moose Permit Auction will provide youth conservation education scholarships in Maine.

activities including wildlife identification, boating safety, firearms handling, hunter safety, and map and compass work.

Conservation School

Competitive Bidding

Plans include sending more than 200 Maine youngsters to the Maine summer conservation school at Bryant Pond and elsewhere. During these programs, youngsters ages 12 through 14 take part in a wide array of classroom and outdoor

When Maine's 16th annual moose hunt gets underway next October, five of the 1,500 hunters with state permits will have acquired those permits - not through the customary spring Moose Lottery -but through a competitive bidding process http ://www .state .me .us/ ifw / homepage.html

called the 1997 Maine Moose Permit Auction. New legislation allows the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to publicly auction five moose hunting permits to the highest bidder. Proceeds from this annual permit auction are used to support youth conservation education in Maine.

Alces alces americana According to state game biologists, Maine's expanding moose population is estimated at a minimum of 30,000. During each

of the last four limited moose seasons, the success rate for hunters has been about 90 percent. During the 1994 season, 1,129 moose were taken. At least 83 percent were adult bulls, and several weighed in excess of 1,000 pounds. Trophy racks are not uncommon. During the last two Boone and Crockett reporting periods, four Maine moose have been listed with scores ranging from 1911/8 to 200 7 /8. The highest score for a moose taken in Maine during the past 10 years was 214.

t Meant

The Season During the moose season in early October, permitted hunters and their designated sub-permittees may hunt moose in one of six northern Maine zones, which cover a total of about 17,000 square miles. Successful bidders select the hunting zone of their choice. Maine is one of only a few states in the country that permit the hunting of moose with shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow, as well as conventional rifle.

o Theni

In letters to the Commissioner, conservation camp students jotted some thoughts on their summer experiences at camp. Dear Mr. Owen, I would like to thank you for all your help in getting me here. Though I went last year to the other camp, I thought the experience in going here would be just as rewarding! We had a great time meeting new friends and everbody got a nickname from us. I think that the boating safety course was very wavy and unsure when trying to learn the facts. Also when we went out to look for animal droppings and tracks, there was no pepe la pew things! (a skunk) Their all around my house. Sincerely, (Piffy) Whitney Martin Dear Commissioner: I had a great time at the camp. It was filled with fun and exciting new things. I had never shot a gun before until I went there. I thank you for paying the extra $130 for me to go to this camp. I learned a lot about hunting, fishing , and boating. I wish that this week would have never ended. I hope I can come back next year to enjoy this camp again, and the wonderful counselors that were there to help me get through the week. Thank you, Stephenie Goodall Dear Mr. Owen, I really enjoyed this camp. At first camp seemed boring because we weren't doing anything, but listening to the talks. Then as the week went on the talks became interesting and we got to do the things, not watch. The first day we shot the guns I didn't do so good. The second day I was the top shooter. I was so happy. Thank-you so much for putting this camp together. This was one of the funnest things I have ever done in my life. I will always remember this camp. Sincerely, Heather Sturks P.S. May you could set up a spot for street hockey. Dear Mr. Owen, I thank you for paying for my tutition into Greenland Point center. I thought that it was a great experience for me and my friend. I had a great time and a great counselor. I had Dottie. She was a bundle of laughs and made me feel right at home. When I first got here I didn't know anyone so I didn't want to come, but now that I've had this experience I don't want to leave. We did lots of stuff like go to a rifle range and go through the woods looking for droppings from different kinds of animals. We also played sports and went canoeing and sailing. I had so much fun, all of the counselors were great. We made lots of names for them. Thank-you again for your hospitality. Sincerely, Amanda Groder Dear Mr. Owen, Thank you for sponsoring me and allowing me to endure a wonderful experience. The Conservation camp at Greenland Point was great. The staff here was friendly and helpful. The programs are very informational. I live on a fifty acre piece of land in Richmond. I have always been an outdoor person, but after this week I have found I know more about the outdoors than I ever have before. Again, thank you for an experience I will never forget . Sincerely, Amanda Turcotte http://www.state.me.us/ifw/homepage.html

Spring 1997

Species Update

â&#x20AC;˘

o ves 1n by Craig McLaughlin

The

recent discovery of a large canid in eastern Maine again highlights the possibility of wolves in Maine. It further underscores the need for public awareness to this possibility. In early November, a Hancock

Maine Fish and Wi ldlife

County trapper turned over to Fish and Wildlife a large animal he thought to be a coyote. The animal has been examined by Maine wildlife biologists and tissue has been submitted to the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for DNA analysis. Maine wildlife biologist Craig McLaughlin led the examination and reports that the adult male canid weighed 81.5 pounds, was 5 feet 5 inches

The author is a wildlife biologist with the department. http ://www. s tale .me. us / i fw / homepage .h tml

The author with his wolf? No one is completely sure yet, but the investigation continues.

long from nose to tip of tail, and that coloration and other body measurements were consistent with published measurements from eastern timber wolves. The investigation as to the animal's identity and origin will continue. The closest wolf population to Maine occupies the Laurentide Reserve of Quebec Canada, within 75 miles of Maine's northwest border. The St. Lawrence Seaway and surrounding densely settled aagricultural lands may form a barrier to traveling wolves. Solitary wolves may occasionally wander into the state, but have little chance of locating mates and reproducing. No packs of wolves are known in Maine. The department continues to receive occasional reports of wolf sightings, and a gray wolf of uncertain origin was killed in northwestern Maine in 1993. Prior to that occurrence, the latest existing

wolf specimen collected in Maine was taken in 1863; it is currently housed in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. We do record evidence of unusual wildlife species, such as wolves or mountain lions, incidental to primary field activities throughout the state. Searches for wolf sign have been included in the Department's winter furbearer track surveys since 1994. No evidence of wolves has been found on over 2,000 miles of transect coverage in northwestern Maine. Wildlife biologists and wardens also investigate sighting reports as workloads permit, and the wildlife division maintains a data base of wolf sighting reports. The department remains opposed to wolf reintrqduction programs in the face of current wildlife management priorities,

and without widespread public support for the return of this species to the state. State law forbids releasing any wildlife into the state without specific authorization by the legislature. If wolves recolonize Maine on their own accord, the Department will institute public education measures to ensure informed decisions about the species, conduct appropriate monitoring, and management efforts, and will welcome cooperative efforts by other state, federal, and private organizations. Because wolves use a wide variety of habitats, the federal government has not (and likely will not) designate critical habitat for wolves. The wolf is a wildlife species that once occurred in Maine, and this large predator may have a place in the state's forest lands in the future. Given adequate habitat, wolves can coexist with deer and moose and provide a variety of benefits to Maine's citizens. However, until public opinion is assessed, the department will not promote the retun of wolves to the state. â&#x20AC;˘

1996 State of Maine Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Print & Stamp 500 LIMITED EDITION BLUE WING TEAL by:

Paul D . Fillion Durham, Maine

PRICE: (unframed) 11" x 14" print and stamp (framed) 15" x 16 1/2" print and stamp Shipping & handling

$40.00 $130.00 $4.50

HOW TO ORDER: Include name and address, selection of framed or unframed, add 6% sales tax to cost, add shipping & handling. Enclose check or money order made out to Guylaine Fillion, and mail to Guylaine Fillion, 57 Country Lane, Durham, ME 04222. Or call 207-353-5146. All pieces are shipped UPS.

Artist Paul Fillion has generously volunteered to earmark part of the profits from the sale of the prints to support the waterfowl programs.

http://www.state.me. us/ifw/homepage.h tml

Spring 1997

Tracing Black Bass Movements

by Merrie Cartwright, Michael Cole, and John Moring Photos by the authors

he steady signals from the radio transmitter seemed to come from the port side of the boat, then the starboard side. A minute later, the antenna picked up signals from the port side, then starboard again. What was going on? Why was this tagged smallmouth bass in Green Lake acting so strangely? Then someone noticed a connection. Each time the signal shifted, a loon also appeared on that side of the boat. Soon it became obvious: the loon had eaten the 10 inch bass and the radio tag implanted into the body cavity of the fish continued to ''beep" wherever the loon traveled. This was one of the more memorable incidents from two years of radio-tracking black bass on three Maine lakes. Most anglers know that bass move around, up and down in the water column, between shallow and deep waters, or between different kinds of habitat, depending on the time of day, season of the year, water temperature, food abundance, and other factors. But, we wanted to know more specifics. For example, we wanted to know what happens when largemouth bass are caught during a tournament, transported in a livewell for hours, then released at a weigh-in site. Do the fish return to their original sites of capture? Are males able to return to guard their nests during spawning time? In order to assess how populations are doing, biologists with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regularly survey bass using scuba divers towed behind boats. So, we also wanted to see if large smallmouth bass were being missed during those surveys. If these bass are in deeper waters and not visible to divers, it could alter the mathematical estimates that management biologists use to see how balanced local bass populations may be.

Maine Fish and Wi ld l ife

To answer these questions, we used radio tags, tiny transmitters encaseJ in plastic. They are about half the length of a cigarette and about as thick. They weigh less than a tenth of an ounce. The miniature batteries last about 90 to 120 days, which is why each tag costs about $200. Each transmitter has a thin wire antenna that trails alongside and behind the fish, enabling someone riding in a boat or airplane to pick up each unique signal using a special electronic receiver. There are two ways of attaching such radio tags. For the largemouth bass, we secured them on the outside of the fish, below the dorsal fin. For the smallmouth bass, we made two small incisions in the underside of the fish, inserted the radio tag, and let the wire antenna trail outside the fish. In both techniques, known mortality was zero, and each procedure took less than 5 1 /2 minutes while the fish was immobilized in an anesthetic solution. The largemouth bass study was conducted in two lakes near Augusta: Cobbosseecontee (Cobbossee) Lake and Webber Pond. The smallmouth bass work occurred in Green Lake, between Ellsworth and Brewer. In both cases, Dave Barnes and a dozen other experienced bass anglers from local bass clubs helped catch the needed fish. Anglers in a single bass tournament at Cobbosseecontee Lake can harvest several hundred fish, which after weighing, are then released at one or two locations. Does this redistribute the bass? Do they home back to their original location? Are fish stressed from hours of confinement in boat livewells? To answer these concerns, Cobbosseecontee Lake and Webber Pond were divided into several sectors and captured bass were either (1) tagged and returned immediately to the water, (2) tagged, then transported in a livewell for two hours, then released, or (3) taken immediately to another http ://www .sta te . me . us / if w / homepage . h tml

Underwater shot of a smallmouth bass in Green Lake. Note the wire antenna trailing below the fish. sector in the lake. This design enabled us to replicate various possibilities, and we were able to follow individual bass for weeks after tagging. Since male bass guard eggs and young "black fry," we conducted the experiments during the time of spawning, in early summer, and again in The authors are with the U.S. Geological Survey's Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Cooperators in the unit are the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Maine, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Wildlife Management Institute. Merrie Cartwright is now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maine and Michael Cole is now a Ph.D. candidate at Pennsylvania State University. http://www. state.me. u s/i fw/homepage. h tm I

late summer, well after spawning. We wondered if males might have extra incentive to return to an original location, if they have eggs to protect. Our results with 60 tagged bass showed that the farther that largemouth bass have to travel, the less likely they are to return to their original location. They will establish residence somewhere else. Of the 44 displaced bass, 41 percent never returned within three weeks, and another 18 percent returned, but much too late to save the unprotected eggs from being eaten by predators. This means that if males are taken off nests and not immediately returned to the water, eggs and young will be unprotected for an extended period of time. Bass that are "translocated" later in the Spring 1997

Radio-tagged smallmouth bass. The transmitter is placed within the body cavity and the wire antenna trails behind.

Radio-tagged smallmouth bass. The tag has been placed inside the body cavity, secured with a few sutures and the antenna extends outside. 14

Maine Fish and Wild life

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summer are much less likely to return to the point of capture; there is much less homing behavior when there are no young to protect. Males displaced early in the summer attempted to return, if possible, and traveled much faster than fish displaced later in the summer.

Plotting coordinates for a displaced largemouth bass in Cobbosseecontee Lake.

Tracking largemouth bass with a directional antenna on Cobbosseecontee Lake, near Augusta. http ://www.s tate .me. us/ ifw/h omepage.h tml

When we tracked 44 smallmouth bass in Green Lake, we found that large fishes often used deeper waters, especially later in the summer when adults were no longer spawning. Large bass appeared to move into deeper water almost on a daily basis, moving inshore at dusk and offshore at dawn. Smaller-sized smallmouth bass also used cover (rocks, logs) more than did their larger relatives. What this means is that, in July and August, la:r;ge bass are less visible to scuba divers. That size segment of the population, and the fish most sought by anglers can be missed. By not seeing these fish, biologists can bias their assessments of bass populations. Thinking that a lake lacks many large fish, management techniques and regulations may be changed when, in reality, populations might very well be in balance. When conducting bass surveys, we concluded that scuba censusing is most accurate early in the summer. Bass anglers fishing late in the summer should look for large smallmouth bass in waters deeper than 25 feet. In addition to these scientific conclusions, we also found some interesting behavior by basses. Smallmouth bass were located up to 3 1 /2 miles from the original points of capture in Green Lake. One largemouth bass homed over a distance of 5 miles in Cobbosseecontee Lake. It followed the shoreline, so its actual distance traveled was probably much greater. It was so determined to return to its nest full of unprotected babies that this bass should rightfully be named "Super Father." â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 1997

~ ~

Maine's Aching Mussels Part of a larger group of animals called mollusks, freshwater mussels are soft-bodied animals enclosed by two hinged shells. Amussel gets its unique colors, patterns, and shapes froh, its shell covering, called the periosfracum; each has a pearl-like nacre lining the inside of the shell. Mussels are Riter-feeders, siphoning up to 100 gallons of water a dav through their shell mantles, filtering out microscopic food particles (plankton) and cleaning and purifying water as thev feed. Believe it or not, mussels have a large, muscular foot used for digging into the bottoms of lakes, ponds, and streams, for moving around (slowly, and not very far), and for anchoring themselves in the sand, gravel, cobble, mud, and silt of the substrate (underwater laver). The lh'e history of a mussel is quite unusual. An adult male randomlv spews microscopic sperm into the water; a female of the same species must somehow recognize it and pick it up in order to be fertilized. All freshwater mussels start life as glochidia released by the adult female. Sma ler than a pencil point, the voung look nothing like the adults. Thev must quickly attach themselves to the flns or gills of a 1peoific host fish to continue growing. (the Eastern River Pearl Mussel will attach only to a salmon or trout host, for example, while the Alewife Floater will cling only to an alewife host). Once attached, these microscopic voung continue hitchhiking on the host fish for up to six months, drawing nutrients from their host (while doing no harm whatsoever to the fish!) and getting a free ride to a new location. After developing into a miniature version of the adult, the voung mussels drop off to begin their new lives. Some mav live for more than 100 vears!!

CHALLENCE: Alt,r r11/in1 th, p111111ph 161t,, 11n you /161/ ,,,, 1t11, ,I th, â&#x20AC;˘u111/1' Iii, ,y,t, 1hr1n 6,t,w? U11 th, r,,r/ li1t 6,t,r1 t, h,lp you Iii/ in th, 61,nb.

Male Glochidia Sperm Female Fish host Gills Juvenile

Here are some mussel species that you might learn to recognize as you fish, boat, swim and play in Maine's lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams. Although there are nearly 300 species of mussels found in the United States (and more than half these species are in trouble!), Maine is home to only 10 different kinds of these harmless invertebrates (animals without backbones).

Yell ow Luip-Mu111l-6ri1it y11/1r1, i11,y-d11/1I ,nl p,rti,lly r,y,I; pr,p,111 11 , thr,1t1n1I 1p11i11; /,uni pri•1rily in ri,1r1, pr,l1rrln1 , •ix,I 11nl/1r1r,l/11H/1 61tt1• In 11uth 11ntr,/ ,nl •il-111t1rn #1in,.

Ti,ewater Mucket-l1/i11t,ly d,11,I; /ik,1 ti, flilf r11f,r 1l p,nl1, ld11, 1/1r1-•1rin1 ,,,,,. 111ti1n1, ,nl ,,,,,,,,,,,. Prop,111 l,r th, thr,1f1n,I 1p11i11 /i1t, it h11 611n l,unl in 111th 11ntr,/ #1in1 n,,r ti, 111111,t (n,t, ti, •111t"1•61U1I in th, 11'1tr,t1).

Brook Floater-lounl in th, r,pi/1 1nl rill/11 1l l11tl/or1in1 1ft11•1 ,nl rir,r1 in 11ntr,/ 1nl 111f,rn #1in1; pr,l,r1 ,,,,,/, •i11I 11nl, ,r 11H/1 1d1tr,t11. $hill i1 6r1r1nid 6/11k with 1r,1nid r1y1; 1p,rt1 , 6ri1ht or1n11 . , , , , , II

Mussels are eaten with gusto by muskrats, raccoons, river otters, diving ducks, and some fish; but were used by native Americans only as an 111er9ency food source! Why are mussels in trouble in Maine? Habitat loss seems to be the key. Dams change water flows, reduce available oxygen, and increase sediments that bury some young larvae and restrict movement of the host fish. Some pollution can cause entire beds of mussels to die off, while acid rain may limit calcium uptake by mussels, affecting growth and shell thickness. Freshwater mussels are important indicators for water quality in our ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams. learning to recognize and appreciate their place within our aquatic habitats will be a good first step to ensuring a future for these unique animals.

H1r1 ,,, 1i1ht ,I ti, 10 1p11i11 ,I •1111/1 n1tir, t, #1in1. N,t, th, lill,r1n111 in 1i11, 11/,r, ,nl d,11 p1tt1rn1.

If you know of locations for any of these uncommon freshwater mussel species, please contact Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at 207-941-4466!

by Christine Reynolds Force When I was growing up in Maine, men in my family hunted and fished but the women didn't. My father often included my brother on fishing and hunting trips while my sister and I remained behind, cultivating feminine activities. We did camp and hike together though, helping nurture my great love for the outdoors. This year, for the first time in my life, I shot a clay pigeon and caught a trout on a dry fly. Fly-fishing is a heady, challenging, thrilling experience. I feel cheated to be just beginning this wonderful outdoor sport in my mid-40s, particularly in a state like Maine that has much to offer. Fortunately, for today's girls and women, times are changing. Kudos should go to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Conservation School for sponsoring last September's Outdoor Woman's Adventure School, held at Bryant Pond in Woodstock. Approximately 70 women gathered at the Maine Conservation School and learned to throw axes, swamp and right canoes, shoot firearms, shoot bows and Not long after this photo was taken, rain-soaked arrows, fly-cast, survive in the woods alone, participants in the canoeing course learned the hunt with dogs and more Maine outdoor art of righting a capsized canoe. All survived to experiences. paddle another day.

by Marilyn Tourtelotte "We just learned that we don't have to stay inside when it rains. We can go fishing!" This was typical of remarks heard throughout the three-day Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program (Maine's first such program) at the Maine Conservation'5chool at Bryant Pond Sept. 13, 14, and 15, 1996. Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) is a national program that began at the University of Wisconsin. The first workshop, held in 1990, focused on the reasons why so few women participated in outdoor activities. This workshop identified barriers that women face; lack of education in outdoor activities topped the list. In 1991, the first official BOW program was held in Wisconsin, coordinated by founder Christine Thomas. The program was a great success-so successful, in fact, that BOW is currently held in 46 states and in many Canadian provinces! Just what does the BOW program involve?" The BOW program is a reasonably priced program that focuses on hands-on, in-the-field teaching of the skills of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities traditionally dominated by men. The courses are taught in a comfortable, non-threatening atmosphere. Women have a chance to ask questions without looking foolish in front of.a boyfriend, husband, or sporting goods clerk! A limited amount of financial aid is also available to help those that could not normally afford such a program.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

http://www.state.me. us/ifw/homepage.html

"Becoming an Outdoors Woman," as the program is called, is a national program spreading across the country. Marilyn Tourtelotte, a former game warden, coordinated this Bryant Pond weekend. It is a 2 1 /2-day workshop on a variety of outdoor sports designed for beginners. Despite constant drizzle interrupted by downpours, the weekend offered a fabulous opportunity for female bonding during outdoor sporting events. This concept was clear from laughter, huge grins and applause each time someone experienced a minor success. It delighted many of us to see women in their 70s experiencing new challenges side by side with women in their 20s and 30s. The Shotgun instruction riflery and generated a lot of shotgun interest. The rain did workshops little to dampen were most student enthusiasm for in demand. a shot at careening Because the clay targets. PULL! Maine ConservaHelene Levasseur takes tion School does not careful aim. Waiting to have a take her turn to test firearms her marksmanship is range to Susan Kady. accommodate 20 novices, we boarded a 7 a.m. bus for the Waterford Rod and Gun Club. I had expected a good-sized building with a massive firing range. Instead, our bus pulled up to a small wooden camp. Inside was a modest interior with a cozy wood stove, a necessity on a cold, rainy day. While drinking coffee, I noticed writing on the wooden beams. The men who built the structure left

continued on page 20 http: //www.state .me.us /ifw/homepage.html

The program development in Maine started in April with an eight-member committee. I took my coordinator training in May, after which planning started in earnest with only a few months to go to the September 13 target date. The committee decided on limiting to 18 the number of courses for the first session. Courses included basic canoeing, riflery, fly fishing, map and compass, survival and first aid, shotgun, archery/ bow hunting, hiking, backpacking and camping, and hunting with dogs. More than 20 women, ranging in age from 18 to over 70, signed up for a variety of stated reasons, including learning new skills, improving skills, teaching family and friends new skills, and being better able to participate with friends and family. The day finally arrived, and with ita weekend of rain, rain, and more rain! 70 women arrived, suited upin their rain gear, and never looked back! It was a weekend of smiles and laughter as the women challenged themselves to learning new skills, sharpening old skills, and making new friends. Many fired a gun, paddled a canoe in the stern, and tried fly fishing for the first time. The enthusiasm was contagious! After a warm shower and an excellent meal, evenings were spent being entertained in various ways, including a fashion show featuring women's

continued on page 28 Spring 1997

their names behind. It reminded me of camps from the "old" Maine of my childhood. People built camps with their own hands and were proud of their efforts, no matter how humble the structure. The scrawled signatures brought to mind male camaraderie and fun. I am certain these men never imagined their building would be filled with women, eager to learn firearm safety and technique.

Overcoming Fear Imagine a line of women, soaking wet from the rain, waiting patiently in line for a turn at shooting a gun that could easily take down a bear or moose. The majority of women were firing guns for the first time. Some had hunted with spouses or friends but had only gone along to watch, not to participate. Many of these women were thrilled, but some were quite frightened. One particular woman had guns in her home; yet, she was terrified of them. The woman hoped this workshop would help her overcome this fear. We were all a little edgy. Loading a rifle or a shotgun fills you with fear at the damage you can do with such a tool. That kind of power is frightening, but we were also nervous that the recoil might bruise or cut our face or eyes. After overcoming that first nervous shot, the fun began with target shooting a~ competition stirred in the air. These women could hit targets, and some did consistently. Some participants will join rod-and-gun clubs; others will purchase guns to hunt this fall.

Constant Refrain Participants reiterated one comment in different ways all weekend. Women felt their male partners were intimidating them, slowing down their efforts to become involved in outdoor sports. These workshops provided women with the opportunity to overcome the discomfort of wanting to participate in a maledominated sport and to excel. At the beginning of our canoe workshop, everyone was asked why they were at Bryant Pond and what they hoped to learn. The answer was usually the same. "So What's-His-Name will stop yelling at me." One woman said she had come to learn what to do in the stern, even though her husband told her, "I don't care what you learn; you will never be in the stern with me." As we canoed on Bryant Pond in the pouring rain, fish rose, making me wish I had brought a fly rod. This workshop proved to be an excellent foundation for canoeing. Sandy Neilly gave us solid information about proper gear, clothing and canoeing techniques, and in the process, entertained us with Maine canoeing stories and anecdotes. Here's one example. "What's the first thing someone yells when their canoe overturns on the Saco River?" Sandy asked. "Where's the coolah?" she answered. Imagine 15 canoes with women, racing around Bryant Pond in the pouring rain. Although I have canoed for years, I had never mastered how to steer a canoe nor how to right it. Two brave souls already cold and wet from the rain volunteered to swamp their canoe. After it swamped, they righted it quite easily by using another canoe and sliding the overturned canoe across its middle. The Maine Conservation School lies beside Bryant Pond, nestled among huge pine trees. A large mess hall and equally large dormitory with hot showers and bunk beds offered important comfort. When you spend eight hours in the outdoors, honing skills like canoeing, backpacking or axe throwing, you soon learn your next i;neal becomes paramount on the agenda. The food was fantastic, tasted like homemade and was abundant. There were homemade cookies, tons of fresh fruits and vegetables, blueberry cobbler, huge portions of lasagna four inches high, delicious beef stew, herb biscuits and even a game dinner. I came away from this weekend, feeling I had received more than my money's worth. What more could one ask for? A beautiful setting in the woods, great instruction on every outdoor sport imaginable, friendly people, super food and a weekend of cherished memories. Standing next to a friend, Diane, at our last workshop gave me pause for thought when she lamented, "This is so much fun. I loved it. I should have been a man, look what we have missed!" So fathers, if you have daughters, raise outdoors women! â&#x20AC;˘ The author is a resident of Portland. This article first appeared in the Maine Sportsman.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

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FIRE & ICE by Butch Carey rom th Fly Tying Bench

THE PATTERN

HOOK: #4-94720, THREAD : White monocord TAIL: None BODY: Flat silver Mylar, pearl Mylar BAND IN CENTER OF BODY: fluorescent red flat waxed thread THROAT: None

UNDERWINGS: Peacock herl over orange bucktail over white bucktail WINGS: Matched light blue saddle hackles CHEEKS: Matched light mallard breast feathers EYES: Jungle cock (optional) HEAD: Black thread

â&#x20AC;˘

Cast on white monocord on shank above a spot halfway between barb and point. Tie in flat silver Mylar, then move thread to the front in close, even turns. Cement. (Note: white thread used for body to minimize showthrough when fly is wet.

Wrap silver Mylar to front, completely covering hook shank. Tie off. Cement.

121 Tie in pearl Mylar. Wrap in close, even turns to back of hook, then to front. Tie off. Trim, cement. Tie on fluorescent red thread and wrap several close turns to form narrow red band in center of body. Tie, trim , cement (three coats) after this step.

Cast on black thread just behind head. Tie in white bucktail, then orange bucktail, extending 1/4" beyond bend of hook. Tie off, cement. http :// www .s ta te. m e. u s/ i fw / h omepage .html

141 Spring1997

Tie in peacock herl over bucktail. Cement.

Match two pairs of light blue saddle ~ hackles and tie in at head for wings. Cement.

For cheeks, tie in matched pair of light mallard breast feathers. Cement.

Add jungle cock (optional) for eyes.

Finish the head with black thread. Tie off; trim. Apply three coats of cement, and your Fire & Ice is ready to go fishin ' !

Maine Fish and Wildlife

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Give A Sporting Chance ... AND preserve landowner relations! A Maine 'Supersport license is the perfect gift for those special people in your life who enjoy hunting and fishing. And this Supersport license is available to anglers as well as hunters. Most outdoor recreation in Maine depends on access to privately owned land. This key to our outdoor heritage must be preserved by maintaining relationships between those who own the land and those who use it. Your Supersport contribution will help support landowner relations programs to ensure a future of sporting recreation.

Supersports receive a colorful decal---and a one-year subscription to MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Magazine. The first 5,000 Supersport buyers will also receive a copy of the Department watchable wildlife guide. Ask about Supersport when you buy your license. Maine residents can buy one wherever licenses are sold, including many sporting outlets across the state. Nonresident hunters and anglers may obtain a Supersport license at these outlets as well, or through the mail from:

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 284 State Street, 41 State House Station Augusta ME 04333 You can even buy a Supersport add-on for someone else's license-a perfect gift for someone who 's already purchased a sporting license. Ask for details.

Sportsmen and landowners have a futurewhy not invest in it? http: // www.state.me.us/ ifw/homepage .html

Spring 1997

Maine Fish and Wildlife

CA~PS OF ACADIA Your Host: Jim & Kathy Lynch

OUTDOOR ROSTER

Phone No.: (207) 444-5207 Box 202 • Eagle Lake, ME 04739

• Vacations • Canoe Trips • Fishing • Hunting • Snowmobiling • Ice Fishing

To arrange for your advertisem/nt to appear in this listing, contact: V. Paul Reynolds, Editor, Mi1ine Fish and Wildlife Magazine 284 State St., 41 State House station • Augusta ME 04333-0041 Telephone: (207) 287-5248

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HUNTING , FISHING , RIVER TRIPS TEL. (207) 435-621 1

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American Plan

P.O. Box 40 Rt. #11 Portage, ME. 04768

John F. Robertson Registered Maine Guide

KEN AND JOANNE CANNEU. (207) 796-2822 1-800-498-2821 REGISTERED MAINE GUIDE

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THE BIRCHES RESORT WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS Log Cabin Resort JOHN WILLARD President \l\lhitewater Rafting Canoeing Fishing XC Skiing Snowmobiling

On Moosehead Lake P.O. Box 81 Rockwood, ME 04478 Phone (800) 825-9453 (207) 534-2242 Fax (2071 534-8835

E Mail - WNLD (!; AOL.COM Web Site - httpl/www.webc:om.ex>m/birches/

~ ~ ~ ITHB MARKE 1940s Posters

The original silk-screened versions of these posters, created sometime in the mid- I 940s, measure about 22 by 28 inches and were designed to promote conservation efforts. These handsome 14" by 18" (about half-size) full-color reprints of the originals convey their messages loud and clear-just like their larger ancestors did! The reprints are on sturdy coated poster stock, and are shipped flat and reinforced to avoid damage. To order, send check or money order to: POSTERS! Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 284 State Street, Station #41 Augusta ME 04333 Be sure to specify which poster( s) you want . and/or the quantity of each. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

b \nc\ud\nS d\\nS ea~ '\nS ~ ban

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Watchable Wildlife Guide Available! This handy pocket guide contains more than two dozen full-color wildlife photographs and descriptions of 62 great places in Maine to go in search of that ever-remembered glimpse of wildlife in its natural setting. Most of the sites are on publicly-owned land, but all are open for careful public use. The book is organized by geographic regions and describes each site in detail - how to get there, the species you might expect to see, details on the availability of rest rooms, parking, and other facilities, and much more, including information on access for persons with disabilities.

Golf shirts (shield design only)

To order, send check or money order for $4.95 + $ I postage (payable to Maine Fish and Wildlife) to:

WATCHABLE WILDLIFE 284 State St., Station 41 Augusta, ME 04333 (Maine residents add 6% sales tax on $4.95)

Maine Fish and Wildlife

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Pride''Collection

Sweatshirts, any designdeer (A), moose (8), loon (C), fish (D), department shield (E), department shield with MAINE (F)

T-shirts, any design-deer (A), moose (B),loon (C), fish (D), department shield (E), department shield with MAINE (f) To order shirts, send check or money order (payable to Maine Fish and Wildlife) to:

Wear It With Pride 284 State St., Station 41 Augusta, MB 04333 (Maine residents add 6% sales tax on price of Items)

Postage on shirts: $3 for first Item, $1 for each additional Item. Order three or more Items shipped to same continental U.S. address, we pay postage! You will be notified If Item Is out of stock. Allow two to three weeks for delivery.

• Enjoy IO spacious guest rooms, private baths, river-view porches, full breakfast, dinner by reservation, full-service pub. • Outdoor enthusiasts: hiking, fishing, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, and rafting are all available close by. • Hunters: special packages are available. • Snowmobilers: we are right on ITS 87 in The Forks.

http://www .state.me.us/ifw/homepage.html

INN

Q&er Spring 1997

NANA'S MINCEMEAT 5 C. deer meat 7 C. apples 2 C. suet (about one pound) 1 orange (skin and all) 2 1/2 C. molasses 3 C. sugar (part brown sugar) 3 C. cider 2 C. vinegar 4 t. salt 4 t. cinnamon 4 t. cloves 1/2 t. pepper 2 pounds raisins Cook deer meat first and remove from bone. Grind deer into deerburger. Cook deer meat, apples, suet, and orange until apples are soft. Add remaining ingredients and cook till browned up and glazed over (about three hours). Place hot into sterilized jars. Makes about 11 pints. Helen Reynolds Bangor Want to see your favorite fish and game recipe in our Recipe Corner? Just send it, along with a little background, to:

THEI RECIPE CORNER, Attn: Charlie Mann, 284 State Street, 41 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333

Main e Fish and Wi ldlife

http ://www .s ta te . m e. u s/ if w / hom e pa ge .h t m I

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS Trapped Canid Possible Wolf In the wake of increased reports by the public of wolf sightings, as well as recent physical evidence of a possible wolf presence in Maine, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is encouraging the public to be aware and on the lookout for the possible presence of wolves in Maine. Distinct from the smaller coyote, wolves generally weigh more than 50 to 60 pounds, with large heads and muzzles and massive chests and legs. Wolves are usually much darker in color than coyotes as well. In early November, a Hancock County trapper turned over to DIFW an 81-pound carud that he thought to be a large coyote. However, biologists who have exarruned the arumal and collected tissue samples for DNA analysis, report: "We are not certain of the species; it appears to be either a dog-wolf hybrid or a wolf." In an internal memorandum, wildlife biologist j'..::raig McLaughlin reported that an examination of the carcass revealed that the adult male canid weighed 81.5 pounds and was 4 feet in length from nose to the base of its tail. McLaughlin further reported that colorization and other body measurements were consistent with other published measurements of eastern timber wolves. An absence of tarter buildup on the animal's teeth, which is common among hybrid wolves that are fed pet food, was noted in McLaughlin's report (see story on pages 10 & 11). Pending the outcome of a DNA analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, further study and tissue analysis is being conducted by DIFW. Because wolf hybrids are commonly kept as pets in Maine and genetic distinctions between the hybrids and the eastern timber wolf are not easily made, even a DNA analysis may not provide a definitive answer as to whether the animal in question is a wild wolf or a wolf hybrid . McLaughlin also notes that even if the large canid is identified as an eastern timber wolf, this does not establish the existence of a viable wolf population in Maine. It may not be unusual for an occasional dispersing wolf to show up in Maine from Canada. http ://w ww .state .me. us/i fw/homepage .h tm I

Additionally, snow track surveys will be conducted this winter on the township near the capture site. And, although no legal action is anticipated against the trapper, the public is rerrunded that the eastern timber wolf is a federally protected species in all of the lower 48 states. It is against federal and state law to kill a wolf or release one into the wild.

Outdoor Heritage Fund Awards $1 Million in Conservation Grants Conservation grants totaling $1 rrullion were awarded Wednesday, December 4 to natural resource agencies by the board of the newly-formed Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, which is funded by proceeds from Outdoor Heritage lottery tickets. Over 30 grants ranging from $2,000 to $100,000 were awarded to projects throughout the state. Among them: $100,000 to the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and The Nature Conservancy to acquire vulnerable species habitat at existing wildlife management areas; $50,000 to the Department of Marine Resources to expand a shad hatchery program; and $10,000 to the St. Croix International Water~ay Cornrrussion to develop a management plan for the 40-mile lake and river corridor. "At a time when natural resource agency budgets are being pinched, it's very satisfying to be able to fun worthwhile conservation projects," said Horace Hildreth, Chairman of the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund's board of directors. "As long as the Heritage Fund lottery ticket sales remain high, the fund will serve as an important source of funds for innovative programs." The next Heritage Fund ticket, featuring an eagle, will go on sale December 13, Hildreth said. The Heritage Fund law requires that funds raised by the lottery be expended in four general categories; fisheries and wildlife and habitat conservation projects (35%); acquisition and management of public lands, parks, and wildlife conservation areas (35%); endangered and threatened species conservation projects (15 %); and natural resources law enforcement (15 %). Response to the board's request for proposals was overwhelming. Vying for

the $1 million in available funds were 82 proposals requesting close to $4.5 rrullion in grants! Applicants included state natural resource agencies in partnership with non-profit conservation organizations. The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund was established in July 1995 by the Maine Legislature after a campaign by Maine Audubon Society and the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine generated more than 53,000 signatures on petitions to place the lottery issue on the November 1995 ballot. Due to this strong support among Maine residents, the Legislature enacted the proposal into law, bypassing the need for a referendum. The Fund's sole purpose is "maintairung, improving and expanding state and local natural resource conservation programs and associated compatible public uses." Revenue is generated exclusively by a new Instant Lottery ticket distributed by Maine's Lottery Cornrrussion. Approximately $1.8 rrullion has been generated since January, 1996. Grants are awarded serru-annually to natural resource agencies in response to grant proposals. The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Board consists of seven members appointed by the governor: Horace A. Hildreth, Jr., Chairman; Molly Docherty, Maine Natural Areas Program; Richard Fortier, public member; Ronald Lovaglio, Cornrrussioner, Department of Conservation; Ray B. Owen, Comrrussioner, Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife; George Srruth, Sportsman's Alliance of Maine; and Sally Stockwell, Maine Audubon Society.

Moose and Deer Seasons Successful Maine's 1996 deer season were officially over when the last black powder hunter walked out of the woods December 14-and early indications from the regular firearms season in November suggest a higher than expected whitetail harvest. Meanwhile, statistics tabulated from the one-week moose hunt in October indicate the most productive state moose hunt on record; hunters registered 1,384 moose, a hunter success ratio of 92 percent.

Spring 1997

State deer biologist Gerry Lavigne predicted a deer harvest of 27,500. Although final deer harvest figures must await the submission and tabulation of deer registration books from check stations from around the state and won't be released until late December, Lavigne says that he expects the final numbers to meet or exceed his earlier predictions. Based on examination of 7,500 harvested deer, as well as interviews with hunters, Lavigne said that "the deer are in great condition." He adds that anecdotal evidence from interviews with hunters points to a season during which large bucks were more plentiful than expected. Wildlife biologists are calling this year's moose hunt a typical season in terms of condition of the animals and composition of the kill. The largest animal registered was a bull tagged in Fort Kent that weighed 1,230 pounds. Last year, the largest bull registered was from the Greenville area and weighed 1,075 pounds. Maine's record since the limited hunt began in 1980 was a bull weighing 1,330 pounds that was taken in Masardis. The 1997 regular firearms season for deer will be Nov. 3 to Nov. 29. Opening day of deer season for Maine residents will be Nov. 1. Applications for the 1997 moose permit lottery will be available in mid January. Last year's lottery participants will receive applications in the mail automatically.

1997 Moose Season The Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council, meeting this past fall in Augusta, approved DIF&W's proposed dates for the 1997 moose season. A

Owen further explained that "In FY 1996 our budget ended in a deficit. The difference was made up from our carrying balance, a reserve fund that grows when times are good and buffers lean years. The carrying balance grew between 1992 -1995 because of mandatory furlough and shutdown days instituted under the McKernan administration. If these had not occurred we would have run out of money several years ago. Currently our carrying balance can not sustain us through the next biennium (1997-99)." With an eye toward increasing revernÂˇes, as well as controlling operational costs, DIF&W staff personnel, as well as an ad hoc working budget group chaired by Commissioner Owen, are preparing proposals for consideration by the governor and the next legislative session.

proposal for an expanded moose hunting zone in Western Maine was also approved. Next year's hunt will be October 6 to October 11. During this fall's October hunt, 1,384 moose were tagged by resident and nonresident hunters. Current regulations allow for 1,500 moose hunting permits. The Sportsman's Alliance of Maine is expected to introduce legislation that would increase the number of hunting permits by at least 500. The newly expanded moose hunting zone in southwestern Maine will allow 80 hunting permits. A diagram of the new zone will be published in the 1997 moose application booklets that are available in early 1997. The new zone encompasses areas west of Farmington, Wilton, Jay, Livermore, West Paris and Norway. It reaches as far south as Lovell, not far from Fryeburg.

1997 Turkey Season The Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council, meeting this week in Augusta has approved DIF&W's proposed dates for the spring turkey season. The turkey hunt will by May 1 to May 31. The number of hunting permits have been increased to 1,750. Of these, 1,000 permits will be allocated for the southern zone and 750 for the northern zone. The increased bag limits are a response to the increased distribution and expanding turkey population resulting from the department's active turkey management program. Maine's wild turkey program was started in York County in the 1970s using turkeys trapped from wild flocks in Vermont. Ten percent of the turkey permits will go to nonresident hunters with the remaining permits being allocated to

Fish and Wildlife Faces Budget Problems In a November newsletter article to DIF&W employees, Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Ray "Bucky" Owen told his staff that once again, in keeping with the predictable 5 to 8 year cycle, "financial problems" have returned like the "proverbial bad penny." Owen advised that "we are faced with a shrinking revenue base and expanded requests for services." Owen said that DIF&W's money problems are caused by three factors: inflation, increasing mandates with no compensatory funding, and the fact that hunters and anglers are paying increasingly for services that benefit "all Maine people and our guests."

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Maine Fish and Wildlife

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Maine residents. Permits are awarded through a random drawing that takes place in early February. Applications for participating in the turkey permit drawing will be available in January.

Rumford Students Christen Fishing Tackle Loaner Program America's favorite pastime got some special attention recently in Rumford when 18 area youngsters, casting ceremonial fishing lines, christened a new statewide program called the Sport Fishing Loaner Program. The whole idea behind this new program, which is part of a larger, nationally organized program called "Hooked on Fishing - Not On Drugs," is to provide loaned fishing rods, reels and tackle boxes to interested youngsters and their families as a way to introduce them to the excitement and overall enjoyment of recreational sport fishing. During an afternoon ceremony at the Mead Paper Corporation, Maine Fish and Wildlife Deputy Commissioner Matt Scott, along with representatives of the Mead Paper Corporation and representatives of a number of other interested organizations, all joined with the

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Department Volunteer Coordinator Charlie Mann with Rumford children and borrowed tackle-all very happy about it! students from the Peru Elementary School in making ceremonial casts. Deputy Commissioner Scott congratulated the students and Mann Department Volunteer Coordinator Charlie Mann urges any Maine community with an interest in developing a sport fishing loaner program to contact him at 287-8069.

outdoor recreation in America. Since the 1950s, accidents have declined by 87 percent, while hunting fatalities have dropped 92 percent. Anderson attributes the dramatic turnabout in hunting safety to a number of factors, such as Maine's hunter orange law, mandatory hunter safety courses and the requirement that deer hunting must cease at sunset.

Fall Hunt One of Safest Yet Despite a waterfowling fatality in October, Maine's 1996 deer hunting season turned out to be the second safest season on record. This is only the second time since 1940 tha'. Maine enjoyed a single-digit injury rate during the deer season. According to Maine Fish and Wildlife Safety Officer Gary Anderson, there were eight huntingrelated shooting incidents during the fall hunt. Of the eight incidents, one was an archery casualty, one a duckhunting fatality, two involved bird hunters receiving pellet injuries and the remaining four nonfatal injuries occurred during the regular November firearms season for deer. Three of the four deer hunting accidents were the result of a failure to properly identify targets, which is a violation of Maine's target identification law. In all of these cases charges have been brought. Along with court-imposed penalties, those hunters convicted will also face license revocations for extended periods of time. In Maine in 1990, there were seven incidents with one fatality and in 1995 there were 11 with no fatalities. In fact, in 1993 and 1995 there were no hunting fatalities in all of New England. Contrary to public perception, hunting remains one of the safest forms of

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: On behalf of the Board of Directors of Operation Game Thief and the Maine Warden Service, I would like to take the time to thank everyone who showed their support in some way to the Operation Game Thief Program. This program was designed and established to provide a way for the public to report incidents of abuse to our fish and wildlife resources here in Maine. The 1-800-253-7887 phone number is answered 365 days a year from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. When a person calls with information, that person can chose to remain anonymous if they desire. Cell phone owners can also now call the program by dialing #GW. The calls this past year enabled Game Wardens to make approximately 180 apprehensions, which is very significant in our eyes. We would personally like to thank everyone who called the program this past year for making the commitment to become involved and for trying to make a difference. Your efforts should be applauded and are genuinely appreciated. We also would like to thank all the other people who supported the

Sprin g 19 97

program by making monetary donations. Operation Game Thief is a non profit organization with a very clear agenda which is "Help Protect the Fish and Wildlife Resources of the State of Maine." Again, thank you everyone for your help and support. Sincerely, David Peppard Coordinator, Operation Game Thief Good magazine-very interestinghave enjoyed it for a long time. A couple of questions: In the fall magazine, you carried a report (Annual Report) of the IF&W budget. I noticed that the resident fishing and resident hunting license totals (revenues) were exactly the same. Is this accurate? And on the combination licenses sales, is this resident, nonresident or both? Nice job. Keep it up. Steven W. Zumba Springfield, MA â&#x20AC;˘We goofed! The resident fishing income should have read $1,886,940. The revenue figure used for combination licenses is for resident and nonresident combination licenses combined. Recently I received and reviewed the fall 1996 edition of Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine. I believe I have seen every issue since the magazine began. Clearly, the fall 1996 rendition is the best looking, best reading, just the very best of all, among the years of publication. All the issues are unique in their own way, but the latest has that special something I'm going to call "balance" which makes it extra noteworthy. Keep up the good work! Jefferson Ackor Cushing

THEBOX While hunting in The Forks area on Nov. 9, 1996, a strange thing happened. My 75 year-old brother, Bob, met up with me on the dead end road we were scouting. He told me he had found a huge suspicious-looking box covered with tape on all corners, top, bottom and covered with boughs in the woods. We went back together. The box was five feet long, two feet wide, and two feet deep. Neither of us wanted to touch it. We headed back to my camp and stopped at Moxie Lake where some year-round residents called authorities. The game warden came 31 miles from Bingham, his windshield smashed during the trip by a flying rock from a truck. My brother, two sons, and three friends guided the warden seven miles into the dead end, no-name road to the box. It was now 8:30 p.m., dark and rainy. As we were about to put in a call to Stephen King for his next novel, the warden slowly cut the tape on the side and then the top. The mystery was solved; it was full of kindling wood that someone had carefully hidden for future use! The dead end road now has a name: "The Box Road."

Richard Greenleaf, West Gardiner â&#x20AC;˘ Thanks! It's nice to turn out a winner!

NOTES FROM OUR FIELD STAFF

During the October moose hunt last fall, I arrested a subject for having not one, but 2 loaded guns in a motor vehicle, and while I was removing the shells from his rifle I heard a bull moose grunt. This subject was indeed moose hunting. He had not seen any moose yet and after a few questions I learned that he was unfamiliar with even the sounds a moose makes. I grunted back and the bull answered me. I explained in a hurry what a cash bail was and quickly allowed this subject to bail himself out of this predicament. He questioned me about the sounds moose make and he thought I was joking with him about a moose being within shooting distance. He quickly signed all necessary forms and I sent his partner down the road, with his binoculars to see if he could locate the moose. I

Maine Fish and Wildlife

could hear antlers clashing and bulls fighting but the sport had no knowledge of what the sounds were. His partner came back to the vehicle and reported no sightings. I prepared to leave them and two large bull moose stepped into the road in front of my truck about 400 yds away. I backed up and allowed the hunter to walk toward the moose and told him to make a grunt about every 4th pace. He walked a ways and I called twice and the two moose walked back into the road. At 355 yds. this subject shot his bull moose just behind the ear. I said "great shot." He said "That fine was the best money I ever spent. Thank you."

v\Tarden Glen Feeney Jackman http://www.state.me. us/i fw /h omep age.html

>mplaining violators to single ns. Both are exceptionally ling with the public. In fact, a y skiers stranded at night in a

MAINE

's Worry? Of course. One ut because news stories in hem, badly proportioned ce and context, do harm to

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augus't a ME 04333

Maine game warden is d letters like this one mailed

an emergency landing on 1 granddaughter and her 1Ooh. This produced a wind ,ulted in a "rescue " by Âˇ enroute via snowmobile. He ith an ample supply of gas Town, where the aircraft was

MAINE

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

granddaughter promptly 'Jdition to being a really fine Âˇ about the children as I knew has hunted and fished this e Department for some 15 have not been treated ? Department. On the 1d effective when they are on 10

Place St.a.mp

Here

fay. He should be recognized ,. " My only complaint regards ,n, and will continue to be,

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41

are more personal than type. 1's

the vocal minority.

Augusta ME 04333 Hal Ware Standish, Maine

program by making monetary donations Operation Game Thief is a non profit organization with a very clear agenda which is "Help Protect the Fish and Wildlife Resources of the State of Maine Again, thank you everyone for your help and support. Sincerely, David Pepp, Coordinator, Operation Game Th

AINE

J9711

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PB.ICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2years only $15 D Please bill me later

Good magazine-very interestinghave enjoyed it for a long time. A couple of questions: In the fall mag zine, you carried a report (Annual Reper of the IF&W budget. I noticed that the resident fishing and resident hunting City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ license totals (revenues) were exactly th same. Is this accurate? FOB FAS'l'EB SERVICE, CAIJ., TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387 And on the combination licenses sale is this resident, nonresident or both? , ! ! = = = ~= = =~ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ~ Nice job. Keep it up. J9711 Steven W. Zurn Springfield, ~ â&#x20AC;˘We goofed! The resident fishing income should have read $1,886,940. The revenue figure used for combinatior licenses is for resident and nonresident combination licenses combined.

AINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PB.ICE OFFER!

Recently I received and reviewed th1 fall 1996 edition of Maine Fish and Wild! D 1 year only $9 D 2years only$15 Magazine. I believe I have seen every D Payment enclosed D Please bill me later issue since the magazine began. Clear!~ the fall 1996 rendition is the best looking best reading, just the very best of all, among the years of publication. All the issues are unique in their own way, but Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ the latest has that special something I'm going to call "balance" which makes it City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ extra noteworthy. FOB FASTER SERVICE, CAIJ., TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387 Keep up the good work! Jefferson Ad Gushi ~ = = = ~= = =~ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ~ â&#x20AC;˘ Thanks! It's nice to turn out a winn

NOTE~

AINE

J9711

FISH AND WILDLIFE

A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, During the October moose hunt las for having not one, but 2 loaded guns i fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors while I was removing the shells from l moose grunt. This subject was indeed : not seen any moose yet and after a fe..., D 1 year only $9 D 2yearsonly$15 he was unfamiliar with even the sounc D Payment enclosed D Please bill me later grunted back and the bull answered m what a cash bail was and quickly allov1 himself out of this predicament. He qu Name ___________________________ sounds moose make and he thought I ' about a moose being within shooting c Address - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ signed all necessary forms and I sent h road with his binoculars to see if he co City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

SPECIAL HALF-PB.ICE OFFER!

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CAIJ., TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387 32

M a ine Fis h an d W ild life

A Warden's Worry

continueed from inside front cover

It is, I think, ironic that the Sunday Telegram article allowed a few complaining violators to single out Warden Sergeants Roger Guay and Pat Devlin as "problem" wardens. Both are exceptionally able and dedicated wardens , the best of the best when it comes to dealing with the public. In fact, a few years ago Sgt. Guay risked his life to save two injured cross-country skiers stranded at night in a blizzard at Gulf Hagas Gorge. So , to borrow from the name of a famous fishing fly , should Warden's Worry? Of course. One charge of warden arrogance or rudeness in the field is one too many. But because news stories in today's world can shape culture and public attitudes, as well as mirror them , badly proportioned stories such as the Maine Sunday Telegram report, which lacked balance and context, do harm to all of us who care about the preservation of the resource. For in truth , every charge of unprofessional behavior made against a Maine game warden is countered by literally dozens of thank-you 's, expressions of support, and letters like this one mailed to me just the other day: Dear Sir: I would like to comment on our ongoing warden "debate. " This morning at approx 0930 hours, our aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on East Machias Lake. There were four on board, including my 11-year-old granddaughter and her 10year-old cousin. It was around -10Â° F., the wind westerly at about 25 mph. This produced a wind chill around -60Â° F. Not exactly balmy. Radio traffic via other aircraft resulted in a "rescue " by Warden Pilot Durward Humphrey. Warden Humphrey informed us that ground personnel were already enroute via snowmobile. He then flew the children on to their destination, Princeton, and returned with an ample supply of gas line de-icer. He stood by until we were airborne and followed us to Old Town, where the aircraft was warmed and additional water was drained from the fuel system. Warden Humphrey was very courteous, great with the children (my granddaughter promptly called and informed me of this), professional, and very sharp. This in addition to being a really fine pilot. Three landings and take-offs on a really nasty day. I did not worry about the children as I knew they were in good hands. As a former sporting camp owner and operator and an individual who has hunted and fished this great state for some 60 years and as an individual who has flown for the Department for some 15 years. (aerial angler counts, deer yards, etc.), I can honestly say that I have not been treated unjustly or discourteously by any representative of our Fish and Wildlife Department. On the contrary, I have always found them quick to respond in time of need, and effective when they are on scene. I am proud of our wardens-Warden Humphrey exemplified this today. He should be recognized for his actions today, even if he did state that he was '1ust doing my job. " My only complaint regards the service is that there are just not enough of them. I have always been, and will continue to be, supportive of any effort to increase our numbers. Hope you can read most of this. I feel handwritten communications are more personal than type. Too many individuals have become too impersonal. Do not get caught up in the presently vocal department "bashing. " It's the vocal minority. Again, thank you, and Warden Humphrey. Respectfully, Hal Ware Standish, Maine

Maine Fish and Wildlife Department • 284 State Street, Station 41

Whitetailed fawn. Photo by Bill Cross 28

Mn111c Fish nnd Wild/it,·

• Augusta, Maine 04330