Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Summer 2007 by Maine State Library

Maine State Library

Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

6-1-2007

Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Summer 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, Summer 2007" (2007). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 103. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/103

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.

"l"Stl-.(t-:

~007/

c.,

LIBRARY use ONLY

JAN 2 't 2008

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 Canpaign Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force United States Attorney- District of Maine â&#x20AC;¢ Portlancl/Bangor, Maine usame. ps n@usdo j.gov Page 2 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 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 Analyist Bureau of Administrative Services Thomas Santaguida, Colonel, Bureau of Warden Service Andrea Erskine, Assistant to the Commissioner Advisory Council 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. 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 , Maine 04096. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Call 1-800-276-0883 Out of state call 207-846-9501 Periodical Postage Paid at Augusta, Maine The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of Interior. Accordingly, all department programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination with regard to race , color, national origin , age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against should write to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington , D.C. 20240

Vol. 49, No. 2

Summer 2007

Governor John E. Baldacci

Editorial

Roland D. Martin

Bridging Landow ners and Land Users.

Disabled Sportsmen

Cathy Genthner

Special permi ts provide outdoor opportunities.

Ruffed Grouse

Michael Shummer

Lots of grousing, but lots of grouse too.

Striper Mania

Harry Vanderweide

Big fis h and action are the draw fo r those who chase Maine's lines ides.

Legacy

Emily Jones

Maine's Youth Fish and Game Association.

Kidbits

Lisa Kane

Tom Seymour

Everything is quite ducky.

Enfield Headquarters

The old gives way to the new thi s winter.

Mere Point

Mark Latti

Si x years to building a new coastal boat ramp.

GPS

Kevin Adams

Wardens use global pos itioning service for field searches.

On Target

Emily Jones

Nati onal Archery in the Schoo ls Program.

Tradition

Marc Michaud

The case for hunting and fishi ng.

About the Cover: Three-year-old Ryan Banister of Chelsea enjoys a fun summer day of catching jumbo white perch with his aunt. Elizabeth Vanderweide of Augusta. Harry Vanderweide photo

Summer 2007 Page 3

Editorial - Commisioner Roland D. Martin

Bridging Landowners and Land Users Maine is blessed with a wealth of natural resources. Our state has thousands of ponds, miles upon miles of rivers and streams, acres of uninterrupted forest and mountain peaks that soar to over 4,000 feet. Maine is also blessed in the fact that even though the vast majority of land is privately owned, landowners allow the public to use their land for a variety of traditional uses. Recently, however, it seems there are strains on this traditional land user/landowner agreement. Concerns have come from all angles, and disputes have arisen not only between landowners and land users, but between different recreational user groups as well. If we are to continue to enjoy the variety of outdoor recreational pursuits we currently do, we must make sure that we continue to work with the owners of the land that so many of us enjoy. Working towards that goal, Governor John Baldacci has made land access and use a priority in his second term. Recently, he has created a Governor's Task Force Regarding the Management of Public Lands and Publicly-Held Easements. This task force was created after struggle between user groups concerning the Katahdin Lake Land Deal. This task force, led by Deputy Page 4 MAINE Fish and Wi ldlife

Commissioner Paul F. Jacques, will create an inventory of all publicly held land, and review allowable uses on that land. The Task Force will then take the next step, and try and resolve differences between a various user groups and come up with solutions and strategies for resolving current differences as well as to prevent future disputes over land acquisitions. To help bridge landowner/land user concerns and prevent conflicts in the future, the governor has embraced and was instrumental in creating a Director of Recreational Access and Landowner Relations. This director will coordinate efforts by the state's natural resource agencies to ensure that the current trend of public recreation on private land continues. This director would be an ambassador to landowners, addressing current issues and future ones. The director will lead a coordinated effort among the state natural resource agencies to prevent conflicts and resolve disputes, oversee strategies to address landowner/recreational user issues, and even recommend changes in laws and regulations so that the current practice of private recreation on public land continues. In the past, the governor's attention to recreational disputes

has helped resolve problems. One of the Governor's first acts in office was to create an ATV task force to deal with the rising number of problems associated with rapid ATV growth. In less than a year, the committee devised a series of recommendations that were signed into law. Four years later, we are beginning to see the results of those new laws. ATV complaints have decreased, and the number of accidents and injuries has decreased as well. Once again, the governor is looking out for sportsman, using his office to en ure that all recreational users groups will have ample land to enjoy their favorite recreational pursuits. With the past success of the ATV task force, we look forward to similar success in the future to keep private land open, and public land open to a variety of u es. Summer 2007

By Cathy Genthner

Helping Maine Sportsmen With Disabilities Carry on

Our Outdoor Traditions Maine Fish and Wildlife

Norman Daigle of Litchfield lost a hand when he was just a child, but that hasn't kept him from taking part in Maine's great outdoor heritage. Daigle, an avid outdoorsman, knows what it is like to be discriminated against because of a disability. He has faced many challenges in the work place as well as when he is out hunting. However, people with permanent disabilities, like Daigle, are given greater opportunities to hunt, fish and trap because of a law that has been on the books now for several years. "We tried to get the crossbow (for people with disabilities) back in the I980's, and the Maine Legislature wouldn't have anything to do with it," said Daigle. "Finally, one day I went and spoke with Fred Hurley, who was the deputy commissioner then, and he said, 'You are just the gentleman we want on that committee."'

John Rackley of Elliott, who receives a complimentary hunting license under a special program administered by the Department, shows off a buck he bagged a few years ago.

Advisory Committee That committee, on which Daigle is a member, is the Disabled Hunter, Trapper and Angler Advisory Committee. On September 21, 2001 a new law went into effect establishing that committee, which can issue permits providing more opportunities for anglers, hunters and trappers with disabilities. "I like the idea of the state stepping up and doing something for people with disabilities. I value the board highly. By serving on the board , I thought I could give a little back to the disabled community. We look at a person's disability as well as abilities and go from there," said fellow committee member and registered Maine guide Raymond Stevens 11 of Pemaquid, who underwent knee replacement surgery earlier thi year. "I've had litLle problems with just my knees so and if the state is willing to help spo,tsmen who have disabilities, then I am willing to volunteer my time. One of the driving things that kept me going with my bad knees was being able to get outside." Under the law, the commissioner

may issue a special permit that allows a person to fish , hunt or trap in a manner that is otherwise prohibited by law, based on a person 's abilities. Deputy Commissioner Paul Jacques was instrumental in getting discussion going on the bill when he wa in the legislature more than a decade ago that later passed into law, giving sportsmen with disabilities greater opportunities. "When I was in the legislature, there was a discussion about Johnson Pond and the Allagash because there was a fellow who had lost both legs and wanted a special exemption to use an outboard motor on his fishing boat when no one else could," said Jacques, who today i the chair of the committee. "It was in the mid-1990's and we started talking about how we could better accommodate people with disabilities." The committee, which meets twice a year, usually in February and August (before the special archery sea on) , is composed of four di abled persons; a licensed physician ; a representative of a state agency that works on disability issues; one interested person and two

Summer 2007 Page 5

statewide organizations representing hunters, trappers or anglers. Edye Cronk, the president of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine; is a board member representing a sportsman's group. "The committee members go over the applications very carefully, and we give the applicants permits for the least amount of variance from the law. For example, a lot of people will want to use a cross bow during the regular archery season and we may require them to use a draw lock," said Cronk. "A lot of elderly will put applications because they have trouble with walking or mobility in general. So we may give them a permit to shoot from their vehicle or allow them to use a spin casting rod with a fly where it is fly fishing only. We even have people who are legally-blind or sight-impaired. We require them to have a hunting partner, but they get the thrill of pulling the trigger. We try to be as generous as we can to allow them to spend as much time as possible in the outdoors."

Case-By-Case Permits are granted on a case-by-case basis and the disability must be permanent. Sometimes the permit will allow a person to hunt seven days before the start of a regular season or after it is over. The mo t frequent request is the use of a cross bow during the regular archery season. Game wardens play an important role in the process by meeting with applicants getting a first-hand account of what a person may need. "The wardens look at a person and talk to them about any limitations they

John Rackley of Elliott bagged this tom with the assistance of the Renegade wheelchair he designed. For more information about Renegade Wheelchairs, visit: www.renegadewheelchairs.com may have. That makes our job easier because wardens know what to look for," said Cronk. In addition, the law requires a letter signed by a licensed physician clearly stating the nature of the person's disability, the permanence of the disability and the extent to which the disability affect that person's ambulatory ability or

Applications may be obtained by writing: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Special Permit Application 284 State Street 41 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0041 Email: beckyorff@maine.gov

Page 6 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

endurance; use of one or both hands, arms or legs; or sight or hearing. The permits are free to those who qualify including disabled veterans. "We've not only opened up the outdoors to people like me, but to the veterans," said Daigle who uses a hand crank with his cro sbow. "We've had veteran come back from the war - all shot up but now they can hunt with a crossbow." In addition, complimentary licenses are available to those who are blind (fishing only), those with cognitive disabilities, di abled veterans, certain individuals in state institutions and paraplegic , such as John Rackley of Elliott. Rackley receives a free hunting license, although he has never taken advantage of the pecial permits. Rackley broke his neck ten years ago while on a trampoline. Before his accident, he got his deer 16 years in a row. "It totally changed my life. For a while, I didn't think that f would hunt or fish again, but I had some friends who made sure I got out there," aid Rackley.

Summer 2007

"I saw deer but I didn ' t get one fo r a while." Rackl ey made sure he would be able to get out - just about anyw here - and des igned his "Renegade Wheelchair," to allow its occupant to go through light snow as well as moderate water and mud . Rackl ey is partnering with Alpha One to market the chair, whi ch sells fo r just under $4,000. "I can get through mud and if it is nuffy snow, I can get through a foo t of it," said Rackley, who has fitted hi s wheelchair with duck blinds in the past. "I am building my elf a new bear blind. I've never gotten a bear before." Rackley ha some advice fo r sportsmen with di sabiliti es who may fee l that their hunting, fi shing and trapping days are behind the m. "One thing I would say is to let your fri ends get yo u out there. The fi rst few year after my accident, I was pretty bad off and my fri ends got me out huntin g and ti hing," sa id Rackley. "I notice the more you do, the more yo u can do ." That is the whole idea behind the iss uing of the special permits - to get sports men with disabili ties back out into

Courtney Taylor, 13, of Walpole, who is deaf and has mild cerebral palsy, bagged this 18 pound Tom with a nine-inch beard and 3/4inch spurs in an area scouted by Maine guide Raymond Stevens II of Pemaquid, who is a member of the Disabled Hunter, Angler and Trapper Advisory Committee. MAINE Fish a nd Wildlife

the field where they can concentrate on their abilities. "You j u t have to see the faces of some of the people who thought they would never be able to hunt or fis h agai n. They get out there and will get a deer or a bear. That reall y empowers the m and gives them confidence," sa id Jacques. "I've had guy come in here and cry like a baby because they were able to get o ut and hunt again ." Board member Ray mo nd Stevens is taking hi s li fe experience as well as his experience on the board out into the fie ld wi th him . He has been gui ding 13 year old Courtney Tay lor of Walpole, who is deaf and has mi ld cerebral palsy, making it diffic ult for her to use her arm. Recently, Courtney bagged a beautiful tom turkey. "Courtney i a ll smiles all the time when she is out hunting and she pick up on things very fast. She never misses a thing, be it

deer track to fox, coyote and tu rkey she sees them all and makes sure her dad and I do as well ," said Stevens. "I have suggested to her dad that if her disability worsens, she can ap pl y for diffe rent permit." It seem that Maine has taken the lead in giv ing people with di abi li ties greater opportunities to paiticipate in fis hing, hunting and trapping. "A lot peop le have called us and told us that we are heads above many tates," sa id Jacques. "The department has a lot of fl exibili ty to accommodate peopl e." In one instance, a man with cerebral palsy was allowed to hu nt a week before the start of the regu lar season, firi ng his shotgun with his teeth. "Thi guy had a great attitude and he even made fu n of me. His name was Skip and when he wa before the board, he cou ldn't even open a fo lder or turn pages," said Jacq ues. "When you ee someone going to that great effort Lo get dres ed and equ ipped j u t so they can hunt, we can certainly take the time we need to accommodate them."

Summer 2007 Page 7

Page 8 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2007

There has been a-lot of "grousing" and rumbling in the Maine woods the past few years. Unfortunately, it hasn't been from the startling escape behavior of the ruffed grouse as it wings to safety through the low underbrush. No sound makes my heart skip a beat like a grouse blasting from the cover only a few feet away. However, recently the covers have gone quiet and the rumble of an escaping grouse has been hard to come by. Rather, as Gamebird Specialist with MDIFW, I've been subjected to a different type of "grousing" recently. So where have all the grouse gone? Where are the great days, when grouse were as thick as a Moosehead Lake black fly incident?! Are grouse populations in trouble in Maine? Is shooting causing a decline in the number of grouse? Given that ruffed grouse have survived over 20,000 years of climate and landscape change, through event that pushed many other species to extinction, it i a good bet that they will be with us for the foreseeable future. However, how often we see ruffed grouse in our travels depends largely on humans and how we influence their habitat.

Premier Bird The ruffed grouse, or partridge, is a premier, highly sought upland game bird in Maine. The range of the ruffed grouse stretches from Alaska to Labrador and south into the Appalachian Mountains. In the Northeast, grouse populations are considered most robust in Maine where large tracts of young forest are produced by regular logging activities. It is in these young forests that ruffed grouse flourish. Grouse prefer dense stands of aspen, birch, and mixed hardwoods. Among the dense stems and think leaves grouse finding protection from avian predators that cannot navigate through the canopy of this tangled habitat. Numerous studies show that avian predation accounts for nearly 70% of all grouse mortalities. In contrast, hunting mortality averages only 15% of all grouse deaths. The remaining percentage is made up of nest predators, disease and parasites. Studies on harvest of ruffed grouse have shown that hunter kill simply replaces other

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

types of mortality such a, predation, disease and para ites. That is, if a hunter harvests a grouse, this is simply one less bird that would have been eaten while budding (a grouse behavior of foraging on buds high in treetops) by a hawk in January, removed from a nest in June by a mammalian predator, or afflicted by the many diseases/parasites that kill grouse. Grouse are one of the few species that hunting is considered nearly 100% compensatory mortality, whereby birds shot by hunters would have died of predation, disease or parasites anyway. Overall, a grouse in hand does not mean one less grouse to reproduce in pring, it simply means you have a grouse dinner and a predator does not.

Fluctuating Populations The relationship between the hunter and the grouse has been a lesson long in the making. Across the range of the

Paul Cyr photo

ruffed grouse states and provinces have limited, or even closed, seasons in an attempt to help grouse populations rebound when they appeared extremely low. Interestingly much was learned from these closures. Two decades of season manipulations through the range of the ruffed grouse revealed that bird number fluctuated both in the presence and absence of hunting. For example, Minnesota, Wi consin and Michigan all went through phases in the l 940's were they closed seasons in an attempt to "save" the grou e population. When the season reopened years later, harvest and flush rate wa, nearly identical to the years before season closure. Wildlife managers concluded that they had apparently given up hundreds of hour of hunting opportunity and that populations of ruffed grouse rose and fell as they always had and were apparently little

Summer 2007 Page 9

affected by presence or absence of hunters.

Telemetry Study More recently, one of the largest survival telemetry studies every undertaken on ruffed grouse was completed. Over 3,000 ruffed grouse were captured on 12 study areas across seven states to better understand how hunting mortality can affect populations. Similar to smaller scale studies previously conducted on grouse, hunting mortality accounted for a small percentage (12%) of all grouse deaths and was considered nearly 100% compensatory. The research team of 20 wildlife professionals concluded that habitat and forage quality were the key ingredients to a healthy ruffed grouse population and hunting had little, if any, affect. Above all grouse are a product of the forest and the forest is in a constant flux of growth and death. Grouse biologists have noted that a population cycle occurs whereby grouse peak and plummet in population nearly exactly IO-years apart. While research and opinions differ on why the cycle occurs, the 10-year pattern of ebb and flow of the grouse population is a reoccurring theme across much of their range. This same 10-year cycle has recently been noted in ruffed grouse in Maine.

Moose Study Since 1994, moose hunters have been asked to report the number of grouse they and their party saw or harvested during the moose hunting season. Data are compiled by geographic region and MDIFW calculates the number of grouse seen per 100 hours of moose hunting effort (Table J ). Most notable about the last decade plus of data collected is the nearly exact 10-year difference noted between 1995 (the high point of grouse seen/ 100 hours) and 2005 ( the low point in nearly all regions) that depicts the traditional grouse cycle. During the peak in J 995, J07 grouse were seen per 100 hours of moose hunting effort. In 2005, moose hunters reported only seeing 13 grouse per 100 hours, which was the lowest number

Page 10 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

seen for most regions since J995. One factor thought to greatly reduce the number of grouse seen during the fall hunt is brood rearing conditions during spring. When grouse chicks first hatch their feathers are not yet developed. Cold, wet weather is highly detrimental to down-covered chicks. While the hen can brood them overnight and during periods of intense cold, she can not do so constantly. During the first few critical days many chicks will succumb to the elements during period of extended cold and wet. Later pneumonia-like conditions can further reduce grouse production. In May 2005, it rained for 25 of 31 days in some parts of Maine. The National Weather Service reported that rainfall was 64% above average for the period March - June, making 2005 Maine's wettest spring in over a century. These dismal grouse production conditions coupled with being at the low in the 10-year cycle left many of us wondering where all the grouse had gone. As would be expected after the low year in the cycle, conditions improved in 2006. In 2006, the number of grouse seen per JOO hours of moose hunting effort increased in all survey areas of Maine. Thankfully, spring 2007 was especially dry. The average temperature in June 2007 was 61 .4 F. This was 0.8 F

Paul Cyr photo

warmer than the J90 l-2000 (20th century) average, the 36th warmest June in l 13 years. Only 2.95 inches of precipitation fell in May and 2.71 inches occurred in June. This was substantially less rain than the 1901-2000 average and the 30th driest such period on record. Reports from throughout Maine indicate that ruffed grouse broods were a common sight during June in 2007 indicating a relatively good production year. In the years to come Maine should be moving out of the low end of the I 0year cycle. Soon the days when bird dogs got tired before shots get fired will quickly be forgotten. So goes the ebb and flow of the ruffed grouse population. Fortunately, the future looks bright for ruffed grouse here in Maine. Although, maturation of some forest stands likely represents a decline in quality habitat for ruffed grouse is certain portions of Maine, timber harvesting can and does revitalize grouse habitat. Harvest practices, such as clear cutting in small blocks or strips that create an uneven-aged forest composed of small blocks of even-aged stands of aspen, birch and mixed hardwoods will provide the necessary habitat for grouse as the 10-year cycle shifts towards an increasing grouse population. So my reply must be, "What's all the grousing about?"

Summer 2007

' By Harry Vanderweide It's shortl y after dawn on an August morning. Nearly hi gh tide. The morning is a lready sweltering with no wind , so the big river is as qui et as it ever gets. I slow ly motor into a large cove. The surface is o il y smooth . When I ca n see botto m, so mething e lse catches my eye. It looks, at first, like a fl eet of mini ature sa ilboats mov ing slow ly along in the breeze. Only there is no breeze. I ease my boat fo rward fo r a better look. O migosh ! It's stripers ! Not just stri pers, bi g stripers ! I look around and see at least two-dozen fi sh. J grab my baitcasting rod and flin g a red and white C hugbug at the nearest fi sh that is lazing along so clo e to the surface its dorsal fin is sti cking out of the water. T he world morphs into slowest moti on at full close-up . The plug fli es over the fi sh and lands six fee t away. J raise the rod ti p and pop the big plug. Chug! Chug! C hug! T he plug gets even with the fi sh and the striper bull s forward. Its huge maw opens. It inhales. The plug di sappears. The fi sh turns away. I ra i e the rod above my head and feel a supre me ly satisfyi ng re istance. Fish on! Lt ta kes aw hile, but eventuall y the fis h come to hand and I reach dow n with my Boga g ri p and lift it clear of the water. It's still slo-mo as I take a qui ck look at the sca le built in to the side o f the Boga. O mi gosh ! It's 25 pounds. Sudden ly, I do n't wa nt thi~ fis h any-

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Harry Vanderweide with a Kennebec River striper. Photo by David Banister more. l wa nt another one. So, as the wo rld return s to full -speed, J wres tle the hooks o ut o f its mouth and d ump the big fi sh back into the brine. I look fo r another. Don' t have to look far. One's no more than 30 fee t away. A nd the da nce starts anew.

T hat morn ing, all alone, I hook and land over 20 tripers in that cove, none of them le s tha n 20 pou nds. What' fi ner than that? Bi g water, big lure, b ig fi h and every b it in living 3-D color, a presented by Mom ature. Were I not a lready in love with stripers, that morning would have done

Summer 2007 Page 11

A Boga grip is a great way to land a striper without getting too close to treble hooks. the trick.

A Great Love Affair Like me, Maine people love stripers. Why not? Any way you want to fish for them, you can catch them. All kinds of lures, flies and bait work. You can catch them out on the open ocean and you can catch them far up freshwater rivers. You can cast giant lures on 13-foot-long surf rods. Under the right conditions, you can catch them on tiny dry flies. Here's something else. You can catch stripers in Kittery and you can catch them on Machias. At one time or another there are stripers on every foot of Maine's 3,500 miles of coastline. Barefoot boys with Zebcos catch stripers in Maine. So do j illionaires who fly in from Spain. If there is a more democratic fish, I don't know it. And if stripers jumped, nobody would get excited about salmon. Trolling is a great way to catch a striper. Here's a way to get them to strike when they are finicky. Put a Mooselook or some other wobbler on your line and put one of the treble points through the head of the biggest bloodworm, you can find. But hang on because the strike may be shocking. If you like to use a baitcasting rod, do what I do and put on a white or silver

Page 12 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Chugbug and go looking for blow-ups' . Cruise along watching the birds. If they start swooping and diving, get over there quick. It's probably stripers banging the alewives, brit or sandeels. Fling that baby right into the melee, but drop your rod tip before you try to set the hook, so the plug gets into the striper's jaws. Like to soak bait? Eels are great. Too slimy? Then jig up some tinker mackerel and put them in your livewell. Let 'em swim free on a big circle hook and see what happens. Don't have a livewell? Chunked mackerel, or alewives, or menhaden, or squid work too. Like to fly fish? Any variation of the Lefty's deceiver or Clouser minnow will work. My favorite is a 3/0 hook with white bucktail on the bottom, chartreuse in the middle and black on the top, plus a great big eye glued onto an oversized head. Better use a fluorocarbon leader these days. Stripers are getting finicky. Want to keep it simple? Take whatever lure you 've got in your tackle box and tie it on your line. Go down to the shore, and start casting. Stripers are opportunists and one might come along and think whatever you are casting looks tasty. Myself, I'd use Sluggos to fish fast and six-inch sinking rubber worms to fish slow.

Harry Vanderweide photo

Feeling adventurous? Then head down to tidewater with your kayak. Paddle out, put on a big lure and start casting. If you get lucky and hook one over 20 pounds, you're going for a ride. With stripers th~ possibilities are endless. Make yourself happy. Fish for them however you want. But check the rules first to see if the method you want to use is permissible at the time and place you want to fish. But do try. Maybe something magical - like a cove full of 20-pounders - will happen to you.

First Linesides Just as I remember that extraordinary morning of whopper-sized stripers, I remember my first Maine striper too, though it was 35 years ago. I was trolling along the ledges at the bead of Perkins Island in the middle of the Lower Kennebec when something that definitely wasn't a tinker mackerel latched on to the small Rapala I was dragging. It was a five-pound beauty, and it was love at first sight. Tough, energetic, and gorgeous. That was my estimation of that first linesided beauty. Over the ensuing decades thousands have come over the sides of my boats. The thrill remains.

Summer 2007

2007 MAINE STRIPED BASS REGULATIONS Maine's striped bass regulations cover all Maine coastal waters up to the head of tide in all rivers. In addition, there are special regulations in effect from December l through June 30 in the Kennebec, Sheepscot and Androscoggin Rivers and all related tributaries (see below).

FEDERAL REGULATION It is unlawful to fish for, take or possess striped bass in Federal waters (waters greater than 3 miles from shore). STATEWIDE REGULATIONS OPEN SEASON January I through December 31, inclusive (except the Kennebec watershed, see

ILLEGAL

..•..•.......•.........•.........•••.....•..•.•.••••••••..•.•..................••••••.••..•• SPECIAL KENNEBEC** REGULATIONS (including the Sheepscot and Androscoggin Rivers and all related bays and tributaries) CATCH & RELEASE SEASON WITH SPECIAL GEAR RESTRICTIONS From May 1 through June

30, inclusive. Fishing in this area is restricted to single hooked* artificial lures only and use of or possession of marine bait, dead or alive, is prohibited. OPEN SEASON July 1 through November 30, inclusive. CLOSED SEASON Striped bass fishing is prohibited from December I through April 30, inclusive. (* may be a single treble hook)

** The Kennebec watershed is defined as all coastal

waters inside and upstream of a line drawn from the outer extremity of Cape Small, in Phippsburg , to the outer extremity of Salter Island, thence to the outer extremity of Cape Newagen, in Southport. Thi s area includes the coastal waters of Popham Beach and the adjoin ing State Park, Re id State Park, and all riverine waters of the Kennebec, Sheepscot, and Androscoggin River including all bays and tributaries of those rivers to the head of tide. Due to the removal of Edwards dam, the " head

of tide" in the Kennebec River is now at the downstream side of the power line located approximately 4,200 feet upstream of the Father Curran Bridge in A ugusta for enforcement

DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES Marine Resources Laboratory P.O. Box 8, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575-0008 Telephone (207) 633-9500 Fax (207) 633-9579

MAINE Fish and Wild life

Summer 2007 Page 13

LEGACY Maine's Youth Fish & Game Association Photos and Text By Emily Jones Upon your first visit to the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association's facility in TWP 32MD, outside of Milford you are immediately greeted with the serene and peaceful beauty of Pickerel Pond, an 11-acre spring-fed pond stocked full of brook trout by the Department. The peacefulness of the location is worth the dusty and bumpy drive out from Milford on the Stud Mill Road. There are several youth only fishing ponds in Maine that are similar to Pickerel Pond in most ways - except one. Along the shore of the pond stands a brand new log cabin, which was donated by Northern Log Homes and serves as the clubhouse for the Youth Fish and Game Association. Across the drive is a well-designed shooting range. Behind the clubhouse stands a log boathouse full of canoes and kayaks, and in the woods beside the pond are Adirondack shelters, which are great for camping. The land, encompassing approximately 22 acres, was donated to the Department by International Paper to be used as a site for youth education. Pickerel Pond is certainly a one-of-a-kind facility that in the last four years has provided countless opportunities for Maine's youth to experience the great outdoors. Maine 's Youth Fish and Game Association was created by Maine Game Warden Dave Georgia and others in an effort to promote a love for outdoor recreation and as a venue for children in Maine to learn about conservation and gain a respect for our fish and wildlife. The Association's "Maine" objective is to enhance our most precious and valuable renewable resources, our youth and our

Page 14 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Happiness is a summer day and fishing rod. Summer 2007

wildlife. But Pickerel Pond isn't just about the outdoors. The dedicated board members and volunteers take the next step to encourage youth to use the knowledge they gain through hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation to foster respect for themselves, their friends and family and their environment. There is great emphasis placed on positive decision- making skills and also the importance of being healthy and productive. The Association is now overseen by a board of directors consisting of knowledgeable and dedicated adult volunteers, and by youth members as well. Countless events are held at the facility throughout the year, including an annual Youth Conservation Camp and an annual Hooked on Fishing Event called "Cops and Bobbers." The Department has been very involved with the Association's efforts. Recreational Safety Courses are routinely held at the clubhouse throughout the year; the Department's Hooked on Fishing and National Archery in the Schools Programs are key parts of the annual Conservation Camp and numerous Department employees serve as instructors at different programs held at the facility. This past June , the Second Annual Youth Conservation Camp was a huge

Kayaking is one of the experiences youngsters have at Pickerel Pond. success. The week-long day camp provided hands on learning experiences for approximately 100 children from the Bangor region in boating safety, ATV safety, hunter safety, archery, fishing and map and compass/GPS. The Association hopes to continue the annual camp and add additional activities for campers with each coming year. As Youth Education Coordinator for Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, I find myself often commenting on how terrific it would be to have a "pickerel pond" in each region of the state, for it truly is an amazing location and a fantastic resource for Maine's youth. I have hopes for additional branches of Maine 's Youth Fish and Game Association forming in the near future. The folks at the

Association that work tirelessly to provide learning experiences for children are truly an inspiration. Each is a hero to the children who benefit from their efforts. If you have not had the opportunity to visit Maine's Youth Fish & Game A sociation at Pickerel Pond, I highly recommend you make the trip and get involved. Directions and more information about the Association can be found on their website at www .mai neyouthfishandgame .org.

Sometimes happiness is an ATV ride. MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2007 Page 15

Watching for Waterfowl The summer season is a great time to learn to identify the ducks and geese of Maine. Many different species of ducks and geese, called waterfowl, are found throughout the state. Worldwide , these birds inhabit every continent except Antarctica. Maine's ducks and geese live just about everywhere there is water, from backyard ponds, to lakes, rivers, wetlands, estuaries and the ocean. To survive in these varied habitats, waterfowl have incredible abilities and can do some amazing feats.

Have you ever wondered? How high a duck can fly? Ducks normally migrate at an altitude of 200 to 4000 feet . But a jet plane struck a mallard at an altitude of 21,000 feet!

How much do some ducks eat? Female wood ducks may eat over 300 insects (aquatic invertebrates) per hour for up to 8 hours each day. In the fall , wood ducks feast on acorns where oak trees overhang bodies of water. Biologists have found as many as 15 acorns packed into just one duck's gizzard and throat.

How fast they can fly? The fastest duck ever recorded was a red-breasted merganser that reached a top airspeed of 100 mph while being pursued by an airplane.

What's the smallest duck? An adult female green-winged teal can weigh as little as 6 ounces.

How many feat hers do ducks have? Waterfowl may have as many as 12 ,000 separate muscles to control the action of up to 25,000 individual feathers -- on just 1 bird!

Why is one female duck sometimes seen with dozens of ducklings? Common eiders and common mergansers are just two species that 'babysit' for each other. However, wood ducks, ruddy ducks and hooded merganser females will actually lay eggs in the nests of other females of the same species, so one hen may hatch up to 50 duckl ings! Page 16 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2007

Do hen ducks have just one mate? Genetic analysis of some mallard broods shows that very often, eggs from the same clutch were fertilized by different drakes. Hens may seek multiple mates to ensure all eggs are successfully fertilized and for greater genetic variation.

How much fat can some ducks store up in their bodies for migration? Buffleheads are 'butterballs'. They can store up to 114th of their body weight in fat to prepare for fall migration.

What's the average ratio of drakes to hens in a population? Very often there are two drakes, or males, for every one hen, or female.

What's a duck's field of view? Waterfowl can see above, below, in front and behind - all at the same time; with a total field of view of 340 degrees!

How old can a duck get to be? The oldest known banded wild duck was harvested at the age of 29 .

Do some ducks nest in trees? Only in tree cavities, or the holes in trees. Common goldeneyes, wood ducks and hooded mergansers will use natural tree cavities , as well as nest boxes.

Which duck is the best diver? A long-tailed duck (formerly called 'old squaw') was captured in fishing net 240 feet below the surface.

What is the only North American waterfowl species that has become extinct? The Labrador duck was a native Maine species before the last one was taken in 1875.

Can you identify the waterfowl onthese two pages? Answers on page 28 (Adapted from an October 2005 Ducks Unlimited article)

Photo taken at Hansen Brook Lake by a camp owner.

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2007 Page 17

The Old . . . And the New! The Department's Enfield Headquarters Gets A Decidedly

New Look Photos & Text

By Torn Seymour Page 18 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2007

In 2006 , the Maine Legislature freed up $935,000 in Department funds for capital improvements around the state. This, along with funds released by the Maine Bureau of General Services, enabled the Department to go forward with numerous projects, including a new headquarters building in Enfield. The need for a new facility has long existed. Up until now, all regional branches (warden service, fish and wildlife biologists) of the Department worked out of a tiny structure located on the hatchery grounds. This presented several problems, not the least of which was cramped, limited working space for all involved. But an even more serious problem lay just under the surface. The amount of traffic around the hatchery greatly increased the possibility of bacterial contamination. Until now, there was no way to reduce that risk . The new headquarters building will put that threat to rest. The new building is 38 feet wide by 88 feet long, and is modeled after the new headquarters building in Jonesboro . Credit for the building's design goes to Ronald W. Taylor, director of Engineering and Realty. Domus Architects, out of Freeport, drew the blueprints from Taylor's design. When completed, the building will provide office space for three full-time fisheries biologists and three full-time wildlife biologists and a fourth room that will be used for data entry by seasonal employees. Additional space is provided for one Maine Warden Service Sergeant. This person will be the primary occupant. However, space is available for district wardens to make use of office equipment, such as copying machines, data entry equipment and other electronic tools . The building will have two bathrooms, as well as a shower. There will also be a conference room and a map room, to be used as needed by all the different divisions.

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Fisheries Biologist Nels Kramer inside the nearly-completed headquarters building in Enfield. Downstairs, the full-sized basement area will be dedicated to equipment storage. This will include such items as nets, pumps, and similar small machines and devices used by biologists and wardens. A look at the interior design may raise a few eyebrows. After all, it is post-and-beam design, with wooden mortise and tenon work. The reason for this departure from "traditional" modem design is, surprisingly, that it proved considerably cheaper. A side benefit of this is that the building is super-strong, thanks to the massive posts and beams. Also, this classic building style lends an air of straightforward, real Maine elegance. Nels Kramer, Fisheries Biologist, says he hopes that the completed interior will feature these wonderfully wrought post-and-beams.

As stated earlier, the possibility of hatchery contamination had a bearing on the decision to build a new headquarters building. But a look at the old building should suffice to justify the need for a new headquarters building. It is in reality, a small cottage, a residential dwelling designed for only a few persons. This is what biologists and wardens have been working out of for years over thirty years. It is said that all things come to those who wait. ln this case, it is about time that a spacious new building is built for all those persons working out of Department headquarters in Enfield . Construction of the new facility will be completed in the winter of 2008 and the staff is looking forward to enjoying their new facility .

Summer 2007 Page 19

No access site in the state has ever been reviewed and scrutinized to the extent of the Mere Point boat launch. The end result is a site that meets or exceeds all environmental standards.

Six Years to Mere Point Success Photos and Text By Mark Latti After nearl y six years since the project was first proposed, the Mere Point Boat Access project is nearing completion, and i~ is scheduled to open thi s September. "This will be, without any debate, one of the fi nest boat launches in the state," said Roland D. Martin , Commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheri es and Wildlife. "Both the town of Brunswick and our Department have worked di ligently to create a launch that will provide sorely needed access to orthern Casco Bay." The construction marks a point that some thought wo uld never come. Even those who believed in the project from

the beginning may have had do ubt creep in at times, fo r after all , this launch site received a level of scru tiny li ke no ne other.

The Beginning The state had lo ng recog ni zed the need to provide access to Casco Bay, and was searching in the area for a uitabl e access site. The Lown of Brunswick had identified all-tide access to the ocean as a pri ori ty as far back as 1968 whe n a committee was for med to secure access on Mere Point. Yet despite hav ing over 80 miles of coastline, Brunswick had been un abl e to develop an all tide boating access to Casco Bay. The late Bob Willi ams, the Department 's Federal A id Coordinator, had developed sites across the state, both

on inl and and coastal sites. A staunch advocate of provid ing water access fo r everyo ne in the state, he worked tirelessly searching for and developing access sites fo r the Department of Inl and Fisheries and Wil d life. Knowi ng that the opportun ity to purchase coasta l property in southern Maine was becoming more difficult and more expensive, Willi ams scoured the area fo r suitab le sites. Willi ams located an undeveloped 7.47-acre parcel on Mere Point in Brunsw ick, and entered into an ag reement with the landow ner to purchase the parcel, if the department received support fro m the tow n or Brunswick in its efforts to con truct a boat launch. In December of 200 1, Willi ams and the Department presented a propo al to the Brunswick Tow n Council to purchase a lot and construct an all tide launching fac ility on Mere Po in t in Brunswick. T he Tow n Council debated the proposal that evening, and in the ended, voted 8- 1 in favor o r constructing the site. The town se nt a letter to then Commi ss ioner Lee Perry that the tow n wa in sup port of the site and that the town wo uld be a partner in the design and construction ph ase. Will iams went back to the landow ner, and the Department purchased the land.

Not So Fast On a snowy, cold day in March of 2005, the Share the Bay Coalition delivered a chest of signed petitions in support of the boat launch to Commissioner Danny Martin. Pictured are, left to right, Deputy Commissioner Paul Jacques, supporter and Mere Point resident Ellie Swanson, Commissioner Danny Martin, and Charlie Wallace, Brunswick resident and chief organizer of the Share the Bay Coalition. Page 20

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Looking Lo move forward o n the project, an engineeri ng firm was elected, and the departmen t started to move ahead in the design phase. However, there was immed iate and voc iferous opposi tio n from neighbors and other property ow ners on Mere Point. Argume nts aga inst the

Summer 2007

launch were directed at the size, the proposed use, and the location. They organized and called themselves "Friends of Mere Point." They developed a website and a strategy, all to stop the town and the Department from creating a boat launch at Mere Point. The Friends of Mere Point, or FOMP, attended each town council meeting, public hearing, planning board, and citizens advisory board that involved the boat launch. The opposition was so On hot muggy day in July of 2004, Department of Environmental staff, IFW staff and well organized, well funded others met at the proposed Mere Point Access site to discuss potential impacts. The and vocal, it started to catch Department's Bob Williams is pictured in uniform on the far left, and boats moored at Paul's the attention of those at the Marina are in the background. appeared throughout Brunswick, and the Sartoris. The Department's Bob state level. Knowing that such an opposition Williams, while not on the committee, groups vocal support was instrumental in group could derail the process, another getting the boat launch approved. was instrumental in working with the group of Brunswick Citizens, led by Seeing a growing controversy over committee. The committee met monthly the boat ramp, the Department of for a period of two years, and investigatBrunswick resident Charlie Wallace ed nearly every issue imaginable conorganized a group called "Share the Bay." Environmental Protection decided to move the permitting process to the Board cerning boat launches including noise, This group was very vocal in support of of Environmental Protection, a citizen's traffic, pedestrian use, hours of operation the ramp, and visible as well. board due to the regional nature of the and countless other issues. Signs emblazoned with "Share the Bay" The committee relied heavily on project. information gathered concerning other Working boat launches in southern Maine. Brunswick's natural resource planner Together Looking to Steve Walker and Parks and Recreation ease launch oppo- Director Tom Farrell visited over a dozen nent concerns, access sites in Southern Maine, and then the town of assembled a report detailing the issues to Brunswick createach advisory committee member to use ed a Mere Point as a resource. Using the Boat Launch report, as Boat Launch Citizens Advisory well as input from those on the commitCommittee. The tee, The Citizens Advisory Committee committee was compiled a rep01t, which they submitted comprised of boat to the town council concerning best operlaunch propoation practices for the still yet to be built nents and oppoboat launch. nents as well as others and led by The Permitting Process After over three years since it was Brunswick town first proposed, the Brunswick boat launch Crooker and Sons Construction work on excavating the road Councilor plan was finally scheduled for a hearing that leads to the launching site. Jacqueline MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2007 Page 21

in front of the Board of Environmental Protection in April of 2005. The Department, the Town of Brunswick, the Coastal Conservation Association and others joined together for two days of testimony in front of the board. The Friends of Mere Point were there as we! I. The BEP listened to all, as well as heard testimony from experts on both sides on such issues as traffic, aesthetics, environmental impacts, eelgrass, site selection and other environmental issues. Commissioner Martin speaks at the dedication of the Robert J. Williams Northern Casco In August of 2005, Bay Launching facility. In the background are legislators Bruce Bryant, Mark Bryant and Stan they issued a unanimous Gerzofsky. decision in favor of the ing available property all over horeline launch, reaffirming that canoes, kayaks and other watercraft can the Department could build the launch in on northern Casco Bay. No other site in launch off the dual lane, 48 foot wide a manner that would minimize the envinorthern Casco Bay provided the all tide ramp, with a central dock separating the ronmental impacts. lanes, creating a safe, efficient launching access, protected launching area, space But that was not the last hurdle. The for amenities, and minimal environmental site. Kayakers and canoeists can use Department till had to secure approval granites steps and a kayak slide (modeled impacts that the Mere Point launch posthrough the town of Brunswick's planafter the town's Pejep cot site) to launch sess. Impacts to wetlands are minimized , ning board. away from the ramp. There is also a hand Despite the state's BEP approval, the storm water runoff is diverted and colcan-y make-ready area away from the Brunswick planning board still had queslected, shoreline alteration is minimized, ramp area. There is a designated bike tions concerning the impact of the projalready eroding banks are stabilized. As lane for bike and pedestrian access. ect, especially concerning traffic and con- Benches and picnic tables are placed part of the project, the department is also gestion, and just how accessible the projcommitted to refurbishing the access site along the shoreline. The site is handion Wharton's Point in Maquoit Bay, ect was to boaters of all types, including capped accessible, including the small restoring a alt marsh along the New kayaks. bridge, and a shore side picnic table. The Meadows River, and removing debris After having gone through the BEP site includes 55 parking spaces designed hearing process and working with the along the intertidal area on parts of the for trailer rig use or single cars. Citizens Advisory Commillee, the New Meadows. The Mere Point launch site offers Department had all the answers. The final "This project benefited from the water depths that are suitable for launchplan was approved this spring, and conincreased scrutiny of the Board of ing boats during all tides. IL lies between truction began in May. The launch is Environmental Protection and others, and a marina with over I 00 moorings, and a now scheduled to open thi September. it is a facility that will meet the needs of private launching/clocking facility for a private island summer community, fitting the public while minimizing the environmental impact." said Martin. " It is a site The Robert J. Williams Boat in with existing uses. The large sevenLaunch acre waterfront site also allows space for that we are all extremely proud of, and The final boat launch plan is the result of will provide access for generations. other amenities, including picnic tables , countless hours, dozens of revisions and park benches, a bike rack, canoe and considerable citizen input as to its design kayak launching area, restrooms and and operation . Power boats, ailboats, more. This site was chosen after review-

Page 22 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2007

And the Maine Warden Service Global Positioning System and How It Helps in Searches By Kevin Adams District Game Warden What are all those squiggly colored lines doing on that map? To a search planner, those colored lines represent separate search tactics and resources deployed to find a missing or lost person. The Maine Warden Service has several highly trained and experienced search planners on the Maine Warden Service Incident Command Team whose job it is to manage and deploy search and rescue resources in the most efficient search tactic to find lost or missing persons. When search resources such as a K-9 team , trained ground searchers, or even aircraft are given a search assignment, each team is equipped with a Global Positioning System or (GPS). The GPS assists the team members in initially locating their assigned search area; then gives them a visual perspective on where they are during their search assignment while plotting where each searcher has been. Search Planners use the GPS to effectively place search resources in specific geographic areas, accurately recording the position of clues related to the lost or mis ing person and tracking searcher while they perform their search assignment. As the search teams come back to the command post, the GPS data, con isting of tracklayers and waypoint layers , is downloaded into mapping program used by the lnciclent Command Team. These data layers are named and color coded to MAINE Fish and Wildlife

the particular type of search tactic utilized, and is then overlaid onto maps of the search area. The data can then be displayed on colored maps , color satellite photography, or color aerial photography to assist search planners in determining what is actually happening on the ground. This visualization of the search area assures search planners are ensuring the area in question is being searched appropriately and thoroughly. With the assistance of the GPS , holes can be found in the search area and another search team can be dispatched to those small specific areas. There have been several instances

of persons being found using this method. When the GPS search resources are combined with other training, and with information related to lost person behavior, lost person statistics, search tactics, and computer mapping programs and GPS knowledge, the search planner deploy and manages trained personnel to search the most likely geographic areas for that particular lost person category. This helps ensure high success rates in finding lost or missing persons. Being able to conduct searches in a timely and efficient manner allows the searchers to maximize their effort, which

This is what a GPS search grid ,r looks like when it is conducted on the water. This search took place on Sebago Lake.

Summer 2007 Page 23

could conceivably result in someone being found before any serious injury occurs. Where the searches are initiated for an individual feared to have died, using these techniques, the discovery time can be substantially reduced, allowing a person 's family closure with the loss of a loved one. The diagrams for two recent searches are provided to illustrate what the Command Team is able to see once the data is entered. ln the first instance, the search was land based and the missing person was found rather quickly. The second example involved a snowmobiler that went through the ice on Sebago Lake this winter during the mi Id temperature period that plagued much of southern Maine. Despite the sophisticated equipment and procedures, that search has not produced the missing person even though the area he was thought to be in was searched thoroughly. Overall, the use of this equipment has made rescue and search efforts more effective and efficient thereby saving live . The uses of the technology is end-

Page 24 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

less especia ll y when you consider that peop le today venture in every imaginable venue and one never really knows when the services are going to be needed. As good as technology has become, it will only get better in years to come.

However, technology alone will not be able to replace people working on the ground, making decisions and doing the actual searching. To that end , the Maine Warden Service will respond to the call for help when it comes in.

Summer 2007

Youth Education On Target

Physical Education Standards. Here in Maine , we are using the program in conjunction with other outdoor educational programs in both schools and at summer camps throughout Maine. The pilot phase for the program began in May of 2006 with a three-day training session held in Rangeley. Physical Education teachers from eleven pilot schools attended the training in order to become Basic Archery Instructors.

By Emily Jones The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has a wonderful new addition to our group of youth educational programs. Youth Field Days and the Hooked on Fishing Program have been utilized as tools to educate the general public and Maine's youth in outdoor skills for over 10 years. Now joining the ranks is the National Archery in the Schools Program . The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) began in 2002 in Kentucky and is a program designed to be used in physical education courses, teaching International style target archery. The core curriculum covers history of archery, safety, technique , equipment, mental concentration and selfimprovement and follows the National

School .

Now that the pilot program has come to a close, trainings for additional school teachers to become Basic Archery Instructors are being scheduled and with the support of organizations, such as the Maine Bowhunter's Association and Volunteers of America . Additional equipment kits have been purchased for training purposes.

At left, a group of new NASP insgtructors get training in Rangeley. Above, these youngsters find the target in a NASP shoot. All eleven schools were provided a kit of archery equipment that included 11 Genesis bows, arrows , targets, an arrow net, bow hangers and a repair kit. The kits were purchased with a grant obtained through the Outdoor Heritage Fund. Once the training was completed, the pilot schools began using the program with their physical education classes in

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

the fall, and the results were amazing. The students who have taken part in the program have expressed a great amount of excitement and enthusiasm for the sport within just a few classes . Several students even went on to purchase their own equipment and joined a local archery team. During this summer, NASP has been used at various summer camps throughout Maine including the Maine Youth Fish & Game Club's Conservation Camp and the Maine Conservation

As with all of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's youth educational programs , our volunteers are es ential to our success. Much like the Hooked on Fishing Program , adult volunteers serve as trained instructor that are certified to train other instructors throughout the state. Maine is very fortunate to have so many caring and knowledgeable volunteers to share their love for the outdoors with Maine' youth. The National Archery in the Schools Program has proven to be a successful and welcomed addition to the Department's Youth Education Program . For more information about NASP or to sign up to become a Basic Archery Instructor for your local school, please contact Emily Jones at (207) 287-8069 or emil y.jones@mai ne .gov.

Summer 2007 Page 25

A Case for Hunting and Trapping By Marc Michaud

ack in 2003 when the issue of the bear referendum was the preoccupation of most of Maine's citizenry, the proponents of the issue mounted quite a campaign directed at painting sportsmen, hunters in particular, as persona non grata and barbarians. Television ads depicted hunters, in actuality, "bear trappers" of questionable origin, in ways that most anyone would find unpardonable. Being seen with a donut in some circles was the equivalent to flashing a red cape in front of a raging bull. Using bait to entice a bear to a hunter in waiting, according to the advocates of the referendum, was repulsive and devoid of the notion of fair chase. How could someone ever be in favor of such an inhumane activity? With the defeat of the bear baiting referendum came a collective sigh of relief from a host of organizations and groups. They realized that had it passed, they would have had a serious curtailment of activities they enjoyed and considered integral parts of Maine tradition. However, even after the defeat of the proposal, scars remained from the characterization attributed to hunters and trappers during the campaign by the referendum supporters.

Time would certainly heal those wounds, but for some it wa a very short time.

Was Criticism Merited? Legi lation targeting bear trapping, brought forth in the 123rd session of the Maine legislature last fall, succeeded in reviving the old scars. "Barbaric, inhuman and backwards" were words used to punctuate support for doing away with bear trapping. Being the last state to allow this practice was innately wrong. Shame on us! This writer thought long and hard about whether there was merit to the criticism and after much consideration, decided to put things into perspective. I wa raised on a farm in northern Maine and with the passing of my father at age 40, my 16-year-old brother and I at age six were left to care for the farm. My brother had to quit school because we could not afford to hire outside help. We managed the farm well enough to become debt-free by late 1959 and convinced our mother to sell the farm in 1960. My brother left for work el ewhere and, as a senior in high school, l had decided to enter college in the fall to become a teacher. Farm life was hard for us but the rewards were priceless. We raised animals that provided us with products and

at times were the food source themselves. Yet, we learned to respect Ii fe and understood how living things contributed to our existence. We hunted and trapped to supplement our need for food. We were taught to never waste what we harvested. Being self-sufficient was considered a virtue. If an animal was to be killed, it had to be done quickly and efficiently. Selling surplus food or bartering the extra food from the farm for other products we could not afford to buy was a practical thing to do.

Uncle as Mentor In my early years, I was particularly fortunate to have my Uncle Fred around. He capitalized on my inquisitive nature and taught me much about conservation, hunting and trapping by allowing me to watch from a distance. The more secretive he was, the more interested in observing and learning I became. He taught me safe handling of a firearm with a bolt-action .22-caliber rifle that I was not able to use without his permission. Eventually, at age 14, I bought my first rifle, a semi-automatic .22-caliber Stevens that I till own today. With my chosen career of teaching came an opportunity to pa s on that love of fishing, hunting and trapping through a school sponsored Fish and Game Club and other after school activities. Even

Michaud's students on a camping and fishing trip in 1971. Page 26 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Summer 2007

From left, March Michaud, Doody Michaud (Fort Kent police chief) and Bert Raoy with the result of a successful hunt. today, my encounters with former students inevitably revert to reminiscing about the outings and related experiences that we shared in the outdoors - and never are they referred to in a negative sense.

Passing on Tradition And when our family grew, the tradition was passed on to them, my son more so than to his two older sisters. ow, with eight grand children between our three grown children, there are certainly many opportunities to continue the tradition. Over the past two hunting seasons, my wife has also discovered the joys of hunting wi Id turkey and deer. She had prior exposure to bird hunting, but found the e new activities entirely different. We both are looking forward to having more time to do these activities with each other and with our grandchildren, two of whom already have lifetime fishing and hunting licenses. Why are there people intent on denying my family and me the opportunity to live and continue a tradition that was so much a part of our upbringing? Is the notion of rugged individualism and selfreliance integral to the early development of our country no longer fashionable? I can understand how those who were never exposed to hunting and trapping, or even fishing, when they were growing up might be inclined to not s upport those activities because they never experienced them. I do not fault them for having been

MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Marc Michaud with his daughters ice fishing in 1970. Summer 2007 Page 27

brought up differently, and do not wish to impose my belief on them. I just want them to respect my heritage and allow me the opportunity to impart that heritage to those significant people in my life. I respect their wish to be different and do not want them impose their standards on me. I've concluded that I'm not backwards becau e I hunt, trap and fish; I'm just still connected to early traditions that were so essential to my survival in a rural setting. As for being labeled barbaric simply because I harvest renewable resources in ways that are more closely related to my ancestors than to my urban counterparts is unfair. Are they inhumane activities? I think not. We make choices on a daily basis about what we need to survive. As the shopping cart is pushed through the aisle by the meat and poultry display, we select item after item giving little thought about how these products got there. Are the critics willing to apply the ame criteria and consideration to these domestic animals as they do to the wild animals

Page 28 MAINE Fish and Wild life

that are hunted and trapped? Over the years, there have been occasions, while in the backcountry with others, emergencies have occurTed. Using knowledge gained from prior experiences while hunting and trapping served us well. Given similar situations today, I would want someone like that with me, and I suspect even the antis would feel likewise, if they had to choose from a pool of people. I make no apologies for being a guide, hunter and trapper. These interests have been a major part of my heritage, and I have no intention of abandoning them. As I prepare to retire again, Maine will always be the place I call home. And to our more urban citizens and those from away who take issue with what we do, accept us for what we are. Don't try to change us into something that we are not. I promise not to legislate away things that you enjoy if you allow me the same respect. There is room for all of us despite our differences.

Answers to Kibits Quiz on Page 17 1. Blue-Winged Teal 2. Common Goldeneye 3. Black Duck 4. Green-Winged Teal 5. Pintail 6. Common Eider 7.Mallard 8. Wood Duck 9. Wood Duck 10. Hooded Merganser 11. Canada Goose 12. Labrador Duck 13. Common Merganser

Summer 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_' XXL $15 .00 $ _ _

stonewashed Green Moose

_M _L _XL _

Pebble Turkey w/Camo Logo _M _L _XL _

' XXL $15.00 $ ' 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

TOTAL DUE

(Maine residents add 5%)

Mailing A d d r e s s - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City

- - - -·- - - - -·- - - -

State

-------

Z i p - - - - - - - - - Phone - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mail order with payment to : Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Information Center 284 State St. 41 SHS Augusta , ME 04333-0041

Method of payment (Please make check payable to: Treasurer, State of Maine)

0 Check/Money Order O Visa O Mastercard O Discover Card#

----

Expiration Date ___/ _ _ _ Ch eek out ou r on line store

www.mefishwildlife.com MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Signature Su mmer 2007 Page 29

Special Introductory Offer Yes, I want to subscribe to

MAINE Fish and Wildlife Official Publication ofThe Maine Department oflnland Fisheries and Wildlife _

··~:·

~ -

Published four times a year, ~ MAINE Fish and Wildlife Magazine is your best source of accurate, up-to-date fish and wildlife information. Vividly illustrated with color photos, this is the authoritative publication on Maine's wildlife and natural resources.

One Year (Four Issues) $9.95 Two Years (Eight Issues) $15.95

Address _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ __ City State_ Zip_ __ Bill my _ Visa _ Mastercard Card No. Exp. Date _ _ Make checks to: Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine Send to: P.O. Box 1457, Yarmouth, ME 04096 1-800-276-0883 (In-State) 1-207-846-9501 (Out-of-State) www.mefishwildlife.com

·-------------------------------------------------------------·

• Weekly Fishing and Hunting Reports From Maine's Fishery and Wildlife Biologists • Fishing Hotspot of the Week Maine's Best Waters • Fish and Wildlife Trophy Gallery Send Us Your Trophy Photos • Maine's Best Outdoor Almanac Page 30 MAINE Fish and Wi ldlife

Summer 2007

Maine Fish & Wildlife

OUTDOOR ROSTER . KENNEBAGO RIVER KAMPS North of Rangeley between Kennebago Lake and Little Kennebago Lake • Fly Fish for native Salmon & Brook Trout in Kennebago's rivers & lakes • Excellent Deer and Grouse Hunting • Snowmobili ng on ITS 84 and 89 • 3 Housekeeping Camps • Gated Access • Reasonable Rates

Write: Kennebago River Kamps, R. Hammond PO Box 677, Rangeley 04970 207-864-2402

- . Need to know ·= r about Maine Outdoors? Check the DIF&W Website: www.mefishwildlife.com r

on FISH RIVER LAKE

Northern Maine 's Last Frontier

I,-

•• 1

P.O. Box 140 Portage, Maine 04768 Phone 207-435-6156

• FAMILY VACATIONS • MOOSE, LOON, WILDFLOWER FIELD TRIPS • HUNTING, FISHING • ICE FISHING, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Located in Allagash Lakes Region north of Baxter State Park. Full-service lodge, seven log cabins on Haymock, Spider and Cliff Lakes (T8R11 , T9R11 , T9R12} . American Plan or Housekeeping. Indoor plumbing available.

OPEN YEAR ROUND

MAINE SPORTING CAMP ASSOCIATION

MAIN E Fish and Wild life

Summer 2007 Page 31

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

--..::.·-·-.:::'---- ..-

--=~=-~-o -~-- ·-

_Ji~ ___

_~ ___ ------_ -··----- ___

==--=.:.:::.:= ....... ...__ ., ..--. _.,. -------------

---- ...·-·--·---___ ·-~

,,_.,.

~[~~~

BIRDS OF MAIN E WETLANDS

B 1 F~D5

BIRDS OF MAINE UPLAND FORESTS & FIELDS

- - _.... ------·--· ------..-..... __ _ ---··----------~---·--- -... ---·----·-__ -----------------. ___ .. ______ _ ------·-.------____ .,__ .... ------------------·--··----- ----·------

______ __

- - - _ _ * _ _ _ ...___

Price is $3 .00 each, or the set of 3 for $8 .00. (Maine res idents add 5% sales tax.) 3.50 for postage and handlin g. To purchase directly, stop into MDIFW Headq uarters, 284 State Street, Augusta To order, call the MDIFW Information Center at 207-287-8000 or visit the MDIFW Online Store at www.mefi hwildlife.com