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Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
12-1-2004
Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Winter 2004 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, Winter 2004" (2004). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 139. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/139
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MAINE STATE LIARARY IBRARY USE ONL'V
APR 1 5 2004
w·nter 2004
DID YOU KNOW? FEDERAL LAW may prohibit you from: • Possessing a gun if you've been convicted of assaulting: ../ your child; ../ your spouse or live-in partner (past or present); or ../ the mother or father ofyour child. 18
u.s.c. § 922(g)(9)
• Possessing a gun if you are subject to a final protection from abuse order. 18 u.s.c. § 922(g)(8) • Possessing a gun if you are a convicted felon. 18 U.s.c. § 922(g)(J)
• Providing a handgun to anyone under age 18. 18 U.S.C. § 922(x)
• Buying a gun for someone who is prohibited from owning a gun. 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6) and 922(d)
• Selling a gun to someone who lives out of state. 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(5)
• Lying on an application to buy a gun. 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6)
IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE. PRO J EC T
**
SAFE:! NEIGHBORHOODS * *
Am tc1'1 Nttwork Against Gun Vlol111ce
Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force United States Attorney - District of Maine Portland, Maine (207) 771-3294 psnmaine@usdoj.gov
Page 2 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Winter 2004
Governor John Baldacci Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Roland D. Martin, Commissioner Paul Jacques, Deputy Commissioner Kenneth H. Elowe, Director, Bureau of Resource Management Richard Record, Director, Bureau of Administrative Services Tim Peabody, Colonel, Bureau of Warden Service Andrea Erskine Assistant to the Commissioner Advisory Council Lance Wheaton, Forest City, Chairman David A. Wardwell, Penobscot, Vice Chairman Tenley A. Meara, Topsham Matt Libby, Ashland Sara Dyer, New Gloucester Raymond Picard, Newcastle Harlow Floyd, Holden Raymond H. Poulin Jr., Ripley Robert. S. Savage, Limington Marc Michaud, Editor (ISSN 0360-005X) MAINE Fish and Wildlife is published quarterly by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State St. , Station 41 , Augusta, Maine 04333, under appropriation 010-09A-0529. Subscription rate is $14.95 per year. Permission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit is given to the author and to the Department. Clearance must be obtained from artists, photographers and non-staff authors to reproduce credited work. Š Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 2002. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send both old and new addresses to P.O. Box 1457, Yarmouth , Maine 04096. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to MAINE Fish and Wildlife , P.O. Box 1457, Yarmouth, Maine 04096. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Call 1-800-276-0883 Out of state call 207-846-9501 Periodical Postage Paid at Augusta, Maine The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of Interior. Accordingly, all department programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination with regard to race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against should write to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington , D.C . 20240 Design and Prepress by Harry Vanderweide
Editorial
4
Comm. Roland Martin
Managing Maine's moose herd is a complex job.
ATV Task Force
5
Roberta Scruggs
Soluti ons in the works fo r these increasingly popu lar vehicles.
Bear Facts
9
Bob Humphrey
Winter den studies are a crucial part of managing Maine's bear.
Trophy Fish
13
Tom Seymour
Maine has a new emphasis on stocking large salmonids for anglers.
Kidbits
16
Lisa Kane
Snags are dead trees, but they make great habitat for wildlife.
Snowmobile Safety
18
Cathy Genthner
Making Maine 's winter trails safer is priority one thi s winter.
Endangered Species
21
Pat Friedman
Nearly 50 kinds of wildlife are endangered or threatened in Maine.
Wildlife Heritage
24
Jim Posewitz
President Teddy Roosevelt set the tone for ethical behavior.
Moving Forward
26
Marc Michaud
I&E Chief explain s his goal to keep thi s publication viable.
About the Cover: Maine Wildlife photographer David A. Murray caught this impressive winter buck on film. Winter 2004 Page 3
Editorial
Maine's Bear Management Provides Good Balance As you may know, there is a battle looming concerning bear hunting in Maine. The Secretary of State has been presented with a petition that calls for a referendum this fal l. The proposed referendum question states, " Do you want to make it a crime to hunt bears with bait, traps or dogs, except to protect property, public safety or for research?" Already there has been a lot of misinformation spread by those supporting the ban. I wanted to take this time to put forth some infonnation gathered by our staff whose careers are centered on caring for and protecting Maine's valuable wildlife resources. As the stewards of Maine's fish and Wildlife Resources, we are asked to conserve, protect and enhance the wildlife resources of the state. Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's bear study project has long been a model which other states have emulated. Since its start in 1975, over 2,000 bears have been tagged for research in three study areas in Maine. The data that we have gathered from this study is enormous, and this is the data used when deciding regu lations, bag limits and permit numbers. One of the primary reasons for undertaking and continuing this study is to monitor bear reproduction. One of the many myths that you will hear is that placing bait in the woods actually increases the bear population. That is false. Over the past 25 years our research shows that bear reproduction is directly related to the amount of natura l food in the woods. Natural late fall foods are driving reproduction in Maine. Research shows that from 1982-96, most adult females bears (82%) in our study area produced a litter fo llowing a fall when beechnuts were common and abundant. In years when beechnuts were scarce. only 15% of adult female bears produced litters. lf it were due to baiting, we would have the same level each year. Yet another myth presented as fact is that bear that feed on bait placed in the woods become a nuisance, bothering peop le and their property. There is no evidence lo support that baiting increases conflict between bears and people in Maine. In our research areas, hunting with bail is extensive, but less than I% of our 2,000 re earch bears have been involved in nuisance complaints. With an estimated 23,000 bear in Maine, we receive about 300 nuisance bear complaints each year. ew Jersey has an estimated 3,200 bears and receives over 1,500 complaints each year. ow due to the overflowing increase of nuisance complaints, ew Jersey conducted their first bear hunting season since 1969.
Page 4 MAI E Fish and Wildlife
Bait or other types of lures and attractants are used in many hunts, not just for bear. Deer hunte rs often hunt in apple orchards, duck hunters shoot in areas where wild rice is plentiful. Coyote hunters will place bait in an area to attract their quarry, just Iike deer hunters will spray scents on the ground that imitate a doe in heat to lure big, unsuspecting bucks. Many people will plant crops to attract wi ldlife in order to hunt them later. To say that bait is used only for hunting bears in Maine is untrue. The use of hunting dogs has a long tradition in Maine, whether you are hunting ducks, bear, bobcat, grouse, rabbits or other species; dogs are an inva luable companion when pursu ing game. As a department, we also use hunting dogs for tracking and capturing Canada lynx, a threatened species, as part of our lynx research project. Bait and dogs are used to hunt bear in other states and Canadian provinces as well; it is not a practice limited to Maine. More than a third of the states that have bear hunting seasons allow ba iting (37%), and nearly twothirds (63%) allow hunters to use dogs. Many of the states that don't allow bait or dogs do so because they do not have a large enough bear population to support these methods. One other myth is that Maine's terrain and vegetation are the same as other states that don't allow baiting, so we can use their methods of still hunting and sta lking bears. Th is is wrong on several fronts . Maine's dense evergreen forests are far different than the hardwood canopies of Pennsylvania. and the open alpine meadows of Montana. It's easy to see game in those areas from a distance. Maine is a destination state, not only for beachcombers, but hunters and anglers as well . Nonresident hunters have long been part of Maine 's hunting tradition, whether they came by rail to resorts in Rangeley at the turn of the century, or if they drive to porting camp today. From 1979-89, nonre idents were responsible for 62% of the bear kill, and from 1990-2002, they were responsible for 67% of the kill. Hunting is big business in Maine. It is bigger than the commercial ground fish industry, the blueberry industry, and the potato industry. Over 200.000 people hunt in Maine each year, and tho e hunters generate nearly a half a billion dollars ($453.9 million) in economic activity in Maine. According to a 1998 Economic Impact tudy completed by the Department of Resource Economics and Policy at the
University of Maine in Orono, hunting in Maine generates $329.9 million in direct retail sa les, the tota l househould income generated
from hunting is $129.9 million and it supports 6,440 jobs statewide. The overall economic output of $453 .9 million, including $27.4 million in tate sale and income tax revenue. Bear hunting is a vital piece of that economic puzzle. Wildlife populations do need to be kept in balance with what their habitat can support and with what people want. In areas of our stale where hunting access is limited or denied due to development, deer populations have greatly increased, and their associated problems such a overbrowsing, lyme disease, and vehicle accidents have increased as well. In Aroostook County, while the habitat can support more moose, the people have reached their limit. A petition with over 2,000 names was presented to us to harvest more moose during the hunting season in order to eliminate prob lems such as vehicle accidents. Without baiting, the bear population and the problems associated with overpopulation will increase. Please remember, that until the late fi flies, there were bounties on bears, and a cash reward was offered for every dead bear. Bears can become a nui ance. We received about 300 nuisance bear complaints a year. Some bears arc trapped and moved, and some are killed. We manage wildlife populations to be in balance with their surroundings, which includes the people that live there, whether it is a evergreen forest or uburban landscape. By limiting the means of how people can hunt, you are impacting our ability to keep wildlife populations in balance.
Roland D. Martin, Commissioner
Winter 2004
By Roberta Scruggs
I
n hindsight, it's so easy to see the new~st crisis in the Maine outdoors coming. You could spot it in the skyrocketing ales of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), which jumped 574 percent in Maine over the past decade, thanks in part to the introduction of an automatic transmision. You could chart in the increasing ATV crashes, which killed 35 people and hurt 2,241 - ha! f of them 20 or younger - since 1993 . You could have predicted the outrage and outcry that emerged over the past year, if you realized that Maine squeezes nearly 60,000 registered ATVs onto just 2,200 miles of trails, compared to 12,000 miles for 100,000 snowmobilers. lf ATV riders don't stay on the trails - and, of course, some don ' t - the four-wheelers dig up land, pollute streams and disturb the peace of private landowners. Maine's landowners complained about ATV - angrily and repeatedlyto state and local law enforcement agencies for several years. But not only has there been confusion about who should respond, but no law enforcement agency felt it had the resources to cope with the growing problems. "Law enforcement doesn't always take u eriously or even know the ATV laws," said Pat Burkard, a landowner from Bolsters Mills. "Sometimes it is just plain difficult to get hold ofan officer or warden." But during the past year, a strong efT01t has been mounted to gain control over ATVs. The key step have been a research project on landowner relations, a MAI E Fi hand Wildlife
statewide conference, and the work of the Governor's ATV Task Force, which completed its report Dec. 19.
Private Property the Key In January 2003, the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (SAM), a lobbying group for hunters and anglers, released a report about recreational access to private land. The report, funded by the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, concluded irresponsible ATV use is a maJor statewide problem. In an effort to keep out ATVs, the report said, many landowners are banning all recreational use of their property. The importance of keeping private property open for public recreational use can be demonstrated with four simple facts, the repott said. • About 94 percent of Maine's land
is in private hands. • Up to 90 percent of Maine 's adult population enjoys outdoor recreation from backcountry adventures to walks in the woods. • Landowners also are land users. With so much of the state in private hands, it would be a small world if Mainers could only hike, hunt, ride recreational vehicles, take photos or watch wildlife on their own property. Maine's economy as well as its quality of life depends upon access to the outdoors. "There's no issue more critical to all of us who love the Maine outdoors and enjoy spending our time there," said George Smith, SAM's executive director. ATV enthusiasts, however, worry that if the state cracks down too hard , it could kill a promising new sport, one that could rival the $300 million annual impact of
Deputy Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Paul Jacques chaired the Task Force on ATVs. Roberta Scruggs, to his left, served as the Task Force 's staff. Mark Latti photo
Winter 2004 Page 5
Maine's snowmobile industry. The reason ATVs have become so popular is that they have so much to offer, said Dan Mitchell, president of ATV Maine, a statewide umbrella organization for 61 ATV clubs. "The length of the season makes an ATV a bigger bang for the buck compared to a snowmobile," Mitchell said.
"Even with a good year, eight orl O weeks is the length of snowmobile season. With an ATV the season is eight months and the investment's the same."
Versatile Machines Mainers are using ATVs for work and play, to farm, to hunt, to fish, to gar-
Top Ten ATV Proposals In its Dec. 19 report to Gov. John Baldacci, the ATV Task Force made 47 recommendations, including: Recommend the following new language be added to Maine law: • "The privilege to operate an ATV on the land of another requires the landowner's permission . Permission is presumed where authorized ATV trails exist or in areas open to ATVs by the landowner's policy. Written permission of the landowner is required on cropland, pastureland or in an orchard. Anyone riding on land without the landowner's permission is committing a civil violation subject to a $100 to $500 fine." • Raising the age for mandatory ATV safety training from 1O through 15, to 10 through 18. • Establishing a damage mitigation fund to repair environmental damage, or to reimburse landowners for damage to crops, trees or orchards caused by ATV riders, when those riders cannot be identified or prosecuted. • Making ATV violations count as points against a driver's license and an ATV QUI part of a driver's motor vehicle record. • Authorizing a mud season closure for ATV trails similar to the road posting process, so it can be done at the local level. • Encouraging increased ATV enforcement by creating a three-tier grant program, available by application to all law enforcement agencies in the State. • Encouraging membership in ATV clubs by offering a discount registration for ATV club members. • Distributing state ATV revenues in the same categories as snowmobile revenues: to the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department for law enforcement and safety education; to the Conservation Department for trail grants and equipment; to Maine towns, in lieu of personal property taxes. • Sharply increasing public awareness of ATV laws and safety issues by conducting a statewide, multi-media campaign including TV, radio and print advertisements to teach ATV riders about laws, safety and landowners' rights. • Dedicating all fines from violations of MRSA Title 12 ATV laws to ATV programs. The full report is available on the ATV Task Force website: www.state.me.us/ifw/aboutus/aMaskforce.htm. Printed copies can be requested by calling 207-287-8000. Page 6 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
den and to travel. In the past IO years, the number of ATVs registered in Maine has increased 136 percent, to 52,830 in 2002. "Four out of five of my closest neighbors use their ATVs to plow the driveway," Mitchell said. "l use mine to get firewood from our woodlot, haul the leaves in the fall, haul the deer out, bird hunt, fish, drag snowmobile trails, haul building materials out on the trail systems, and every once in awhile my wife and l go for a nice quiet evening ride to one of our favorite lookouts and watch the sun go down. "The point is that by design an ATV is one of the most versatile machines there is," he said, "and with so many different uses it makes sense that sales are up ... The sales graph that I saw at a local dealer's shop the other day predicts sales to double in the next two years."
Task Force Created Last March, SAM sponsored a statewide conference in Augusta to focus on possible ATV solutions, which attracted about 300 people. Gov. John Baldacci announced then that he'd form an ATV task force to study the issues and recommend action. "It wi 11 take all of us, working together, to control the problems yet still preserve the personal and economic benefits that ATVs can bring to our state," the governor said. Paul Jacques, deputy commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, was named task force chairman. MitcheJJ represented ATV Maine. Other members were Brian Bronson, Department of Conservation; Jon Olson, Maine Farm Bureau; Gary Donovan , Maine Forest Products Council; Carl Van Husen , Small Wood land Owners Association of Maine; Sally Jacobs, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Peter Mosher, Department of Agriculture; Mike Mullen, Department of Environmental Protection; ancy Sferra, The Nature Conservancy; Dave Henderson , Star City ATV Club; Rod Whittemore, Recreational Motorsports Association; Tom Carter, SAM; Lt. Jeffrey Trafton, Maine State Police, and Jeff Austin , Maine Municipal Association. Named to the law enforcement subWinter 2004
This is an extreme example of how bad trail erosion caused by ATV traffic can become. This rut is by the Sac River. committee were Col. Tim Peabody, Maine Warden Service; Chief Kenneth "Doody" Michaud, Fort Kent; Chief Thomas H. Jones, Sanford; Kennebec County Sheriff Everett B. Flannery, Jr.; Bill Williams, Maine Forest Service, and Jim Lyman, Maine Criminal Justice Academy. The task force held its first meeting July 14, then broke into three subcom-
mittees for trails, law enforcement and education/safety. On Sept. 18, the task force reviewed the subcommittees' reports and approved 46 recommendations, which were then taken to public forums in Bangor, Presque Isle, Auburn and Sanford.
Landowner Permission
ATV Clubs are starting to present themselves in higher public profile, such as this float that appeared in a parade in Belfast. Clubs are seen as a major key to SOiving conflicts With landowners. Roberta Scruggs photo MAI
E Fish and Wildlife
In Bangor on Oct. 22, Conan Furber of Kingsbury Plantation started the testimony by saying he wears "four different hats. I'm an elected municipal official. I'm a private landowner of in excess of I 00 acres. I have had four-wheelers for over 10 years and ridden many a thousand miles and I'm also an officer in an ATV club." Then Furber turned toward the task force and held out his copy of the recommendations. "I'm going to surprise you," he said. "I think you've done a good job. Go ahead - faint." The task force heard similar praise, as well as frank discussions and many suggestions at the forums, which drew about 275 people. Comments also came in by mail and email. In all, about 185 people communicated their views about the recommendations and the urgent need to resolve ATV problems. "I truly hope .. . and pray ... that you will be successful," said Steve Brooke, a Farmingdale landowner, "because any other alternative will have a long-term impact on the ab olute core of what is special about Maine. The tradition of open access to our landscape to hunt, to fish, to hike, and to enjoy our state is at stake." One recommendation that drew much comment was the requirement that ATV riders have a landowner's pern1ission to ride unless they ' re on authorized trails. "In the course of a typical weekend, I might have 100 ATVers crossing my property," Furber said. "I'm not about to stand out there and write out permission slips ... I agree wholeheartedly with what you're doing, but how can you come up with a method that says, "This is the ATV trail. Stay on it,' without my incurring a lot of expense and time and effort to designate all those trails?" Yet some landowners were adamant that written permission is necessary to protect their peace, their property and their livelihood. "We 're impressed with the dedication that went into these propo als," said Dan LaBrie, a director of the Maine Potato Growers. "But we think individuals hould need written permission to go on agricultural lands."
Winter 2004 Page 7
Liability Insurance Another much-discussed topic was mandatory liability insurance. Many supported the concept; some thought insurance also should be mandatory for snowmobiles, and many worried about the cost and availability of insurance. "I've got nothing against liability insurance," said Nonn Roberts of Searsmont. "I think it's a good thing. But the cost is just too much for people sometimes, so they won't do it." Many urged the task force to address problems caused by other off-road vehicles, such as trucks, jeeps and dirt bikes, which are often blamed on ATVs. "It's becoming a major issue," said Jim Lane, an ATV Maine representative. "There's a growing concern, too, about the dirt bikes in the wilderness." Mike Harrison of Lebanon encouraged the Task Force to consider charging a fee for all off-road vehicles , not just ATVs and snowmobiles. "There are thousands of dual-sport bikes out there," Harrison said. "Off-road fees are not paid by (those with) street licenses ... All ATVs and dirt bikes should be taxed and if you want to allow jeeps on the trails, they should pay, too." Most people strongly supported increased law enforcement, including impoundment of ATVs for criminal ATV violations, such as operating under the influence and criminal trespass . But oth-
Signs like this one are becoming more common in Maine every day. It will require much pro-active work by those who ride these machines to convince landowners to allow these machines on their land. Page 8 MAI E Fish and Wildlife
ers wondered if such measures were j ustified. "Are you going to persecute the snowmobile riders also and make them get liability insurance, landowner permission, pay higher fines, etc. or will just the ATV riders be discnm,-
Sign of the times. It is imperative that ATV operators pay heed to signs warning about fragile ecosystems, especially wetlands. Baldacci to redistribute the nearly $2 million annually the
SENSITIVE HABITAT
nated against?" asked Darrell Wood of Carmel. The recommendation for a registration discount for ATV club member received strong support, especially from those who already belong to clubs. "Once people start joining ATV clubs they'll get information about safety, crops, etc ... ," said Bud Nicholson of Fort Fairfield. "The cure is the clubs and the financial support for the clubs to do the work." Others opposed the discount, some because it's unfair to "force" someone to join a club; others because it would be unfair to other recreational clubs, and some because it would ultimately weaken ATV clubs. "Are we prepared to offer a discount on hunting and fishing licenses for those who join a local fish and game club?" a ked Smith of the Sportsman's Alliance. "If that's part of the deal, J suppose we would be more enthusia tic! But seriously, this is just not appropriate for the state. And it will not be good for the ATV clubs, where membership should be limited to those with a sincere desire to support, participate in, and contribute to the club's projects and program ."
Funding a Problem Many wondered how the recommendations were to be funded . Smith strongly urged the task force to ask Gov.
ATV fees were hiked substantially earlier this year," Smith said, "but the money was used to balance the budget of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, instead of to fund ATV solutions including more law enforcement and trail building. Give us back the money! That must be your first, second, and third recommendation - or all the rest of your recommendations will be useless." After studying the public comment , the task force changed some recommendations, including requiring written landowner pennission on agricultural land and not making liability insurance mandatory - at least not until a state review of that issue is complete. It delivered its report to the governor in mid December, saying even though state government is struggling with a funding crisi , it 's important to protect Maine's most valuable resources. "Access to the outdoors i an asset beyond price," the task force concluded . "If that asset is to be preserved, Maine 's landowners must be convinced that the state's ATV problems will be re olved. ATV operators already are paying much of the money - nearly $2 million annually in registration fees alone - needed to fund the e recommendations . olutions are within reach if ATV revenues can be redirected to afety, law enforcement and trail programs." Winter 2004
Outdoor writer Harry Vanderweide gets up close and personal during a winter bear den study trip.
Bear Den Study Enhances Manageinent Prograin By Bob Humphrey Maine's black bear population, estimated to be around 23,000 today, is one of the largest black bear populations in the lower 48 states. The rise in status of Maine 's black bear to a prized big game specie is due to the evolution of the bear management program that has occurred over the last one hundred years. An integral part to the research has been the bear den site visits by department biologists.
History Black bears were not always considered big game animals in Maine. In colonial times they were considered vermin , an attitude that persisted for centuries. The town of Scarborough offered the first bounty on bears in 1770, and bounties were offered in parts of Maine most years from 1880 through 1957 It was not until 1931 that the legislature classified bears as game animals and instituted a ho1t open season. That protection la ted only a decade, and in 1942, MAINE Fish and Wildlife
bears once again became legal game year round. The legislature enacted a June I December 31 season in 1966, then a bag limit of one bear per hunter per year and mandatory registration in I 969. Minor changes in season dates occurred during the next few years, leading up to the first bear research.
Bear Study Begins Maine biologists began a long-term research study invo lving radio-co llaring bears in their dens in 1975. This project has provided invaluable insight into Maine's bear population. lt has proven a valuable supplement to other forms of data collection, and ha even revealed some unexpected results, but its principle objective is to assess cub survival - an important component of population modeling. "How many cubs survive to be one year old is one of the hardest things to predict," said bear biologist Randy Cross.
"it's something we would not be able to predict without going in and seeing the animals." And that's exactly what they do. Each winter, a team of biologists visits between 50 and 70 dens to attach or maintain radio collars. "Our goal is to have 70 bears on the air, but it's usually closer to 50," said Cross. Fema le bears give birth to cubs in their winter den every other year. She and her cubs emerge from their winter den in the spring and the cubs will stay with her throughout the summer and fall. Late in the fall, when the cubs are nearly a year old, they accompany their mother into her den. In the spring, the yearling bears leave the den with their mother, but at the onset of the breeding season (June) the yearlings leave her and begin a life on their own. Cubs are born in January and when they are about six weeks old in March, the dens of collared adult females are visited. "The following year, in January or February, when they are about a year old and weigh about 40 pounds, we put collars on the female yearlings. This allows us to follow them through the rest of their lives," said Cross.
Study Area When bear research began , three study areas were selected based on habiWinter 2004 Page 9
tat (forested vs. forest/farm), human development pressures, and hunting pressures (low vs. high). One study area is in northern Maine west of Ashland. It is known as the Spec Pond area and encompasses four townships. A southern study area is just north of Bangor and is more irregular in shape. It spans Bradford, Alton, Lagrange, Edinburgh and Argyle. The third area is near Sherman and has been slowly downsized because conditions here are very similar to the northern study unit. This area may be dropped completely in favor of developing a study area in Downeast Maine (blueberry barrens/forest interface) that would be more representative of the diversity of bear habitats throughout the state. The Department hopes to trap and collar 25 bears in this area next spring and begin collecting baseline data.
Methods "It's a fairly simple operation," said Cross, "but a lot of work. Sometimes we have to go up steep mountain slopes, often in deep snow. All of our sledding is off-trail so we're breaking our own trails." ln many instances, den sites are not accessible by snowmobile, which means the researchers have to snowshoe themselves and their equipment in . Once at the site, the real fun begins. The first step is to open the den entrance
Bear Management History in Maine 1770 - 1931 - No closed season, no bag limit 1931 - 1941 - Classified as game animal, season same as deer season 1941 - 1966 - No closed season Bountied until 1957 1966 - Season reduced to six months 1969 - Bag limit 1 bear per hunter per year 1969 - MDIFW began monitoring harvest 1982 - 3 month, fall only season 1982 - MDIFW began regulating the harvest by hunting method (bait, dogs, still hunting/stalking, trapping) enough to see what's going on inside. "We need to locate and identify body parts of the adult female," said Cross. They then try to inject a sedative into muscle mass like the shoulder, neck or rump. "It's tricky because you're often looking at a little circle of black fur and you need to know what part of the bear you're looking at." After the jab, they seal the den entrance and wait ten minutes for the drugs to take effect. "We check to see if she's sedated. Eighty percent of the time, she is." Then, someone has to enter the
Bear dens often get way down deep under deadfalls or banks. Checking the bear's location with a flashlight makes it much easier to figure out just where the bear is before entering the den. Mark Latti photo Page 10 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
den. lf cubs are present, they are hauled out first. Yearlings are sedated with a hand syringe before being brought out. Finally, the mother is pulled out and the team takes a battery of measurements on mother and young. Handling involves fixing, adjusting or replacing a collar, new collars and ear tags for yearling females and tattoos for yearling males.
Results The bear management system used today does not rely only on harvest data, but relies largely on data from the research efforts of study personnel. To determine local bear population viability, researchers estimate bear densities (i.e. the number of bears /square miles) in each of the study areas based on the current number of radio collared bears occupying the study area, the number of cubs born in each area each year, and the number of bears dying either through hunter harvest or by natural causes. This assessment provides data on the qua Iity of bear habitat in each study area and allows the biologists to determine the number of bears that can be supported in other areas with similar habitat conditions. The data can then be utilized to estimate bear densities statewide and provides the data needed to modify seasons and limits in order to achieve population goals. The information gathered from den site work al lows the Department to Winter 2004
update population models annually. "This is where we get our information on cub survival, recruitment, and age of first reproduction, all of which vary from year to year," said Cross. "The factors that affect bear survival are complex, and there are many things we may never know, but we have our finger on the pulse through our direct contact with the bears." For instance, they can determine how bad or good a summer it was for the bears based on the weights of adults. "That's the beauty and strength of our program," he said, "using real bears to compare. Because the habitat is similar, we assume our northern commercial-forest bears are eating off the same table throughout central and northern Maine. If our study bears are doing poorly, we assume all the bears in the region are doing the same."
More Bear Facts
Once the bear is out in the open a careful process of checking it condition and taking measurements begins. Mark Latti photo
The researchers also collect a range of peripheral information. "We have the bear, so we take all this peripheral information because the opportunity to gather data is there, said Cross. They look at morphological differences in the bears, such as size and weight, and record den characteristics. One of the most interesting findings during 20 years of research is black bear breeding synchronization. "Nearly all our cubs are born on odd-numbered years in our northern study area," said Cross. "In 10 even-year springs we only had one of those years with seven litters born over that 20-year period and they were all in the spring of 2002. Meanwhile, in the same 20-year period on the odd years we had an average of 14 litters per year. We could never have predicted that." Biologists believe that synchronization is based largely on beechnut availability. "It's during an odd-year spring, following an even-year fall with a heavy beech nut crop that we saw all our cubs being born," he says. However, that trend broke recently. "We had a less-than-average strong food year, followed immediately by a better-than-average weak food year. We don't know how long that break will last," he noted, which is why the den work must continue. "That's the beauty of a long-term study; if we quit, we wouldn't know, we wouldn't be able to predict that. You'd think we feel pretty comfortable, because it's been that way for 20 years. But you'd be wrong. There is always room for surprises."
The Unexpected
A careful check of teeth tells researchers a lot about both the bear's age and its general condition. Mark Latti photo MAINE Fish and Wildlife
After more than 20 years of den research , Cross observed, "There's never a den season that I'm not mildly surprised about something." One unexpected find was that cub survival has improved markedly in the last four to five years. "Last year was a new record; we had 92 percent survival of cubs born the previous year. When you're trying to model populations, you need that current info." They've also found some interesting use of den sites. Winter 2004 Page 11
Bears choose many types of denning sites. This bear tucked itself away for the winter under a fallen tree. Most people think of bears as ferocious creatures, but the biologists who go into their winter dens says they tend to be quite docile. The most likely chance of getting injured is being run over by a bear that wakes up enough to run away as someone enters the den to dart the bear with a tranquilizer. Mark Latti photo
"Last year we found yearlings and cubs in the same den," said Cross. They also found a two-year-old ma with its mother - a first. "We think he killed her cubs because there were no cubs but she was lactating. Either way, it's something we'd never seen before."
Yet another unexpected turn of events left room for speculation. "We had a bear go off the air late in the fall ," recalled Cross. They searched the area where she had last been tracked, with no results. As a last-ditch effort, they decided to try and locate her den
Hunting over bait is the most common method of taking bears in Maine and it is an accepted part of the management plan used by the Department. Harry Vanderweide photo
Page 12 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
from the previous two years. "We've never had a bear use the same den three years in a row, but since she used it in two consecutive years, we tried." After locating the den they heard cub sounds emanating from it. However, after anesthetizing the female, they discovered it wasn't the one they were looking for. It was, however, a female of the same age. "We lost one bear but gained a new one." Cross speculated that the new bear could have been a sister to the lost bear, and that may have been their natal or year Iing den. The reuse of den sites is very unu ual in Maine. Only one out of 80 dens are reused helping to dismiss the common misconception that they return to the same dens every year. Though big litters sometimes make the news, it turns out they're not all that uncommon. "Our biggest litter size is four," aid Cross. "We usually find one per year, on average. We're still looking for that five." It' keeps the job intere ting," he observed. "It's kind of an intrusion into the bear's life, but such a fa cinating peek into what' going on. The general public and sportsmen like the realism. We're working with real bears, not generating gue ses; we let the animals tell u what's happening." Winter 2004
Want a Whopper? Providing Trophy Fish for Maine
Anglers By Tom Seymour W hen the Ma ine Legislature appo in ted a hatchery commi ss ion in 1999 to study ways to im prove salrno nid fi shing opportunities, anglers benefited in a big way. O ne of the group 's goals was to provide more trophy fi sh thro ughout the state. And one of the ways to ac hieve this end was to ra ise, breed and release into the wild more so-call ed "broodstock" fis h. Until recently, the main goal of the broodstock program was to pmv ide healthy eggs to sustain M aine hatcheri es. After the fis h outlived their reproductive usefulness they were released into publ ic waters for anglers to catch. Most of these fis h were of an adva nced age, 4 and 5 years o ld. T he ir long li fe in hatchery poo ls was evidenced by their ofte n beatup, physical cond ition. Al l thi s has changed. Now, with add itional emphas is put o n stocking large salmo ni ds , Maine 's Department of Inl and Fisheries and Wild life (MDI F&W) Hatchery Di vision raises ma ny more broodstock fis h. And , happ ily, these fis h are considerably you nger and in better phys ical conditi on than sim ilar fis h of an earli er era. Here's why. "We are whal we eal, and this MA INE Fish and Wil d li fe
Scientifically formulated fish feeds are making it possible to grow bigger fish, something really appreciated by ice fisherman including Forest Boucher who landed this four-pound landlocked salmon. Mike Boucher photo appli es to fi sh," said Steve Wil son, Director of the MDIF&W Hatchery Di vision. "The fi sh we stock refl ect the feed they are g ive n. We be nefit directly fro m the competi tion there is between co mme rcial fis h feed producers." Wilson po inted out that these co mpanies vie with each other fo r business from M ai ne and Canadia n salmon farmers, the companies
that propagate pen-raised salmon in ocean pens.
Space-Age Fish Food Today, fish feed is scientifically formulated for each stage of fis h production. Spec ial feed is avai lab le fo r all needs, including broodstock production. These space-age feeds have dramatically Winter 2004 Page 13
reduced the time it takes to raise a fish from an eyed egg to adulthood. While in years back a typical, 4- to 5-pound brood fish might have been 4 or 5 years old, that same fish today is 3 or 4 years old. Wilson went on to say that today, it takes only three years to raise a trout to the point where its eggs may be utilized; and three or four years to make a trophy fish - a brook trout of 4 or 5 pounds. Brook trout, by the way, are the favorite of Maine anglers and represent the great bulk of Maine's broodstock fish. There's something else about these "new" trophy fish. They are absolutely gorgeous; handsomely colored, perfectly shaped and with no apparent signs of life spent in a hatchery pool. As Wilson put it, "these fish are beautiful, in good health ... wallhangers." The new, high-tech diet, coupled with a shorter span in the hatchery combine to produce fish that most of us used to only dream about. In fact, it's difficult to tell the difference between these hatchery-raised trout and a similar-sized fish bred in the wild. These are truly, remarkable fish.
It Begins With an Egg And according to Wilson, it's a good thing that the fish grow so quickly. Trophy-sized trout take up lots of room, considerably more room than normalized fish, and the kind that are regularly planted in Maine's lakes, ponds and rivers. So again, the relatively quick trip from egg to adulthood is a bonus for Maine's anglers, in that it is possible to grow more big fish in a shorter time. Wilson took care to point out that with the new initiative to more fully utilize the brood fish, the fish must continue to produce the highest-quality eggs. "We provide our own egg from the broodstock," Wilson said. It is imperative to keep the fish healthy in order to harvest good eggs." Wilson mentioned that it would be virtually impossible to harve t the needed eggs from the wild. It would require a constant presence of hatchery personnel on lakes and ponds, trapping wild fish and harvesting the egg . LogisticaJly speaking, it couldn't be done. The only practical way to meet the need for salmonids in Maine is to acquire the eggs Page 14 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Hefty trout like this pair go a long way toward pleasing anglers interested in catching a trophy fish. Mark Latti photo from hatchery-raised broodstock. The increa ed demand for trophy trout and the inestimable value of the broodstock for breeding purposes requires pecial consideration and planning. Thus, more hatcheries must be used to provide more holding space. If all or most of Maine's broodstock were kept in one location, the results of a disease or other unforeseen failure would be disastrous. "We keep our broodstock at locations all over the state, spread around for backup in case of emergency," Wilson said.
Biologists Call the Plays So ju t how does the program work? Who determines how many fish go where? This is, logically enough, part of the many and various responsibilities of the MDIF&W Regional Biologi t .
Traditionally, the biologists have been responsible for analyzing salmonid populations in their district. Each year, using all available information, biologists compile a list of how many fish should be placed in the various waters in their districts. This list i submitted to Augusta and acted upon accordingly. Now, in addition to figuring out how many overall fi h are needed, the biologists include requests for trophy fish. Typically, the waters that receive brood tock salmon ids are never far from built-up areas. "We don't put broodstock in places like the Allagash River," Wil on told me. The idea here, of course, is to provide the best possible trophy-fish opportunity for the highe t number of anglers. And far from being a secret, the annual stocking list, published by MDIF& W, notes when and where trophy Winter 2004
fis h are stocked. Their main goal is to give everyo ne a fair chance at these hi ghly desirable fis h. Wi l on menti oned the brood fis h that are regul arly stocked in Pi ckerel Po nd, a special body of water where kids can learn the joys of fis hing and have a chance to ti e onto trophy brook tro ut. This is an additional benefit of the expanded, broodstock program. As menti oned earlier, brook tro ut far outnu mber other salmonids in the broodstock/trophy trout program. Thi s is a reacti on to a de mand, the call by ang lers for large specimens of their favorite ti h - brook trout. During an average year between 2,500 and 3,000 trophy broo k tro ut (fi sh of 4 and 5 pounds) are released in Maine waters. Occasionally, as many as 5,000 may be pl anted in a single year. Other almonids, specifically brow n trout and landlocked sa lmon are stoc ked too, but in signi fica ntly fewer numbers. Also, broodstock brow ns and salmon are not necessarily stocked annuall y, but rather as they become ava il able. The biggest de mand is fo r brook trout.
Pumping out the good ones. At some locations its possible to pump stocked fish straight from the truck into the water, cutting down on possible handling injuries. Mark Latti photo
No Records Stocked Here's an interesting point. Anyone may wonder if it is possible to catch a state record salmonid, only to learn that the fish was a recently released broodstock specimen. Well fear not, because that will never happen. MDIF&W won't stock a fish that could become the state record. To do so would violate the rule of fair chase, which is the only way a state record may be attained. Any fish taken in Maine waters that meets state record status will most assuredly be an individual that ha'i achieved its size by virtue of living in the wild. Care for a crack at some of these brui er brookies? Then obtain a recent copy of the MDIF& W stocking list from a regional office (it's free!), or go online to mefishwildlife.com and note the closest water to you where trophy fish have been placed. It's as simple as that. And if it works out, you may tie onto a fish that far exceeds your wildest expectations. That's what this new program is all about. Good luck.
MA IN
Fish and Wil d li fe
Exciting times! A bucket full of large trout can easily hold a young angler's attention. Mark Lalli photo Winter 2004 Page 15
IARTID: DIAD and ALIVI!!!!
There is an old dead tree, with just a few limbs left on it, the bark gone, stark and weathered, its trunk full of holes. What possible benefits can this old specimen provide to the wildlife in the area? Look a little more closely, and you might begin to see how wildlife, lots of wildlife, are using this valuable old tree!.
Snags are standing dead or dying trees which provide great natural homes for lots of wildlife species , called cavity nesters. The types of wildlife that live in these 'wildlife trees ' will also depend on the kind , size and habitat location of the snag. The larger it is, the more wildlife the snag can support. The best den trees, alive or dead, are over 15 in inches diameter at breast height (DBH), with cavities or holes of 4 inches or more. Snags can be used for nesting both on and in, denning in holes or cavities or as look-outs. When the tree eventually falls, as sunning or drumming sites, perches and overlook, and a great place to hide and den underneath. What kinds of wildlife use snag trees? Let's test your knowledge!! See if you can figure out which one animal WOULD NOT be likely to use a snag in the habitat indicated. J1
f'
f. 1
i -
Perch and nest silos
i
,\.7
A_;,Y "C>---4'_;,)
There are four correct answers and one incorrect for each habitat type. Let's see how you do!
STANDING UPLAND FOREST SNAG 1. porcupine 2. wood duck 3. red squi r rel 4. pine marten 5. pileated woodpecker
Page 16 MAINE Fish and Wild life
Fall 2003
ST ANDING WETLAND SNAG 6. great blue heron 7. wood duck 8. black bear 9. osprey 10. hooded merganser
ST ANDING OPEN FIELD SNAG 11. coyote 12. bat 13. bluebird 14. red tail hawk 15. bobcat
Pileated woodpeckers excavate snag cavities for nesting.
STANDING BACKYARD SNAG 16. flying squirrel 17. beaver 18. black-capped chickadee 19. raccoon 20. chipmunk
FALLEN FOREST SNAG 21. bald eagle 22 . ruffed grouse 23 . grey fox 24. black bear 25. red -backed salamander
Great horned owls use snags for perching and observation posts.
FALLEN WETLAND SNAG 26 . bass 27. tur tles 28 . great blue heron 29 . white-tailed deer 30. dragonfly
Great blue herons stand on snag limbs to fish .
~ Fallen snags make a good sunning and resting spot for a mallard.
As you can see , a wildlife tree is a strong link in the habitat chain. Even as it dies, it provides life to many wild creatures. Take a walk, seek out a snag , and follow the wildl ife activities in and around it through the seasons . By allowing these trees to stand , we are saving important places for wildlife! ANSWERS ON PAGE 30
Snags make great osprey nesting sites MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Wood ducks will nest in a snag cavity. Fall 2003 Page 17
Snowmobile Safety Is Priority One
A warden carefully observes a speeding snowmobiler. Excess speed for trail conditions is one of the key elements in snowmobile accidents. Mark Latti photo
By Cathy Genthner The snowmobi le sea on of 20022003 was the deadliest in Maine's history, with a record of 16 fatali ties. "Virtually al l of last sea on's 16 fata lities were avoi dable," sa id Bob Meyers, the executive d irector of the Maine Snowmobi le Association. With those grim statistics in mind, the push is on to make the snowmob il e season of 2003-2004 one of Maine 's safest. The Maine Department of Inl and Fisherie and Wild li fe (DIF&W), a long with Maine 's 285 snowmobil e clu bs, are focus ing on safety on the trail s by sponsoring a number of workshops and safety courses throug hout the state. Emp loyi ng safety and common sense on the trails can save lives. "We hold trail afety checks in conjunction with local snowmobile clubs. The Warden Service also conducts pot Page 18
MA I E Fish and Wild life
Trail checks are one way that game wardens have to help convince snowmobilers of the need for proper equipment, as well as to operate their machines safely. Mark Latti photo Winter 2004
safety and registration checks while patrolling the trails as a way to encourage the safe operation of snowmobiles," said Debbie Pal man, a District Game Warden whose area includes the northern part of Hancock County. "The biggest problem is that people will be traveling too fast for the ex isting conditions. As a result, they end up on the wrong side of a corner and hit an oncoming snowmobile, or they become airborne, fly off the trai I and hit a tree. The machines go very fast and the status is to have a faster, bigger machine - it is an ego thing. We've taken statements from people lying in a hospital bed following an accident who have told us that if you can't go 60 miles per hour or more, it isn't fun. People go fast because it is exciting, but it isn ' t worth risking your Ii fe for that kind of exc itement."
Speed is the Key Mike Sawyer, the Recreational Safety and Vehicle Coordinator for DIF&W, notes that a majority of last season 's fata lities involved single-sled acc idents, as opposed to accidents with two or more sleds. "The way individuals operate their machines seems to be our biggest dilemma. We are not getting many head-on crashes, and that speaks well to what has
been done with trail safety during the past ten years," said Sawyer. "We have to get that individual to realize they are not immortal, and that they should travel at a speed at which they can control the sled ." Other contributing factors in snowmobile accidents include a driver's inexperience, inattention, and unfamiliarity with the sled, as well as the area. Fluctuating ice and weather conditions also play a part in accidents . Each year, a few sleds will go through the ice, indicating that the driver did not properly check ice conditions before going out and ice conditions can change rapidly. Pressure ridges on lakes and ponds also cause big problems. "Someone will hit a pressure ridge, it will throw the machine and they can become airborne," said Sawyer. "With pressure ridges, you have a changing surface cond ition . This changes the strength of the ice and you are more likely to have a machine go through ." The spo1t of snowmobiling is growing. There were a record number of snowmobile registrations last season - over l O1,000. Of those I 01,000 registrations, there were 401 accidents, inc luding the 16 fatalities. Based on these figures, statistically speaking, snowmobiling is safer
Following at a safe distance is one of the steps that all snowmobilers can take to make their sport safer. Mark Latti photo
MAIN E Fi sh and Wild life
Gear to Go Snowmobilers should have with them on the trail: 1. A basic snowmobile repair kit 2. First aid kit 3. A survival kit (rope, waterproof matches, flashlight, flares, space blanket, jackknife, high energy snacks such as chocolate bars) 4. A map of the area and a compass/GPS system 5. Extra gas 6. A cell phone than driving a motor vehicle. "Last year was one of the safest seasons on record, based on the number of accidents per registrations," said Meyers. "It is safe out there."
Snowmobile Clubs For nearly a decade, the Standish Sno-Seekers Snowmobile Club has been holding its annual Winterfest on the south shore of Sebago Lake at the Standish boat landing. A high Iight of Winterfest is a 30-mile poker run on the Standish Loop Trail that takes snowmobilers along the shores of Sebago Lake and up onto Oak Hill , where you can see Mt. Washington on a clear day. As always, safety is a primary concern. "Everyone is concerned with safety. We go out of our way to make snowmobiling a safe sport," said Bob Walker, the trail master for the Sno-Seekers. "For example, when we are cutting the trails and approaching a comer, we try to make sure we limb all the trees so that there is good visibility." And that involves a lot of work because the club maintains 62 miles of trails . However, safety is ultimately and literally in the hands of the snowmobile operator. "We've had people in our club have their skis run over by an approaching sled that was going way too fast," said Walker. "Some people just don't care. think it should be mandatory for snowmobilers to belong to a club because that is where a lot of snowmobile safety and education occurs." "If everyone were required to join a Winter 2004 Page 19
club it may encourage people to slow down and respect the work of the Maine Snowmobile Association," said Brenda Walker, Bob's wife and treasurer of the club. "We need to educate kids about snowmobile safety before they ride. They should be required to take a safety course. Safety courses, although not required, are available through the Maine Department of lnland Fisheries and Wildlife and local snowmobile clubs. An eight-hour certificate course is available. "The snowmobile safety course is designed for the beginning snowmobiler," said Sawyer. "For the novice, it will introduce him or her to machine nomenclature, proper and safe handling of the machine, wilderness survival, ethics and snowmobile laws. It is designed like our hunter safety courses to acclimate a person to the sport." In addition, the MSA recently started a two-hour safety course, and is in the process of putting together an accompanying CD so that people can learn on their computers at home.
To Schedule an IF&W Snowmobile Safety Course Contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Snowmobile Safety Coordinator listed for your area. For more information, call the IF&W Safety Office at 207-287-5220. Northern Aroostook: Clifford Caldwell- (207) 498-6518 {nights) (207) 764-6970 Knox/Waldo/Hancock: Ed Davis - (207) 469-7918 Oxford/No. Androscoggin: Perry Edwards - (207) 743-6290 Kennebec: Michael Feeney - (207) 685-3058 Cumberland/So. Androscoggin: Louis Haskell - (207) 655-7757 Washington/Hancock: Harland Hitchings - (207) 796-2282 York: Bruce Martin - (207) ~84-4692 Sagadahoc/Lincoln: Reginald Read - (207) 442-8421 Somerset/Franklin: Rick Rogers - (207) 639-5421 Penobscot/Piscataquis/No.Somerset: Woody Thompson (207) 876-3497 So. Aroostook/No. Penobscot: Richard Tidd (207) 532-5658 To obtain materials to present an MSA/Ride Right Safety Course, contact the Maine Snowmobile Association Office at (207) 622-6983; msa@mesnow.com
Be Prepared There are some things to keep in mind before you head out to prevent problems on the trail. First of all, make ure your snowmobile is in good running condition. Have a mechanic check it out, put it through its paces, or do it yourself if you are qualified. A frozen or malfunctioning throttle can be deadly. A breakdown on the trail can turn into a very dangerous situation. That is why snowmobilers should be prepared for breakdowns and keep emergency supplies on hand. It is critical that snowmobilers tell someone where they are going before they go - if it's just a short, late afternoon loop around the lake or a 3-day expedition. You can keep the peace at home, and possibly keep search and re cue person_nel from going on a wild goose chase, 1f, for example, people knew your itinerary included staying at that cozy lodge in northern Maine for an extra night. Better yet, fill out an itinerary form and leave it with a relative, the motel/lodging staff or other appropriate person before you head out. These itinerary forms are available Page 20 MAI E Fi h and Wildlife
on line at: www.me.snow.com/ForMembers.html through the Maine Snowmobile Association. Also, never ride alone and always check the weather forecast before going on a trip. "For the most part, cell phones have been a positive thing on the trail," said Sawyer. "We have to be careful that people don't become too reliant on them because you may not always have cell phone service depending on where you are. We do find, in some cases, that even if someone is able to call for help, they shou Id sti 11 be prepared to spend some time on the trail until help arrive ." In addition to these things, snowmobiler should always wear a helmet and dress appropriately, preferably in layers. By doing this, no matter which way the mercury goes, you will be comfortable and afe on the trail. Most importantly, snowmobilers should use common sen e by staying alert, driving defensively, operating at prudent speed , knowing and obeying the laws, and avoiding alcohol.
Landowner Permission There are over I 2,000 miles of snowmobile trails in Maine, making for some of the best snowmobiling in the country. What make it great for those of us who live in Maine is that in many instances, we imply tep out our backdoor, hop on the sled and hit the trail. Many people in Massachu etts, Connecticut and other more "southern states" don't have that luxury. Even in Southern Maine, many trails have been lost due to urban sprawl. It hould be noted that most of the trail in Maine an estimated 95 percent - are on private property. Respect for the landowner should alway be foremost in the mind of snowmobiler . tay on marked trail , don't litter, don't make any unneces ary noise, and stay to the right. The sport of snowmobiling is dependent on the kindne s of thousand of landowners throughout Maine. And, the uccess of the 20032004 season is dependent on the actions of all snowmobilers who make safety their number one concern. Winter 2004
Saving Maine's Endangered Programs By Pat Friedman The future of Maine's parks and wildlife lie in our hands, on our vehicles and inside our tax forms.
The Act Before the Maine Endangered Species Act was passed in 1975, a diverse group offish and wildlife species was at risk of vanishing from our fields and streams. This Act set in place the Maine Endangered Species Program, which is overseen by the Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W), and financed by the Endangered and Non-game Wildlife Fund. This central funding source relies heavily on Mainers' participation by purchasing the Loon License Plate for their vehicles, choosing the Chickadee Check-
Off on income tax returns, playing the Outdoor Heritage Conservation lottery, and furnishing individual donations. Some additional funding support comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and competitive grants. To monitor, manage, and protect our most vulnerable species of wildlife and their habitat requires the solidarity of private groups, government agencies, schools and citizens. Our efforts in Maine are ultimately tied into regional and national networks of similar programs nationwide.
The Critters Nearly 50 species of Maine 's fish and wildlife now fall under the endangered or threatened umbrella. Listed as Endangered, the golden eagle, box turtle, and roaring brook mayfly are in the greatest need of special attention. Others include falcons, terns, sparrows and moths. The Threatened category has an extensive range- from puffins to drag-
Five different whale species on the federal endangered or threatened species list are known to swim in Maine waters. MAINE Fish and Wildlife
onflies and mussels to ducks. These Maine species are listed as endangered or threatened only after they meet strict requirements for evidence that they may soon disappear entirely from the State. Plants are not included , but the list is revisited by the Legislature every five years. In 1988, Maine's Endangered Species Act was extended to include Essential Habitat protection for listed species, and in 1990, the first bald eagle nest sites were designated and protected. Since then, 340 bald eagle nesting sites have been monitored.
The Plate Revenue from Loon Plate sales is currently one of the few funding sources supporting protection of non-game and endangered animals. What's more, the money that Maine people contribute to the Loon Plate is often used as matching money that can be matched up to four times by outside funding sources. In its first two years, Mainers bought more than 80,000 Loon Plates. But the introduction of and subsequent popularity of the new Chickadee Plate has created a sharp decline in Loon Plate sales- and consequently - the programs they fund. Between 1994 and 1998, Loon Plate sales had risen from 60,000 to over 110,000. The result: $617,000 per year went to MDIF&W for non-game and endangered wildlife projects. Then the Chickadee Plate came along in 2000, causing a 20 percent decline in Loon Plate sales. By 2001, the programs lost another $41,429. Other "specialty plate" designs are being introduced, thereby creating competition for the Loon Plate program and the funding stream for the various wildlife projects and help for our state parks. According to Cathy Curtis, Director of Vehicle Services, Maine still has one of the best ratios nationwide - about IO percent of the 900,000 registered passenWinter 2004
Page 21
ger vehicles in the State currently don the Loon Plate. This tremendous show of care and concern for our natural resources is met with great appreciation by the agencies that help manage them.
The Parks The Loon Plate funding garnishes another major contribution to Maine: our state parks and historic sites. Our 35 state parks and 15 historic sites, like Fort Halifax and Popham, rely heavily on Loon Plate revenues because all entry fees and pass income go directly into the state's general fund, not to the parks. Department of Conservation's (DOC) Steve Curtis explains that, "quite frankly, we have become very dependent on the Loon funds for the upkeep and repair of our state parks and historic sites. Of the dollars generated from the plate, 60 percent goes to parks and 40 percent goes to species protection." Maine's park system is a $100 million infrastructure, for which the DOC is responsible. Most of our aging parks are 3040 years old and need more attention than ever. Curtis says "it's like having to choose between one of your children, with so many improvement and upkeep needs from electric to septic, besides all that is visible." Entrance roads and parking lots, public facilities, and hundreds of other repairs are made possible by Loon Plate income. Each park and historic site has different needs, but the DOC's Bureau of Parks and Lands manages all. Each year, free park entry passes are doled out to Loon Plate supporters in an effort for the state to show appreciation for the great significance each contribution makes.
Proud Accomplishments Voluntary means of funding such as the Loon Plate provide the core funding for Maine's nongame and endangered species programs. All money donated, whether through the Chickadee Tax Checkoff, vehicle registrations, grants, or direct gifts, are deposited into the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund- a special, interest-bearing account from which money can only be spent for the conservation of Maine's nongame and endangered species. Given the limited resources available for endangered
The bald eagle is making a strong comeback in Maine, but it is still on the state's threatened list.
species, Maine can be proud of the accomplishments made for nongame and endangered wildlife in the last 17 years. But this has not been done alone. The Department thanks those who have purchased a Loon License Plate or has contributed through the Chickadee Checkoff, or a Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund lottery ticket. The department has also had many willing partners and cooperating organizations, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS), National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Maine Audubon Society, University of Maine, The Nature Conservancy, and the Maine Natural Areas Program. Lt cannot be overemphasized that every bureau of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is deeply committed and involved in nongame and Threatened and Endangered species conservation. We are all working hard to keep Maine a special place, but can always use your support. Please remember this as you fill out your tax return this year or register your car, for you can The presence of mountain lions in Maine is uncertain, but they are listed on have an impact on Maine's endangered and threatened species. the federal endangered and threatened list.
Page 22 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Winter 2004
Maine Endangered Species Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos Blanding's Turtle - Emydoidea blandingii Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus B Box Turtle - Terrapene carolina Piping Plover - Charadrius melodus** Black Racer - Coluber constrictor Roseate Tern - Sterna dougallii* Roaring Brook Mayfly - Epeorus frisoni Ringed Boghaunter (dragonfly) - Williamsonia lintneri Least Tern - Sterna antillarum Black Tern - Chlidonias niger Clayton's Copper (butterfly)- Lycaena dorcas claytoni Sedge Wren - Cistothorus platensis Edwards' Hairstreak (butterfly)- Satyrium edwardsii American Pipit - Anthus rubescens B Hessel's Hairstreak (butterfly)- Mitoura hesseli Grasshopper Sparrow - Ammodramus savannarum Katahdin Arctic (butterfly)- Oeneis polixenes katahdin
Maine Threatened Species Loggerhead Turtle - Caretta caretta ** Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus** Swamp Darter (fish) - Etheostoma fusiforme Razorbill - Alea torda Atlantic Puffin - Fratercula arctica Harlequin Duck - Histrionicus histrionicus Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea Tomah Mayfly - Siphlonisca aerodromia Pygmy Snaketail (dragonfly) - Ophiogomphus howei Upland Sandpiper - Bartramia longicauda Northern Bog Lemming - Synaptomys borealis Twilight Moth - Lycia rachelae Spotted Turtle - Clemmys guttata Pine Barrens Zanclognatha (moth) Zanclognatha martha Tidewater Mucket (freshwater mussel)- Leptodea ochracea Yellow Lampmussel (freshwater mussel) - Lampsilis cariosa
Federally Listed Endangered or Threatened Species currently or historically occurring in Maine, but not listed under Maine's Endangered Species Act Eskimo Curlew - Numenius borealis*? Sei Whale - Balaenoptera borealis* Gray Wolf - Canis lupus**? Leatherback Turtle - Dermochelys coriacea* Eastern Cougar - Fe/is concolor couguar*? Atlantic Ridley Turtle - Lepidochelys kempi* Right Whale - Eubalaena glacialis* Shortnose Sturgeon - Acipenser brevirostrum* Humpback Whale - Megaptera novaeangliae* Finback Whale - Balaenoptera physalus* Karner Blue - Lycaeides melissa samuelis*? Sperm Whale - Physeter catodon* American Burying Beetle - Nicrophorus americanus*? note: * = Federally listed Endangered Species; Maine ** = Federally listed Threatened Species; Maine
? = current presence uncertain in Maine
B = breeding population only.
(For the companion list of Endangered and Threatened Plants in Maine, contact the Maine Natural Areas Program, DOC, State House Station #93, Augusta, ME 04333-0093) MAlNE Fish and Wildlife
Winter 2004 Page 23
ome observers of hunting in American note that a significant proportion of the public is not anti-hunting, but anti-hunter. Exposure to anecdotal stories of bad hunter behavior follows each hunting season like falling leaves follow the splendor of autumn. While the American public remains in support of hunting, the hunting community would be well served if we could elevate both the image and the reality of hunter behavior. "Hunting is part of our heritage." That response is often used when hunters are challenged. It usually follows the "necessity to manage wildlife" as part of our justification. Personally, I think it is a far better defense, however, we seldom visit and rarely teach the stories embedded in 'our hunting heritage.' Given today's ethical dilemma, these subjects may be the most important tools we have. It is possible that the strongest motivational message for ethical behavior that we can generate is something we already have. It is possible, that if we can place today's hunters in the context of being part of the greatest wildlife t;Onservation saga in human history, the tendency to participate dishonorably will diminish, if not vanish.
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Most people on earth cannot even dream about being a hunter. A good place to start heritage education is to address how it came about that any person in America can be a hunter. As with any philosophical question, the di cussion must start with a thoughtful question. We all know the mo t universal 'thoughtful question' a ked in our nation each fall. Did you get your deer? It is a question posed in every state from densely populated New Jersey to the wide-open spaces of Wyoming. In New Jersey more than 50 thousand hunters are likely to say yes, in wide-open Wyoming probably a few more. If the econd question asked was "How did it get to be your deer?" I suspect the answers would range from, "duh" to "because I shot it." The heritage story of how wildlife in America got to be the people's resource, rather than attaching to property, is an important part of our history. Since much American law developed from English law, some example from that country form an important contrast. The game law of King Canute (IO 16) prevented people from hunting on the king's land on pain of death. William J enforced laws based on the European Code, with puni hment ranging from death to mutilation. The following is an example: "Whoever shall kill a stag, a wild boar, or even a hare, hall have his eyes torn out." In I 216 rebellious baron engaged the king of England in battle to win some independent rights. The re ult was the Magna Carta, and a Forest Charter that softened the penalty for taking royal game." o man hall henceforth lose either life or member for killing of our Deer; but if any man be taken and convicted for taking of our Venison , he hall make grievous fine, if he hath anything whereof." ote the pos e ive terminology. In England the ownership of game pas ed from people of privilege to an attachment to property. Wildlife never became a public resource or the people's game. Fast-forward to the 21 t Century and in England the auroch , boar, bear, beaver, wolf and reindeer are extinct and residual hunting by people of privilege barely hangs on. The American Revolution eparated us from the control of the Winter 2004
king and produced a system where free people would govern themselves. The issues of water, fish and wildlife were not mentioned in our Declaration of Independence, Constitution, or Bill of Rights. The legal void was filled by a series of court decisions. In 1842 the U.S. Supreme Court began a series of decisions that eventually designated water, fish and wildlife as resources held in trust by the states for the benefit of all the people. Resolving a dispute over gathering oysters in tidal waters of New Jersey, the Court's words were: When the revolution took place, the people of each state became themselves sovereign; and in that character, held the absolute right to all their navigable waters, and the soil under them ; for their own common use, . .. dominion and property in navigable waters, and in the lands under them [were] held by the King as a public trust" and further, it " ... must be regarded as settled in England, against the right of the King, since Magna Carta, to make a private grant in such lands and waters. In a later case, involving the transpoti of illegally taken game, the court got wonderfully more specific with the following language: ... the development of free institutions has led to the recognition of the fact that the power or control lodged in the State, resulting from the common ownership, is to be exercised, like all other powers of government, as a trust for the benefit of all people, and not as a prerogative for the adva ntage of the government, as distinct from the people, or for the benefit of private individuals as distinguished from the pub Iic." From these court decisions we learn why, 16 l years after the New Jersey case, you can go afield to hunt your deer. We also know that it is an expectation based on the American Declaration of Independence and the revolutionary lighters that gave life to our country. Knowing these things certainly should motivate all of us to accept the privilege of hunting humbly, gratefully and responsibly.
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Although the cowts ruled that fish, MAINE Fish and Wildlife
wildlife and water in America would be the people 's resource, our nation had a long way to go in learning how to live with these resources. Our history is full of examples of unrestrained exploitation of all our natural resources, including the people's game. Part of our heritage story is the very idea of conservation itself and some trace that idea to George Perkins Marsh ( 180 I - 1882). In 1800 Mount Tom near Woodstock, Vermont burned. A year later George Perkins Marsh was born . Marsh grew up watching the mountain trying to emerge from its own ashes while being grazed by sheep and cattle. He also watched floods take the family bridge and a mill they had built. Along the way, President Zachary Taylor (1849 - 1850) named Marsh ambassador to Turkey, where he was able to gain a vision of what human civilizations had done to landscapes, nature and ultimately to themselves. Marsh had keen powers of observation and a scholarly interest in weather, geology, flora, fauna and the remains of fallen civilizations. He soon realized that man had everywhere done major damage to natural systems. Marsh synthesized bis experiences into a book, Man and Nature, a plea for conservation of nature in America. At the time, our landscape was still a "New World." Today, we read the writings of conservation leaders like Aldo Leopold, Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt (TR) for insight and guidance. In their time these people read Marsh. Gifford Pinchot called Man and Nature "epochmaking." Few individuals had more influence on the conservation thinking of TR than did Pinchot.
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As the 20th Century neared, America had a number of individuals convinced that the nation needed a conservation ethic. Among them: Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, George Bird Grinell, and William T. Hornady. The problem they faced was winning the hearts and minds of the people. As Roosevelt observed upon entering the presidency: The idea that our natural resources were inexhaustible still (persisted), and there was as yet no real knowledge of
their extent and condition. The relation of the conservation of natural resources to the problems of National welfare and National efficiency had not yet dawned on the public mind. Roosevelt and his associates concluded that the protection of our forests was the vehicle to use to introduce conservation. Forestry had advantages as a lead issue since water supply, flood prevention, and renewable timber crops could all be part of the sales package. In his autobiography TR noted: The conservation movement was a direct out growth of the forest movement. It was nothing more than the application to our other natural resources of the principles, which had been worked out in connection with the forests. Without the basis of public sentiment which had been built up for the protection of the forests, and witho ut the example of public foresight in the protection of this, one of the great natural resources, the Conservation movement would have been impossible.
The writings of Roosevelt reveal little recognition that he was aware of public trust court decisions associated with fish and wildlife. However, his philosophy relative to the beneficiaries of conservation is well documented. lt is a philosophy perfectly aligned with the court's public interest decisions. Writing in "Wilderness Reserves: The Yellowstone Park" TR addressed the democracy of Winter 2004 Page 25
conservation. "Above all, we should realize that the effort toward this end is essentially a democratic movement. It is ... in our power ... to preserve large tracts of wilderness ... and to preserve game ... for ... all lovers of nature, and to give reasonable opportunities for the exercise of the skill of the hunter, whether he is or is not a man of means." In another essay, "Bird Preserves at the Mouth of the Mississippi," TR returned to the topic. The movement for the conservation of wildlife, and the larger movement for the conservation of all our natural resources, are essentially democratic in spirit, purpose and method . When TR spoke of the inclusive nature of the democratic approach to conservation he included posterity - that would be you and me. The 'greatest good of the greatest number' applies to the number within the womb of time, compared to which those alive form but an insignificant fraction. Our duty to the whole, including the unborn generations, bids us restrain an unprincipled present-day minority from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations. Roosevelt also identified the enemy we one day would have to confront. The professional market hunter who kills game for the hide or for the feathers or for the meat or to sell antlers and other trophies; market men who put game in cold storage; and the rich people, who are content to buy what they have not the skill to get by their own exertions - these are the men who are the enemies of game. )
As hunters, and as individuals looking for ways to motivate ethical choices, it is critical that we take a moment to address what motivated TR and where his vision for conservation came from. Historical writer Stephen Ambrose compared Thomas Jefferson and TR in an article published in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. He wrote : There is as much contrast as comparison. Their skills, for example. Jefferson loved music and playing the violin, while TR's principal hobby was rifles and hunting. In 1883 Roosevelt went on his first Page 26 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
western big game hunt in North Dakota. After considerable searching he was successful and wrote the following to his wife Alice. Hurrah! The luck has turned at last. I will bring you home the head of a great buffalo bull, and the antlers of two superb stags. Ile concluded the letter with: "I am in superb health, having plenty of game to eat, and living all day long in the open air." In February of the next year tragedy struck the Roosevelt family. Alice died shortly after giving birth to their daughter, his mother died the same day - in the same house. To recover from these personal losses TR placed his daughter in his sister's care and returned to North Dakota to heal body and spirit. He wrote his friend Henry Cabot Lodge: I hearti ly enjoy this life, with its perfect freedom, for I am very fond of hunting and there are few sensations I prefer to that of galloping over these rolling, limitless prairies, rifle in hand. TR's vision for conservation was born of his passion for the hunt. Biographer Nathan Miller states, "Roosevelt became the champion of conservation - an idea that had begun with a lonely hunt in the Bad Lands."
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In September of 1901 an assassin shot President William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt became America's president. During his seven and one-half years in office, TR introduced the nation to conservation and took direct action. As president ( 1901 - 1909) he : o Increased the national forest reserves of the United States from approximately 43 million acres to 194 million acres. o Created five national parks. o Designated eighteen national monuments including the Grand Canyon o Established fifty-one federal bird preserves. o Created the first four federal game preserves. ln total , TR set aside 230 million acres for conservation - 84,000 a day for the seven and one-half year that he was our president. To top it all off TR called seven different national conferences to address con ervation in America.
Conclusion There is much more to the hunter's heritage of North America. While TR and his associates launched a great movement, it all nearly collapsed when the Great Economic Depression and Dust Bowl hit the American landscape. In those dark days Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was in the White House, and he gave us a renewed conservation spirit. FDR called the first North American Wildlife Conference, signed the Pittman-Robertson Act, created the Civilian Conservation Corps and above all else gave America hope. That generation produced a whole new collection of conservation heroes most of them hunters. We are now 100-years out from TR 's time as our president. When he entered the White House there were an estimated 41,000 elk left in all of North America today there are nearly a million. Wild turkey had slipped to within I 00,000 birds of extinction - now there are over 4.5 million. The unique American pronghorn had faded to about 12,000, now over I million grace our sage and grasslands. The whitetailed deer had dwindled to about a half million; we are now endowed with well over 33 million. Each of us now taking to the hunt is endowed by this wonderful legacy - and is responsible to the legacy's future. Each time we take to field and forest, we become a part of a unique North American Experience. The more familiar we become with all parts of this remarkable story, the less likely any of us will be to make a bad ethical choice as we engage in a spirited fair chase of game. Being a part of something as wonderful as hunting in America is simply too precious to abuse. I close with observations of two Englishmen who visited America during the Theodore Roosevelt Presidency. "Do you know the two most wonderful thing I have seen in your country ... Niagara Falls and the President of the United States ... both great wonders of nature." "Roosevelt is not an American, you know. He is America."
Winter 2004
Meet the New I&E Division Chief This issue brings a change to Maine
Wildlife Organizations for its work in
Fish and Wildlife magazine. This past
promoting and raising the awareness of
fall, I replaced Don Kleiner as the
the need for scientific fisheries and
Director of the Information and
wildlife management. Don was named as
Education Division. The Information and
the individual most responsible for the
Education Division of the Department
award, as he oversaw an information and
includes the agency's information center,
educational program that included televi-
the Maine Wildlife Park, recreational
sion show production, TV series spon-
safety education , youth activities, natural
sorship, 30-second infomercials, newspa-
science education, public relations and
per coverage, public forums and an
marketing.
enhanced web presence.
The l&E Division, as it is commonly known, is charged with increasing the
The magazine also underwent change while Don was the editor. Financially,
and under my guidance, the magazine will continue to move forward. It is
public's understanding of Maine's inland
the magazine used to cost the
important that we continue to move
fisheries and wildlife resources and the
Department $125,000 annually. In 1999,
towards making the magazine self-suffi-
state's management of these resources.
he set a goal to reduce the production
cient, without losing its identity.
Among the many responsibilities that
cost, make the magazine self-sufficient,
come with the position of director is the
refocus the I&E Division towards public
ue to focus on the Department and
job of editor of MAINE Fish and
information and marketing, as well as
Maine's fish and wildlife resources. I
Wildlife, and in the position of editor, I
free Department staff from writing arti-
will try and pick up right where Don left
cles so they could concentrate on their
off. First, I would like to thank Don for
primary duties. It worked. By contract-
his accomplishments over the past five
ing and changing the paper the magazine
years. Under Don's lead, the Department
was printed on, costs dropped from
was recognized in 2002 by the
$125,000 to $50,000.
International Association of Fish and
ing a private vendor, increasing advertis-
I look forward to serving as editor,
MAINE Fish and Wildlife will contin-
will always be looking at ways to improve the magazine, as well as listen to the needs of our subscribers. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I look forward to working with you.
-Marc Michaud Director, Information and Education.
Keep Your Eye on Every Issue
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Winter 2004 Page 27
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Game Wardens Arrest Four Men, Charge 15 People in Poaching Case A two year invest igation culminated in Maine Game Wardens serving search warrants simu ltaneo usly at IO locations in western Maine and in New Hampshire on December 16, arresting four people, and charging 15 people with numerous wildlife crimes. The operation was aimed at breaking a ring of poachers who were kill ing multip le deer, bear, and other wil dlife at night, out of season, on posted land , on roadways, out of cars, and by driving deer in large, organized groups . '"If it's brown, it's down ' was one of their favorite sayings when it came to poaching deer," sa id Major Thomas Santaguida, who he lped d irect the operation from Bridg ton Police Headquarters on Monday night. Arrested were Lawrence Perry, 55 of Fryeburg on a charge of night hunting, a C lass D crime; Ernest Perreau lt, Jr. 44 of Brownfield, for exceed ing the bag lim it on deer; Randy B urnell, 42 of Brownfield, for exceeding the bag limit on deer; and Stephen Bennett, 34, of Lovell for possession of a firearm by a fe lon. Lawrence Perry, Ernest Perreau lt and Randy Burnell will all face add itiona l charges for various wild life crimes inc luding additiona l charges of night hunting, hunting deer after having killed one, fa lse registration of a deer, illegally hunting bear, criminal trespass, false registration of deer and bear. "It was clear that this group fe lt that the state's fish and wildlife laws did not app ly to them , and they ki ll ed whatever they wanted , whenever they wanted ," said Santaguida. "Yet, they felt they were smart enough not to get caught because they didn ' t poach deer
1. Publication Title: MAI NE Fish and Wildlife 2. Publication number: 0369-005X 3. Filing Date: Oct. 14, 2003 4. Issue frequency: Quarterly 5. Number of issues published annually: 4 6. Annual subscription price: $14.95 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 284 State St. , 41 SHS, Augusta, Maine 04333-0041 . Contact person: Marc Michaud. Tel. 207-287-5248 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters: 284 State St. , SHS 41, Augusta, Maine 04333-0041 9. Full names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, edito r and managing editor: Publisher: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04330 Editor: don Kleiner, 284 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04330 Managing Editor: Harry Vanderweide, P.O. Box 351, Augusta , Maine 04332. 10. Owner: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Widlife , 284 State , St. Augusta, Maine 04333. 11. Kn own bondholders, mortagees and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: None. 12. Tax status: Has not changed during preceeding 12 months. 13. Publication title: MAIN E Fish and Wildlife 14. Issue date for circulation data below: Summer 2003 15. Extent and nature of circulation : No. copies Avge. No. copies each of single issue during issue pub. preceding nearest to 12 months fi ling date a. Total number of copies 12,000 12,000 (Net press run) b. Paid and/or requested circulation: Paid/requested outside9,312 9,312 county mail subscriptions stated on form 3541. (Includes advertiser's proof and exchange copies): c. Total paid and/or 9,312 9,312 requested circulation f. Total free distribution: 1,688 1,688 11,000 g. Total distribution: 11 ,000 1,000 1,000 h. Copies not distrib.: 12,000 Total 12,000 j. Percent paid and/or requested circulation 77.6 77.6
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• Reservations PLEASE CALL OR WRITE:
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Our Upland Bird package includes lodging , meals, housekeeping and guide services. The charge is $750 US/five day (Monday Friday)/hunter. The refundable Canadian tax is 15% of the weekly charge. Bird dogs are available for an additional charge.
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