Click here for Maine Fish and Wildlife Winter 2009 Magazine ONLINE!
AUGUSTA – Bird watchers and bird hunters alike know that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife places bands on migratory birds to track their movements and population status. Now IF&W has made available a band for bird enthusiasts to show their support for the Department's bird conservation efforts – and to help them recover lost binoculars.
The Maine Birder Band was designed by Steve Walker and Judy Camuso, both IF&W biologists and avid bird watchers. The metal circular band – about the circumference of a small ring – can be worn on binocular/optic straps or similar field gear. It carries the IF&W insignia, a registration number that is assigned to the wearer, and a number to call if someone finds lost binoculars/optics that belong to the registrant. IF&W will notify the person that his or her gear was located.
Maine is the first state to create such a voluntary program for birders to officially register their support with their state wildlife department. In the first two weeks of the program, wildlife enthusiasts from 10 Maine counties and five states have participated.
A $20 contribution gets you a 2009 series Birder Band. Proceeds go to IF&W's Non-Game and Endangered Species Fund.
"The Wildlife Division of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife takes seriously its efforts to protect Maine's birds and bird habitat and to provide access to bird watchers," said Commissioner Roland "Danny" Martin. "The Maine Birder Band is a unique way for birders and other wildlife watchers to proudly display their support in our bird conservation program."
Bird watching is a fast growing outdoor activity in Maine, and many of the top birding destinations throughout the state are part of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's 100,000-plus-acre network of Wildlife Management Areas. These areas include: Kennebunk Plains, Scarborough Marsh, Brownfield Bog, Weskeag Marsh, Caribou Bog and Messalonskee Lake.
"Many birders do not buy hunting or fishing licenses but want to contribute to the conservation efforts of the Department," Walker said. "The Maine Birder Band was designed as a way for this growing constituency of wildlife watchers to help support the resource."
To participate in the Maine Birder Band program, visit IF&W's Web site at www.mefishwildlife.com.
AUGUSTA – Bids are being accepted for the 2009 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Moose Permit Auction.
Each year, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife auctions 10 moose hunting permits and awards them to the highest bidders. Proceeds from the auction go to the Youth Conservation Education Fund, which awards partial scholarships to send Maine boys and girls, ages 10-14, to one week of conservation camp at the Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center on Lake Christopher or Greenland Point Center on Long Lake in Princeton.
More than 400 boys and girls were able to attend conservation camp in 2008 because of these scholarships.
"Ever since the auction began, hunters have been very generous in their bids because, I believe, they know this program helps send Maine kids to conservation camp. We are appreciative of their participation in this program," said Deputy Commissioner Paul F. Jacques. "While successful bidders get a permit, the real winners are the children."
The Moose Permit Auction was created by the Legislature in 1995 specifically to fund youth conservation education efforts. Ten of this year's 3,015 allotted moose permits will be auctioned. Last year, close to $100,000 was raised from the auction, and the 10 winners had a 90 percent success rate.
The 10 highest bidders are able to choose their 2009 season hunt dates: September 28 – October 3; October 12 – October 17; November 2 – November 28; or October 31 (Maine Resident Only Day). Successful bidders also may choose the corresponding zone in which they'd like to hunt.
Bids must be submitted to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife no later than 5 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) on March 31, 2009. A non-refundable bid fee of $25.00 must accompany each bid. A bid packet is available by calling (207) 287-5207.
Submitted bids will be opened April 3, and successful bidders will be contacted. If selected, bidders have 30 days to send in the bid payment and select a moose hunting district, hunting week for the permit and permit type. A subpermittee, if desired, must also be selected at this time. The bid amount covers the resident or non-resident moose permit fee, but does not include the resident or non-resident hunting license fee.
The Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center and the Greenland Point Center offer five-day residential camps that are designed to teach the boys and girls of Maine the importance of conservation, a respect for the environment and a working knowledge of outdoor skills. Subjects taught at the camp include wildlife identification, introduction to fishing, boating safety, archery, firearms handling, hunter safety, forest conservation and map and compass work.
The two conservation camps currently are accepting applications for this summer's camp sessions. Partial scholarships are available and distributed on a first come, first serve basis. For information and applications, visit www.extension.umaine.edu/bryantpond/ or www.greenlandpoint.com.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is helping you get ready for the 2009 sporting seasons by making its 2009 Hunting and Fishing licenses available online NOW!
The department's online licensing system - MOSES - gives you the convenience of purchasing from home that you enjoy and the ability to print out multiple copies of your license when you need them.
And MOSES has been updated to make it easier for the customer - you - to purchase your license or registrations. It includes several new features that you will find useful!
By purchasing online, you are saving the department the direct costs associated with the expense of manual paper licensing. These savings then can be applied to the important management of our fish and wildlife resources.
It's the perfect gift for the sports enthusiast in your life!
To purchase your 2009 license now, just click here: https://www.informe.org/moses/
You may also be interested in visiting our extensive website at: http://www.mefishwildlife.com . Our website has a wealth of useful outdoor information, reports and videos that may be of interest to you.
Also, you may shop for Official Department Logo Garments and gifts at our Online Store at: http://www.informe.org/ifw/merc/
COMING SOON ONLINE: Maine Fish and Wildlife, the magazine of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
MAINE – One of Maine's oldest traditions gets underway Saturday, Nov. 1, with the start of the 2008 Deer Season. And, in several locations in southern Maine, including WMDs 15, 16, 23 and 26, Saturday marks the start of a limited Moose hunt.
Hunters are a vital part of Maine's economy. Not only do they purchase licenses – approximately 209,000 were sold last year – but they also buy gear, book motel rooms, and visit restaurants and shops. According to a federal government estimate, hunting leaves a $214 million impact on Maine's economy.
"From hunters' breakfasts to meeting old friends at tagging stations, deer season is a tradition that is deeply rooted within the state," said Roland "Danny" Martin, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "When you see someone in blaze orange, thank them for keeping the heritage alive and for supporting Maine's economy."
The 25-day regular firearms deer season opens for Maine residents on Saturday, Nov. 1, and for non-residents on Monday, Nov. 3, and it ends on Nov. 29. Muzzleloader season will begin in all Wildlife Management Districts on Dec. 1, and will end on Dec. 6 in WMDS 1-11, 14, 19, 27 and 28. Elsewhere, the muzzleloader season will continue until Dec. 13. Crossbow archery season will coincide with modern firearms.
The regular archery season for deer is currently ongoing, having started on Oct. 2. It ends on Friday, Oct. 31. The expanded archery season for deer started Sept. 6 and ends Dec. 13. The expanded season takes place in a limited area and requires a permit.
According to IF&W Wildlife Biologist Lee Kantar, who specializes in deer and moose, this week's weather will bring favorable hunting conditions for the start of the season.
"In much of the state they are forecasting high winds this week and some potential snowfall on the ground," Kantar said. "This is setting up for excellent hunting conditions. In other words, leaves will be off the trees, cold temperatures will be setting in, and some areas may even have snow tracking conditions. Keep in mind that good acorn crops in south-central Maine may hold deer in cover. Apple trees produced a lot of fruit this year and deer may key into these areas as well. Look for old orchards."
BE SAFE
The Maine Warden Service wants to remind hunters that by taking the proper precautions they can have a safe and successful season.
"First and foremost, properly identify your target and what is beyond it before shooting," said Major Gregory Sanborn of the Maine Warden Service. "Don't let the emotion of seeing a deer within range lead to another family's tragedy."
Sanborn also advises hunters to be safe.
"Wear two pieces of blaze orange clothing, let a loved one or friend know where you are going and when you expect to return, and have the proper gear in case you might have to spend the night in the woods due to injury or because you got lost," according to Major Sanborn.
The Maine Warden Service shares the following safety tips:
- Wear two pieces of blaze orange clothing; one must be a hat;
- Properly identify your target and what is beyond it before shooting;
- Let someone know where you are and when you expect to return. Also, if you are not going to make it back by the expected time and there is nothing wrong with you, notify your contacts so they don't call law enforcement and start an unnecessary search;
- Make sure you have proper safety equipment with you – a map, an operable compass, waterproof matches, emergency survival gear, a flashlight, and water;
- Stop periodically to eat and re-hydrate yourself;
- Always keep the muzzle of your firearm pointed in a safe direction;
- Unload your firearm before entering a dwelling, before entering a vehicle, or before storing it.
Maine's hunting tradition lives on because of the generosity of private landowners who allow access to their lands. They deserve respect. "The willingness of private landowners to allow the public on their land to hunt is as much of a part of our heritage as the harvest itself,"
Commissioner Martin said. "To maintain this cooperative relationship with landowners, hunters should always seek permission first even if the land is not posted. If the land is posted, be mindful of the landowners' wishes and don't trespass."
An Any-Deer, Landowner or Superpack deer permit winner may swap their permit with another same-type permit winner in order to switch hunting districts.
The permits must be the same type, and residents can swap only with residents and non-residents can swap only with non-residents.
IF&W does not maintain a list of individuals wishing to swap permits. Permit winners who wish to swap will need to locate and contact other permit winners on their own.
One sportsman, Jeff W. Zimba, is maintaining a non-IF&W-affiliated swap site – www.DoeTagSwap.com. For a small fee, permit winners can locate and potentially swap with other same-type permit winners. However, IF&W still needs to be notified of the swap, and the proper Department paperwork still must be completed.
The site also allows permit winners to download for free and print a business card-sized Any Deer Permit/Transportation Tag on their home computer. IF&W is not mailing Any Deer Permits this year, and winners are responsible for bringing their permit number to the registration station.
The IF&W permit swap fee is $7 (one fee covers both winners.) The swap can be done in person at our main office in Augusta or by mail with the required "swap request form" that's available on our web site. The Department will assign a new permit number and mail back the form.
The swap can be done online until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2008. Mail-in requests must be received by Oct. 31. Please allow at least one week for processing.
IF&W will no longer be mailing Any-Deer permits to permit winners, as part of a cost saving initiative. Instead, permit winners will need to record their permit number and report the permit number to the registration station when tagging their deer. The Department suggests that permit winners write down their permit number and keep the number with their hunting license so it is readily available when needed at the registration station. Hunters can find their Any-Deer permit number by visiting our web site at http://deer.informe.org/index.htm.
This year the Department granted 51,850 permits to current hunting license holders. The permit allocation is as follows: Resident: 39,578; Non-Resident: 3,579; Landowner: 8,421; Superpack: 272.
Also, IF&W will not be distributing paper applications for the moose and any-deer lotteries next year, but will be accepting online applications on our web site, www.mefishwildlife.com, during the respective lottery dates.