Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Summer 2004 by Maine State Library

Maine State Library

Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

6-1-2004

Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Summer 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, Summer 2004" (2004). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 100. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/100

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.

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)(l)

• 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 lJ.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. PROJECT **

SAFE!! NEIGHBORHOODS **

Am•lc:a'1 Natworll Against Gun Violence

Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force United States Attorney - District of Main e Portland, Maine (207) 771-3294 psnmaine@usdoj.gov

Page 2 MAINE Fish and Wildli fe

Summ er 2004

Governor John E. Baldacci Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Roland D. Martin, Commissioner Paul F. Jacques, Deputy Commissioner Kenneth H. Elowe, Director, Bureau of Resource Management Richard Record, Director, Bureau of Administrative Services Thomas Santaguida, Colonel, Bureau of Warden Service Andrea Erskine Assistant to the Commissioner Advisory Council David A. Wardwell, Penobscot, Chairman Raymond H. Poulin Jr., Ripley, Vice Chairman Tenley A. Meara, Topsham R. Leo Keiffer, Caribou Sara Dyer, New Gloucester John Law, Mexico Raymond Picard, Newcastle Harlow Floyd, Holden Lance Wheaton, Forest City 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. ÂŠ 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, Mame 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

Comm. Roland Martin

MAT report shows the way for the Department to make improvments.

Swan Island

Lisa Kane

An island in time and a time for you to visit.

Moose Rescue

Andrew Glidden

How do you get the horns of two huge moose to part?

Faces in the Crowd

Nate Barnes

Critters abound at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray.

New Skills for Women

Lisa Kane

Here's Maine's Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program.

Habitat Heroes

Montessori School

School children create a wildlife and butterfly garden.

Bald Eagles

A centerfold pullout feature on our national bird.

Allagash Agreement

Dave Soucy

River Drivers Agreement a step forward for the Waterway.

Trip Tracks

Cathy Genthner

Taking your fishing stories and trips online.

Stump Pond WMD

Mark Latti

A 40-acre wildlife habitat on Lemon Stream

Quality Book Trout

William Clunie

Changing the regulations to create quality fishing.

About the Cover: Department Information and Education Director Marc Michaud took this photo of Allagash Falls on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway from the air. Summer 2004 Page 3

From the Commissioner's Desk

MAT Report Shows the Way for More Irnprovernents As you may know, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recently underwent an extensive review by an outside consulting group. The report was initiated at the request of the legislature, and was fully supported by this Department. The full review can be found on our website at www.mefishwildlife.com. I urge you to take some time and read it. The review was a thorough and comprehensive analysis of our present programs, their strengths, weaknesses, and needs. The intent of the review was to conduct an assessment of the Division of Wildlife, the Division of Information and Education, the Bureau of the Warden Service, and the Bureau of Administrative Services, providing recommendations for improvement. The review was completed this spring. The Management Assistance Team (MAT) conducted the review. MAT is an organization, development, and training consultancy providing assessment services exclusively for state fish and wildlife agencies nationwide. MAT was selected through a competitive bidding process. The scope of the review was exhaustive. It included legislative mandates and associated responsibilities, budget process and allocations, organizational r structure and staffing, resource capabilities, program planning, implementation and management, administrative policies, public outreach, public involvement in decision-making, and public accountability. The review team was comprised of nine individuals, and over a period of eight months they conducted 11 focus groups, more than I 00 interviews and a telephone survey of all employees. From that, they came up with 57 recommendations for improvement. When looking at the report, please keep in mind that many of the recommendations are intertwined, and that for them to be truly effective, they need to be implemented together. We all know that Maine possesses an abundance of natural resources and that citizens and residents alike hold these resources in high regard, and that it is an economic boon to the state. A 2001 survey shows Maine's wildlife-related economic contribution is fifth in the nation in terms of the percentage of the state's gross state product. More money comes into Maine's economy from wildlife-related recreation than any of the other recreation industries. In 2001, out-of-state travelers contributed four billion dollars to Maine's economy. Twenty-one percent (21 %) of those travelers took overnight trips associated with eco-tourism and spent money in Maine accordingly. Even with those astounding figures , it's hard to believe that hunters and anglers fund 64% of the department's $29 million budget. The report highlighted much of what I already knew, and one of their discoveries was that our employees are "to a person, dedicated and hard working, possessing the well documented fish and wildlife cultural characteristic of working with a ' missionary like zeal' for the resource." You may remember that the Fisheries Division underwent a similar review in the fall of 2002. I think that we will all agree that the fisheries division is functioning more effectively today because of that review. Recently I met with our bureau and division heads and asked them to review the recommendations proposed by the MAT Group. First, I asked them to see if they agree with the recommendation, and if they do not, detail why. If they agree with the recommendation and there is no cost associated with implementing them , I asked them to submit a plan on how to proceed with the implementation of the recommendation. Those that cost money may take time, but we will look at implementing all the recommendations that were proposed. Jn all there are 57 recommendations. They are divided into five chapters: one for the Department, and one for each Division or Bureau: the Division of Wildlife, the Division of Information and Education, the Bureau of Warden Service, and the Bureau of Administrative Services. The recommendations are prioritized, with some being termed critical to the success of this agency. The recommendations are far reaching. They call for a reorganization of the Department 's divisions and bureaus, developing a succinct vision for the Department, working to establish a strong advocacy group, eliminating some political appointments, and increased training for employees. Over the coming year, we will be implementing many of these recommendations and welcome your input on restructuring the Department to better serve you. Page 4 MAI

E Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2004

What's Going on at Swan Island This Summer? An Island in Time and a Time for You to Visit Photos and Text by Lisa Kane

SWAN·ISLAND • ON THE KENNEBEC RIVER•

Saved from the budget ax last year, Swan Island staff and supporters continue with planning and projects to stabilize the six historic homesteads, construct campground bathrooms and provide additional opportunities for visitors to enjoy this jewel of the Kennebec River - located just 20 minutes south of Augusta and easily accessible from Exit 43, J295. A wildlife management area and campground, Swan Island offers amazing scenery and wildlife watching, photography, hiking, biking, camping, guided tours for visitors and wildlife education programs for school groups.

D. Bernier photo

Reed House

The Friends of Swan Jsland (FOSI) was founded in September 2001 to preserve an intricate part of our Maine history. The island was occupied and settled circa 1750 through the 1940s. Maine writer Kenneth Roberts writes a fascinating account of Swan Island in these early times in Arundel: A Chronicle of the Province of Maine and of the Secret Expedition Against Quebec. FOSI recognizes that the six remaining homesteads need critical, continuing care and maintenance, something not within the Department's mandate. Some current project include:

Scraped and painted two sides of the Reed House, circa 1800. The other two sides must be done this summer.

Rebuilt the porch on the Powell House, circa 1880. Still livable, the Friends hope to use this residence for a visiting artist program.

Constructed a false roof over a portion of the Maxwell Tarr House, circa 1850. The last active farm in the islands into the 1920s, this is also the house most in need of stabilization and repair.

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2004 Page 5

•

The Richmond School district has made the Lily-Wade House, circa 1880, a multidisciplinary, multi-grade school project. With funding from grant and local businesses, and help from local contractors, school kids have accomplished a tremendous amount of work on this homestead.

Lily-Wade House

MDIF&W Current Projects I I

n II

The foundation for a campground bath house was installed three years ago. Every effort is going to be made to complete construction on this facility in 2004.

Dumaresq House Scraping and painting the Dumaresq House, circa 1758.

Continuation of trail expan ion and maintenance.

Habitat management for grassland birds, deer, waterfowl and eag les. Visitor transportation by ferry and tour truck, maintenance and support of day use and overnight campground activities.

In Addition: Maine guide and captain Robin Thayer offers mountain bike and kayak rentals in the Swan Island parking lot. She wi ll take you and a bike over to the island for a great 8-mile ride on the central island dirt road (NO TRAFFIC!) and arrange to take you back across the river. She also runs guided kayak and fishing tours of the river. For more information, contact: Captain Robin Thayer, 207-737-4695 . To make a reservation for Swan Island, please call the reservation phone line at 207-547-5322 and visit the Department website, www.mefishwildlife.com and click on Swan Island for more information.

Page 6 MA[ E Fish and Wild life

Summer 2004

Once-in-a-Lifetime Moose Rescue By Warden Andrew Glidden Working as a Maine game warden , I have dealt with many moose in various situations, but I have never seen any thing like the story I am about to tell. On December 21, 2003, I received a call from State Police Dispatch in Houlton. Someone had found two moose with their antlers locked together. I contacted Sam Houston of Millinocket. who told me that while he was cruising for moose antlers, west of Caribou Lake, he found two moose with their antlers locked together and one of them was still alive. I told Sam I needed to make a couple of phone calls and would get back to him . I notified my supervisor, Sgt. Gregg Sanborn, and advised him of the situation. I asked if he could make contact with a Department biologist for assistance. After several unsuccessful attempts at phoning, Sgt. Sanborn called and advised me that he could not get a biologi st and that I was on my own. I called Sam, asked him for directions to the moose, and asked him to meet me there. When I a1Tived at the scene, Sam told me that both moose were dead. After hearing thi s, I went to check for myself to be sure that they were dead. As I MAINE Fish and Wildlife

approached the two moose, the biggerbull (900-1000 pounds with a 50- to 60- inch rack) opened his eyes. He stood up with the smaller bull still hooked to his antlers. After it took several large steps backward, it was obvious to me the big bull was exhausted. Sam and I went to work to free the big bull from his dead opponent. The first attempt was to try and knock the antlers off the dead bull with an ax. We both tried several times to knock the antlers off, to no avail. Then we tried the antlers of the big bull. No luck! Pounding on his antlers, did not make him happy. The next idea was to cut one of the antlers off from the dead bull, but because of the size of the rack on the live bull, there was no room for the saw and it would be very dangerous. I then said to Sam, "Maybe I can pry them apart." l went back to my truck and retrieved a 6-8 ft hard wood pole, which I had cut on my way to meet Sam. I also pulled out my 12 gauge shotgun, just in case. I returned to where the moose were and said to Sam, "I'm going to try and pry the racks apart with the pole and I want you to stand by with the shotgun, just in case." Then the fight was on. I jammed the 8-foot-long pole between the two racks

and started to pull. I would pull and the moose would push. The harder I pulled, the harder he pushed. The antlers would not come apart. I then repositioned the pole to the other side of the entangled racks. After about 20 minutes of prying, I finally got the antlers apart to the point where, on the next pull, the moose should be free. I told Sam to get ready with the shotgun and with that I gave a hard pull on the pole. The antlers made a very loud crack! I went backwards. The moose fell back and was free. Sam and I backed away to see what would happen next. The moose walked around his dead opponent, shook his antlers a couple of times and started to walk off. He stopped, looked back at Sam and I, then trotted off in to the fir trees. What a great sight to see that big bull wonder off into the Maine woods. A couple of days after we set the moose free, Sam went back to the area to check on him, but he was nowhere to be found. Sam told me that he tracked the moose for a mile or so and could see where he had been browsing. that moose should make it through the winter just fine, I told Sam. One thing's for sure, every day's an adventure when you 're a Maine game warden. Summer 2004 Page 7

Gray Fox

Faces in the Crowd At the

Maine Wildlife Park Sunfish

Route 26, Gray

The park is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors do not need to leave until 6 p.m.

Coyote

Page 8 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Mountain Lion

Fisher

Photos by Nate Barnes Americorps Member At the Wildlife Park

Raccoon

Summer 2004

Black Bear

Bobcat Kittens Barred Owl

Canada Lynx

Late afternoons are a good time to visit. Tt's cooler and most often feeding time for the animals. Bring an early dinner to grill out and picnic in the giant pine grove.

MAJNE Fish and Wildlife

Moose

For more information, visit our website at: www.mainewildifepark.com or call 207-657-4977 to listen to a recorded message. Summer 2004 Page 9

Want to Learn New Skills?

Check Out Maine's Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program Have you ever wished for an adult summer camp (if only for a long weekend) where you could try outdoor activities under the instruction of experienced :eachers and guides? If you have, read on, because Maine's Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Introductory Skills Weekend is that opportunity. The program will be held September I 719, 2004 at Camp Bishopswood in Hope, just west of Camden, on beautiful Megunticook Lake; $190.00 covers everything - good food, rustic accommodations, all equipment and lots of educational handouts. Some scholarships are available. B.O.W. programs, which are sponsored by the Department, are designed for women. The complete Hunter Safety Certification Course is available at the weekend. Participants take four starred classes plus Friday evening instruction and a test. The brochure and registration form are posted at www.mefishwildlife.com (Education, BOW); they are also available from BOW Coordinator Dorcas Miller (207582-5600; 76 Williams Rd, Chelsea, ME 04330; dorca miller@gwi.net). Registration is first come, first served, so don't wait. Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is also offering a one-day Shotgun Clinic on Saturday, October 9, 2004 in Hermon ($55.00; prerequisite: firearm and range safety class at a BOW event or hunter safety certification. For more information, check DIF&W's website or contact the coordinator.

Page 10 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2004

Classes at Introductory Skills Weekend (* Indicates classes needed for Hunter Safety Certification)

Friday afternoon Firearms and Range Safety* Basic Fishing Skills Fur-Bearing Animals and Trapping Canoe Hiking, Backpacking and Trip Planning Archery Learning to Look, Learning to See Backcountry Botany Sticks to Staffs Saturday morning Firearm Use and Marksmanship* Outdoor Survival Bucks and Does Bass Fishing Fly Fishing Sea Kayaking Biking Leave No Trace Camping Talking Turkey

Above, a group lesson in basic fishing. At right, students are given a lively lecture in outdoor skills.

Saturday afternoon Firearm Use and Marksmanship Outdoor Survival* Map and Compass Go for a Hike Bass Fishing Fly Fishing Sea Kayaking Biking: a long ride Landscaping for Wildlife Fly Tying Sunday morning Smoke Poles Upland Bird Hunting Map and Compass* Fly Fishing More Fly Tying Campfire Cuisine Finishing School Cooking Fish and Game Landscaping with Native Plants Bow I Iunting Outdoor Photography

MAIN E Fi sh a nd Wildlife

Learning to shoot clay birds with a shotgun is taught as part of the course.

Identification of the various forbearing animals found in Maine is part of the session on trapping.

Summer 2004 Page 11

Joanne Alex, Educational Director at Stillwater Montessori School, Old Town, Maine was awarded a Grable-Curtis Rural Teacher Grant from the National Geographic Society to implement a yearlong curriculum on wildlife habitat aligned to the Maine Learning Results for our elementary students. The goal of this project was to empower students to gain the tools, skills and knowledge necessary to be "Habitat Heroes." Lisa Kane, natrual science educator for the Department, supervised their introduction to concepts of habitat through a hands-on Wild School Site workshop at an outdoor classroom. Students learned the mapping and planning needed to do the work. This was included in the grant. The School al o formed a partnership with the GeorgiaPacific paper company, which is the caretaker for the Brenton Halsey Jr. Memorial Outdoor Classroom and Demonstration Forest. Joanne Alex along with Al Duplessis and Irene Jackson, the school's elementary teachers, planned the ways to help enhance the wildlife garden portion. Thi was to be done for the September 30, 2003, I 0th year Celebration of the

The Department's natural science educator Lisa Kane explains to the students how they can become habitat heroes. Outdoor Classroom and was included in our grant. After the Project Wild School site workshop, the students went to the forest every week and, working with a forester and agronomist,implemented what they had learned. Students then continued working with foresters on the site to clear brush, build paths, and make plantings attractive to wild Iife. At the I 0th year celebration they did a presentation for the public. The students also created an informational brochure that is available at the

The students made a clay model of a butterfly garden. Page 12 MAI E Fish and Wildlife

wildlife garden site. The work continued throughout the year with generous gifts that allowed us to build bird, bat and butterfly houses. These were then placed out at the wildlife garden. ative seed were also planted. To demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of wildlife habitats, the students created a butterfly garden of their own outside their classroom windows. They started by de igning it on paper and then making a clay model. The project was started last fall and completed this May. Our final component of our grant wa a service-learning project, in which our school volunteered in the ational Public Lands Day on September 20th to help clear trails and put up a new sign at the nearby Sunkhaze National Wildlife Refuge. Volunteers included teachers, parent Âˇ and students pre-kindergarten to 6th grade. The student have learned the skills necessary to design and create a wildlife habitat, but most of all they have learned the importance of working to save and create wildlife habitats for the future. llerc arc some of the tudcnts' experience in their own words and pictures, Summer 2004

plus some imagined perspectives from the local wildlife.

The Wild]ife Garden Project When our school went to the wildlife garden, we split into groups and went to different areas of the woods. We mapped out the areas that we were in. On the maps, we put pictures of plants and animals that we saw in our area. Each group mapped a particular area and did it in their own style. The maps showed texture, contours, temperature, and moisture. We took soil samples with an auger. We tested the acidity of the soil samples. After we had done that, al I the groups met and we shared our maps and samples. We created a brochure to hand out to visitors. The next time we came to the woods, we marked trees that we wanted to cut down to open up the wildlife area.

Then a forester cut the trees for us. We yelled "timber." We hauled brush into piles. We left them there to provide shelter for animals. We made stacks of bigger logs. We made paths by putting down wood chips. We were on the path to the wildlife garden and Brendan saw a snake. He said, "Snake!" We all crowded around the snake and the snake got really nervous, so it made a home under Brendan's shoe. Brendan was very careful about not stepping on the snake. We got to look at it for a while. Then the snake slithered off. We made a brush pile. We got pretty excited when a squirrel peeped up for a close look. At a school party we made bat, bird, and butterfly houses. In art class we painted them . The next time we went to the woods, we hung the bat, bird, and butterfly houses on trees. The bat houses provide good shelter. The bats can fly out of their bat houses and catch their prey - bugs. We worked with Richard May; a local plant grower to get wild seeds ready for planting. We had to soak the sumac, high bush cranberry, and serviceberry seeds and rub the fruit off them. They stained our hands red. The Evening Grosbeaks will enjoy these berries when they are ripe.

The Butterfly Garden Project

A student makes a bird house MAINE Fish and Wildlife

After our hard work with the Outdoor Classroom, we enjoyed creating our butterfly garden on the school ground outside the Stillwater Montessori class-

A student prepares to use a ladder to put up a bird nesting box. room windows. In the fall, we marked the edge of our school butterfly garden with flour. We measured the distance between the two trees in front of our school so we could put the garden in the middle. We had to dig out the grass from the area for our butterfly garden. We built a border for the garden out of cinder blocks. It was difficult to place the cinder blocks because they were heavy. We added new soil in the spring. For the butterfly garden, we looked up the plants that attract butterflies. We made "butterfly wanted" posters illustrating the butterflies we hoped to attract. We made a garden plan from a side view and overhead view. We also made a clay model of our garden plan. We ordered the flower seeds we needed and planted them in the classroom. We planted lavender, sage, aster, yarrow, pincushion flower, Shasta daisy, bee balm, Joe Pye weed, Echinacea, butterfly weed, Johnny jump-up, and sweet William. The sage is a little baby plant now. The butterfly weed is bigger than the sage and is starting to get a pinkish color to it. Some of the seedlings died and we had to buy more from a greenhouse. Now that the weather is warming up, we will plant them . Summer 2004 Page 13

Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Publications Books

-~ -··-/11 ... ,.... .......

MAINE AMPHIJJIAN S

Maine's Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. 2003. by McCollough, et. al. The first and only comprehensive guide to all of Maine's animals on state and federal endangered species lists. Soft cover, 8.5x11, 117 pages with color photographs and original artwork. $10.00. (Cover artwork available as poster.)

Maine Amphibians and Reptiles. 1999. edited by Hunter, et. al. Guide to the identification, natural history, and conservation of 38 species of reptiles and amphibians, including all of the species that occur in Maine and Atlantic Canada, Soft cover, 7x10, 254 pages with color photographs and original artwork. Includes CD of frog and toad songs with identification tips. $19.95.

The Freshwater Mussels of Maine. 2000. by Nedeau, et. al. Guide to the biology, ecology, and conservation of freshwater mussels with species accounts and identification tips for 15 species found in Maine, Atlantic Canada and New England. Soft cover, 8.5x11 , 118 pages with color photographs and original artwork. $10.00.

.._

Locating and Documenting Vernal Pools

Maine Citizen's Guide to Locating and Documenting Vernal Pools. 2003. from MDIFW, Maine Audubon and University of Maine. Manual to the location, identification and monitoring of vernal pool habitat, with information about ecology and indicator species. Soft cover, 8.5x11, 96 pages with black and white and color photographs, and original artwork. $10.00 (Includes tax and shipping.)

Posters Maine's Endangered Wildlife Beautifully illustrated painting of all Maine's animal species on state and federal endangered species lists. Reverse side includes key to drawings, species accounts ands information on rare habitatrs and endangered species conservation. Full color, 24X18. $1 .50

Mammals of Maine. Pen and ink drawings of 28 species of woodland mammals found in Maine. Reverse side with species accounts. Black and white, 27x38.5 ($1 .50) or 11x17 ($1.00) .

Maine Rare and Endangered Odonata. Detailed color illustrations of Maine's rare dragonflies and damselflies with species accounts and color dia~a H U ~HUH ~ grams. Full color, 17x llllwwv Na.wlww 24. $3.00. Also available folded , 8.5x24, to CUUH H fit in field notebook. $1.50.

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Amphibians, Snakes, Turtles This set of three posters beautifully illustrates all of Maine's species of amphibians, snakes , and turtles. Reverse side provides information on identification, natural history, and conservation . Set of three for $8.00 or $3.00 each.

••••••••••••••• !. •

Turtle,

•• •• ••• • ••• •• ••

,;,

•

Maine

•

•• ••• ••• • •••

. ••• •

•••••••••••••••

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Summer 2004

The seven-member Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Board, appointed by - the Governor, chooses projects that promote recreation as well as conservation of Maine's special places, endangered species and important fish and wildlife habitat. By awarding grants in four different funding categories, the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund supports a broad range of conservation initiatives. Those categories are fisheries and wildlife enhancement, public land acquisition, endangered species protection and natural resources M 路A 路 I 路N 路 E law enforcement. To date, more than OUTDOOR $11 million has been awarded to 404 projects throughout Maine. This bald eagle sign, reproduced for the Fish and Wildlife Magazine as a pull out poster, is just one example of a project funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund. Look for the Peregrine Poster coming in a later issue! MA INE Fish and Wil dli fe

Summer 2004 Page 15

Adult bald eagles are dark brown with white head and tail. Bald eagles weigh 9-13 pounds and have a wingspan of 7 feet. They can live to be 15-20 years old.

Immature bald eagles (up to 5 years old) are dark brown with mottling on wings and tail.

Bald eagles were numerous,especially alpng the coast of Maine, before European settlers arrived. lndiscrimin1e shooting, habitat loss, and pesticides caused population declines. By the 1960's, there were only 21 pairs in Maine. Eagles were protected in 1940 by the Bald Eagle Protection Act, which forbids harassment and killing. In 1973, the pesticide DDT was banned, removing one of the major causes of eagle declines. The bald eagle was federally listed as endangered in 1978. The Maine Endangered species act has also protected bald eagles. Today, eagles are found in almost all regions of the state, although their numbers are still highest along the coast. Habitat protection is critical to their continued success.

Large trees are used by bald eagles for roosting. Bald eagles build their nests in tall, prominent trees, usually white pines. Nests are up to 3 feet deep and 4 feet wide, and are usually located near water. Eagles usually lay 2 eggs in March or April. The young take their first flight between June and August. Bald eagles need undisturbed areas to raiseJ~eir young and feed. Human activitf.tn the nesting areas during critical ~arts of the nesting season can significantly reduce nesting success, Tall, healthy trees are needed for nest sites, and unpolluted water bodies provide foraging habitat.

. Bald eagles that live inland eat mostly fish, while eagles that live near the coast eat more ducks and gulls Eagles will also eat small mammals and carrion.

Page 16 MAINE Fish and Wil dlife

Summer 2004

MA I NE Fish and Wi ldli fe

Summer 2004 Page 17

Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon Interpretive Signs Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons are popular with nature watchers, tourists and other outdoor enthusiasts, but may be subject to unwitting human disturbance during the nesting season. The Maine Deptartment of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has identified public education as one of the most important tools to minimize occasional use conflicts, such as rock climbing, hiking or boating near falcon or eagle nests. To enhance public appreciation of our wildlife resources, instill a sense of stewardship, and build support for conservation, MDIFW worked with project partners at the site locations listed below to design and install interpretive signs at selected high visitor use locations near falcon and eagle nesting habitat. Full color, fiberglass embedded panels, 20" x 3 3" in size, addressing bald eagle and peregrine falcon natural history and conservation achievements and challenges were designed, manufactured and will soon be installed at or near the following locations. Construction of signs and frames has been completed, and work will begin on installation this summer.

Bald eagle signs will be placed at: • Swan Island, Richmond • Commissary Point WMA in Trescott or Cobscook State Park in Edmunds • Barred Island, Deer Isle • Gordon Manuel Wildlife Management Area in Hodgdon • Allagash Waterway

Peregrine falcon signs will be placed at: • Bar Harbor area • Grafton Notch State Park • Evans Notch (White Mountain National Forest) • Baxter State Park (at Mattagamon entrance or public boat ramp) • Mount Kineo area (Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands/ Friends of Kineo) Page 18 MAINE Fish and Wildli fe

Summ er 2004

Running The Allagash: River Drivers Find the Channel

The legendary Allagash River runs through the heart of Maine's vast northern forests. For centuries, it has been a place close to the heart of all who have come to know it. Despite the heartfelt connection between the Allagash and those who know and love the River - or perhaps because of it - the River has been the focus of vigorous political debate and controversy ever since discussions began, about a half-century ago, about "preserving" the River. Like a frothy standing wave, the controversy arises from the River 's location in the middle of a working forest, where the expansive flow of wood to industrial markets must channel between deeply he ld, but narrower conservation imperatives. A year ago, the Baldacci Administration, including Conservation Commissioner Pat McGowan and IF&W Commissioner Dan Martin, set out to navigate this rough water. The goal was to reach consensus among diverse groups about how the Allagash Wilderness Waterway will be managed. The result was the River Driver's Agreement, a historic consensus that resolved the most controversial issues affecting the Waterway. The controversy over the Allagash reflects a difference in values - what some describe as "traditional" values versus "wilderness" values . Conflicts in values are not easily resolved . Reasoned

argument often fails to get to the core of these differences , which are more than simple differences - they are deeply held beliefs. The most recent controversy regarding outdoor values on the Allagash arose from the preparation of a management plan for the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in 1999. The plan laid out the Bureau of Parks and Land's plans for management of the Waterway into the future. A series of public hearings about the plan focused a long-standing dispute between wilderness advocates and traditional use advocates.

Parking Lot Impasse The plan , after much contentious discussion, incorporated a provision that, ultimately, wilderness advocates stated they could not live with : the creation of a parking lot and vehicle access site at John's Bridge. When BPL pushed ahead with the management plan mandate to build the parking lot and access site, the wilderness advocates took them on. What followed was a difficult Land Use Regulation Commission(LURC) permitting process, and an appeal to the courts. In the meantime, it came to light that the recent reconstruction of Churchill Dam on the Allagash took place without all the necessary permitting from the Corps of Engineers. Although the reconstruction of the dam had not been controversial when it was undertaken, and in fact it enjoyed widespread support in a

By David Soucy MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2004 Page 19

John's Bridge seemed an impossible obstacle in creating ageement on use of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, but the conflict was resolved

bond referendum, the permitting problem created an opportunity for some to demand, with the assistance of the ational Park Service and the federal permitting authorities, changes in the 1999 management plan. After extensive negotiations, the Department of Conservation and the Park Service entered into a memorandum of agreement in 2002 that allowed issuance of an after-the-fact permit for Churchill Dam reconstruction, but also required the Bureau to revisit, among other things, parts of the 1999 Management Plan dealing with vehicle access sites, including John's Bridge.

Lining Up Sides This set the stage for another controversial permitting process in front of LURC about John's Bridge access. Throughout the controversy, both sides had been waging a media campaign, and both sides had begun amassing war chests. Lawyers were engaged, politicians were recruited and it looked like a long and ugly culture war was about to start. At a series of retreats at Bigelow Preserve, the Allagash Advisory Council attempted to hammer out a consensus agreement about access points in Page 20 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

response to the memorandum of agreement requirements, and although they made significant progress, they were unable to resolve the John's Bridge issue and tensions continued to increase. At this point, the Baldacci Administration entered the cene. Commissioner McGowan, armed with a gubernatorial mandate to resolve this controversy before it grew any larger or uglier, embarked on a series of listening sessions throughout the State. He went north and he went south. He spoke with all of the stakeholders. He then convened representatives from each interest group in a two-day meeting at the River Driver's Restaurant in Millinocket. The stakeholders at the Millinocket meeting went with knots in their stomachs, anxious about a looming battle that none wanted, but that all feared was inevitable. There was little hope for success among the participants. So much had been said already; the i sues had already been o thoroughly thrashed over by reasonable, sincere, but seemingly hopelessly divided negotiators from both sides. What chance did thi new group have? But they went anyway, as much out of respect for the efforts of the new Administration as anything. The group emerged from the retreat with the River Driver's Agreement, an

agreement that addressed the most contentious issues, including the John's Bridge controversy. How did this happen? The sessions opened with a sharing exercise - individuals were asked to share with the group their best experiences on the Allagash. Each of the participants shared his or her favorite Allagash memory. Once everyone realized that each loved the region, it became easier for discussions to occur. It was a "touchy-feely" kind of exercise that required the participants to enter with open hearts, willing to forget for the moment the real difference that divided them.

New View Emerges Commissioner McGowan subtly hinted that something would be done on the Waterway, and soon. That served as incentive to the participants to come to grips with the problems. What emerged wa a clear picture of shared values. The exercise highlighted how all parties truly valued the wilderness character of the river. This common bond was shown to be much greater than the issues that separated them. ome myths and much deep distrust about what "the other ide" believed or hoped to accompli h were di pelled. The group shared ideas and ummer 2004

brainstormed about improvements on the Waterway, and generated renewed enthusiasm. Many good ideas sprang from these exchanges. Lt soon became apparent to all that none of these good ideas would come to fruition if the group squandered its resources fighting each other over minor differences. Individuals found it necessary to resolve those issues, for the good of the group. The vision of a shared Allagash, improved for all , drove the group to an agreement.

A Wider Viewpoint Cathy Johnson, North Woods Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, was a participant. "We got past our differences by dealing with specific things and by broadening the discussion . The discussion had really gotten focused around John's Bridge. When the discussion is broadened so that

you're talking about other things, then there's more opportunity for give-andtake." The RDA lists a number of agreements, but its heart is in the preamble: "a commitment to preserve the special wilderness character of the Allagash, while honoring the culture and traditional uses of the river by Maine sportsmen." That is the abiding principle guiding the Bureau's management of the waterway. In specific terms, the Agreement sets forth a number of goals and tasks - some of them short-term, some of them longer term , that the group has agreed to pursue. Many of the tasks have been accomplished through rule changes, or through on-the-ground actions. Many more will be undertaken this season. Some are long-range, and will require years of work. "We have taken some important steps toward finding solutions on the

Allagash," said Commissioner McGowan . "The River Driver's Agreement is a framework that will keep us on the right road. lt doesn't resolve every issue about the Waterway, but it sets the tone for future cooperation." The River Driver's Agreement is more than a commitment to a specific set of tasks. It is a commitment to a process of open dialogue to resolve differences about Waterway issues within certain sideboards - the sideboards established in the preamble. It also represents a commitment to work together to make progress in advancing common goals for the Waterway, rather than squandering energy on matters of lesser importance that divide. Successful continued implementation of the RDA will require transparency and trust. The Bureau is moving ahead in that spirit.

Taking Your Fishing Trips (And Stories!) Online By Cathy Genthner Maine is the first state in the country to provide anglers with the opportunity to put their fishing trips online. Www.TripTracks.com is a new website that allows anglers to record fishing trips for future reference. It also provides

Information about catching this rainbow trout from the Androscoggin River has been entered in the website Trip Tracks, an online fishing log.

Trip Tracks user Tim Soule of Arrowsic shows off a landlocked salmon caught this spring at Grand Lake Stream Page 22 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

valuable in formation for managing the state's fisheries. The World Wide Web is becoming a more valuable tool for anglers and Maine fishery biologists as the result ofa new website created called TripTracks. Maine is the first state in the nation to have an 'electronic fishing creel ' . Anglers are able to enter information about their fishing trips online - such as date and location of the fishing trip, size and quality of fi h caught, water temperature, weather conditions, what types of bugs were hatching at the time, type of bait or lures used, whether fish caught were wild or stocked, as well as other relevant information. Anglers can refer back to previous trips to help them plan future trips. In addition , all of this information provide fisheries biologists with valuable data for fishery management, stocking and trouble shooting. 1n formation provided by the anglers i not acce sible to ummer 2004

other anglers - only to themselves and biologists, so those personal favorite fishing holes don't become too well known.

Website Word Spreads "I've been talking quite a few years about keeping a fishing logbook for myself. This new website motivated me to start keeping a log. It is much easier to enter information online than to write it out longhand," said Tim Soule, a fly fisherman from Arrowsic. "I've entered data at least 15 times so far this fishing season. I know this information will help me from year to year. I would recommend this site to other people." "I've always been interested in keeping a written logbook, but never took the time to do it before," said Jason Pooler a fly fisherman from North Waterboro ' who scours the more remote bodies ~f water in York County for trout and salmon . Pooler also enjoys fly-fishing for stripers in the Mousam River. "This new electronic logbook has been great. You can see where you've fished, what

you've caught in the past, the length of the fish and the water temperature. You can be as technical or as non-technical as you wish. I think some of the schools may be interested in the site as well. I've told a lot of my friends about the website." In fact, there is link on the website where you can tell your friends about how they can log their fishing trips online. The site is extremely easy to use and even contains a "favorites" page. It does require a user name, password and fishing license number to help the Maine Department of

Dan Tarkinson, co-creator of Trip Tracks, displays a brown trout caught in the St. George River in Union.

Keith Sirois, co-creator of Trip Tracks, shows off a brown trout he caught on the St. George River in Union. Information from this trout and hundreds of others by anglers will provide useful data for fishery biologists. MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife verify infom1ation. Users can post information, as well as photos of fish caught. The site does contain general information about bodies of water throughout the state, as well as the largest fish caught in these waters. "It is an online fishing diary that's great becau e it helps with the day-today management of the state's waters," said Jim Pellerin, a Fishery Biologist

for Region A for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "J think if people review the information that they have entered over time, it can help them become better anglers."

Web Experts' Baby The website was developed by two avid Maine fly fishermen: Dan Tarkinson and Keith Sirois. When the two fishing buddies aren't out on the water, they work in web development. "It is something that both Dan and I wanted to do for a long time. We started it as a way for people to keep an online journal of their fishing trips," said Sirois. "We thought it would be great to offer anglers a free service while helping the state's fisheries at the same time." "We were both so involved with computers from a work perspective, that we thought it would be neat if there were some way to do an on line fishing journal. It is something that we wanted for ourselves, but we thought other anglers Summer 2004 Page 23

w~uld be interested in the same thing," said Tarkinson. "In conjunction with this information being helpful to anglers, we realized this kind of information would be helpful to fish and wildlife agencies."

Two-Year Gestation Sirois and Tarkinson first proposed the idea to lFW about two years ago. A series of meetings were held and recommendations were made before the website was unveiled. "Dan and Keith were so eager to do this and they understand the value of this information because they are anglers themselves," said Peter Bourque, the Director of Fisheries Program Development and a biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and ~ildlife. "Ifwe get enough people usmg 1t, we can get a wealth of information on thousands of bodies of water." "They both were great and very open to suggestions," said Jim Pellerin. "They took all of our recommendations. We were looking for data for our needs as far as fishery management and they were lookin~ at the site being angler-friendly. They did a good job making it all work."

Data Is Valuable Fishery biologists say the electronic creel has already provided quite a bit of data for large areas of the state - much more area than biologists can cover in a season. "We have seven fishery regions, each about the size of Connecticut with three fishery biologist in each section, and we can't get to every body of water ourselves," said Bourque. "This will allow us to get substantial information , even on remote waters. We will be getting very valuable information." . In addition to fish quality and size, biologists will be getting information about any possible fishing pressure, catch rates, invasive species, illegal introductions or over-fishing in specific bodies of water. "The data will allow us to keep the pulse of some of these waters that haven 't always been a priority," said '.ellerin. "If something doesn't look right 1t may key us in on a water that should become a priority." "I enter information for myself, as Page 24 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

well as for the biologists. I like to go fishing everywhere in the

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believed that the site would be Here 's what a Trip Tracks Web page looks like. successfu l because many anglers TripTracks, the department is able to save use the Internet to collect data for fishing time and money. purposes. . "We hope that with TripTracks, we "There are a lot of fishing chat rooms will get data that we normally wouldn't ' so it made sense that those who were have," said Pellerin . "The electronic comfortable on computers could benefit fishing log will attract a different angler from an online fishing log book," said base that we weren't attracting with writTarkinson. "I've been really impressed ten logbooks. This probably won't work with the number of people using it and for every angler. However, it will be with the amount, quality and validity of attractive to the younger generation who the data that has been entered. There grew up using a computer." haven ' t been any issues with people entering bogus data or junk information."

Improvements Underway

Manual Logs Still Good The Department will continue to collect fishing data through more traditional ways, including the creel census where anglers fill-out trip surveys-- placing them in a brown box at well-known fishing hot spots, through on-water interviews by biologists and part-time staffers, and by vo luntary fishing log books, which have been in use for over 40 years . The Department realizes that not every angler is comfortable with or has access to a computer, so more traditional data collection methods remain important to the Department. "The voluntary log books that anglers return to us at the end of every fishing season have been very valuable to us over the years," said Bourque. "If we get enough dedicated ang lers who provide us with information, it allows you to look at fishing trends and what is really going on out there." However, information from these handwritten logbooks must be edited and then entered by department employees. Conversely, when angler enter the information themselves electronically through

Si_rois and Tarkinson are presently workmg on a program that will allow anglers to download their Trip Tracks fishing logs into their own computers. In addition to providing important fishing data, the logs provide a diary of an angler's adventures for future generations to read and enjoy. With the successful implementation of TripTracks, Maine is one of the most progressive states in the country when it comes to using computer technology for obtaining information for fishery management. Presently, there is nothing else on the Internet similar to Trip Tracks. "We cho e Maine for this website becaus~ we live here and we want to give somethmg back to the resources," said Tarkinson . "I think it is fantastic for Maine to be seen as a leader in the use of technology for fish and wildlife management." For more in formation visit www.TripTracks.com.

ummer 2004

Stump Pond

Wildlife Management Area Photos by Mark Latti Stump Pond WMA is a 40-acre impoundmenl of Lemon Stream in New Vineyard. IL contains a diversity of wetland types including: shallow open water, shallow and deep fresh marsh , fresh meadow, and is fringed with wooded wetland. Low rolling, timbered slopes rise from the marsh border and the watershed supplying runoff to the outlet of Stump Pond consists of 7,679 acres of extremely hilly, forested land. The area provides habitat for numerous species of waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and furbearers. Resident aquatic furbearers include muskrat, mink, otter, and beaver. Moose, deer, and bear frequent its wetland fringes and riparian zone. The original dam on the WMA was constructed circa 1880 to provide power to operate a large lumber and shingle mill. Throughout its history, the dam at Stump Pond has been renovated and rebuilt several times. The mill deteriorated with time and was razed in 1952. The dam, flowage easement and access lot were donated to the Department in 1989 by Lawrence and Katharine Wattles.

Management Stump Pond WMA is managed primarily as a waterfowl production area. Management consists of maintaining stable water levels to maximize habitat diversity and open water inter-

spersion, and to protect habitat for waterfowl production , brood rearing, staging, and spring and fall migration. Maintaining a diverse wetland habitat with ideal ratios of open water to aquatic plant cover provides ideal nesting cover for waterbirds, as well as providing annual or seasonal habitat requirements of non-game species that utilize wetlands. Maintenance of stable water levels also benefits many wetland dependent wildlife species.

Activities and Facilities T~is area is used by people who enjoy waterfowl hunting, trappmg, fishing, and wildlife viewing. A parking area at the dam site provides access for portaged canoes or shallow draft boats. The flowage provides a limited warm water fishery.

Directions The area is located at the junction of Route 27 and the Taylor Hill Road in New Vineyard.

Summer 2004 Page 25

Photos and Text By William Clunie Up until about 20 years ago, trout fishing laws in Maine were quite liberal. Anglers enjoyed generous bag limits (25 brook trout in 1915) and never thought twice about taking home large numbers of huge brook trout and salmon. This wasn't a matter of poor ethics on the part of the fishermen; it simply must have seemed like the good fishing would never end. Anglers came from all over the world to fish the lovely waters of Maine, taking home as many big trout as they wanted. Photos from old fishing camps in the early l 900's show anglers with huge stringers of very large trout and salmon. Logbooks from those camps also indicate that a majority of the fish were trophy-sized salmon and brook trout. To make matters worse, there Page 26 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

weren't enough wardens to properly enforce these minimal fishing regulations until after World War II. A large number of Maine's record-sized, trophy salmonids were harvested during this time without a plan for the future of the species. After the war, Maine's expanding infrastructure further increased fishing pressure. Postwar anglers were fishing in huge numbers and public access was improved to accommodate the flood of fishing enthusiasts. Then, in the early l 950's, Maine's fish management program began, and creel recording became a way of monitoring fishing activity. A creel report helps biologists determine what waterways receive the most fishing pressure, and harvest and growth data.

Quality Fishing InitiatiH During the mid I990's the Maine

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W) shared the angling community's growing concern that Maine's trophy brook trout and salmon populations were threatened. The Department implemented the experimental Quality Fishing Initiative (QFI) to combat this threat. The QFI premise was a result of the growing concern that quality fishing in Maine was declining, and that more stringent fishing regulations were needed to curtail this decline. The big, spawning, brook trout and salmon were gone, and this bold program was engineered to encourage larger fish populations and increase the size of trophy salmon ids in Maine waters. Amidst a backlash of public opinion, the plan immediately set aside I 00 waters for tudy purposes. Highly restrictive regulations were placed on these waters in an effort to improve the size and numSummer 2004

ber of various sportfish by protecting the mature, breeding-sized fish and giving them a chance to reproduce. Some of the restrictions implemented on these special waters were extremely low bag limits, higher length limits and use of flies or lures only. Over a period of time, these QFI waters showed a dramatic improvement in fish size and catch rate. At about the same time several of Maine's fishery biologists were examining historical information on wild brook trout waters throughout the state. In an effort to simplify brook trout regulations and protect the wild trout resource by increasing the number of older fish in the population , new trout regulations were established on over 400 brook trout ponds. Bass anglers have shown the fishing community the potential for growing trophy fish by initiating a self-imposed, catch -and-release policy. Harvesting trophy-class fish removes the mature, spawning members of the population from the gene pool and is detrimental to the survival of the species. With the success of the QFl program, the department looked to further the positive effects of restrictive regulations on specific salmonid waters in Maine. At the same time, a steadily growing change in the angling community was taking place. Catch-and-release fishing was becoming more popular as a

Stocking brook trout in special Kid's Waters. larger number of anglers were realizing its potential for growing big, healthy, mature fish.

Computing Data While the QFI was in its infancy, MDJFW biologist Forrest Bonney was busy bringing the fisheries department out of the dark ages. Harvest and growth

EMBDEN . MAINE Emden Hatchery truck making its rounds stocking brook trout in Spring, 2004. MAINE Fish and Wildlife

data, which for years had been collected and filed manually, had to be entered in the "new" computer systems installed by the state. Industrious fisheries biologists took on thi s task in 1989, and the information resulting from his efforts underscored the general concept of the QFI. The results from years of data collecting proved that the QFI program worked, and that further adjusting to fishing regulations would be needed to maximize the potential of this bold program. At about the same time, several of Maine's fishery biologists were examining historical information on wild brook trout waters throughout the state. In an effort to simplify brook trout regulations and protect the wild trout resource by increasing the number of older fish in the population, new trout regulations were established on over 400 brook trout ponds. These regulations, however, continued to allow anglers fishing opportunities on certain waters that could withstand heavier fishing pressure. They realized that a lot of folks still liked taking home a meal of brook trout occasionally. Spring 2004 Page 27

Fisheries biologist Bonney put it best when he said, "We want to maintain traditional waters with less restrictions to allow anglers to take a few fish home. Some waterways are close to major roads and will receive a lot of fishing pressure while others are quite remote, so we stock them accordingly. We also have several bodies of water that are maintained for youth anglers; on these waters kids are allowed to fish with bait and take a few home for the pan." Over the past 50 years of lake and stream surveys biologists have determined that certain types of waterways require stocking programs to maintain adequate salmonid populations. Salmonids deposit their eggs in waterways with gravel bottoms. This study showed that many Maine lakes, ponds and rivers support adult fish populations, but don't have sufficient gravel spawning beds for salmonid reproduction. These waters that were lacking in this kind of habitat would need to be stocked to continue to maintain or improve salmonid populations. It was also noted that specific waters routinely received more fishing pressure. Adjusting fishing regulations to take all of this data into consideration was a daunting task. At the same time, the varied fishing preferences of the angling community would need to be fulfilled. The results from fish mortality studies comp Iicated the matter further. It was discovered that released fish that were caught on baited hooks died at a higher rate than those hooked by lures and flies. Fly-Fishing-Only (FFO) and ArtificialLures-Only (ALO) waters would need to be expanded to protect more salmonids

Some folks wonder where all the trout went. Past stringers like this is one reason why we need tighter rules today. by giving released fish a better chance to live and reproduce. The fishing rule book that MDIF&W puts out each year reflects years of data collection, and only offer anglers a glimpse of what a fisheries biologist job entails. The colossal amount of hours spent in the field collecting data, and the time it has taken to work and rework regulations that properly manage Maine's huge fishing resource is staggering. Bonney said, "There is so much information collected out in the field on such a large amount of fi hing waters that it's sometimes not reviewed for IO to 20 years. We collect a massive amount of relevant information and the computer has helped tremendously in organizing all this data, but it also takes a lot of hours to process what we find in order to come up with a solution for a managing acertain angling location ." Tailoring regulations based on the computerized harvest and growth data has resulted in higher catch rates and a

more 111ature salmonid population . The efforts have been felt within the fishing community, and a growing number of anglers are asking that more trophy water be et aside for catch-and-release fishing .

Balancing Act Satisfying all of the varied views within the angling community while maintaining a healthy salmonid population is working. There's excellent fishing available for all in Maine. Higher catch rates are being reported, and the fishing future looks bright. Mature salmonids are showing up in water where previously there had been a decline. Biologists are finding an increasing number of brook trout in the two- to three-year-old range, with some up to seven years of age. Angling in Maine i slowly returning to its historical beginning. The number of FFO and ALO waters has increased significantly since 1965.

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Summer 2004

Maine has implemented much lower cree l limits than those on the books in the 70's. The quality of salmon id fishing in Maine has been improved whi le angling pressure has been steadily on the rise. Despite the increasing call by ang lers for more catch-and- re lease wa ters, some fo lks within the fishing commun ity are maintaining a "catch and fry" philosophy. MDIF&W officia ls are hearing it from both sides of th is issue and are doing a balancing act, with protection of the resource as top priority. Waterways where sa lmonids can be harvested far outn umber those with the catch-and -release designation. As the increasing number of hard-core, catchand-re lease anglers push for more trophy waters, the DIF&W will cautious ly move forward , continual ly ba lanci ng the needs and wants of all anglers, not just one

group. As it stands, Maine has I, 135 brook trout ponds, with five of them designated as catch-and-release waters. There are also portions of nine streams, brooks or ri vers in this catch-and-release category. An additional 15 ponds have been singled out as "trophy waters" with a creel limi t of one fish over 18 inches. Which direction the future of Maine's sa lmonid fishing takes w ill depend upon how fast the ang ling community realizes the potential for further growth of a mature population of sa lm on ids. When more angle rs become aware of the positive effect of catch -and-release fishing, and give li ght to their interest, Maine's fis h biologists will likely respond by creati ng more trophy waters. The angling heydays of Maine's historical past are right aro und the next bend in the stream.

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ATLANTIC SALMON The Main Southwest Miramichi River

HOWARD, N.B. CANADA Since 1946, we have provided superb, personalized service to anglers of Atlantic salmon , brook trout, and shad. Our pools and lodging are on the Main Southwest Miramichi, 1/2 a mile below the entrance of the Cains River, and 25 miles SW of Miramichi City. This year we offer the last two weeks of October for Upland Bird Hunting (Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock) .

• Salmon Pools (Beats Our four privately owned pools provide five star wet and dry fly fishing. Anglers have the option of wading (gravel bottom with gradual grade) or fishing from a canoe. The Miramichi valley provides superb cover for Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock.

• Accommodations Our Atlantic salmon package includes lodging, meals, housekeeping, use of our four private pools, guide services, and day canoe trips. The charge is $190 US/day/angler from April 15th, 2004 - September 17th, 2004; $220 US/day/angler from September 18th - October 15th, 2004. The refundable Canadian tax is 15% of the daily charge. Special discounts are available based on length of stay, time of year, and size of group.

• Reservations PLEASE CALL OR WRITE:

Martyn Vickers 122 Winthrop Street Augusta, ME 04330 207-623-4879 vickers@gwi.net

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 .

Please visit our website at www.miramichisalmon.com Page 3 1 MA INE Fish and Wild li fe

Summer 2004

One of Maine's best hunting and fishing spots is in Freeport Visit the LL.Bean Hunting & Fishing Store in Freeport for a full array of quality rods, reels, lures and flies in our expanded Fishing Department. You'll also find a great selection of firearms, hunting accessories and specialized apparel. The outdoor experts on our staff are here and ready to help you 24 hours every day of the year. And, of course, everything we sell is 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Start your next adventure at LL.Bean.

L.L.Bean Hunting & Fishing FREEPORT, MAINE 800-559-0747, EXT. 37720 â&#x20AC;˘ llbean.com/stores