Maine State Library
Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
6-1-1998
Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Summer 1998 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, Summer 1998" (1998). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 132. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/132
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.
N FISH AN
WILDLI E
SUMMER 1998
M·Af NE STATE LIBRARY 'R'/ .,. . . ,. ~,·, ·y Dr'lt"\1 I u~C ~ i iL LI ,...~
EDITORIAL by Lee E. Perry, Commissioner
We Need Your Help! Sky islands, sea islands, great ponds. Intriguing names, unique places, management challenges. Sky islands, isolated mountain ranges rising from the arid deserts of the American Southwest, surrounded by privately owned lands valued for their agricultural and real estate development potential, offer refuge to a diversity of wildlife and people seeking recreational opportunities. Maine's coastal islands, rising from the oceans and bays of New England, interfacing with coastal lands valued for their commercial and real estate development potential, offer refuge to a diversity of wildlife and people seeking recreational opportunities on coastal waters. Inland, between the desert and the sea, our lakes, ponds, rivers, and bays, like the isolated sky and sea islands, provide fisheries and wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. Some people are fortunate enough to live adjacent to these unique areas. Others must depend on other people's lands to access the public resources associated with them. Lee E. Perry
For centuries, there were undeveloped, unpasted private lands throughout the state over which people could access fish, wildlife, and water. Times are changing. More and more people are seeking natural areas on which to live and play. There is growing concern that the privileges we all enjoyed-but took for granted-are being lost as more private lands are developed for individual use. Increased recreational demands and decreased opportunities to access public resources have strained the unique relationship between Maine's landowners and the people who seek outdoor recreational opportunities. Few people would deny that respect for others' property and the right to privacy are important. Yet individuals seeking an outdoor experience become concerned and frustrated when individual property owners post their property to protect it and themselves from abuse and discourteous treatment. Again and again, this protective response has isolated public resources and restricted access. Conservation and recreational programs must have the continued support and cooperation of large and small private landowners-and you-in order to maintain and restore access. More and more money is available for cooperative landowner programs and where necessary, the acquisition and development of public facilities. There is not-and probably never will be-enough money to buy enough public land to meet everyone's needs. As a department, we will continue to improve our access acquisition program and work with landowners to address their concerns in order to ensure access to recreational opportunities in the future. We need your help to retain the opportunities we have. As a guest of the landowner, please ask permission before you enter private property, and show your appreciation by treating the landowner and the land with respect. We need your help to restore what has been lost. As a citizen in an area where access has been lost or greatly diminished, please join and support us in seeking cooperative solutions to restore what all of us have taken for granted-access to your natural resources.
AINE
FISH AND WILDLIFE
NE
VILDLIFE VOL. 40, NO. 2
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 2years only $15 D Please bill me later
1
by Lisa Kane
Game Farm!
5 Ad.dress _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
1rt competition---or to the winners ' circle!
6
by Joel Foster
1significant!
OB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FB.EE 1-800-288-8387
8
AINE
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 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Ad.dress _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
by Charles Mann
-and some heads-around!
10
by Forrest Bonney
? Read on!
14
by Bob Williams
o Maine 's recreational waters
17 angler's me mory!
20
by Sue Bonney
iading!
25 ,eruices to blow their own horns
26
by Gerry Lavigne
t they're supposed to accomplish
OB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387
AINE 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 yearonly$9 D Payment enclosed
D 2years only$15 D Please bill me later
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Ad.dress _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~ City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
OB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387
16 18
23
by Butch Carey
28 30 !<.slide at Deboullie Pond in :>to by V. Paul Reynolds nks on recyclable paper
EDITORIAL
We Need Yi
MAINE
FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333
Place Sta.mp Here
MAINE
Lee E. Perry
FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333
areas on which to live and play granted- are being lost as mori Increased recreational dema1 unique relationship between M ties. Few people would deny tr individuals seeking an outdoor owners post their property top again, this protective response Conservation and recreation small private landowners-anc available for cooperative lando public facilities. There is not-2 everyone's needs. As a departn with landowners to address thE future. We need your help to retain sion before you enter private pi with respect. We need your hel lost or greatly diminished, plea us have taken for granted-ace,
MAINE
FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333
MAINE
FISH AND WILDLIFE Governor Angus S. King, Jr.
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Lee Perry. Comm issioner Frederick B. Hurley, Jr .. Deputy Commissio ner Ken Elowe, Director, Bu reau of Resource Management Richard Record, Director, Burea u of Administrative Services Tim Peabody, Director, Bureau of Warden Service
Advisory Council Russell E. Dyer Chairman Ellen N. Peters Vice Chairwoman Millard A. Wardwell, Pe nobscot F. Dale Speed, Princeton Richard A. Neal, E. Lebanon Lila Ware, Skowhegan Harold Brown, Bangor A. David Trahan, Wa ldoboro Charles F. Beck, Presque Isle Stanley D. Milton, Andover
Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine V. Paul Reynolds. Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photo Editor V. Paul Reynolds, Advertising
SUMMER 1998
VOL. 40, NO. 2
features 2
Maine's Wildlife Park
by Lisa Kane
A new name, a new focus, new programs for our old Game Farm!
The 1998 Duck Stamp
5
The winner's name is not unfamiliar to duck stamp art competition-or to the winners ' circle!
Wiggins Brook Bog
6
by Joel Foster
A visit to a small bog-some are small, but none is insignificant!
Hooked on FishingNot on Drugs!
8
by Charles Mann
In its th ird year, this program has turned some kids---and some heads---around!
Bringing Back The Brookies!
10
by Forrest Bonney
What is the department doing for Maine brook trout? Read on!
Managing Access
14
by Bob Williams
Here 's the lowdown on how we're managing access to Maine 's recreational waters
A New Record!
17
This pike has a place in the record book---and in the angler's memory!
Bear Scrap Is A Draw!
20
by S ue Bonney
An old-time tale about two guys and a bear-great reading! All photographs in this issue were made by the Public Information & Education Division
25
Outdoor Roster
A chance for providers of Maine outdoor recreation services to blow their own horns unless otherwise indicated. MAINE FISH AND WIIDUFE (ISSN 0360-00SX) is published quarterly by the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. 284 State Street, Station 4 1 , 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. © Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 1998. Permission to reprint text material is granted. provided proper credit is given to the author and to MAINE FISH 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 .. 4 1 State Hse. Sta .. Augusta ME 04333. Please allow six weeks for changes to take effect. POSTMASTER. Please send address changes to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WIIDUFE, 284 State St., 41 State Hse. Sta . Augusta. Maine 04333.
Wildlife Management Districts
26
by Gerry Lavigne
Maine 's new wildlife managem.ent districts, and what they're supposed to accomplish
Departments RECIPE CORNER
16
KID-BITS
18
FROM THE FLY TYING BENCH: Queen Bee
23
ALONG THE TRAIL
28
FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS
30
by Butch Carey
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 discrimination 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 magazine de,;ign & prepress by graphltl belfa,t me 04915
The Front Cover: View from the rockslide at Deboullie Pond in northern Aroostook County. Photo by V. Paul Reynolds
*"· ••"
Printed with vegetable-based •
6
inks on recyclable paper
It was a Game Farm. Now it's the
AINE by Lisa Kane
The attractive new Park entrance sign was donated, designed and built by Black Bear Signworks of Scarborough.
For
more than 30 years, the Fish and Wildlife Department's original pheasant-rearing facility that became a wildlife education center has been called variations of the name 'Game Farm.' In the last 10 years, it has been called the Game Farm, Fish and Wildlife Visitors Center, Game Farm and Visitors Center, the Gray Animal Farm-it's been a real identity crisis. With a lot of new marketing initiatives being planned for this season, the department decided to consider a name change that would help attract new audiences to the place. After lots of name combinations were consid-
The author is the department's natural science educator.
2
Mai11e Fish a11d Wildlife
ered and rejected, the new name "MAINE WILDLIFE PARK" was chosen. Newly designed brochures, posters, front entrance sign,
PARK
stickers, logo and ads are either in place or will be produced soon. The Maine Bureau of Tourism donated tremendous creative and financial support in
Dry Mills Hatchery personnel offer a wonderful hands-on fisheries program for school children. http ://www .s tate.rne.us/ifw/homepage.html
I LDLI FE PARK
The six new raptor exhibits were principally funded by the Friends of the Wildlife Park. They currentJy,house kestrels, red tailed hawks, barred, great horned and saw whet owls.
the form of new logo development, brochure redesign and printing by a Portland ad agency. The new name reflects the changes that have and will continue to occur at the facility. New, naturalized exhibits for wildlife provide comfortable quarters for the animals, as well as better viewing opportunities for the public; improved signage to help self-guided visitors to learn more about habitat, wildlife and the department management programs, and expanded fish and wildlife education programs both for school children and the general public-all are recent accomplishments and continuing goals of the Maine Wildlife Park. The 200-acre park has over 25 different species of wildlife on exhibit, including moose, black bear, fisher, lynx, mountain
The four black bears put on quite a show in their spacious new exhibit, using the climbing logs and swimming pool daily.
http ://www .s ta te. me. u s/i fw/hom epage.h tml
Summer 1998
3
Summer Wildlife Days at the Maine Wildlife Park (sponsored by the Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park)
Look for a new wild turkey exhibit to be completed by mid summer. The Maine Chapter of the Wild Turkey Federation donated half the construction costs, while Park personnel did all the design and site work. lions, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, bald eagles, hawks, owls and more! In addition, there is a nature trail, a visitors center with a number of interactive wildlife and conservation displays, demonstration wildlife gardens, a show fish pool, picnic and grill areas, and a nature bookstore and gift shop operated by Maine Audubon Society. The Maine Wildlife Park is located off of Route 26 in Gray. This year, it is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. through November 11. Admission is $3.50 for adults and $2.00 for children ages 4-12; group rates for 15 or more are $1.50 per person. Call 207-657-4977 for directions, special program information, and to schedule a guided tour. â&#x20AC;˘
4
Maine Fish and Wildlife
May 24
Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park Auction, Plant and Yard Sale
May 31
Moose Antlers and Eagle Feathers: What's Legal and What's Not?
Sat. June 6
Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife Day (FREE Admission!)
June 7
National Audubon Society: Seabirds of the Gulf of Maine
June 14
Maine Forest Service: Fighting Forest Fires and Smokey Bear
June 21
WBLM Day: with Mark Persky, popular radio DJ
June 28
Canine Wardens: Scent to do a Job
July 5
Chewonki Foundation: Bats of Maine and the world
Sat. July 11
Full Moon Night Hike from 8-lOpm
July 12
Sparks Ark: Animal Emergency Services
July 19
Search and Rescue with Maine Game Wardens
July 26
The Camei-a Hunter: with wildlife photographer/author Bill Silliker
Aug2
Maine's Black Bears: with Craig Mcloughlin, Bear biologist for MDIFW
Aug7
Full Moon Night Hike from 8-lOpm
Aug9
Maine Wolf Coalition: Wolves in Maine?
Aug 16
Wood Carvers Art and Demonstration
Aug 23
NA VIIDA Hunting Dogs Demonstration
Aug30
What Goes On at a Fis1z Hatchery: Dry Mills Fish Hatchery
Sat. Sept. 6
Full Moon Night Hike from 8-lOpm
Sept. 13
Center For Wildlife: Raptors and Reptiles
Sat. Oct 3
Full Moon Night Hike from 8-lOpm
WILDLIFE STORY HOURS will be offered for children and their parents on most Thursday moniings at 10:00am in June, July and A11g11st. Call ahead to con/inn. scheduling.
http://www.state.me. us/ifw/hom epage. h tm I
Duck Stamp Winner Selected
The work of a Topsham artist has been selected to grace Maine's 1998 state duck stamp. Jeannine Staples took top honors with her acrylic painting of a male and female surf seater. Staples, who has twice before won Maine's state duck stamp contest, received a check for $1 ,000 . Her painting will be reproduced on the state's migratory waterfowl conservation stamp , which will be available to hunters and collectors September 1. This year was the 15th year that Maine artists have competed in the duck stamp program . Last year's winner was Thomas Kemp of Sangerville. The Department uses income from the sale of the $2.50 stamp to buy and manage waterfowl habitat in Maine. Brad McFadden of Orr's Island won first place and Rick Alley of lsleford won second place . Honorable mentions went to Donna Chase of Patten and Paul Fillion of Durham . Commissioner Lee Perry has selected the black duck as the waterfowl species to be featured in the 1999 duck stamp competition . http://www.sta te.me. us/i fw/homepage. h tml
S11mmer 1998
5
Growing in Maine
''Hooked on Fi
by Charlie Mann
The third year of Maine's participation in the "Hooked on FishingNot on Drugs" (HOFNOD) program has been extremely successful. The aim was to spread the HOFNOD message throughout the state. A major boost to the program has been the support of Governor Angus S. King, Jr. in the signing of a proclamation proclaiming June as "Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs" Month. A Public Service Announcement (PSA) was developed utilizing a jingle written by Northwoods Balladeer Matt Heintz, and overlaid with children fishing at a HOFNOD event. The PSA will be distributed to all Maine television stations. Radio stations will be provided a copy of Maine's own HOFNOD jingle upon request. Credit is due to radio station WVOM in Bangor for their Sunday evening program "Maine Outdoors." The show continually spreads the word on 0 >"Hooked on Fishing-Not a:" on Drugs" to nine Maine " "' i5 counties. >The introduction of the 0 .s::: Sportfishing Loaner a. program complements "Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs" in several areas. The state currently has 21 loaner sites, with three additional sites requested. The education of our youth in drug prevention, environmental education, and development of their fishing skills are being accomplished through 22 events, classes in 13 school systems incorporating more than 40 classrooms, and 26 commu-
nity-based activities. These activities involved about 1500 children and many parents, volunteers, teachers, and community leaders. Requests for program information has increased as more communities become aware of the program.
<I)
"O C
C
.0 0
8
Main e Fi sh and Wildlife
Pickerel Pride: During the Hooked On Fishing day at Hermon Pond this past winter, William Scanlon got hooked by this toothy prize.
An in-depth look at one community's program When the community of Peru was introduced to this program, the town provided unprecedented support. A special committee was formed to implement the HOFNOD program; they met for several months to plan their HOF OD classes. The superintendent of Peru School District promised the support of the school as well. During this time, partnerships to program were established with Mead Paper Company and other local businesses. Under the leadership of community DARE Officer Tim Holland, recruitment of local instructors was initiated, a local training workshop was held to explain local policy, and instructors were briefed on the HOFNOD program. Joe Starinchak, Future Fisherman Foundation National Coordinator, conducted a "Hooked on Fishing- ot on Drugs" workshop for the Mountain Valley Region; 26 potential instructors were in attendance, including game wardens and members of the Maine Bass Federation. Brenda Gammon, first and second grade teacher at Peru Elementary School, introduced the program to her classes, continuing it for the remainder of the year, with graduation for the children and their parents at the end of the school http://www.sta te. me.us/if w/home page.html
shing Not on Drugs" year. After seeing the success of the program at this lower grade level, other teachers in the Peru school system wanted the program in their classrooms. Additional classes were started, and continued during the school year. They also participated in the graduation ceremonies. The news about the Peru program spread throughout the Mountain Valley Region and classes were established in the Dixfield Elementary School and St. John's School in Rumford. The 1997-1998 school year has already been set with classes expanding to other area schools. To date, seven schools with a total of 22 classrooms may be taking on the HOFNOD program. The outlook for the remainder of the 1998 year is very positive, with the receiving of a Heritage fw1d grant to start certified workshop for statewide instructors and the enactment of the bill to authorize the department to accept donations for HOFNOD. "Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs" has also received a grant from the Outdoor Heritage Fund to establish a Maine instructor's certification program. The first certification class was conducted in Augusta on February 28, 1998; 43 instructors were certified to teach our young people that fishing is a positive alternative to drugs. During the graduation ceremony, each instructor was presented a teacher's guide and Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Instructor patches. Four more such classes will be scheduled during the year: in Portland, Bangor, Greenville, and Presque http://www.state.me. us/ifw/homepage. html
Isle. Instructors are needed; if you would like to participate in the certification program, please contact Charlie Mann, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife; phone 207-287-8069; email at charles.mann@state.me.us. On Presidents Day weekend, a major HOFNOD Ice Fishing Day was held at beautiful Jackson Beach Community Park on the shore of Hermon Pond. Steve Norris, coordinator of the event, wanted to remember his brother Jeff, who died in a
... introducing fishing as a positive alternative to drug use. plane crash alohg with Randall McPherson and Dr. Richard Boisvert while returning from a fishing trip in Quebec. Steve wanted to find a program that Jeff would have supported, and selected the "Hooked on Fishing- ot on Drugs." The day was offered to the children of the greater Bangor; more than 200 children and their parents attended the all-day event introducing fishing as a positive alternative to drug use. The event started with a presentation by "Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs" instructor Betty Lewis, who gave a 45-minute class promoting the main focuses of the programlearning life skills, aquatic education, fishing skills, and environmental awareness. Then it was off to the pond for a complete day of ice fishing! Each child was assigned an ice trap and location where to fish. Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Lee
Perry, local game wardens, and fisheries biologists helped the children with fishing and fish identification. The president of Old Town Maine Wood Products donated 110 hardwood ice fishing traps to the Department for this and subsequent events during the ice fishing season. Donations from local businesses made it possible for fishing equipment and bait to be available at no cost to the children. Dead River Oil Company and Norris Winter Employer was another major financial contributor, and many volunteers donated their time to make the day a huge success! •
WHAT OUTDOOR WRITERS ARE SAYING •••
"This is the bigg;est ~dvance in outdoor navigau~S ,, since the portable . · Paper "Makes purchasmg topographical maps,, practically obsolete.
A$1,000VALUE FORJUST$99! Up to 200 genuine USGS topographic maps per CD!
Earthvisions 800-627-7236 www .earthvisions.com Summer 1998
9
I
magine Maine afire, her forests engulfed in flames and her skies dark with smoke. Imagine these fires lasting not for weeks, but for decades. Early Maine diarists recorded such conditions, which resulted from the clearing of land by early settlers for agricultural use. Intensive agricultural clearing occurred extensively along Maine's lowlands primarily from the 1780's to 1810. Along with smoke-filled skies, these diarists complained about the resulting freshets and flooding that occurred both fall and spring, carrying both ashes and exposed soils into the streams. Land clearing was the first of many significant land use changes that resulted from the settling of Maine by Europeans. These changes had a dramatic impact on native fish and wildlife species, including brook trout, which are particularly sensitive to habitat degradation. Clearing resulted not only in extremes in flows, but in the loss of shade, which warmed stream water; and in erosion and siltation, which degraded stream habitat. With the settling of the land came the introduction of competing fish species. Some species, such as yellow perch, white perch, and pickerel, were native to coastal watersheds, but were spread by man to inland drainages; others, such as bass and brown trout, were introduced from outside the state. While the spread of these species provided an additional food source for early settlers (and today provides additional angling opportunity), their presence further reduced the abundance of brook
10
Maine Fish and Wil dlife
("Mountain Stream Native," by Mark Susinno, reprinted courtesy of the artist and Wild Wings, Inc.) trout in the southern and eastern parts of Maine. Although brook trout exist along the coastal plains today, their presence is limited to those relatively few lakes and streams that still retain cool water temperatures and relatively few competing fish species. Furthermore, many of these populations rely on stocking to maintain fisheries. In the higher elevations that were never cleared for farming, (agriculture become increasingly marginal at altitudes above 600 feet) brook trout populations have fared much better over the decades. Despite the degradation of fisheries habitat resulting
from logging, the woodlands of Maine still retain the most significant wild brook trout populations in the Northeast. In recent decades, these populations have been protected by the imposition of environmental laws designed to discourage habitat degradation, and by laws imposed to discourage the introduction of competing fish species. However, the threat of illegal introductions remains, and increased angler access to once-remote waters has resulted in over-harvest of many trout populations. Within the last decade, the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife has undertaken several initiatives to http://www.state.rne.us/ifw/homepage.html
Bringing Back Maine's Brookies assure that its brook trout resource - both wild and stocked remains viable and healthy. Of our 1,103 lakes with brook trout fisheries, 424 (38%) have never been stocked. These lakes, located primarily in the interior highlands, contain genetically important and potentially unique populations. The majority of the stocked brook trout lakes are located along the coastal, Penobscot, and Aroostook plains. Mixed in among these 'standing waters' are an estimated 29,000 miles of streams statewide that support brook trout, the vast majority of which are wild. Although a large number of waters still contain wild brook trout, samples collected by fishery biologists in recent decades indicated that older, larger trout were being caught at rates high enough to threaten these wild populations. As a result, new regulations, designed to protect some of the older fish, have been implemented. http://www.state.me.us/ifw/homepage.html
New brook trout regulations Effective 1996, new regulations were imposed on 474 (41 %) of Maine's 1,103 brook trout lakes. The intent of the regulations is to restore size and age quality to overharvested brook trout populations and to consolidate regulations into categories in response to angler complaints of confusing regulations. Until the 1970's, many of Maine's trout fisheries were protected by their remoteness, and relatively liberal general-law regulations in effect at the time allowed the taking of 8 trout per day (12 in Aroostook County) with a 6-inch minimum length limit. With the mechanization of the logging industry and the increased availability of all terrain vehicles, this situation quickly changed. New road systems through the back country provided access not only to timber, but also to many trout ponds and streams that that previously been only lightly fished. Fishery biologists responded to the increased fishing
Prepared by Forrest Bonney pressure - which resulted from not only improved access but also from increasing numbers of anglers - by imposing more restrictive regulations on individual waters as they became vulnerable to increased fishing pressure. Over time, this process resulted in a large number of special regulations and an increasingly complicated lawbook, a problem which was only partly remedied by the imposition of more restrictive generallaw regulations. A review of statewide brook trout data was initiated by the Fishery Division in 1989 with the intent of developing effective standardized statewide brook trout regulations to replace the hundreds of special regulations that have been imposed over the past several decades. This review revealed the following facts about Maine's brook trout population: Despite more restrictive regulations, there were significantly fewer of the older, genetically important brook trout in the populations in the 1980's than there were in the 1930's and 1940's, when Maine's lakes were first biologically surveyed. Effective brook trout regulations, then, would have to give additional protection to older-age fish. Brook trout growth rates are highly variable, not only throughout the state, but sometimes within the same watershed. For this reason, it would not be possible to develop a single regulation that would be Summer 1998
11
applicable statewide, but a series of regulations to accommodate different growth situations. The end result of this analysis was the establishment of four regulatory classes which were ultimately adopted on 474 lakes statewide: The intent of restricting the number of larger fish kept (e.g., "only 1 fish may be greater than 14") is an attempt to preserve some of the older, larger trout that are aesthetically and genetically important. The biological effects of these new regulations are being evaluated by a three-year study conducted by the Fishery Division on 14 brook trout lakes. Changes in the proportion of older-age fish in the populations as a result of the imposition of the new regulations will be used as a determinant of success. We are currently in the third year of this study. Although it is too soon to determine whether these regulations are biologically effective, the study has already yielded valuable information about trout ponds,
New hatchery brook trout strains The quality of our hatcheryreared brook trout has declined over time as a result of domestication and inbreeding. Loss of quality is exhibited most graphically through low hatching rates and lack of longevity in the wild. We are abandoning the old strains and replacing our brood stock by selecting wild fish from the Kennebago and Sourdnahunk drainages. By randomly mating large numbers of wild fish and by periodically infusing the gametes of wild fish into the hatchery brood stock,
we hope to avoid the inbreeding that occurred in our earlier strains. Hatchery and Fishery Division personnel are working together to collect the necessary number of eggs from the wild to establish brood stocks from these strains. Wild fish are stripped of their eggs on site, then returned to the wild; only the fertilized eggs are returned to the hatchery, where they hatch the next spring. Sourdnahunk eggs were first taken from the wild in 1994 and Kennebago eggs were first taken in 1995. Eggs must be taken a minimum of three years to establish a brood stock, which must then grow to maturity in order to produce eggs to support the hatcheries' needs; this effort will therefore take several years to complete. The performance of these new strains is being evaluated by a three-year study conducted by the Fishery Division on paired stockings of the strains in seven lakes. We are currently in the second year of this study. Annual reports documenting the results of this study will also be available from the Department.
Bag limit
Number of lakes
2 trout
129
12" minimum; only 1 fish
Highest growth potential may be greater than 14"
II
2 trout
229
10" minimum ; only 1 fish
High growth potential may be greater than 12"
Ill
2 trout
130
8" minimum
Moderate growth potential and for stocked waters where distribution of the catch among anglers is a consideration.
IV
5 trout
577
6" minimum
"Put and take" stocked waters and remote waters with low fishing pressure.
Class
12
including brook trout abundance, the age structure of wild populations, and the effect of competing species on brook trout abundance. In 1998, biological productivity of these study ponds will be measured to determine its effect on trout abundance. The Fishery Division received financial assistance from Trout Unlimited to conduct this study, and reports, detailing annual progress, are available from the Department.
Maine Fish and Wildlife
Length limit
Recommended for Lakes and Ponds with:
http://www.sta le. me. us/i fw/homepage.h tm I
Genetic analysis of wild brook trout populations Funded by grants from the Outdoor Heritage Fund and Trout Unlimited, the Fishery Division is conducting a genetic assessment of wild brook trout populations from 30 subdrainages located within six major river drainages throughout the state. Samples collected in 1997 and 1998 will be analyzed at Laval University in Quebec and results will be used to develop management guidelines for genetically unique populations. Comparison of results from Maine waters with those of similar studies conducted in nearby Canadian provinces will result in the comprehensive genetic mapping of wild brook trout populations throughout the northeast. This study is scheduled for completion in 1999.
Brook trout copepod study We are currently assessing the biological and management effects of the ectoparasite Salmincola edwardsii (commonly known as fish lice) on wild and stocked brook trout populations at Pierce Pond (Somerset County) and surrounding waters. Specifically, we wish to determine whether the increase in abundance from endemic to epidemic status was prompted by increased brook trout biomass, which in turn resulted from increased stocking densities and reduced harvest. This study is currently in its fifth year, and is the first of its kind that documents the effect of this parasite on wild brook trout populations. Initiation of this study has also prompted ongoing and detailed statewide documentation of this parasite's http://www.sta te. me . us/ifw/homepage. html
distribution and abundance. A report summarizing results ofthe first four-years' work is available.
Trout stream monitoring program Since 1990, fishery biologists have been monitoring an average of 16 wild brook trout streams per year. The project brackets the 1992 general law regulation change from a daily limit of 10 to 5 brook trout for streams and greatly expands the knowledge of late summer brook trout stream populations in Maine. The 42 different streams studied have brook trout populations that support a fishery, i.e., growth rates are adequate to ensure that some portion of the population exceeds the general law minimum length of 6 inches. Population estimates of brook trout and other salmonids and relative abundance of other species are determined from representative stream reach~s. Fish length and weight data are gathered on all trout and salmon and samples of other species. We have learned that the average size of a youngof-the-year trout is 2.6 inches and that these fish make up approximately 61 % of the stream population; fish over 6 inches account for almost 6% of the population. The 6-inch trout you catch in streams will weigh an average of 1.1 ounces; an 8-inch fish will weigh about 2.6 ounces, and at 12 inches the fish will be just over half a pound. There were no notable changes in brook trout populations associated with the 1992 change in daily limit. This result was not unexpected, because daily limits tend to distribute available fish among anglers, and are not likely to reduce the total harvest or alter the size composition of the
population. Analysis of the effects of other regulation changes, climatic conditions, habitat, and species composition on brook trout populations are in progress and we will report these results over the next few years.
Summary Too many culturally-induced changes have occurred on Maine's landscape to restore the brook trout fishery to the status it once enjoyed, but we can work to prevent further degradation of habitat and overharvest of the mature fish that perpetuate the population. The ongoing projects and studies summarized above are being conducted with the help of many people who value Maine's brook trout fishery. Fishery biologists have added extensive brook trout sampling, including trapnetting to determine population estimates, to already burdened schedules. Hatchery personnel have mastered complicated genetic principles to assure that the new strains being developed retain the traits of wild fish. Anglers, too, have helped the cause by standing up at public hearings to support more restrictive regulations that, while reducing their take-home limit, will benefit trout populations in the long run. And the Warden Service deserves a nod for attending to those who do not share that vision. Upon completion of these studies, we will report back on the results of our efforts. Stay â&#x20AC;˘ tuned.
(The author appreciates the assistance given by Joan Trial on stream monitoring section of this article.) Summer 1998
13
C
by Bob Williams What Does Maine's sportfish restoration program have to do with boat access? What is the difference between boat access and public access? Why is the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's (DIFW) mission to preserve,
protect and enhance the fish and wildlife resources of Maine connected so closely with the provision of both public access to lands and boat access to the water and fishery resources of Maine? Why bother with boat access when so many emotions on all sides are elevated by the concept of establishing "public boat access" facilities adjacent to public waters? To answer these and oth2r questions, we must understand the issues and focus on the questions from many different perspectives, including conservation and the environment, stewardship, mission, economics, legalities, and current taxing philosophies supporting conservation programs.
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Maine Fish a11d Wildlife
Legal Public access is both the "legal right" to travel over a parcel of land to a public water or to travel over other lands (for a variety of other purposes) and also the "physical possibility" to travel over that land. Having a legal right to cross land that is not physically possible to use in any meaningful way is not public access. Boat access is a specific type of public access designed to enable launching of watercraft. State policy-and the primary, long-term goal of state fishing and boating access programs-is to ensure legal, appropriate, ad-
equate and equitable means of public access to Maine 's waters where recreational opportunities exist. Many people are aware of the "Colonial Ordinance" which gives all citizens certain rights "to walk over undeveloped private lands to any great pond for purposes of fishing or fowling." Submerged lands w1der and the waters within all great ponds are owned by the State of
Maine. The Colonial Ordinance also gives citizens the right to walk within the "intertidal areas" for fishing or fowling, though there is no right to cross undeveloped private lands to reach these inter tidal areas-as there is for great ponds. There must be a "path or way" over which the public has legal rights to cross to reach the intertidal zone (public access sites). The Colonial Ordinance also gives people the right to navigate on flowing waters (streams and rivers) large enough to "float a log" -but again, citizens do not have the right to cross private lands to flowing waters unless a public access site or other legal right is available to reach the stream. For many decades in the past, most access to Maine public waters was provided over "traditional access sites" which were in private ownership. Private landowners allowed public use of private lands by "permissive trespass" and http ://www.state . me. us/i fw/homepage .h tm l
ess Puzzle sharing land with neighbors was a common and widespread part of the Maine way of life. During the last few decades, however, a new generation of landowners, and rapid development of shorelands for private residential use, have greatly eroded much of our traditional concept of sharing land, resulting in the rapid elimination of public use associated with most of the "traditional access sites" of the past. Many of the former recreational opportunities available to Maine's citizens via public use of private "traditional" lands have been significantly diminished, even as interest and available time to follow recreational pursuits has increased.
Second, they recognized that the diversity of the country's natural resources was so great among the states that a central program to restore fish and wildlife resources at the federal level would just not work. For this reason, Congress made developing the capacity of each state fish and wildlife agency to address conservation needs of its own the primary focus of these two restoration programs. Third, Congress was aware that a reliable and sustained funding source would be necessary to provide state agencies with the long-term funding continuity needed to make meaningful progress restoring and conserving fish and wildlife
"... again citizens do not have the right to cross private lands to flowing waters unless public access site or other legal rights are available to reach the stream." Conservation and Environment When Congress passed the Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 and the Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950, our congressional representatives recognized three basic truths. First, they realized that the depletion of the fish and wildlife resources of this country occurred over several hundred years, and that the successful restoration and continued conservation of these resources for the benefit of future generations would require a similar long-term commitment (or longer!) and a sustained funding effort. http://www.stale.me. us/i fw/homepage.h tml
resources. Congress addressed this funding need by pulling together a coalition of conservationists, sportsmen, and manufacturers to develop and implement a user pay, user benefit excise tax system to fund conservation and restoration programs. To keep faith with all those who have paid for these programs each year, Congress insisted that any state receiving money and participating in these restoration programs pass legislation "assenting to provisions of the Restoration Acts" which essentially means that states must agree to prohibit any diversion of "protected revenues" by ensuring that the
"control" of protected funds remains with the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It further means that all "protected funds" are used only for purposes related to the conservation of fish and wildlife as described in the Restoration Acts. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs have been very successful for 61 and 48 years respectively. Providing opportunities for people to fish and to benefit from public funds invested in the restoration of fisheries means that opportunities to launch watercraft must also be provided. Providing a fair opportunity for all citizens to enjoy Maine's waters and fishing opportunities is a program requirement-it is public policy, and is a part of the public trust responsibilities we must preserve and pass on to future generations. The DIFW Fishery Division staff evaluate and prioritize water access needs based upon the fishery management goals for waters within each administrative region. Whenever the lack of public access to a great pond prevents the investment of public money and the implementation of a desired fish management (stocking) program, or whenever the loss (or restriction) of public access to a public water threatens the termination of a fishery management (or stocking) program, the need to address the problem of continuing public access is a high priority. The department's The author is the department's federal aid coordinator. Summer 1998
15
boat access program is focused on addressing these priority access needs.
Stewardship Each succeeding generation needs to strive to preserve and improve both the water and fishery resources and the opportunities to use these resources
that were inherited from the previous generation. Access to public waters for anglers and boaters is becoming very restricted because of the lack of boat launching sites, the lack of available (and suitable) undeveloped land, and the loss of "traditional access" sites to private uses.
The quality of life in Maine is associated with our connection to the natural resources and the opportunities they present for enjoyment. We will fail in our stewardship responsibilities if we do not pass along both the natural resources and the opportunities for our citizens to use these resources. â&#x20AC;˘
WILD TURKEY COBBLER 1/4 C. margarine or butter 11 /2T.flour 1/2 lb . fresh mushrooms, chopped 4 celery stalks, thinly sliced 1 C. turkey or chicken broth 1 C. milk 2 egg yolks, well beaten 2 T. sherry, optional 3 1/2 C. cubed, cooked turkey 1/4 C. grated parmesan cheese salt and pepper to taste Grease a 13" by 9" baking pan or dish. In a large saucepan , melt margarine over low heat. Whisk in flour; increase heat to medium and add mushrooms, celery, broth, milk, egg yolks, and sherry . Increase heat and bring to a boil. Stir in turkey, salt, and pepper. Pour into greased baking pan, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and set aside. Cornbread Herb Crust 1 C. flour 1 C. yellow or white cornmeal 2 1/2 t. baking powder 2 T. sugar 1 t. Italian seasoning pinch of salt 1/4 C. margarine or butter, melted 1/2 C. milk 1 egg , well beaten
Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, combine crust ingredients. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms (about 30 seconds). Spoon herb dough over turkey filling to create a cobblestone effect. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Makes 8 to 10 servings .
Want to see your favorite fish and game recipe in our Recipe Corner? Just send it, along with a little background, to: THE RECIPE CORNER, Attn: Charlie Mann, 284 State Street, 41 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333
16
Maine Fish and Wildlife
http://www. state .me.us/if w /homepage. h tm I
Skowhegan Angler Hits Pikepot! by Dennis McNeish
Regional Fisheries Biologist
They
been reported by anglers in several other waters but these catches have not been confirmed by fishery biologists. The Department recognizes that pike have become very popular with many Maine anglers. We have even promulgated length and bag limits to protect the species, where protection was necessary and could be accomplished without compromising existing management programs. Nevertheless, the Department is unequivocal in its opposition to unauthorized introductions. We maintain this strong position for several reasons. First, it is illegal
say fishermen spin tall tales. Well, Lance Bolduc didn't have to add any embellishment to his fishing trip this past March 25. This 31-pound, 2-ounce Northern pike was 44 inches long and had a girth of 22.5 inches. The pike, a new state record, was caught in North Pond in Smithfield. Bolduc used a fiveinch sucker as bait. The fish took several minutes to land. Pike are newcomers to Maine waters. The fish were first positively identified in the early 80s. Our pike populations are the result of illegal introductions, probably in the mid 70s. Pike are now found in 5 ponds in the Belgrades: North Pond, Great Pond,Long Pond, Ingham Pond,and Messalonskee Lake. The species has also been confirmed as present in Sabattus Pons, a lake in the Androscoggin River drainage, and in the Androscoggin River, itself. Lance Bolduc and record-breaking friend! Northerns have
http://www.state.me . us/ifw/homepage .h tm l
to stock any water in the state of Maine without a permit from the Department. It is among the most serious of violations of our regulations, largely because the introduction, if it is successful, becomes an "ongoing" violation. Second, the introduction of any new species poses a threat to established species through disease, parasites, competition, and predation. The negative impact of a new species can be very subtle and may take many years to manifest itself. Third, engaging in such illegal activity sends a very bad message, especially to our youth. â&#x20AC;˘
Summer1998
17
Wild and domestic cats are classified by scientists into three genera: Acinonyx, the cheetahs; Panthera, the large, roaring cats; and Felis, the small, purring cats. Maine's two or three species, the lynx, bobcat, and cougar (if cougars really DO reside again in Maine), are Felis ; the small purring cats! Cats are specialized predators with strong, limber bodies, modified hairs or whiskers that function as sensory organs, and excellent senses of smell, hearing, and eyesight. Their night vision is six times better than ours. Cats' eyes have many rod cells (useful in low light), but relatively few cone cells (more useful in bright light). A thin layer of very reflective cells called the tapetum lucidum enhances the function of the rod cells and appears as the yellow-green eyeshine of a cat caught in car headlights. Retractable claws are standard for all cats-except cheetahs. The claws stay razor sharp in a protective sheath, never touching the ground until the cat is ready to attack. Panthera have the vocal chords to support loud, deep roars. Our small purring cats, however, are only able to make the familiar rumbling purr and a higher pitched scream.
MOUNTAIN LION
Felis concolor
The "cat of one color" has been called puma, cougar, mountain lion, panther, painter, catamount and more. Tawny brown with a lighter underbelly, all have dark-tipped ears and tails, can weigh from 80 to 200 pounds, and measure seven to nine feet in length, including the tail! Once the cougar was found throughout the lower 48 states, but radical habitat changes and bounties have reduced its numbers to total extermination from the East and Midwest, except for a small endangered population in the Florida Everglades. Lions have maintained a stable population in the West to this day. The "ghost walker" keeps a low profile and lives in remote habitats. If some lone individuals are found in Maine today, they are probably living in mountain forests, swamps, and along wooded watercourses. Cougars will prey on deer, beaver, porcupine, rabbits, and small mammals. Usually solitary as adults, females may keep their kittens with them for up to two years, teaching them to hunt before they head out on their own. Hundreds of cougar sightings have been reported to this department over the past several years, yet there have been no verifiable tracks, photos, videos, prey carcasses found from a kill, cats treed by hounds, or road-killed cougars to confirm their presence. Several tracks thought to have been made by a small cougar were confirmed as from a large bobcat; some cougar fur was found in the vicinity of one cougar sighting. Are the big cats here in Maine? Keep an eye out for them!
BOBCAT
Felis rufus
Rufus means red in Latin, and its bobbed or short tail gives the bobcat its common name. It's also known as the wildcat due to legendary fierceness and hunting skills. Feeding on just about anything it can catch, bobcats will consume voles, mice, squirrels, small birds, snakes, fish, and even insects. A 20-pound bobcat can and will take a deer five times its size, but deer seem to be a relatively small part of their regular diet. Any leftovers from a meal are covered or cached with soil, to be eaten later. Found in mixed deciduous-coniferous forest, brushy and rocky woodlands, old fields and farmland, cedar swamps, and spruce thickets, bobcats are somewhat more tolerant of human activity. During severe winters with deep snow, it is not uncommon for bobcats to be found under birdfeeders or in barns and garages, seeking food and shelter. Breeding from late February to March, one to four young are born in late April to mid-May in dens sited in rocky crevices, under windfalls, or in hollow logs. In 1996, 128 animals were taken by hunting or trapping. The population continues to be monitored by wildlife biologists in order to ensure bobcat populations remain healthy and productive.
CANADA LYNX
Felis lynx
Closely related to bobcats, lynx are larger (20 to 25 pounds) with thick silvery-grey fur, longer legs, larger paws, longer facial ruffs, and ear tufts. The completely black-tipped tail is a distinguishing characteristic. Lynx is a Greek word describing their ability to see in low light. Feeding mostly on snowshoe hare, lynx hunt principally at night. They have few natural enemies, but their populations are tied to that of the hares' seven-year cycle of high and low numbers. Typical Maine habitats might include extensive unbroken forest well away from any human activity. Lynx seem to prefer swamps, bogs, or rocky areas. They breed in January or February with one to four young born in May or early June in a den site under fallen trees or hollow logs, or in a rocky outcrop. Although lynx do not yet receive any protection under the Endangered Species Act, they have long been protected in Maine: Lynx are listed as a species of special concern, and have not been hunted or trapped here since 196 7. Special track surveys for lynx (wolf & cougar, too) have been conducted since 1994 in the northern 3/4 of Maine and in areas historically known to support lynx. Lynx tracks have been found in several areas throughout the state.
NAMÂŁTffATCAT After reading the cat stories above, can you identify the cats below? Write their names in the spaces provided. Answers at bottom of page 18.
~
-. ;
~ ~ ( .,.,
A. _ - - - - -
B. _ - - -
'¡ ------------
Bear .Scrap at Weld is a Draw Editor's note: This story was originally published Sept. 20, 1916. It is about conflict: between man and bear. In this case townsman Dennis Swett and a sow bear with cubs.
Illustrated by Carol Kutz
I
t is a great bear story that
comes from the town of Weld, Maine. That town has from the earliest days been noted as a famous place for bruin and this latest battle would indicate that it still remains as a hunting ground for great braves. It was Thursday of the present week that the last bear struggle happened and the incident is one that is likely to become a tradition of the town. It all came about in this way: For several weeks, an orchard in the vicinity of the village had been made the feasting ground for bears. It is well known that these animals have a great fondness for apples and will take all kinds of chances to gratify their tastes. The orchard in question had before suffered from their preditations but never has so large a toll been taken as the present season. Now Weld has two mighty Nimrods and both men are old time and veteran bear hunters. These are Dennis Swett, the game warden of that town and Melville Childs, a highly respectable citizen of the village. Both http ://www.state.me . us/i fw/homepage .h tm I
have several notches on their rifle stocks of bears fallen before their unerring aim and both men know the habits of these animals to a nicety. It was Thursday morning when the two men met and determined to rid the neighborhood of its unwelcome visitors. As soon as dinner was over, they procured a huge bear trap and started for the orchard. Swett had an old .32 caliber revolver and but two cartridges and this with an ax constituted the entire offensive outfit. The sole object of the visit was to plant the trap in hope of catching the bear as they had no idea that one would be encountered in the opep. Even the revolver was taken by force of habit as its use was not contemplated. The short distance to the orchard was soon covered and the men began to look around for a suitable place to set the trap. On all sides the tree presented a torn appearance. Limbs were broken down and the fruit stripped and the place looked very much as if one of those British "tanks" had been driven thru the place. Finally a big tree was selected
and as Mr. Swett came up, he placed his hand on the trunk and said "Here, we'll dig the trap in and cover it with leaves." The words had scarcely left his mouth when a huge bear arose on the other side of the tree and leveled a terrific blow at this head. The animal weighed fully 300 pounds and by her side were three cubs. Both men knew the meaning of that. There is no animal in the Maine woods so dangerous as a she bear with cubs. For her young, she will fight to the death and this particular one was especially anxious to begin the duel. With the first appearance of the bear, Mr. Childs turned and ran while calling upon his companion to follow him or die. With the speed of a deer he fled, while his hair stood straight up. In air, faster and faster he ran and it is whispered by the locals that he slackened not his speed until he reached Dixfield Notch. Swett seemed to be made of sterner clay and with his revolver within six feet of the nose of the bear, he fired one of his Summer 1998
21
precious bullets full in the face of the infuriated animal, bowling her over backwards. Before he could strike her with the ax, she was up, and with her cubs ahead, started for the nearby woods. All the time, she was making a peculiar noise, urging them to greater speed. In the meantime, a dog owned by Mr. Swett came up and fearlessly grabbed the bear from behind. It required but a single blow from the huge paw to send the dog reeling backward but it immediately came back at the attack. Then ensued a series of attacks and counter-attacks until finally the bear reached a tree and climbed up into the limbs. Seeing her cubs in danger below, she jumped twelve feet to the ground and again keeping the cubs ahead, got into a deep thicket. By this time the blood of Swett was up and with ax and revolver
22
Maine Fish and Wildlife
'
in had, he jumped into the bushes after her and a fierce tangle resulted. The dog took a deep interest in the matter as man and beast struggled for the mastery. Once more the bear took to a tree but as quickly came down to reriew the combat. When within a few feet of Swett, he again leveled his revolver and fired the last shot, again knocking the bear over. Once more Swett triec;l to get on top of the struggling animal but was again shaken off by the infuriated beast. In the thick and tangled bushes man and beast rolled and tumbled, but try as hard as he could, it was impossible to get in a blow with the ax. It ended as a drawn battle. The bear and cubs finally gave up the struggle and plunged into the thicket with the dog at their heels. Another crack from that paw and he became discouraged and returned to his master,
leaving the bear monarch of all she surveyed. Mr. Swett made a fine fight but it was against heavy odds. He as the satisfaction of knowing that tho he failed to secure his game, he at least drove her from the field of battle. It was a mighty struggle and while it lasted, something was doing all the time. Mr. Childs was finally located and recovered. His hat was gone and he was more or less perturbed, but very philosophically he says that a live man is better than a dead bear. The village wags are talking of getting up a benefit for him to secure a new hat. â&#x20AC;˘
Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine is grateful to Sue Bonney, grandaughter of Dennis Swett, for resurrecting this historic and memorable tale. http://www.state.me. us/ifw/hom epage .h Im I
QUEEN BEE rom the Fly Tying Bench
by Butch Carey Photos by Tom Carbone
THE PATTERN HOOK: 94840 #4 THREAD: Black BODY: Flat silver Mylar THROAT: Red barbules
[!]
Cast thread on at front of hook. Tie in flat silver Mylar. Wrap Mylar to back, then return, covering the hook body in close turns. Tie; cement.
l'i) Tie in sparse yellow bucktail on top of [ ~ white, the same length.
http ://www .s tate.me . us/ifw/h omepage .h tml
WINGS: Brown saddle hackles over yellow bucktail over white bucktail EYE: Jungle cock (optional) HEAD: Black
l'i'"} Tie in sparse white bucktail on top of
l.!:J hook, extending 1/4" beyond bend.
ILi1 Tie in brown saddle hackles on top ~ of bucktail, also the same length.
Summer 1998
23
Tie in red barbules, beard style, under hook for throat. Add jungle cock eye (optional) ; finish head with black thread and th ree coats of cement, and your Queen Bee is ready to sting! !
Fly Tyer Butch Carey Passes AW"ay Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine lost a great
friend April 11 with the passing of Earle "Butch" Carey, Jr. Butch put in 82 years on this earth-and looking back on the life of this dear friend, we still find it hard to believe that he fit as much living as he did into those years! For all readers, but especially the new ones, Butch was the engineer of our fly tying series from early 1991 until his death. Butch loved fishingand tying flies, which he did commercially for many years following his 1973 retirement from Central Maine Power Co. (after 35 years on the job!). A painter and guitar player, Butch also taught fly tying and English in the local school district-after earning his OWN high school diploma in 1988! And he was a Cubmaster as well. Just try to keep up! Ailing at the end, he nonetheless left us a legacy which is hard to match-he and photographer Tom Carbone met in several short fly tying sessions to build up a backlog of fly patterns which will carry the series well into the next century! Thanks, Butch! Earle "Butch " Carey-in a happy time and place!! Earle is survived by his wife, Jenny, four sons and six daughters, 19 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren! Another legacy that's hard to beat! We'll miss Butch's unfailing good spirit, his willingness to help in any way he could, and his great love for Maine's outdoors. He truly knew what it was to enjoy life! Good fishing, good friend!
24
Mai ne Fish and Wildlife
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Wildlife Management Diatricta
by Gerald R. Lavigne
eer Management Zones, Moose Hunting Zones, Turkey Hunting Zones, Waterfowl Hunting Zones, Wildlife Management Units, everything we hunt or trap seems to have a different set of zones and boundary limits. It's little wonder many of Maine's hunters and trappers find the regulations cumbersome and confusing. During the past year, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists have undertaken an effort to design a zoning system that meets the management requirements for all species, while trying to unify consistent boundary lines. As a result of those efforts, Maine has been divided into thirty parcels termed Wildlife Management Districts (WMD). When establishing the thirty WMDs, MDIFW biologist, Gerald Lavigne, and his staff had to filter through huge columns of data to try to create the most efficient boundary lines that benefited all game species. The data consisted of biophysical regions, climate regions, winter severity indexes, natural forest regions, land-use categories, urban areas, human density per square mile, relative deer hunting pressure, percent of yearlings in the antlered buck harvest, registered harvest of antlered bucks per square mile, waterfowl hunting zones currently used, turkey hunting zones currently used, deer management districts, moose hunting zones and beaver trapping zones currently in use. After evaluating the informa-
26
,Mame Fish and Wildlife
Management 1stricts (WMD) in the above illustration will replace the six Moose Permit Allocation Zones, eighteen Deer Management Districts, eight Beaver Trapping Zones, two Wild Turkey Hunting Zones, and eight Wildlife Management Units which comprise the Waterfowl Hunting Zones. tion from these different categories, the MDIFW set the land boundaries for the new zoning system called Wildlife Management Districts. The MDIFW biologists took a number of factors into account while defining the WMDs with
refinement of deer management capability being a major consideration. After twelve years utilizing the Any-Deer permit system, the Department now has a workable database to evaluate relative habitat quality and management potential for deer around the state. When compiling the WMDs, the biologists were able to do a better job clustering towns according to their potential of producing deer and deer hunting opportunities. In doing this, land use, forest type, soil quality, winter severity, and human population centers were factored into the decision process. Management requirements for other key species such as moose, turkeys, waterfowl and furbearers were also given due consideration. Throughout, concerted effort has made to select clearly recognizable physical boundaries to reduce confusion to hunters. When implemented, the new WMDs should benefit hunters in several ways. They need to memorize only a single set of boundaries for all species they may pursue. The proposed thirty individual WMDs throughout the state will be used to manage deer densities. For other species, WMDs would be combined, as needed, to form meaningful hunting zones as forests are altered from harvesting and loss of habitat from development. One example would be a single turkey zone in outh-central Maine, combining about ten WMDs. In this case, hunters will only need to memorize the northern boundary of the Turkey Zone. The zones will still be considered separate geographic areas, as defined by http://www.slale.me. us/i fw/home page . h tm I
I 23 4 56-
Boundary Plateau Saint John Uplands Aroos1ook Hills Aroostook Lowlands Western Moumai ll':; Central Moumai ns 7- Western Foo1hills 8- Eastern Lowlands 9- Southwest Interior 10- Central Interior II Eastem Interior 12- South Coastal Region 13- Midcoast Region 14-- Penobscot Ba) Region 15- East Coastal Region
Bi ophysical Region s of Maine
Among the data researched to establish the WMDs, Department biologists reviewed such information as Maine 's Climate Zones and Biophysical Regions. the MDIFW, but will be grouped together to form a single legal hunting unit. Another benefit is the expansion of hunting opportunities. Better refinement of population management will lead to increased hunting opportunities.
For example, if we had used the new WMDs in 1996 instead of the existing eighteen Deer Management Districts, the Department could have issued an additional 2,000 Any-Deer permits to achieve the same population objectives for that year. The new WMD system will allow the identification of locations where special hunting seasons can be implemented, such as the expanded archery season enacted in 1997 in south-central Maine (WMD 24). Deer hunters should find themselves being drawn more consistently for Any-Deer permits under the new WMD zoning system. Since the thirty WMDs are smaller units than the former deer management districts, these smaller zones target fewer population centers. Hence, Any-Deer permits should be drawn more often by hunters who live in rural areas within any given WMD than formerly was the case. The MDIFW is compiling a booklet which illustrates a detailed map of each WMD, as well as statewide-level WMD maps, and will include some interesting facts about each WMD. The booklet is intended as .'.I. reference for hunters to use. It will be available this fall from the
MDIFW information center (207) 287-8000, regional wildlife headquarters, the MDIFW website (http: / / www.state.me.us/ifw / homepage.htm). Implementation of the new WMD system will require approval of the Commissioner's Advisory Council through rulemaking. To be successfully implemented, MDIFW will need to conduct an effective education program to gain hunter support. Small elements of this system have already been implemented such as the new waterfowl zone line and a new moose hunting zone, both taken through rule-making in 1996, each utilizing zones from the new WMD system. Full implementation of this important management refinement is scheduled for deer and all species in 1998. The new changes in zoning will allow the Department's biologists to fine-tune their management techniques on smaller parcels of land which will in turn benefit the game animals in each WMD. â&#x20AC;˘
{Reprinted with permission from Maine Big Game V-2/ N-4.)
WMD9
WMD8
C.C.Road
WMD 14
WMD17 WMDl3
The thirty WMDs are clearly separated by prominent land boundaries. The diagram of WMD 14 illustrates how each of the WMDs will be defined.
http: //www .s ta te . me . us / ifw /home page.html
Summer 1998
27
Fish and Wildlife 0
Peabody Warden Sergeant Tim Peabody, a Union, Maine native and 14-year career game warden with the Maine Warden Service has been named Chief Warden by Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Lee Perry. As Chief Warden, the newly appointed Col. Peabody will assumed the post of Maine's top conservation law enforcement officer responsible
During his warden career, Peabody has served as a Game Warden Investigator conducting numerous investigations on a statewide level. He is also a member of the Warden Service's Public Relations Committee and Search and Rescue Team. In announcing Peabody's appointment during a Wednesday morning press conference at the Warden Service Regional Headquarters in Sidney, Commissioner Perry said that he was "impressed by Tim's insight and personal standing within the Department and the Warden Service. I am convinced that Tim Peabody possesses the skill s necessary to provide clear vision and restore both the public's and the employee's confidence and support of our law enforcement program." Among his program priorities for the Maine Warde Service, Col. Peabody cites public relations, work schedules for wardens, funding, internal investigations, enforcement, training and morale. Col. Peabody and his wife Barbara live in Northport and have two sons, Andrew and Benjamin.
Tourtelotte Warden Colonel Tim Peabody
for the operation of the Maine Warden Service March 23, 1998. Maine's new Chief Warden succeeds Col. Parker Tripp, who retired in January. Peabody, 38 is a 1977 graduate of Medomak Valley High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Unity College. He began his career in conservation law enforcement as a District Warden in the Danforth area in 1983 after serving as a game warden assistant. The Northport resident was promoted to Game Warden Sergeant in 1994.
28
,Maine Fish and Wildlife
Major Dan Tourtelotte, who has served as Maine's Deputy Chief Warden for three years, submitted his resignation notice this spring to Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Lee Perry. Tourtelotte, who had been serving as acting Chief Warden since the retirement of Col. Parker Tripp in January, elected to leave the warden service the end of March. His plans for the future include "spending more time with the family, hunting and fishing and pursuing a fulltime career in outdoor recreation." A native of Bowdoinham, Tourtelotte started his career in con-¡
0
0
Warden Dan Tourtelotte
servation law enforcement as a District Warden in Harrington in 1978. He was promoted to Warden Sergeant in 1986 and Warden Lt. in 1994, when he headed up the Greenville headquarters for the Maine Warden Service. Looking back on his warden service career, Tourtelotte says that there were some small administrative successes along the way, but any contributions he made to protecting Maine's natural resources will remain most memorable to him. "It's been a true honor to serve the people of Maine," said Tourtelotte. "I thank them for the opportunity, and will always remember how, when the warden service needed help, Maine people pulled together. We need to maintain that cooperative spirit."
Santaguida Thomas A Santaguida, a game warden investigator, has been promoted to deputy chief warden of the Maine Warden Service. http ://www .state.me. us/i fw/homepage.h tm I
A former district game warden and 10-year veteran of the warden service, Major Santaguida will be second-in-command reporting directly to Warden Col. Tim Peabody, who was named chief warden last month. Santaguida began his warden career in 1988 and was assigned districts in Pembroke, Wesley and Bridgton. During his warden career, he has been actively involved in warden training. He was named Warden of the Year in 1996, at which time he was cited for his work in the planning and apprehension of 14 individuals involved in a large deer- poaching operation in southern Maine. The new deputy chief warden is president of the Maine Warden Service Association. He has studied foresty and wildlife biology in Montana and Maine and is currently pursuing a degree in criminology at the University of Southern Maine. In naming Santaguida to his new post, Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Lee Perry said, "We are proud and pleased to name Tom to this important position. He has shown himself to be not only a dedicated and energetic game warden, but an organized and capable administrator with much leadership potential." Santaguida lives in Kennebunk with his wife Natalie.
Anderson Ken Anderson, who passed away this spring at age 71, was among a generation of postwar wildlife biologists who joined the Department in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He obtained BS and MS Degrees from the University of Connecticut, and began his career as a wildlife biologist in the State of West Virginia where he worked as a regional habitat development specialist. Ken was hired by Rus DeGarrmo, Wildlife Division Chief, in 1956 and worked as a regional wildlife biologist in the central coastal section of the state, http://www. state .me . us/ ifw /home page.html
Ken Anderson
what today is Region B. In his early years, he worked closely with Steve Powell who was supervisor of wildlife management activities. Ken had a special interest in wetlands, and in addition to his other responsibilities, spearheaded a large number of small marsh development programs in the region. For many years, Re carried out investigations and associated management projects on many of these areas. This work made it apparent that Maine was in need of a wetlands inventory and Ken supervised the development and implementation of the stateis first inventory of wetlands and their management potential. The results of this inventory work are still used today. In 1969, Ken became the Wildlife Division's representative to the newly established Planning Division to provide input into the development of a comprehensive planning process for the Department. Before long, he was promoted to the Director of the Planning Division where he served until his retirement in 1990. He was deeply devoted to the Department and lead the planning functions under Commissioner Maynard Marsh, Glen Manuel and William Vail. He was routinely called upon to provide his insight into the resolution of many issues which faced the Department. Ken
lead the development of the Department's long range fish and wildlife management planning process and a series of updates to the original plans which were completed in 1975. This process soon became a model which continues to be emulated by many states across the country. In addition to detailed assessments of the status, needs, and management opportunities, this process includes public involvement, problem identification, and the establishment of long range strategic plans and management systems which focus on achieving long range goals and objectives. Ken was thinking performance- based programming years before it became the way of doing business in state government. Ken's way of thinking and insight on the management of fish and wildlife will be felt for many years. Even though he retired eight years ago, his way of approaching the resolution of problems, whether they involve long range planning needs or an immediate issue which need resolution, can be clearly observed throughout the Department on a daily basis. Ken was a thinker. He was ahead of the curve, always a few steps ahead of the current thinking. He was always looking for a healthy and provocative debate on whatever was the issue of the day. He forced many of us to think about what we were doing, why we were doing it, how we could best do it, etc. Ken impacted a whole generation of Department staff, and in so doing, shaped the way the Department carries out its mandates and responsibilities. The Department felt so highly of the contribution Ken made that it established the Ken Anderson Award which is presented to a member of the Department on an annual basis for outstanding contribution to the Department'is fish and wildlife resources. His impact was much greater than he ever realized, and his contributions to Maine's fish and wildlife will be everlasting.
Summer 1998
29
FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS Theriault Named Warden of the Year Alvin Theriault, a Patten game warden and Fort Kent native, has been named Warden of the Year. The award, bestowed annually to a Maine game warden who is selected by a panel of peers, was given at an annual awards ceremony in Bangor. Last year's Warden of the Year was Warden Investigator Thomas Santaguida. Theriault, who had until his recent retirement been a district warden in Patten, has been with the Maine Warden Service for 20 years. He began his career in conservation law enforcement as a district warden in the Millinocket area. He also served for 10 years in the Ripogenus Dam district. A letter of commendation presented toTheriault by Deputy Chief Warden Dan Tourtelotte reads in part..." Warden Theriault has been a mentor to many young wardens coming into the field ... he is a true professional, and can always be counted on by his fellow wardens because of his knowledge, understanding and compassion. "
In other awards presented during the annual ceremony, Piscataquis County Sheriff John Goggins was presented the Colonel's Award by Maine's newly appointed Chief Warden Col. Tim Peabody. Goggins was recognized for his consistently high level of cooperation in working with the Maine Warden Service. Retired game warden and former chief warden Russ Dyer, a resident of Bowdoinham, was named Legendary Warden, a recognition given to a retired warden who "best exemplifies the principles and ideals that Maine game wardens strive to achieve." Meritorious Service A wards were presented to District Wardens Michael Joy, Albert St. Saviour, and Norman Lewis. Exemplary Service Awards were presented to District Wardens Blaine Holding, James Martin, Albert St. Saviour, Ralph Hosford, Kevin Adam, William Livesey, Gary Sibley, and Dave Peppard. Former Warden Sergeant Tim Peabody, recently promoted to Chief Warden, received the Distinguished Supervisor's Award.
governor was presented with a forest green 1998 Supersport cap by Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Lee Perry. According to Vesta Billing, head of licensing and registration for MDIF&W, the Department has sold to date about 50 hunting and fishing licenses on the Department's homepage. Hunting and fishing licenses can also be purchased online from computers located at most of Maine's public libraries.
Moose Auction Nets $38,832 Thanks to five moose hunters from Ten.,esee, Delaware, ew York, and Maine, more than 200 Maine youngsters will receive scholarships to Maine Conservation Camps this summer. The 1998 version of the Maine Moose Auction (which was approved four years ago by the legislature) allows the Fish and Wildlife Department to publicly offer five moose hunting permits to highest bidders, with all proceeds going to fund conservation education for Maine boys and girls ages 12 to 14.
FOLDS TO 4" FLAT!
Fishing and Hunting Licenses Available On Internet
Warden Alvin Theriault Acknowledging Theriault's significant contribution as a member of the Warden Service's Search and Rescue team, Tourtelotte recounted how Theriault saved the life of a 65-year-old snowmobiler who plunged into the icy waters of Chesuncook Lake.
30
,Maine Fish and Wildlife
Purchase of a Maine fi hing or hunting license no longer requires a trip to a license agent. Thanks to a new approach toward customer service, anglers and hunters may now buy their annual licenses at home electronically by simply accessing the homepage of the Maine Department of lnland Fisheries and Wi ldlife (MDIF&W). MDIF&W's online addre sis: www.state.me.us/ ifw. At a State House press conference last month, Governor Angus King unveiled the new online option for Maine's resident and nonresident sporting community. Explaining that the new licensepurchase option wa one of many innovations intended to enhance the level of customer ervice provided to citizens by state government, King christened Fish and Wildlife's new sy tern by purchasing-through his laptop computer-the first fishing license sold online. After buying his fishing license, along with a Super port endon,ement, the
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According to Vesta Billing, who oversees the bidding process, 47 bids were received from ail over the country. The five top bids totaled $36,832. The highest bid was $8,000! The lowest of the five winning bids was $6,150. The five successful bidders were Joseph Bloom of Dresden; Donald Russo of Hendersonville, Tennesee; Dorothy Fosse! of Waccabuc, ew York; Allen Russell of Brownfield; and Cosimo Paella of Hockessin, Delaware. The Maine Conservation Camps are located on Lake Christopher at Bryant Pond in western Maine and Greenland Point Center at Long Lake near Machias. Throughout the summer, boys and girls will attend one of the four weekly sessions. Each youngster is schooled in the basics of being woodswise and safety conscious in the outdoors. They also learn appreciation and awareness of Maine's natural resources and outdoor traditions. Interested youngsters may obtain applications for scholarships to attend either of the two camps by calling 2878000 or writing to the Maine Fish and Wildife Department in Augusta. Maine's regular moose lottery drawing will take place in June. The deadline for submitting applications for the regular moo e lottery is April 30.
eluding a prohibition of jet skis on some designated Maine waters-and a bill that clarifies the law dealing with hunting from a motor vehicle. Prior to legislative action this winter, Maine law did not clearly define what was meant by hunting from a motor vehicle. The ambiguity in the law led to varying interpretations by game wardens in the field and resulted in a lack of unified approach to enforcement. A controversy ensued last fail when a number of moose hunters were summonsed for using their pickup trucks as hunting platforms even though their guns were not loaded. The summons were eventually rescinded by the Maine Warden Service. This legislature clarified the law on hunting from a motor vehicle to mean either shooting from a motor vehicle or having a loaded gun in or on a motor vehicle. The lifetime license law creates the availability of a lifetime hunting or fishing license for children less than 6 years of age and a second lifetime license for senior citizens 65 years and older. The cost of the lifetime children licenses,
which will be available in the calendar year 2000, will be $150 for a hunting or fishing license or $250 for a combination. For Maine residents 65 years and older, it will be $50 for a lifetime hunting or fishing license and $80 for a combination license. The legislature was reluctant to follow the lead of some other states and establish lifetime licenses for other age classes of buyers fearing that MDIF&W's annual operating revenues might be compromised during the startup period of the program. Of significance, too, was the passage of legislation that bans jet skis on some Maine lakes, as well as regulates recreational boating on Maine's Great Ponds. Among some of the provisions contained in this enacted legislation are: 1. Municipalities are granted a twoyear period to submit recommendations to the Fish and Wildlife Commissioner for regulating the use, operation and type of watercraft on Great ponds in the organized towns or partially within the jurisdiction of LURC. Municipalities
(continued inside back cover)
ENNEBAGO RIVER KAMPS North of Rangeley between Kennebago Lake and Little Kennebago Lake
New Watercraft Laws Passed The spring session of the 118th Maine Legislature passed a number of new laws, effectiveJuly 9, 1998, pertaining to hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation. Among the most substantive bills enacted are: a bill that creates lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, changes to the whitewater rafting allocation laws, legislation regulating watercraft-in-
• Fly Fish for native Salmon & Brook Trout in Kennebago's rivers & lakes • Excellent Deer and Grouse hunting • Snowmobiling on ITS 84 and 89 • 3 Housekeeping Camps • Gated Access • Reasonable Rates Write: Kennebago River Kamps , R. Hammond PO Box 677, Rangeley, 04970 (207) 864-2402
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Summer 1998
31
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: The other day (Thurs., March 5) I visited my old friends, Ern and Mil Crie, 14 Summer St., Rockland, and was thrilled to see the article you wrote on Ern (in Maine Fish and Wildlife winter 1997 issue - vol 39, no. 4). It was perfect. Ern says he's received 5 or 6 phone calls from readers of the article, and numerous comments about town from people met on the street and in places of business. Even during my 2 to 3 hour visit, a mom phoned from Gorham asking for a day's teaching on basket making from Ern, just from one of the photos you included with the article. My purpose in writing you is to ask if there is some way I can obtain some copies of the article, as I want to be able to surprise a few friends, as well as have one for myself. Anyhow, I would very eagerly treasure a copy or two of your fine piece.,
to strip my line when I had a strike a swirl and roll like I had never seen before. I played this fish for approximately one half an hour.
Unfortunately your job can be dangerous as the several wardens discovered while climbing the West Royce Trail to find us. We are truly
John VanSorosin, Tenants Harbor
• Thanks for your kind comments. Enjoy the complementary copies and our best to the wonderful Cries.
Dear Editor: I get this magazine and one called Montana. The magazine Montana puts out by the state of Montana has a lot more wildlife pictures then yours. Maybe you can put in more full page wildlife photos! B. Harris, Winthrop • Aren't their photos remarkable? They have a fulltime wildlife photographer; we have none, although we are always looking for good freelance wildlife photos. And we use the good ones. Dear Editor: I am writing regarding the 1997 summer issue of Maine Fish and Wildlife. The one that didn't get away listing. I think my story deserves a little print. On May 23, 1 996 at 7 p.m. I was fishing with a camp owner at Kennebago. Fly casting only. I was casting a #6 Black Ghost Streamer. I just started
32
\'!nine Fish and Wildlife
Harry Parsons and friend. What I had caught was a 30 inch, 1 3 1/4 lb brown trout. I had it weighed on professional scales at the market in Oquossoc the following day. I have had the fish mounted and it is at my home. I believe this is the most significant fresh water fish caught fly casting in the state of Maine in many many years, and feel it should be shared with other fisherman. I am enclosing a picture for publication. Hopefully you can find a spot in the magazine. If you have any questions please call or write. Thank you. Harry T. Parsons, Brunswick • Nice fish, Harry! Dear Editor: On Sunday evening of December 28th the Maine Warden Service provided an unbelievable level of service to rescue myself and Glenn Valiancourt. Of this we are truly appreciative. We both have a high level of respect and regard for the work of the Maine Warden Service.
sorry that you had to go through that effort. We are thankful for the philosophy that Maine Warden Service adopts of which you believe life is considered fragi le and putting yourselves in peril during the evening hours to save lives is important. For that we thank you very much. We consider ourselves experienced climbers and would not enter into the woods unprepared, particularly in the winter. The night-out reinforced important lessons to us and taught many new ones. After talking with Sergeant MacIntosh at our car we also recognize the importance of providing concise and accurate information to our family so rescuers are better prepared to assess the situation. On behalf of Glenn Val iancourt and myself we thank you very much for your efforts. We also want to thank all the other support people involved with the search. Norman D. Houle, Biddeford http://www. s tale .me . u s/ifw/homepa g e. h tm I
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6. Restrictions against tampering with notorboat muffler system. 7. Establishment of personal water1ft rental or leasing requiremen ts. 8. Limiting the liability for lake asso1tions that have obtained a permit from ~ Department of Conserva tion to place vigational aid markers in Great Ponds. 9. Expanding the authority of water 1lities or municipalities, after consult; with appropriate state agencies and lding a pu blic hearing, to regulate the rface uses of the water within 400 feet the water supply intake. 10. Expanding the authority of the 1ine Indian Tribal State Commission in ;ards to the regulation of horsepower d use of motors on waters less than 200 ¡es and entirely within Indian Terri-y. 11. Requiring a joint report from the JRC, IF&W, and DOC no later than mary 1, 1999 on the regulation of sur:e uses on waters within LURC's juris:tion. 12. Requiring a report from IF&W on education/ safety training program for )torboat operators on inland waters.
eptember 18 - 20 ishopswood Camp ..ake Megunticook Hope, Maine
FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333
m 18 & older interested in ns/ range safety, fly fishing, 1tion, map & compass, deer,
! 1 in all sessions, program : and lodging. Limited funds tance. Fee to be announced .
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LETTI Dear Editor: The other day (Thurs., March 5) I visited my old friends, Ern and Mil Crie, 14 Summer St., Rockland, and was thrilled to see the article you wrote on Ern (in Maine Fish and Wildlife winter 1997 issue - vol 39, no. 4). It was perfect. Ern says he's received 5 or 6 phonE calls from readers of the article, an< numerous comments about town from people met on the street and in places of business. Even during my 2 to 3 hour visit, a mom phonec from Gorham asking for a day's teaching on basket making from Err just from one of the photos you included with the article. My purpose in writing you is to ask there is some way I can obtain som copies of the article, as I want to b1 able to surprise a few friends, as W! as have one for myself. Anyhow, I would very eagerly treasure a copy or two of your fine piece., John VanSorosin, Tenants Harb, â&#x20AC;˘ Thanks for your kind comments. Enjoy the complementary copies ar our best to the wonderful Cries.
Dear Editor: I get this magazine and one ca lled Montana. The magazine Montana puts out by the state of Montana has a lot more wildlife pictures ther yours. Maybe you can put in more full page wildlife photos' B. Harris, Winthrc â&#x20AC;˘ Aren't their photos remarkable? They have a fu/ltime wildlife photo9 rapher; we have none, although we are always looking for good freelance wildlife photos. And we u: the good ones. Dear Editor: I am writing regarding the 1997 summer issue of Maine Fish and Wildlife. The one that didn't get away listing. I think my story deserves a little print. On May 23, 1 996 at 7 p.m. I was fishing with a camp owner at Kennebago. Fly casting only. I was casting a #6 Black Ghost Streamer. I just startec
32
f4aine Fish and Wildlife
AINE 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 2years only $15 D Please bill me later
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
FOR FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLir. BEE 1-800-288-8387
AINE 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 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~ City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
FOR FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387
AINE 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 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
FOR FASTER SERVICE, CALLTOLL-FREE l-800-288-8387
(continued from page 31)
/1
~INE BIG GAME MAGAZINE
must hold a public hearing and submi.ta description of the resources the municipality will use to enforce the recommended regulations. The Commissioner shall submit a written report of proposed watercraft regulations that the Department supports to the 119th Legislature. The Commissioner may also include watercraft recommendations for Great Ponds not addressed by the municipal proposals. 2. Prohibiting personal watercraft (jet skis) on 245 water bodies wholly or partially within the jurisdiction of LURC, which must implement this Jaw by the adoption of rules. 3. Prohibiting internal combustion engines on Witch Hole Pond, Aunt Betty's Pond, Bubble Pond, Round Pond, and Lake Wood in Acadia National Park. Upper Hadlock Pond and Lower Hadlock Pond in Acadia National Park are limited to outboard motors of 10 horsepower or less. 4. A minimum age of 16 to operate a personal watercraft. 5. Noise limits on watercraft. ,~Cf,an
Seen enough monster Maine bucks yet? If not, subscribe to the Maine Big Game Magazine and see more trophy deer, bear and moose-and read the exciting stories from the hunters who harvested them! MAINE BIG GAME MAGAZINE has dozens of first hand hunting tales each issue with exciting color photos. One year subscription : $14.50 (four issues) Two year subscription: $28.00 (eight issues) Send check/money order to: Maine Big Game Publications 36 Ames Road - Dept. FW Dover-Foxcroft , ME 04426 (207-564-7614)
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6. Restrictions against tampering with a motorboat muffler system. 7. Establishment of personal watercraft rental or leasing requirements. 8. Limiting the liability for lake associations that have obtained a permit from the Deparhnent of Conservation to place navigational aid markers in Great Ponds. 9. Expanding the authority of water utilities or municipalities, after consulting with appropriate state agencies and holding a public hearing, to regulate the surface uses of the water within 400 feet of the water supply intake. 10. Expanding the authority of the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission in regards to the regulation of horsepower and use of motors on waters less than 200 acres and entirely within Indian Territory. 11. Requiring a joint report from the LURC, IF&W, and DOC no later than January 1, 1999 on the regulation of surface uses on waters within LURC's jurisdiction . 12. Requiring a report from IF&W on an education/safety training program for motorboat operators on inland waters.
September 18 - 20 Bishopswood Camp Lake Megunticook Hope, Maine
This workshop is aim~d primarily at women 18 & older interested in learning or honing outdoor skills in firearms/ range safety, fly fishing, canoeing, kayaking, plant & tree identification, map & compass, deer, duck, and turkey hunting, and much more! Workshop Fee: includes instruction in all sessions, program materials, use of equipment, all meals and lodging. Limited funds are available for partial financial assistance. Fee to be announced.
Call 207-287-8000 for a full brochure & application form!! Registrations close on August 24, 1998. Sponsors: Maine Fish and Wildlife Dept. and Maine Warden Service Association
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