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Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
3-1-2007
Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Spring 2007 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine Recommended Citation Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, "Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Spring 2007" (2007). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 56. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/56
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I5Lf.llo:
ioo7f,t<~ C ,I
JUL 26 2007
PROTECT
YOURSELF
MAINE GUN SELLERS PROTECT
YOUR
GUNS
FEDERAL LAW provides severe penalties for persons who knowingly sell guns to prohibited persons.
BE AWARE. ASK QUESTIONS. DON'T LET YOUR GUNS BE USED IN ACRIME. Sell your guns only to someone you know can legally possess them or directly to a federally licensed gun dealer. CONTACT US FOR A GUN SELLER'S SAFETY KIT (207) 771-3294 OR 262-4694
Gun Sellers Awareness Campaign Project Sale Neighborhoods Task Force United States Attorney - District of Maine â&#x20AC;¢ PortlancVBangor, Maine usame.psn@usdo j.gov Page 2 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Spring 2007
MAINE Fish and Wildlife Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Roland D. Martin, Commissioner Paul F Jacques, Deputy Commissioner Kenneth H. Elowe, Director, Bureau of Resource Management Chris Campbell, Financial Analysist Bureau of Administrative Services Thomas Santaguida, Colonel, Bureau of Warden Service Andrea Erskine, Assistant to the Commissioner
4
Editorial
Robert. S. Savage, Limington Ron Usher, Westbrook R. Leo Keiffer, Caribou Sheridan Oldham, Waterville Stephen Philbrick, Oquossoc Frank Dunbar, Bucksport Joseph E. Clark, Millinocket Ray Poulin Jr., Ripley Albion Goodwin, Pembroke Mike Witte, New Harbor Marc Michaud, Editor Lisa Kane, Copy Editor Mark Latti, Copy 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 $9.95 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 PO. Box 1457, Yarmouth, Maine 04096. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to MAINE Fish and Wildlife, PO. Box 1457, Yarmouth, Maine 04096. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPT/ON? 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
Roland D. Martin
Maine leads the way on wild brook trout.
Maine Duck Stamps
5
Cathy Genthner
8
Maj. Gregg Sanborn
Works of art for conservation .
Great Job!
A tribute to to the search and rescue efforts of the Warden Service .
10
Splake Advisory Council
Yol. -t9~ No.I
Spring 2007
Governor John E. Baldacci
Tim Obrey
Brookie and laker cross is catching on in Ma ine .
Lands Management
13
Tom Seymour
Creating the best wildife habitat poss ibl e.
16
Kidbits
Lisa Kane
Here's the critter that reall y keeps busy.
Warden Academy
18
Cathy Genthner
Preparing the new recruits to handl e any emergency.
Fish Stocking
21
Cathy Genthner
The wh y, what and where of Maine's hatchery system .
James Dorso WMA
24
Mark Latti
A wildlife management area photo essay.
Greenland Point Center 26
Greenland Point Coalition
Youth ca mp is up and running again .
About the Cover: Fish and Wildlife Department photographer Mark Lalli made this photo of a truly large black bear at the Maine Wildlife Park. A photographer"s admission pass allows professional and amateur photographers to get once-in-a-lifetime close range pictures of our wildlife. Pass holders have special access to the enclosures to take up-close pictures that are free of fences or obstacks. Fee: $50/hour
Spring 2007 Page 3
era! agencies they are always looking for money to match their funds. This funding source, even though it isn't large is a really good match for federal dollars for wetland acquisition, which is extremely good for ducks. It is one of the biggest bangs for the dollars when partnered with federal money for wetlands management." For example, money from the sale of the first duck stamp was used to purchase Big Libby Island in Machiasport, home to several hundred nesting eider ducks. Monies are used for bird banding as well. "We do a lot of banding which in turn helps us to manage the resource for harvest and habitat. Students in wildlife programs at college also help with the banding," said Allen. "Maine has a very healthy waterfowl population because we have a lot of wetlands inland and on the coast. We have a very diverse popu lation.
University of Maine wildlife student Chelsea Corcoran holds a hen eider duck about to be banded and released. The banding in part, is funded by the proceeds raised from Maine 's Duck Stamp Program (photo courtesy United States Fish
Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Artists During the Past Decade
Artist Year
Waterfowl
Richard Alley, Jr. , lslesford
Long-Tailed Duck
2007 Jeannine Staples, Topsham
Ring-Necked Duck
2006 Daniel Cake, Auburn
Canada Goose
2005 Richard Alley, Jr. , lslesford
Barrow's Golden Eye
2004 Jeannine Staples, Topsham
Green-Winged Teal
2003 Richard Alley, Jr. , lslesford
Bufflehead Duck
2002 Jeannine Staples, Topsham
Wood Duck
2001 Darby Mumford, Topsham
Common Eider Duck
2000 Richard Alley, Jr. , lslesford
Black Duck
1999
Jeannine Staples, Topsham
Surf Scooter Duck
1998
Tom Kemp, Sangerville
1997 Page 6 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Greater Scaup
We've got the best of both worlds."
Long-Tailed Winner For 2007, Richard Alley, Jr. of Islesford painted the winning picture of the long-tailed duck (o ld squaw) . It was the sixth time that Alley's paintings have been used for the stamp. Alley's subjects for his paintings often come from the family freezer. "My son shot a long-tailed duck around Little Cranberry Is land just last fall. What I did was take it out of the freezer, paint for a couple of hours and then put it back in the freezer. It is good to have the duck right in your hand. There is quite a lot of detail and authenticity involved," said Alley. "The only one that I flew by my shirttai ls on was the Barrows Golden-eye. There are just a few off the east coast and it is illegal to hunt those birds. I didn't have much to go on, but a friend gave me some photos." However, just going by photos didn't eem to affect the quality of Alley's work. In 2004, Alley's painting of Barrow's Golden Eye was selected as the winner for the stamp . In addition to being an artist, Al ley is an avid duck hunter and a lobsterman. During the cold winter months from December through April he is in side painting . Once it warms up , he is back on the water, either lobstering or duck hunting, depending on the time of
Spring 2007
the year. His time spent in nature is the inspiration for his art. "I see almost all of these ducks everyday when I am out lobstering around Western Frenchmen's Bay and the Cranberry Isles. I see a lot of ducks migrating when I am out. I see a lot of black ducks, mallards and green wing teal, mostly - not many puddle ducks. "Most everything I see is a sea duck. I' II see a few geese but they fly really high and very seldom land ," said Alley. "I pick my backgrounds based on what I've seen when I was out and sometimes I make them up. Some people are surprised when they see me in one place painting and then see me lobstering later. "It's a good life. It is a good change from one thing to the other. By midDecember when I've taken the traps up, I am ready to stay on shore. Then, after being cooped up all winter, I'm ready to get the traps back out." And getting back to work on the water is probably what keeps Alley humble , in spite of his fame with the canvas . "It is a big thrill ," said Alley. "People are collecting stamps with my artwork but I don't get puffed up about it. But I am pleased."
Jeannine Staples Another artist who has won multiple times and also lives on the coast is Jeannine Staples of Topsham. Her painting of two Ring-Necked Ducks won the stamp contest for 2006 along with winning five previous times . Staples, a Topsham native, does the bookwork for the family business Lonnie 's Hydraulic Incorporated . Her artwork is a hobby on which she wishes she could spend more time. "I like to paint - it is very relaxing and when I am painting I am in a world of my own. I usually go out and photograph the different species that we are to paint. Everyone has to do the same bird every year," said Staples. "There is a pond behind the hou e and there are ringnecks and hooded mergansers. I will go down there with my yellow lab Prince and watch the ducks. I know all my ducks now. 1 have to identify what kind of duck it is and I am always looking for the rarer ones like the Harlequin Duck , which is very beautiful and colorful. I've
MAINE Fish and Wildlife
only seen one in my life." Winners are not allowed to compete the following year. The year following a win, the winner will be among the panel of judges. As a result, Staples and Alley are always judging each other's artwork. "Rick and I look forward to seeing each other every year," said Staples. "If I enter next year, he will be a judge for mine. We laugh about it."
Proceeds Needed Staples has been invited to participate in the other states' waterfowl stamp contest as well as the federal duck stamp contest, but feels that the art world is "over run with duck prints." Staples does paint for the Pine Tree Society and her work has been featured on the organization's Christmas Cards. Her notoriety has prompted people to ask her for her autograph. "People from Texas have sent me
stamps to autograph before, and I've done some autographs for Maine people too," said Staples. "Now it is just mainly collectors who buy the stamps." However, those stamps can be extremely rare as collectors' items. Money raised by the department is put towards protecting one of Maine 's most beautiful natural resource - its waterfowl. "The program did extremely well in the beginning. The duck stamp program is something that many people are still very interested in. It provides money for waterfowl and to purchase wetlands for habitat," said Jacques. "Although we don't receive anywhere near the money we did in the beginning - what money we get is money we need and we utilize it. The duck hunters don't have any objections to paying for the stamps. People feel good knowing that by buying these stamps the money goes into the conservation program."
Spring 2007 Page 7
By Major Gregg Sanborn Being a law enf'orcement officer Is not ah easyjob. In ;act, It sometimes can be a tough racket. Occaslonally an officer, or In our case a warden, wlll enf'on:e a lawjust as they have been trained an expected to do, pruf"ess/onally and within accepted law enforcement practl~ and the violator, who may be angry or embatrassed writ.es a scathing letter to a congressmans office. rhe dlsgtuntled party wlll allege the pn,secut;ng warden committed all sorts ofImproprieties. rhe wardens actions are lntemally Investigated, as dictated In po/Icy. rllls process Is ve,y detalled and time-consuming. rhe warden under Investigation knows that his actions and enforr:ement case was handled¡~ the book, 11 but Is still stressed by a nagging thought: ''I hope they believe me. My Integrity, career and filmlly's /Ivel/hood are on the tine. 11
Page 8 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Spring 2007
The Maine Warden Service works ofr the people of the state and is a branch of government. A government agency must investigate complaints to ensure that its citizens are well served. The Warden Service has in place a procedure that ensures such complaints are investigated fairly and as expediently as possible. What the public doesn't know, and what wardens need to be reminded of, is that for every letter complaining of game
warden's actions, the Department receives three letters complimenting them on the way they handled a particular situation. I find this statistic amazing because most people, regrettably myself included, don't take the time to acknowledge good service, only gripe about poor service. I recently received the following letter from a Vermont hunter. The hunter doesn't name the wardens. Maybe he never knew their names. I know I could
research the complaints and get the names of the wardens. I didn't do that because, even though this thank you is for wardens around Oxbow, it could be from the hunter lost off Long Swamp Road in Lebanon, or the brook fisherman who got "twisted around" off Lord Brook in Grand Falls, or even the grandparents of the toddler and infant who spent a long January night in the woods of Palermo. Here is the Vermont hunter's letter:
To tvie MaLV\,e wa.,.deV\, sen1Lce Mlj ~~e
Ls MLtcvi MulleV\,. I'~ .23 ljeay-s old. Mlj fa~Lllj OWV\,S a viuV\,tLv,.,g ca~-p OV\, Route 1.1.
wvieY-e Lt ~eets wLtvi o,xbow Road. I s-peV\,d two wee~ tvieY-e evel"!j deeY- seasoV\,. It's oV\,e of ~lj favoY-Lte -parts of tvie ljear: 1v1Ls ljea~ OV\, Nove~beY- 1.5, I was viuV\,tLv,.,g a Y-Ldge off LaV\,e "BrooR. Road LV\, so~ VeY-lj raLV\,!j aV\,d fogglj weatvier: Tue fog ~ade Lt get daY-R. earlLer tviaV\, usual, aV\,d suddeV\,l!j I y-ealLzed tviat 1 would be viard--pressed to get bacR. to tvie road befoy-e V\,Lgvitfall. l.,lv\,fortu~tel!j I viad viLR.e~ ~ucvi furtvier tviaV\, I tviougvit aV\,d got turV\,ed arouV\,d LV\, tvie -process. I'd goV\,e LV\, tvie o-p-posLte dLY-ectLoV\, I tviougvitl To ~aR.e ~atters woy-se I viad V\,O flasvilLgvit, or ~ate.vies, or aV\,lj of tvie tviLv,.,gs ljDu'd lLR.e to viave for a lovi.,g V\,Lgvit LV\, tvie woo~. 1 was co~-pletellj
uV\,-prepared aV\,d co~-pletel!j soaR.ed, but I viave
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cvioLce but
to settle ~OWV\, for
tvie V\,Lgvit wviere two broo~ ~et. I viad V\,O Ldea wviere I was. It -poured lLR.e viell. A
~oose walR.ed blj. 1just sat wLtvi ~lj bacR. agaLV\,st a tree aV\,d wa~ted for
tvie V\,Lgvit to eV\,d. "But I was too cold aV\,d couldV\,'t fall asleep for ~oY-e tviaV\, a few ~LV\,utes. "B!j
-p.~.
1 couldll\,'t
sto-p sviLverLv,.,g Ull\,COll\,trollabllj. I R.~w blj ~OY-V\,Lv,.,g I'd be sLcR.. "But aroull\,d
vieard tviree qu~cR sviots. I ~Y-ed ~lj
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aV\,d a wviLle Latey- f could see lLgvit co~Lv,..,g
dowV\, tvie brooR.. It was two wardeV\,s. It turV\,ed
out ~lj UV\,cle viad ~et a waY-deV\, OV\, a road at darR. aV\,d a wviole buV\,cvi of tvie~ viad
beeV\, looR.Lv,.,g for ~e. I'~ V\,Ot 011\,l!j wrLtLv,..,g to salj tviaV\,~ for ~V\,dLvi.,g
~ tviat V\,Lgvit, but
also to salj viow gy-eat tviese
guljs weY-e. The oy-gaV\,LzatLoV\, of tvie seay-cvi was L~-py-essLve, as was tvie fact tviat tviese gul:::ls viad V\,O LV\,teV\,tLoV\, of quLttLv,..,g uV\,t~l tviel:::l fouV\,d ~e. TueY-e was absolutel!j V\,O bad attLtude oY- uV\,fY-~eV\,dlLV\,ess, oV\,l!j tvie o-p-posLte. FoY- ~e, tvielj tuY-V\,ed a bad e.x-pey-~eV\,ce LV\,to a good OV\,e. 1t ~al:::l
souV\,d e,y-azl::j, butt'~ actualll::j glad tviat V\,Lgvit via-p-peV\,ed because I leay-V\,ed so ~aV\,lj
lessoV\,.s about -py-epaY-edV\,ess aV\,d tvie V\,ortviey-V\, MaLV\,e woods. AV\,d, tviall\,~ to tvie way-deV\,s, I ca~e out UV\,scatvied . c;y-eatjob gul:::ls. 1 caV\,'t tviaV\,R l::jDu eV\,ougvi. MLtcvi MulleV\,
MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Spring 2007 Page 9
Jeff Merrithew's 7. 78-pound splake. Tim Merrithew photo
' Page 10 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
•
•
1 Spring 2007
By Tim Obrey Splake have been part of the fishing landscape in Maine for over 20 years. The Department manages around 50 waters for splake statewide. The program is still small compared to other hatchery programs, however, splake have become a very important tool in the fishery managers' toolbox. Splake were first created in the late 1800s. They are a hybrid between a brook trout (also called "Speckled trout") and a Jake trout; hence the name splake. Splake are stocked in nearly all northern States and throughout Canada. Studies here in Maine and across the U.S. have demonstrated that splake provide excellent trout fishing opportunities in waters where other salmonids have struggled. In Maine , our first priority is to manage for wild or native fish. However, many waters are not able to support wild, coldwater gamefish for a variety of reasons; such as competition from warmwater species like bass and perch, poor water quality, and/or the Jack of suitable spawning habitat. In fact , many waters in the State simply do not have adequate spawning habitat for any coldwater gamefish and must be stocked to provide fishing.
â&#x20AC;˘
A handsome 6-year-old splake from the Moosehead Region. Photo by Steve Seeback
Why Splake? One of the most common questions we receive about splake is: "Why does the Department stock fish that do not reproduce in the wild?" The reason is quite simple. Nearly all the fish we stock, including salmon, brook trout , Jake trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout , are stocked solely to provide fishing opportunities. They are stocked in waters that lack spawning habitat. So, it does not matter which species is stocked; spawning is unlikely to occur. Therefore, as managers , we must select the best species to meet the biological characteristics of the water. Splake are best suited in a small number of waters in Maine. Splake are stocked in waters where stocked or wi Id brook trout have failed to produce acceptable fisheries. Our studies in Maine clearly how that splake grow faster and live longer than stocked brook trout. The end re ult is bigger fish and better fi shing for Maine anglers. In many
MAINE Fish and Wildlife
waters, hatchery brook trout only live for a year or two. Splake routinely Jive to age 3 or 4, and some may survive to be 7 or 8 years old. Splake can average 18 inches in length by age 3. Needless to say, the older splake can be quite impressive. The Coldwater Working Group, a
A nice catch of splake from last Winter Jeff Merrithew photo collection of anglers from across the State that were selected to represent a cross-section of interest groups, developed a splake management plan for the State of Maine in 2001. This group, with
Spring 2007 Page 11
the assistance of Department Staff, also formulated plans for other coldwater species such as brook trout, salmon, and lake trout. The group established goals and objectives to guide the Department's fisheries management. In September 2006, the Department reconvened the Coldwater Working Group in response to concerns among a small number of anglers that splake were being misused by the Department. A review of the current status of the program was presented at the meeting and the issues were thoroughly discussed by the public working group. The group reaffirmed that the Department was managing the splake program in a manner consistent with the species plan developed by the representative group in 200 I .
New Fish Splake are still considered a "new" fish by many. But our data clearly indicate that anglers have come to accept splake and are actively seeking them out. Winter fishing pressure has generally been declining over the past 20 years statewide. Yet, angler estimates on many waters stocked with splake actually increased during the same period. For example, splake were first stocked in Wyman Lake in 1997. This lake had been stocked with salmon, brook trout, and lake trout throughout the past 60 years, yet the fishing wa considered sub-par. Since the inception of the splake program, winter fishing pressure increa ed an e timated 222% and catches rates increased by nearly 300% for coldwater gamefish on Wyman Lake. Folks, that's good fishing! There are numerous success stories like this aero s the State of Maine and here is what anglers are saying about them: From Jeff Merrithew, Registered Maine Guide and owner of Timbcrdoodlc Outfitters, Inc. in Millinocket: " My wife, Connie, and 1 along with our son and daughter have, in recent years, enjoyed many days of splake fishing . We, honestly, cannot say an ill word about them, as they seem to fit a needed niche in fisheries balance. I find it unfortunate that, in general, many fishermen know little about splake. Until recently I
Page 12 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
The "good o/' days," when fish were so big their tails dragged on the ground. Tim Merrithew photo)
had to count myself as one among the masses because I only knew what I had heard through the grapevine. Not until, I cast a line into the Internet and hooked into some keeper information did I grow to understand splake. Following a couple fabulous suppers and understanding of the history, habitat and food preferences; we then sought splakc as a target fish rather than an acceptable alternative to brook trout. " From Wiggie Robinson. Ma~ter Maine Guide (aka. "The Baron of the West Branch"): " My first introduction to splake was on an ice fishing trip to a pond where they had been stocked for 2 years. Our group was anxious to try fishing for this new fish but feared the toguc parentage would create another togue variety, not one of my favorite fi h for the pan.
We snowmobiled to the pond and it didn't take long to get set up because on January first the ice isn't too thick. Before all the tip-ups were in, we had two flags in water close to shore but still about 25 feet deep. An outdoor gal who was in our party iced a splake about l 4-inches long . We all gathered around to see this "new" fish , it being our first glimpse of a splake. The immediate comment was, "ft looks like a brook trout!" After cleaning it , we decided it definitely looked like a brook trout; the flesh was a beautiful deep pink . The action was fast and furious for the next two hours. We released many small splake but each of our pa1ty of five people caught limits of 2 fish. We were sold on this species and planned another trip to another pond for the next day.
Spring 2007
Ryan Robicheau at Frye Mountain
By Tom Seymour In 200 l, the Maine Legislature passed a statute creating Maine's new Lands Management Program (LMP). Increased demands upon Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists made this new program necessary. Now, with a central clearinghouse established, tasks such as road maintenance, mowing of fields, timber harvesting and similar activities on Department-owned wildlife management areas all fall under the auspices of the Land~ Management Program. Ryan Robicheau , Land Management Biologi t for MDTFW, cited the Frye Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) a~ an example of what the LMP has thus far accomplished. Robicheau began by list-
MAINE Fish and Wildlife
ing the top three goals of the LMP. These apply not only to Frye Mountain WMA, but also to all Maine WMAs, as well as other parcels managed by MDIFW.
T
I
The prime goal, Robicheau aid, is to manage the land for the highest quality upland and wetland habitat possible. The next priority, Ryan continued, is to provide for bulk consumptive and non-consumptive recreational uses. He went on to say that more and more land , especially in southern and central Maine , is out of bounds to recreationalists from development and posting. This has led to increased use and pressure on WMAs and other public parcels by hunters, fishermen and trappers, as well as hikers, skiers, snowmobilers, horse-
Tom Seymour photo
back riders and other recreational users. The third aim of the LMP, Robicheau said, is to provide a visible opportunity for other public and private land managers to see what can be accomplished. "Our WMAs," he said, "are a model for what other private landowners can accomplish both commercially and to benefit wildlife."
B A tour of Frye Mountain WMA with Robicheau disclosed many changes. The improved condition of roads was immediately apparent. Wide, well graded, and with adequate ditching to allow for runoff, these roads are a far cry from what existed there in the past. Even better, Robicheau pointed out that in compliance with the second LMP goal of managing for all recreational
Spring 2007 Page 13
uses, a major snowmobile trail parallels the road. Maine's Interconnected Trail System (ITS) 83 is situated alongside, rather than on, the WMA access road. This allows for snowmobile use, even during timber hauling operations. Also in keeping with the multi-use goal, a hiking path established by the Georges River Land Trust winds its way through the WMA. This path is at once well-defined, and minimally invasive. This is a footpath only, and is not meant for wheeled vehicles.
p¡ne Thinning Entering the WMA from the Route 220 access point in Montville, the visitor almost immediately encounters a white pine thinning operation. Here, poorly formed and suppressed trees (trees that cannot grow to full potential because of other nearby growth) were selectively removed. Robicheau produced a habitat enrichment map, with Frye Mountain WMA delineated in blocs. Each bloc represents a different harvest type. These
vary from the above-mentioned white pine thinning operation, to half-acre areas where all timber except for selected deadwood is removed. These open areas are immediately planted with a special "wildlife mix" of alfalfa, chufa and clover. Also, all wood landing areas and temporary access roads are seeded with wildlife mix to enhance their value to deer and other wildlife.
Nothing Wasted
Valuable Deadwood
WMA goes to waste. Robicheau enlists
The standing deadwood provides habitat for cavity nesting wildlife. And when it finally falls, Robicheau said, it provides drumming logs for grouse. Nothing goes to waste, and every possible contingency is provided for in Robicheau's plan. Robicheau 's habitat enrichment map is a patchwork maze of different "shelterwood" types. Each shelterwood is well defined, and was created for a specific purpose. In many cases, the halfacre clean-cut patches act as islands between other shelterwood types. This provides habitat for a variety of wildlife,
independent contractors to do the actual work, and before they begin, he walks them through the designated site and defines exact goals. The aim here is not necessarily to extract the most profit from the land, but to create the best wildlife I.abitat. Monies from timber harvesting are channeled back to the Land Management Program. Robicheau said that fir tipping (harvesting the tips of balsam fir branches for the Christmas wreath industry) is included in the management plan at Frye Mountain and other WMAs. Fir tips are a renewable resource, and a monitored harvest is a source of income for both the harvesters and for the LMP. Robicheau said that when formulating a habitat enhancement program, the LMP attempts to accomplish as much as possible, wherever appropriate. In that way, everyone benefits. For instance, Frye Mountain WMA now boasts 200 acres of special grouse habitat, and a small deer yard that is incorporated into a general, deer management area. Wild turkeys benefit from hardwood patches in designated areas.
some of which require wooded as well as open areas. Examples here include wild turkeys and American woodcock. Whitetailed deer frequent the edges, and a great number of other wildlife species benefit from the pioneer growth that will ultimately begin the reclamation process after a land-clearing project.
None of the timber harvested on a
Crop Rotation
Plantings of American chestnut seedlings at Frye Mountain are designed to produce blight resistant trees. Tom Seymour photo Page 14 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
"Crop rotation," so to speak, is critical in a habitat enrichment project. Robicheau says that these various blocs can have a 40- to 60-year rotation schedule. Many wildlife species benefit from different forest types. Robicheau says, "Successionally speaking, we want to hit the reset button." Thus it is, that woodcock will have a continuous source of early successional growth, deer will have a guaranteed source of browse and also winter shelter. Non-game species will benefit as well. For all of that, only 800 acres of the 5,300-acre Frye Mountain WMA are
Spring 2007
actively managed. But not being under active management does not imply that land is not being managed. Not harvesting is a form of management too. Some areas, wetlands , for instance , are purposely left in their natural state.
C hcstnut Plantin. 1 Robicheau pointed out where a stand of red pine once stood. These became diseased and were removed. In their place, Robicheau has planted American chestnut seedlings. Prior to this, Robicheau introduced pollen from blight-resistant trees to the parent trees . Seeds from these produced the seedlings planted at Frye Mountain. Robicheau said that these may not live out their full life span, but any seed they produce should have a built-in immunity to chestnut blight. In time, Frye Mountain WMA should have a thriving crop of disease-resistant American chestnut trees . In addition to planting chestnuts, Robicheau has planted thousands of red oak trees , released (pruned to allow new growth) many acres of apple trees and seeded wildlife mix where needed.
Deer benefit greatly from edge habitat. MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Constant succession is one of the land management goals at Frye Mountain according to Ryan Robicheau. Tom Seymour photo on a primarily upland WMA. But many WMAs in Maine are water-based , conPreserving the sisting of streams and impounded wetP:ctst Robicheau pointed out lands. Such areas usually contain at that his habitat enrichleast some upland habitat, and that is managed according to the Frye ment plan includes a Mountain model. Part of the managehistorical component. ment plan for impounded areas include Every sign of past not only wildlife plantings, but incorpohuman habitation is rating duck nest box programs as well. carefully documented. During its short existence, Maine's These include cellar holes, wells, fences and Lands Management Program has provided extensive new habitat for all of cemeteries. When Maine's wildlife , and has also provided locating any of these , more and enhanced recreational opporRobicheau makes field tunities for all those who recreate in the notes, maps the site, outdoors. and also punches in the coordinates on a GPS unit. Thus, the past is remembered and the present is enhanced. The ongoing work at Frye Mountain WMA is typical of what occurs
Ryan Robicheau works in the MDIFW Region B office in Sidney, and can be reached at (207) 547-5327 or at Ryan .Robicheau@maine.gov.
Spring 2007 Page 15
Page 16 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Spring 2007
Choose the best answer from the word list to complete the following sentences. Then see if you can detect the mystery message by filling in the letters matched with the numbers below. 1. Beavers first construct a ___ , then a _____ in which to live. 123
4
5678
2. Beaver's front teeth are called ________ , and are an _____ _ 9 10 11 12 13 1415 16 11 18 19 20 21 22 color. 3. A group of beavers is called a------¡ 23 24 25 26 27 28
4. Once it is flooded, a beaver------- is a great place for herons, fish , turtles, frogs and ducks 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 5. The beaver's __ __ acts like a ______ when they swim. 40 41 42 43 44 45
36 37 38 39
6. Maine was explored by trappers seeking beaver _____. 46 47 48 49 50
7. Beavers cut trees down to eat the _____ and ____. 51 52 53 54 55
56 57 58 59
8. Baby beavers are called ____.
colony pelt flowage teeth saplings incisors bark twigs tail poplar willow
60 61 62 63
9. Beavers are members of the ______ family. 64 65 66 67 68 69
10. The chewed up sticks beavers use for building are called ____. 70 71 7273
MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Spring 2007 Page 17
â&#x20AC;˘
+A' MAINE CRIMINAL ...
-¡¡ JITICE ACADEMY
.
Maine Game Warden Academy Preparing Wardens for Anything By Cathy Genthner One November day during hunting season, Game wardens Mike Morrison and Chris Dyer began their workday at 8 a.m. assisting the Penobscot County Sheriff's Department in the arrest of three suspects who had broken into a home in Garland. Morrison. and Dyer th.en traveled to LaGrange where they checked hunters, inspected tagging books at local convenience stores and handled a car-deer accident. From LaGrange, they were immediately called to Bangor to assist police in the search for a woman with Alzheimer's, who wandered away from her nursing home. The woman was found a few hours later in Hampden. Following that call, Morrison and Dyer then traveled to Morrison's home in Charleston for some supper. However, supper was abruptly interrupted when they responded to a call of night hunting in Orrington, where they arrested a suspect be.fore calling it a day, over 12 hours after it had begun.
"That is a typical day during hunting season for a game warden," said Warden Mike Morrison, a second-generation game warden who has been with the warden service since 1977. "We don't just handle fish Game Warden Michael Pierre interviews a and game issues anymore. We assist other agencies constantly. They "spa~" during the last game warden academy call us when someone runs into the woods. We assist with tracking and held m 2003. Cathy Genthner, photo)
Page 18 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Spring 2007
apprehension, locating evidence, search warrants and everything else." This typical day in the life of a game warden is exactly why training is so extensive, intensive and comprehensive. All cadets complete 18 weeks of basic police training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro, followed by l 4 weeks at the Maine Warden Service Advanced Warden Academy, held in various locations throughout the state. The academy consists of time in the classroom as well as in the field, where classroom knowledge is put into practice.
Best Prepared "We have some of the best prepared game wardens in the country," said Game Warden Training Sgt. Mark Warren. "Our job as wardens is so diverse - literally from one minute to the next. We can be doing resource protection and then called to a search and rescue operation where lives are at
Family and friends proudly watch the 2007 warden school members graduate. stake; and then called to a grammar school for public speaking event all in the same day. Game wardens have to be ready for anything."
Versatility Game Warden cadets are trained in numerous areas including conservation law, information technology, resource management, patrol procedures, land navigation , search and rescue , accident and incident investigations, lF&W Safety Programs, Learning to take careful notes at an investigation scene firearms and public is an important part of warden training. Mark Latti photo
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relations . "The unique thing about our advanced school - compared to other law enforcement training programs - is that we do conservation law enforcement, and that takes in a real unique environment. That is why we put so much time into the training. We give our cadets basic law enforcement training , and then the advanced school brings in the conservation training so that when they start on their field training process, they know what is expected of them," said Captain Joel Wilkinson, the Director of Training for the Maine Warden Service. "Four of the men we hired who are in the latest academy worked previously as police officers. During this training period, they have been exposed to things they were never exposed to before." That is because at all times, game wardens are dealing with the natural elements in dramatically changing conditions and scenarios, even from one hour to the next. For example, a game warden could be driving an ATV, flying in a
Spring 2007 Page 19
plane, or on snowshoes, depending on what is going on. He or she is often on patrol alone, dozens or sometimes hundreds of miles away from a fellow officer. "We have specialty teams and we try to mold a cadet into someone who is an ambassador for the state, as well as a law enforcement officer. It is important when people come to Maine and come in contact with a warden in the field, that they view wardens as the state personified. We want our wardens to be approachable and professional," said Wilkinson. "Also during hunting season, most of the people we encounter in the field are armed, and some of those people could be convicted felons. Being a game warden can be dangerous, and we want our cadets to be prepared for the unexpected ."
New Graduates This past spring, 11 Maine game wardens and two Passamaquoddy Tribal game wardens graduated from the Maine Warden Service Advanced Warden Training Academy. Among them is Warden Tom McKenney of Sangerville, who is now stationed in the Ripogenus Dam area . McKenney first became interested in the warden service in 1997, and things worked out for him to be among this year's class of cadets. "The training has been excellent. We've covered just about everything we will see out there. What I have really liked is that all the supervisors have come and worked with us. That is really helpful because when we are in the field we will be able to put a name with a face. We are all excited about working with our fellow wardens," said McKenney. "In my district, I'll come in contact with a lot of whitewater rafters, hikers and fishermen. A lot of people go Lo the Ripogenus area lo recreate. Then in the fall the moose hunt is really big up there." The most challenging aspect of the academy for McKenney, as for most of the cadets, is being away from family during the extended training period . McKenney, who is 37 years old, married and a father of two, brings something vital and extremely important to the
Page 20 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
position of game warden. "My life experience will help me in the field. I've had a few more years to deal with people and at this point in my life, I am in a better situation to start a career like this." Sgt. Warren entered the warden service at the age of 40 and personally realizes the value of life experience . "I've been involved in training for 13 years. What is exciting is that you can offer some foundation to the new recruits before they get into the field and they have a basic understanding of what is expected of them and how to get the job done. Those are the rewards of this job ," said Warren. "Each one of these wardens will be meeting the expectations of their supervisor. Their jobs will change depending on what is going on, what time of year it is and the district in which they serve."
Long History The Warden Service was established over 120 years ago by the Maine Legislature to enforce fish and game laws. In that time, the warden service has changed to meet the needs of the public. Today, game wardens are responsible for enforcing fish and game laws; as well as enforcing laws regarding the operation of snowmobiles, ATVs, and watercraft. ATV registrations have nearly tripled in the past two decades. The number of registered snowmobiles in Maine is now well over 100,000. In addition, there are more than 13,000 miles of snowmobile trails in Maine, making Maine a popular destination for snowmobilers from across the northeast. Wardens arc in charge of search and rescue operations that often involve the non-sporting public, such as hikers. They also assist local and state police whenever a homicide or other crime investigation involves the woods. "We back up local law enforcement, sheriffs and state police during a number of situations such as high speed pursuits or searching for a suspect who is on the run. Wardens have to have the ability Lo
make arrests, deal with felons and so forth," said Wilkinson. "The balance is for game wardens to be able to interact with sporting people in a way that makes them approachable but still an enforcer of the law." During the last few weeks of the academy, the cadets take part in practical scenarios that simulate what they are going to encounter in the field, while putting into practice everything they've learned in the classroom . Veteran game wardens play the parts of "sports" in the field. For example, a warden may be interviewing a sport about apples found near a trt>e stand, fish that exceed the bag limit or come in contact with someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating an ATV. It is a test of what they arc likely to run up against on a daily basis as wardens.
Big Challenge " A lot of our enforcement is being pushed towards snowmobiling and ATVs. People who arc buying hunting and fishing licenses may be saying that wardens are spending more time on recreational vehicles than enforcing fish and game laws . That is a big challenge coming up - the fact is you've got two sides - the recreational people and the hunters and fisherman," said Game Warden Raymond Miller III, who graduated from the last academy held in 2003 and is now stationed in Jackman. "I would say it is tougher to be a warden today than compared to 50 years ago. There is a vast amount of information we need to know. There is a lot of tradi tion here in Maine with the warden service and I am proud to be part of that." While Game Wardens arc responsible for the protection of our natural resources, they arc equally responsible for protecting the people of Maine. "For some of the smaller communities in Maine, we are the only law enforcement that is readily available," said Morrison. "When people need help, they call on a game warden."
Spring 2007
By Cathy Genthner
Why, What and Where Do We Stock
B
biologists often hear statements like these from anglers, "You can stock those trout right in front of my camp," or "How about dumping some of those salmon in my favorite fishing hole?" Why, what and where we stock is more comprehensive and scientific than doing it at a time and place an avid angler can be assured of catching his or her bag limit although the goal is always to provide good fishing whenever possible. Stocking is based on information gathered by biologists who conduct on-site visits and research, public input and creel censuses. "There are so many determining factors. If we are on a brand new water, we have to decide what, if anything is there worth protecting. We have to bring fisheries and wildlife into the picture. We determine what the impact will be on invertebrate , dragon flies , vegetation the entire habitat," said John Boland, the Director of Fisheries for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "We do a peer review with biologists in the division where a particular body of water has been identified and we solicit comment from the public includ-
ing creel surveys that help us with determining numbers."
Creel Surveys The importance of creel surveys can not be overstated, according to Forrest Bonney, a fisheries biologist in Strong and the author of the book, Square Tails - Biology and Management of Maine's Brook Trout. "Every winter we hire people or we go out ourselves and interview anglers on the ice. That information we get has a lot to do with these stock fish whether the anglers are catching them and whether we are spending our money wisely. We do less of it in the summer because the season is so long but we do get out on the bigger lakes. We weigh and measure fish and get catch rates." The voluntary creel program where people keep diaries has been helpful as well as the internet diary "Trip Tracks" where fishing trips, fishing conditions and fish caught are logged electronically. All this information is used in the stocking of 1.25 million fish every year. The state's seven hatcheries (where fish are hatched from eggs) and two rearing stations (where larger fish are allowed to grow) raise brook trout, brown trout, lake trout (togue), landlocked salmon, splake (a brook trout/lake trout hybrid) and rain-
This beautiful brook trout was caught out of the Crooked River in Casco, a major tributary of Sebago Lake. Photo courtesy David Bowie MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Spring 2007 Page 21
bow trout. "Our first priority is to manage for wild fisheries. From then on, we decide in our best professional judgment where and what we stock. We might leave a body of water alone," said Boland. "We may find ourselves trying to restore a body of water to its natural fishes - in many cases because of illegally stocked fish. We may do that through stocking as well as establishing regulations on one species of fish and being liberal on another."
Stocking Categories Stocking falls into four categories introductory stocking, maintenance stocking, experimental stocking and put and take stocking. Introductory stocking introduces fish into a body of water where there has been no significant fish population before. Maintenance stocking preserves the fish population in a particular body of water at certain levels where the natural means of reproduction and growth has been compromised or spawning conditions are too poor to support a fishery. Experimental stocking stocks fish on a trial basis and stocking methods may be changed or stopped, depending on results. These first three methods of stocking are referred to as biological stocking because the waters have a suitable habitat to allow fish to survive and grow to legal size. The one-non-biological program called "put and take" stocking involves legal-sized fish being put in waters where they are expected to be caught in a short amount of time because habitat won ' t - at least in most cases -
Fisheries Biologist Chris Short, the manager of the Phillips Hatchery, is on his way to the Horns Pond in the Bigelow Mountain Range with a backpack full of brook trout fry as part of the department's stocking plan. support fish over the entire year. "We are doing more of this put and take stocking because the Embden Hatchery was rebuilt with bond issue funds," said Bonney. "We have more room to grow more fish to legal size. It has really increased our capability for stocking fish." The state only stocks cold water fish such as trout and salmon because they are more specialized in their spawning needs. For instance, salmon and trout require cold water running across gravel or small rocks along inlets in which to spawn. Maine has quite a few waters that will suppo1t adult salmon and trout but
Fish backpacks that were used to carry trout into Mud Pond. Page 22 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
there is no place for them to spawn. For example, in southern Maine, there is little wild natural reproduction of trout and salmon.
Stocking Adequate "As for stocking , I think the state does adequate stocking, especially down south where reproduction naturally is low or nonexistent. It is an economic squeeze for their budgets each year that they have to live with raising only so many," said David Bowie, the past president and a member of the board of directors of the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited. "Personally I prefer to fish for wild trout and go to great lengths to do so in Maine. Luckily we stiJJ have several hundred lakes and ponds that records show have never been stocked. Sebago Lake is famous for its native landlocked salmon and drew anglers from all over the country. However, the quality of salmon fishing in Sebago has been compromised by competition from species I ike bass and lake trout. As a result, four years ago, the state increased the bag limit on togue to give the salmon a better chance to repopulate . The Jake contains wild as well as ¡tocked salmon and the population is rebounding becau e of stocking and intensive fishery management. In some waters - such as Sebago -
Spring 2007
the state stocks adult fish, which often have a better chance at survival than juvenile or fry.
Good Habitat "Many of these waters support good adult habitat. They just don't support spawning or juvenile fish. We also have warm water predators such as large and smallmouth bass, white perch, cusk and brown bullhead . All these species either compete with or prey on the younger life stages of trout and salmon. You have bullheads and suckers, yellow perch and other species that will consume fish eggs along the shore," said Francis Brautigam, a Fisheries Biologist based out of Gray. "Sebago Lake is a big destination area for tourists. Our stocking programs are very important in attracting interest in our local area fisheries that provide opportunities to fish for traditional species like trout and salmon. We are trying to maintain that wild population to provide recreational opportunities." Stocking takes place in many different forms. The most common way is for large trucks to transport the fish to a particular body of water. Stocking is also done by seaplanes, boats and buckets. "All of the hatcheries and rearing stations have trucks with aerators that inject air into the water so that the fish can travel. We u e airplanes with tanks on their pontoons," said Steve Wilson, the superintendent of Hatcheries . "We even backpack into a few waters that can't we get to by truck or plane." This includes those really difficult to reach ponds on mountains where the thermal air currents make it too difficult to stock by plane. Biologist Chris Scott, the Fi h Culture Supervisor at the Phillips Hatchery, will carry the 400 fry and water scheduled for Horns Pond in a special backpack. Scott, who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and the Western Trail that stretches from Mexico to Canada, developed the process for backpack stocking. "I've been doing this now for over 20 years. When we first started, I had to research how to do this. I designed the packs myself and determined how many fish to pack," said Scott. "We chill the water down before we get started and when we actually do the packing, the
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water contains ice and we make it supersaturated with oxygen. That slows down the fishes' metabolism. Before the trip, the fish are taken off feed for three days. The hike up to Horns Pond in the Bigelow Mountain Range takes about three and a half hours. We've had some good reports on returns from anglers who have fished this pond."
Mountain Ponds Mountain ponds provide excellent habitat for fish because the water is usually cold, fed by snowmelt and there are few, if any, competing species. That i when introductory stocking has a great rate of succe s. "Once in a while there will be a pond - such as a mountain pond - that has adult and spawning habitat but there will be no fish in it," said Bonney. "Sometimes we will make an introduction of stocking Fisheries biologists are float stocking fish here using a truck with containers of aerated water and fish. and they will really take They transport the fish on the boat to different parts off." of the lake, before releasing the fish in the lake. Often times, illegally stocked fish have really ery brood stock are released into Maine taken off, threatening or totally eliminatwaters. Broodstock are used to produce ing wild fish. fingerlings, fry and yearlings that are "The muskies and pike are really used for stocking throughout the year. tough on trout and salmon," said Wilson. The e enior fi h, which are too old to "It is a lot of work to keep the native reproduce, still have a lot to give to fisheries healthy. The number of illegal anglers because they are trophy fi h. But introductions has increased over the last then again, you often have the chance of decade or so. I'm not sure why. Maybe catching a trophy fish thanks to good natit is because there is an increased interest ural habitat and the efforts of tho e who in bass fishing and it is easy to transport work to make Maine one of the best fishfish around in live wells." ing destination on earth. In rare cases and as a la t resort measure, reclamation is used on a body To enter your fishing trip online and of water to restore its natural fishery. help with fishery management visit: Rotenone, an organic chemical that only www.1rip1racks.com kills fish is used to wipe out all fish in a If you have questions or suggestions body of water. Then, native fi h are reinconcerning the department's stocking troduced into a body of water where the policies, please contact Joe Dembeck, illegal fish have been killed. Research Fishery Biologist at (207) 941One of the most popular stocking 4719. programs is when larger "retired" hatch-
Spring 2007 Page 23
Greenland Point Center Up and Running Again By Greenland Point Coalition Photos by Greenland Point
History: Since the early 1980s, hundreds of children in northern and eastern Maine have learned about Maine's environment and natural resources at the Conservation Education Center at Greenland Point. At the time, the Center was owned and operated by the University of Maine to meet a growing call for conservation education by offering a variety of environmental programs for all ages. In 2003 , under the weight of budget cuts and increasing tuition, the University of Maine put the Center and the surrounding land on the real estate market, generating interest from developers who saw the land a a potentially ideal site for a vacation home subdivision. In re ponse to the threat of development, the Greenland Point Coalition was
formed in 2004 by a group of concerned neighbors , conservationists, and others interested in seeing the property remain protected and publicly accessible. What began as conversations around the Princeton Rod and Gun Club kitchen soon evolved into an incorporated, organized venture with two primary goals: 1) to preserve and protect the land and buildings through acquisition, and 2) to re-open Greenland Point Center as a viable, year-round , not-forprofit bu iness. In June 2005 , the Greenland Point Coalition entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the University of Maine System. ln August 2005, the Coalition entered into a second purchase and sale Getting up close and personal with a white perch at the agreement with a prisummer session. vate landowner to
Learning to shoot safely on the rifle range at Greenland Point Page 26 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
Spring 2007
acquire the abutting property. In total, the two parcels comprise 64 acres on Long Lake in Washington County.
The Site: The physical landscape at Greenland Point has many unique features. Threequarters of the land is surrounded by the waters of Long Lake, one in a chain of lakes in the Princeton, Maine area. The surrounding vegetation is typical of a northern climax forest, with a wide variety of pines, cedars, maples, birches, spruce, fir, and other soft and hardwoods providing a special mixture of habitats to explore and study. The te1nin allows for trails along the waterfront, up and down gentle slopes, and more challenging inclines. The variety of habitat also provides the opportunity to observe and study many bird and wildlife species. The year-round facilities include a traditional Maine sporting camp tyle lodge that houses a large dining room and well equipped, modern kitchen. There is a camp library and multi-purpose room downstairs. In the cabin circle, there are eight log and three stickbuilt cabins that provide warm, cozy accommodations for campers and taff. Each is completely furni hed with bunk beds and/or twin beds, a table, chairs, and storage area. All the cabins have electricity. Heated showers and bathroom facilities are conveniently located near the cabin circle and in the lodge. Outdoor recreation facilities include a swimming area, boating area, a 1-_ mile multi-use trail ystem, sports area, and wilderness campsites. Nearby, the Princeton Rod and Gun Club facilities provide a rifle range, boat ramp and trap range to compliment the outdoor sports activities. Our collective mis ion is to provide outdoor fun while teaching practical outdoor skills and an appreciation of Maine's unique environment and natural re ources. We realize this mission with a special appreciation and understanding of our Maine ecological heritage and an acknowledgment of the responsibility we have to continue this legacy.
Our First Year: The 2006 season was our first with the new organization. Four week of
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â&#x20AC;˘
Log cabins are home, sweet home at Greenland Point.
Recreational safety courses draw a lot of attention at the winter session at the camp. Spring 2007 Page 27
Conservation Camp were offered for children ages 10-14. The kids experienced myriad outdoor activities, such as canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fly tying and casting, rifle instruction and sportsmen's ethics, sailing and safe boat handling, fishing, archery, map & compass, trapping and much, much more. They also had the opportunity to obtain their hunter and boating safety certificates. Two weeks of "Wet-N-Wild" camp, for ages 8-12, provided campers with an introduction to the outdoors. We also partnered with the Washington County Drug Action team and other agencies to serve "at risk" children; to expose them to positive programs and role models in an effort to give alternatives for making good choices. Two Women's Outdoor Adventure Weekends , one in September 2006 and one in February 2007 were offered. A Winter Conservation Camp was held during February 2007 school vacation week, and there have been very successful one and two day programs such as GPS, pistol instruction, map and compass
Page 28 MAINE Fish and Wildlife
throughout the 2006-2007 winter season. We have hosted conferences, teachers ' retreats and business meetings and held dinners, fund raisers and special events. It was a very successful first season, to say the least! We are really looking forward to the 2007 season. We have scheduled 4 weeks of Conservation Camp, 2 weeks of Wet-N-Wild, and have added a Maine Waterways Adventure trip for youth ages 13-16 so older children can experience an off campus paddling trip featuring "leave no trace ," shelter building and other advanced conservation themes. GPC has already booked over 20 Outdoor School days in late spring and early summer for teachers to bring their classes to Greenland Point for exciting, informative outdoor adventures. More and more organizations are booking into the fall for different programs. We are anticipating very many exciting, fun and educational outdoor adventures here at GPC in 2007 and beyond. After all, it's all about children, families and conservation. What a great com bi nation!
Answers to Kibits Quiz on Page 17 1. dam, lodge
2. incisors, orange
3. colony 4. flowage 5. tail, rudder 6.pelts 7. twigs, bark 8. kits 9.rodent 10. chaw Mystery Message: You should always try to stay as busy as a beaver!
Spring 2007
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Logo Merchandise Green Richardson Wax Cloth Hats (one size fits all)
Hanes Beefy T-shirts 100% pre-shrunk cotton
Quantity
Item
Price Ea
Total
Hanes Beefy T-shirts (*if ordering XXL please add $2.50 per item) Navy Blue Trout
_M _L _XL _
·xxL $15 .00 $
Forest Green Deer
_M _L _XL _
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stonewashed Green Moose
_M _L _XL _
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Pebble Turkey w/Camo Logo _M _L _XL _
Navy Blue Trout
Forest Green Deer
·xxL $15 .00 $
Turkey Hat w/camo logo
$16 .00 $ - -
Trout Hat
$16 .00 $ - -
Deer Hat
$16 .00 $ - -
Bass Hat
$16.00 $ - -
Postage Rates If the subtotal of your order is: up to $20 .00 = $4 .50 $20 01 - $35.00 = $5 .50 $35 01 - $50.00 = $6 .50 $50 01 - $75.00 = $7 .50 $75 01 - $100 00 = $8.50 $100 01 - $125 .00 = $9 50 over $125 01 = $10 .50
Subtotal
$
Sales Tax
$
Postage
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TOTAL DUE
$
(Mame residents add 5%)
Mailing A d d r e s s - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - State _______ Z i p - - - - - - - - Phone - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Birds of Maine Posters Now Available Three new full-color posters focusing on 60 common birds of Maine wetlands, backyards and forest and field habitats are now available from MDIFW. Each 29" X 32" poster, printed on heavy, glossy paper, features an original habitat painting by popular Maine wildlife and landscape artist Tom Merriam, with 20 photographs of common bird species superimposed. The back of each poster, in black and white, has individual habitat and bird species information specific to Maine. BIRDS OF MAINE BACKYARDS
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Price is $3.00 each, or the set of 3 for $8.00. (Maine resideots add 5% sales tax.) $3.50 for postage and handling. To purchase directly, stop into MDlFW Headquarters, 284 State Street, Augusta To order, call the MDIFW Information Center at 207-287-8000 or visit the MDIFW Online Store at www.mefishwildlife.com