Meijer Pulls Plug On HSUS Fund Raising

Midwest retail giant Meijer, Inc. has decided to end its partnership with the Humane Society of the United States in a fund raising effort that would have sent up to $5,000 to the biggest anti-hunting organization in America. According to a release by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Stacie Behler, Meijer vice president of corporate communications and public affairs, didn’t know there might be a problem.

“Our program was an outgrowth of our history of supporting local humane societies. We were not aware of the concerns that exist among hunters about HSUS. As you know, we have strongly supported the hunting community over many decades,” said Meijer vice president of corporate communications and public affairs, Stacie Behler. “We have discontinued our donation program as a result of the feedback. No new funds will be collected. The funds that were collected will be used exclusively for their Foreclosure Pets Fund, which is a grants program for animal shelters, non-sheltered rescue/adoption groups and animal care and control agencies to establish, expand, or publicize services or programs that assist families caring for their pets during the current economic crisis.”

As they would say up in Maine where I come from, “Ain’t too smaaht!” One has to question the intelligence behind Meijer’s decision to donate money to anything. From what I gather in this statement, they didn’t realize that there is a difference between local humane shelters and the Humane Society of the United States. Shame on them. Is it right to assume then that had Meijer known the difference they would have suspected there would have been some “concerns that exist among hunters about HSUS”? Doubtful.

The good part is hunters spoke up and Meijer listened. As USSA said,

“This once again proves that the sportsman’s voice is not to be taken lightly,” said USSA senior vice president Rick Story. “We hope that in the future, companies such as Meijer will consider how partnerships will be received before launching them.”

Tom Remington

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Federal Judge Tells USFWS To Make Decision On Polar Bear By May 15

A federal judge in California has ordered the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to render its final decision on whether to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Judge Claudia Wilken of Federal District Court in Oakland, California said the USFWS has no legitimate reason to continue delaying its decision on what to due concerning the listing of the polar bear. The judge ordered the Service to make its decision by May 15, 2008.

The New York Times and Associated Press have more.

On January 9, 2008, the U.S. Department of Interior published a proposal (pdf) to list the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act. Under the process of this proposal, the Service announced that is would begin a 12-month “finding”, meaning it will take one year to receive public comment and confer with scientists and all relevant entities in an attempt to determine is the loss of sea ice (polar bear habitat) is a long term threat that in turn will threaten the survivability of the bear across its range.

At the conclusion of that 12-month period, the DOI announced it would need another 6 months to complete its investigation in order to make a determination. Environmental groups files a lawsuit in order to force the DOI to render its decision immediately. The ruling by Judge Wilken is the result of that lawsuit.

No one completely understands the entire ramifications if the DOI opts to list the polar bear as threatened. This would be the first time a decision was made based on projected climate change. If it is determined that such climate changes are a result of man, just how far ranging restrictions will go to protect sea ice is anyone’s guess.

We will now wait until May 15 and see what Sec. Kempthorne has to say.

Tom Remington

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A Nonexistent Squirrel Preventing Solar Energy Plans

I have been called a lot of things for my stance against the current administering of the Endangered Species Act. This includes the abuse through manipulation, the interpretation of the ESA through the courts, the abuse of it in order to stop hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities as well as the lack of any effort to change or eliminate it in order to provide a better means of accomplishing its initial goals. I have also been called colorful things because I think environmentalist, including animal rights groups, have completely gone off the radar and I have minced no words in saying so.

Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, the RINO (republican in name only) governor of California, thinks the whackos have gone too far. You know it has to be bad when one of California’s own thinks so.

“It’s not just businesses that have slowed things down, it’s not just Republicans that have slowed things down, it’s also Democrats and also environmental activists sometimes that slow things down,”

These comments come from the governor in response to delays in the construction of solar energy generating facilities. One is particular is the one near Victorville, where environmentalists are adding delays to the construction because of the Mojave ground squirrel – a rare squirrel that doesn’t even live on any of the land to be used.

“Our Department of Fish and Game is slowing approval of a solar facility in Victorville. It’s because of an endangered squirrel, an endangered squirrel which has never been seen on that land where they’re supposed to build the solar plants. But if such a squirrel were around, this is the kind of area that it would like, they say.”

You read that correctly! Here we have a case of no threatened animal even living on this land and yet because the weirdos think the habitat is good enough for the squirrel, that’s reason enough. This is one classic example of what is wrong with our environmental laws, the Endangered Species Act, the interpretation and administration of the Act and proof all this needs to be changed.

For those who still believe that there’s nothing wrong with the Endangered Species Act and who think that the environmentalists are right in this, why don’t you head on out to California. I’m sure those squirrels are in need of a few more “nuts”.

Tom Remington

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Obama On Second Amendment. Let The Communities Decide

Obama continues his effort to convince voters that he believes that the Second Amendment gives an individual the right to keep and bear arms but when he further explains in detail what that means, it becomes clear he doesn’t believe an individual or anyone for that matter, has a right to arm themselves.

In an interview with the Chicago Sun Times last week Obama was answering questions more specifically directed at the rising gun violence in Chicago. This is what he had to say about the pending case before the U.S. Supreme Court – Washington, D.C. versus Heller.

My view continues to be that the constitution, I believe, does provide a right to bear arms; but that local communities, and state governments, as well as the federal government, have a right to common-sense regulations and firearm ownership [rules.] The truth is, obviously, the ban here in Chicago, the ban in D.C. is not keeping the guns out of our cities, and so I’m interested in just figuring out what works and I’m confident we can come up with laws that work and that pass constitutional muster and don’t infringe on the rights of lawful gun owners whether it’s in Downstate Illinois or rural Montana.

Obama says what most intelligent people have known for a long time – that the gun bans don’t do anything to stop crime. All it does do is prohibit people from their God-given and constitutional right to self protection. He once again talks about “common sense” restrictions on guns. A common tactic of the left when debating “reasonable” gun control, is to cite their idea of reasonable controls over the First Amendment – always the “you can’t yell fire in a crowded theater” scenario. What they refuse to understand is that it is a far cry from comparable reasonableness in not allowing someone to protect themselves through gun ownership and somebody yelling fire in a crowded theater. One could argue that a reasonable or common sense restriction on gun ownership might be a weapon of mass destruction.

But Obama goes on to further explain a question about why as a state legislator he voted against giving people known to have been threatened, a right to own a gun.

I felt that [the first one] was a precedent for conceal-and-carry laws. There has not been any evidence that allowing people to carry a concealed weapon is going to make anybody safer. [The second one] is relevant to the D.C. handgun issue. I wanted to preserve the right of local communities to enforce local ordinances and this would have overturned municipalities being able to enforce their own ordinances. We can argue about whether the ordinances work or not. But I wanted to make sure that local communities were recognized as having a right to regulate firearms.

We have to question Obama’s actual knowledge of “evidence” concerning gun ownership. He says there is no evidence that allowing people to carry concealed makes anybody safer. Common sense would tell us that that is bogus and why do politicians get to decide which parts of the U.S. Constitution they want to allow us to experience?

Mike Adams at TownHall.com in his article this morning states that there is in fact 15 studies that suggest that concealed carry reduces homicide rates. Adams is a criminology professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Next, I calmly let him know that 60% of the refereed studies indicate that CCW laws reduce homicide rates while 40% show they have no effect. And none provide evidence that they actually increase homicide rates. I owe the professor an apology because I actually misquoted the number of studies indicating CCW laws reduce homicide rates. The number is actually 15, not nine as I had claimed. Thus, he was right to predict I would present a biased argument. But it was biased in his favor.

Obama says that he wants to make sure that local communities can toss aside their state’s constitution and that of the U.S. Constitution, well, at least the Second Amendment because he doesn’t like it, and let the communities like D.C. and Chicago prevent people from being able to protect themselves. They are effectually saying that it is alright to allow lawful, innocent residents in those communities get killed as long as we can stop the crooks from killing themselves.

Do you suppose that Obama would uphold that same kind of reasoning when applied to the First Amendment or any other Amendment for that matter?

One of the first signs of insanity is to repeat an action over and over without ever trying to change anything. The actions of the far left, Obama and Clinton being a part of that, is to continually repeat the action of disarming lawful citizens while denying the fact that it does any good. This is insane.

More on District of Columbia vs. Heller

Tom Remington

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In Search Of America’s Bitter People

“And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” Those were the words spoken by democratic presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama just prior to the Pennsylvania primary.

These words bothered me quite a bit, at least enough that I responded to Mr. Obama’s comments and so I went out in search of some of America’s so-called “bitter” people – those clinging to their guns and religion. Over the weekend, I was fortunate enough to locate an all-American family reunion, a family that probably Obama was envisioning when he made his elitist remarks.

This is a photograph of the men leaders of the Hatstat family. They asked that I not reveal their exact location out of fear that the not so bitter people will try and come take their land and their rights away from them.

The elder leader of the Hatstat family is Jedediah Hatstat. He’s a bit difficult to see. He is the one on the left in the front of the group, kneeling in prayer. Obviously a bitter, bitter man who has clung to religion and prayer for many years.

Second eldest is Samuel Hatstat, also not highly visible but he is the one in the middle with a very firm grip on his hunting rifle. No explanation is needed for that I guess.

I would surmise that because the Hatstats live away from the center of politics and well, where the “informed” are, they really didn’t seem all that bitter to me. As a matter of fact they were quite happy, especially on this day being it was a family celebration and all. (notice a couple of moonshine jugs being passed around while the dogs played at their feet.

These are great people with a lot of love and respect for all Americans. Jedediah says he prays several times a day that God would protect them from the “city people” who seem determined to destroy their life and snatch away their freedoms.

Third man from the right is Jeremiah Hatstat, the self-proclaimed flower child of the family, having once visited Berkley, California. I asked him what he thought of Barack Obama and the message he was sending to the American people and his response was a bit surprising.

“Who’s Barack Obama?”

Tom Remington

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Will $1 Million Put Hunters Out Of Business

Thanks to Erin, for sending me this alert. Check out what PETA is up to.

Tom Remington

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Upper Andro Two Fly Contest and Drift Boat Competition

Dear Fishermen and Fisherwomen;

I’d like to invite you to compete in the Upper Andro Two Fly Contest and Drift Boat Competition scheduled for June 12 and 13. This is the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance’s primary fund-raiser for the year. Our sponsors, Kittery Trading Post, L.L. Bean, the Orvis Company, Caddis and Cane, Sun Valley Sports, and Clackacraft have donated over $5,000 worth of prizes.

Information and registration is available on line at www.upperandro.com. The releases below give an overview of the events.

If you are a guide, invite two of your best sports to join you for the event and introduce them to the trout fishery on the Upper Andro. Did you know that Maine’s record rainbow trout was caught last June on the Upper Andro? If you are an avid angler but a mid-week 9 to 5’er, perhaps your employer would sponsor your team. We’d be happy to post any banners or posters from you company to give them recognition.

Many of our lodging members have special overnight rates. Just mention that you are competing in the Two Fly Contest to receive the rates. May we suggest The Bethel Inn-$133 per night for a double occupancy room including tax (800-654-0125) or The Bethel Hill B&B- $230 for 2 nights exclusive of tax or bring your friends and stay at the Village House sleeping 6 for $375 for 2 nights (207-824-2461). Information about other UAAA lodging and camping members is available at www.upperandro.com

The final day of registration is Wednesday, June 11 at Sun Valley Sports. Pick up your registration kit, rules, and barbecue coupon early so you can get out on the water at the crack of dawn. Any questions, give me a call at 207-824-7533.

Yours truly,

Rocky Freda
Sun Valley Sports
UAAA Director

Upper Andro Two Fly Contest

Set for June 12 and 13

The Upper Andro Anglers Alliance is sponsoring its Annual Two Fly Contest on June 12 and 13 in Bethel, Maine.

The Two Fly contest will test the skills of anglers to fly fish for the most and the largest of the three trout species, brown, rainbow and brook found in the Upper Androscoggin River from the New Hampshire border to Rumford.

Contestants may use only two flies during the event, which starts early Thursday morning and ends at noon on Friday. A fly is defined as made from natural or synthetic materials tied to a single pointed hook. No tandems or treble hooks are allowed. Teams of three including two anglers and a referee/oarsman must fish from an open boat-drift boat, row boat or raft. All fish must be released live.

Prizes include rods and fishing gear supplied by Kittery Trading Post, L.L. Bean, Caddis and Cane, Sun Valley Sports and the Orvis Company.

Official contest rules and a registration form are available on line at www.upperandro.com or by phoning 1-877-851-7533. The entry fee is $375 per team and includes an outdoor barbecue at the Bethel Inn. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance.

Northeast Drift Boat Championship

The First Annual Northeast Drift Boat Championship will be held Friday afternoon, June 13 on the Upper Androscoggin River in Bethel Maine. Designed as a spectator event, the competition will test oarsmen’s skills at launching, navigating a course and rowing speed. Each drift boat must carry at least one angler, who must remain standing throughout the timed race. The launch will be from Bethel Outdoor Adventures on Route 2 and the finish line is at Davis Park in Bethel-a distance of a quarter mile.

Prizes include drift boat equipment provided by Clackacraft. A registration form is available on line at www.upperandro.com or by phoning 1-877-851-7533. The entry fee is $50 or is included in the Two-Fly Contest fee if the drift boat is competing in both events.

Tom Remington

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Spring Wild Turkey Season in Maine Opens April 28; Youth Only Day April 26

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine’s spring Wild Turkey hunting season opens Saturday (April 26) with a Youth Only Day to encourage young people to learn about the sport, and for adults it opens on Monday (April 28).

“Wild turkeys now are found in every county in the State because of a well-instituted restoration program,” said Roland “Dan” Martin, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “Their presence is an amazing success story.”
Hunters must have a valid Spring Wild Turkey Permit and a valid Maine resident hunting license, or a valid nonresident or alien big game hunting license in order to hunt turkey. A valid archery license also permits hunting of wild turkey with bow and arrow in Maine.

Hunters can purchase their permit to harvest online using MOSES at www.maine.gov/ifw, at any of the more than 250 MOSES agents statewide, at IF&W headquarters in Augusta, or at manual license agents.

Maine’s wild turkey season is split into two seasons over a five-week period. It’s broken down like this:

* Season A: April 28-May 3; May 19-May 24; May 26-May 31. Hunters with even-numbered birth years (years ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 ) will be authorized to hunt during Season A.

* Season B: May 5-May 10; May 12-May 17; May 26-May 31. Hunters with odd-numbered birth years (years ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) will be authorized to hunt during Season B.

* Spring Legal Hours: One-half hour before sunrise until noon (12 p.m.) local time.

* Spring Areas Open to Hunting: Wildlife Management Districts 7, 10-18, and 20-26.

* Spring Bag Limit: One bearded wild turkey per permit holder per season.

* Spring Legal Method for Taking: Only shotgun gauges 10 through 20 using shot sizes 4 through 6, or bow and arrow may be used.

* Calling devices: Electronic calling devices are legal.

In spring 2007, 19,079 people carried a wild turkey permit and 6,083 bagged a turkey.

Youth Day: Once again this year, junior hunters who are interested in wild turkey hunting will have their own day this Saturday, April 26, before the regular season starts. The rules are:

* Age: Youth hunters who are 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age;

* Permit and License Needed: Eligible youth hunters must possess a junior hunting license and a Spring Wild Turkey Permit;

* Adult Supervision is Required and Rules: The qualified adult must be a person 18 or older who has been approved by the youth’s parent or guardian and must hold a valid Maine hunting license or have completed a hunter safety course. The accompanying adult cannot possess a firearm during Youth Hunting Day.

* Bag Limit: Junior hunters may bag one bearded wild turkey with a firearm or a bow and arrow.

* Other Options: Eligible youth are allowed to hunt during Season A or Season B if they meet the birth year requirements and are under the supervision of an eligible adult. Also, junior hunters are allowed to hunt on any Saturday during the season.

Posted by Tom Remington

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Asking Time Magazine To Apologize To Veterans

Remember I asked you the other day if we were carrying this global warming thing just a bit too far? At issue was whether or not the cover of Time Magazine was an insult to American veterans who fought and died to keep our country free. It seems that this illness of global warming hysteria has people thinking that their “war” on global warming is the equivalent of WWII.

Here’s a reminder of what that cover looks like and now you have a chance to sign a petition asking for Time to apologize and to ask the media to report issues on global warming in an unbiased fashion.

Tom Remington

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Open Air With Tom Remington Broadcast For April 24, 2008

Yesterday’s show was a live broadcast, part of an attempt to work out more of the “bugs” that seem to be affecting the show. That part of the effort was unsuccessful but I did end up with a recorded broadcast. All the information has been posted up at the Skinny Moose Radio home page along with an audio player so you can listen to the show. You can also download the audio if you chose and play it later.

Yesterday’s show includes a commentary from me about hunting ethics and the “bastardizing of the hunting ethic”. This includes why some people just have to legislate and control everything which ultimately steals our rights and freedoms as Americans.

Along with sharing with listeners about the growth and recent successes of the Black Bear Blog, I take a little time out to tell a funny story about Nancy Pelosi referencing Bible Scripture. You got to hear this one.

There’s also a bit of a treat at the very end of the show that I think most listeners will enjoy. So, follow this link for more information about the show and a chance to stream the audio for the latest podcast of Open Air With Tom Remington.

Tom Remington

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“Bastardizing The Hunting Heritage”

Roger Kaseman heads up a group of elitist hunters in North Dakota who believe they are the only ones on earth who understand what hunting and hunting heritage is and should be. As such they are attempting to get a citizen’s initiative on this coming November’s ballot that would outlaw preserve hunting.

There have been debates ongoing in North Dakota over this measure and recently Kasemen was quoted in the In-Forum News saying that hunting in any enclosure for any game animal is unethical and is “bastardizing the hunting heritage”.

“By allowing these operations, we’re basically bastardizing the hunting heritage,” he said. “I don’t care how they spin it … If you put a deer or elk in an escape-proof fence, that’s not hunting.”

To bastardize something means to corrupt it, reduce its quality or to lower in character. Kaseman says high-fence preserve hunting is doing just that. It’s difficult to argue with his opinion because it is his opinion and that of a handful of others like him. They believe that enclosure hunting is ruining the heritage of hunting. Certainly this group is entitled to their opinions and they have a right in a free society to petition the people to enact new laws. Why pick on a handful of ranchers trying to make a living in their almighty attempt to govern the lands of North Dakota?

If we go back in history and examine hunting, we will find that hunting was a necessary means of survival and a difficult task at that. Man used anything he could get his hands on for a weapon, i.e. rocks, sticks, etc. Since that time we can just as easily say that man has been “bastardizing” hunting heritage by someone’s standards of ethics and definition or ideals of what hunting heritage is supposed to be. Many can argue that when hunting became a sport, hunting heritage became bastardize, after all, true hunting heritage was a necessary part of survival. We reduced the quality of hunting considerably when we made it a sport and not part of survival. By Kaseman’s standards perhaps we should return hunting back to its rightful heritage.

And what have we as a society done with hunting since the days that sticks were made pointed with sharp pieces of flint and shale? That’s easy. Take a look around. It’s all right there in front of us to see but for people like Kaseman and his following, they choose only to set aside preserve hunting as the one thing that is “bastardizing the hunting heritage”. Surely there are more legitimate bastardizations his group could spend their time on.

Trampling on the rights of legitimate land owners and businessmen will do more to rip apart that one important element to assure the continuation of the sport. For without access to the lands of private individuals, hunting becomes diminished greatly. Some argue there is always public land to fall back on but in places where that is the only land to hunt on, interest is dwindling fast.

I believe it is one of the most selfish and self righteous things a group calling themselves a pro hunting group can do. They spit in the faces of the landowner because they think preserve hunting is unethical, all the while the vast majority of them practice the bastardization of hunting.

Personally, I resent their actions and condemn the reasons they use for taking the steps they have. I respect the rancher who is making every attempt at running a legitimate business. I am grateful for the generosity of all landowners that grant permission for hunters to access their land. When Kaseman and his ilk try strong arm tactics that fly in the face of landowners, this affects me and millions of other hunters nationwide who give countless hours and energy into creating hunter/landowner relations. They are destroying those efforts.

To bastardize means to reduce in quality and lower in character. The North Dakota Hunters for Fair Chase have placed themselves above everyone else and are doing far more to bastardize hunting heritage than a handful of Americans trying to realize part of the American dream.

Tom Remington

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What Happened To “Open Air”?

Nothing…..exactly! We work with a company that provides the means with which we can stream or broadcast audio via the Internet. From my end, I’m experiencing technical problems that I’m quite sure are not the problems of the provider by my own equipment, including my Internet Service Provider.

With that said, I have been trying to do live broadcasts because it removes one step that I have to take to get a recorded broadcasts uploaded and ready for streaming or podcasting. My problems are two fold. During a live broadcast, listeners keep getting dropped. Once dropped, a listener has to close out their browser and log on again. Of course a total pain. I believe this problem is on my end with either a too slow computer processor or Internet connection or just a bad combination.

The second problem, somewhat related, involves uploading a recorded show to the website that hosts the broadcasts. Again, I believe this is from my end as uploads, which are of relatively large file sizes, are getting hung up and will not complete the upload.

So, why am I telling you all this? Because I wanted you to know I haven’t given up on the show. Also, I am still working on the technical problems from my end, short of stepping out and purchasing all new equipment, which demand can’t justify that end right now.

Today at 3 p.m. I am going to attempt another live broadcast. I have made some changes that I hope will tell me more specifically what the problems are so I can work toward correcting them. Even though the broadcast will be live, I will also record the show and then upload it to my own server at Skinny Moose, which I haven’t had any problems with. From there you’ll be able to stream or download the audio.

If you would like to join in the fun, log on to the Skinny Moose Radio at 3 p.m. today. Hopefully all will go well.

Tom Remington

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Are We Taking This Green Thing A Bit Too Far?

For those who haven’t seen it yet, Time Magazine put the below picture as their front cover. Is this to the point of sacrilege or do you think this accurately depicts our efforts we face to stop global warming?

Tom Remington

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How Would You Explain It If “The Front Fell Off”?

Once again being that it is an election year, need any of us be reminded of how clear, precise and intelligent the politicians can appear?

Tom Remington

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Who Wants To Promote Hunting And Fishing Anyway?

I might be a rarity when it comes to the hunting and fishing industry, at least from the perspective of the “consumer”. Hey, I’ll cut right to the chase and come out and say that some? many? most? anglers and hunters aren’t that interested in sharing their fishing holes and highly productive hunting grounds with “outsiders”. Just pretend for the duration of this article that you actually did care and see if you can get beyond your personal feelings long enough to understand some odd reasoning. At least my form of reasoning is having trouble with this.

I would suppose that because I have a background in the tourist industry and that happens to be in Maine, it is difficult for me to get rid of that networking and marketing mindset that so much is a part of making it in the tourist business. With my background and this odd drive I have, I still find value in marketing Maine’s (or fill in your state) natural resources – in this case hunting and fishing.

I have a very good friend who lives in Maine. Her name is Wende Gray. I have a lot of respect for her expertise in the tourism/marketing industry in Maine because, 1) I think she understands it and, 2) she’s been at it for a long time. Wende wears many hats and one of those hats of late has been her involvement with the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance. The UAAA is a group of local businesses scattered throughout and along the watershed areas of the Upper Androscoggin. In this case from about the Maine and New Hampshire boarder south and westerly to the Rumford, Maine area.

The purpose of the Alliance is to promote the river as a destination fishery. Anyone who has been in and understands the tourism business knows that you are always scrambling for business and the competition can get fierce.

As Wende has done in the past, she invites prominent outdoor writers into the area and wines and dines them in hopes they will in turn publish some kind thoughts on their experiences. This all in hopes of luring others, often times “from away”, to the area obviously to spend some money and keep people employed and able to pay bills.

Wende recently contacted the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to inquire about obtaining some complimentary fishing licenses for visiting outdoor writers to the region. Here’s part of that email.

On behalf of the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance I am requesting a dozen complimentary fishing licenses for travel and outdoor writers visiting our region this summer. UAAA has joined the New England Outdoor Writers Association and attended the Media Marketplace in New York City. There is great interest in our emerging destination fishery and we expect up to a dozen writers visiting this year-in particular for the Two Fly Contest and Drift Boat Competition in June. Our pr efforts in the past have generated articles in Cabella’s Sporting Journal, Gray’s Sporting Journal, New England Fish & Game, Outdoor Life, the Boston Globe, and New York Sun to name a few. It is our understanding that due to budget cuts at IF&W, complimentary licenses are no longer available. With the emphasis on Maine’s fishing product in promoting Maine tourism this summer, we are in hopes that the Office of Tourism would be able to assist us with our request.

Regis Tremblay, the new Director of IF&W’s Public Information and Education Division, responded to Wende’s request saying that she could forward her request on to the MDIFW Commissioner, Roland “Dan” Martin and then he took some time to explain to Wende about the new policy concerning complimentary licenses in addition to having to be approved by the Commissioner.

…..we’d like to have some certainty that the writers are aware of a lose quid pro quo…i.e. IF&W and our mission as stewards of Maine’s Wildlife and Fisheries does not go unmentioned. We would also expect to receive copies of the magazines in which mention of us might appear. Also, just for your information, these licenses are not free, but are paid for out of my budget. We are happy to do this, but are hopeful of some return on our investment.

I have no idea what Commissioner Martin’s expectations are regarding who he will consider worthy of a Maine complimentary fishing license. The other expectations laid out by Trembley I really have no issue with and actually think it is a great idea to have some kind of guarantee that this small investment sees some kind of return other than willy-nilly handing out free licenses to anybody.

*Note* – For clarification purposes and to be as transparent as possible, I have no stake in this as a writer. There’s no sour grapes because I want a free license to go fishing in Maine and can’t get one. I do fish in Maine when I am there in the summer but I gladly hop on over to the local agent and purchase a non-resident fishing license.

Getting back to the guidelines about comp licenses, I was struck by the comment made by Tremblay that the cost of these licenses comes out of his budget. So, I emailed him for an explanation. I wanted to know what the actual cost of administering a comp license was and how many, on average, did MDIFW issue in a given season.

Tremblay was kind enough to take the time to answer my email but I can’t say I actually got the answer I was looking for, only raising more questions. He told me the retail price of a resident and a non-resident fishing license in Maine.

* Resident fishing licenses costs $21.00
* Non-Resident fishing licenses costs $52

Does this mean that if MDIFW issues a complimentary license to a writer who lives in Maine, Tremblay gets hit for $21.00 and $52 if the writer lives out of state? How does the cost of issuing a comp license to a writer change depending on where the writer lives? Before you jump all over me, I understand about having resident and non-resident licenses but if the idea for a complimentary license is for the purpose of advertising and promotion, does it matter?

What I was hoping to find out was what the actual real costs were in issuing a complimentary license – $1.00, $2.00, $3.00 or $21.00?

And why is Tremblay getting nailed out of his budget the full retail price of each license? And the money gets extracted from his budget and then goes where? Inquiring minds want to know. Is this Martin’s way of reeling in (sorry) the public relations people at MDIFW because he thinks they are issuing licenses irresponsibly? If so, why can’t he just simply approve or not any complimentary licenses issued?

Tremblay also told me that MDIFW typically issues “a few dozen” licenses annually. For clarification purposes, I don’t know if that “few dozen” is all complimentary licenses or just those issued for outdoor writers and those only to fishermen outdoor writers.

So what is a few dozen? And how much does this really cost the state of Maine?

Not to get mired in the questionable administrative methods of MDIFW but one has to at least question the expense and return. Remember, I asked you to pretend you don’t mind if people “from away” come to Maine (insert your state) to fish. If Tremblay says a few dozen licenses are issued, let’s see if we can guess what a few is.

I asked Wende Gray again if she had any idea about how many in the past MDIFW has given out. Her interpretation of a few dozen most closely resembled between one and two dozen.

As a country boy growing up in rural Maine, I seem to recall my grandfather telling me that a few meant twelve. Let’s say Wende says two dozen and Grandpa’s definition is twelve dozen and split the difference to seven dozen or 84 licenses. You do the math. Is it not worth it? Should the Maine Office of Tourism pick up the tab for the 84 complimentary licenses? Is this all tit for tat while losing focus on the big picture? I don’t get it.

Either there is legitimate value in the process of utilizing outdoor writers for advertising and marketing, or there isn’t. I concur that somebody should “approve” complimentary licenses and if MDIFW can’t afford to issue those licenses because of budget shortfalls and somebody needs to pay, should they be paying full retail price for each license?

Recently MDIFW teamed up with the Maine Office of Tourism to promote fishing on the MOT website. Who paid for that? Did MOT charge MDIFW the full retail value of creating web pages for that purpose? Regardless, MDIFW must be showing an interest in luring in out of state anglers by undertaking this action. Another indication is they still are willing to sell non-resident licenses, so there must be some value in their eyes, to bringing in outsiders to fish the waters of Maine.

It all seems quite silly if you ask me. The reality is that it cost the state of Maine virtually nothing to issue a complimentary license. Is this a viable advertising and marketing scheme for Maine or isn’t it? If it is, let’s get on with it. If not, it’s time to end the charade.

Tom Remington

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