Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine Now Online

AUGUSTA – Maine Fish and Wildlife, the quarterly magazine of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, now is available in an online version only – and is free!

The magazine can be viewed at http://www.flipseekllc.com/maine2009winter.html or from the IF&W website at www.mefishwildlife.com. Read the story »

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: “Insider” Magazine

The June 2009 issue of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s “Insider” magazine is now available for your viewing pleasure. Please follow this link.

In this issue you will find information about a study done on the use of rubber or soft plastic lures for fishing and the effects this may be having on our fisheries. Anglers are encouraged to use biodegradable lures.

There’s also an article about the awards presented as part of the success of the recovery of bald eagles in Maine from the endangered list, a story of how 46 acres have been added to the Scarborough Wildlife Management Area, Warden of the Year honors, 2009 winter field study on Canada lynx, all about snakes in Maine, bears and bird feeders, the Open Water Fishing Report and tons more.

Does Maine Have A Deer Management Problem? - Part IV

I would suppose that it is time to cut to the chase on this issue of Maine’s deer management problems. There are some cold and hard facts that have to be acted upon. Maine can no longer keep doing what it’s doing. It’s just not working very well is it? We can’t sit back and wait for the weather to break.

In Part IIIof, “Does Maine Have a Deer Management Problem?”, I promised that I would return to Part IV with a list of things that we, as hunters, can do to help replenish our deer herds in places where they need the attention. I apologize for taking so long on this but I have written and rewritten this article far too many times, each time closing out my browser and walking away because I knew I was going to incite too many people to anger. Part of what has encouraged me to rewrite it one more time, came from a reader who told me people were waiting for some help. I appreciate the support and the encouragement. Read the story »

“What Would You Do? An Outdoor Skills Quiz” available online for children, educators

AUGUSTA – Do you know what you should do if you see a bear nearby when you’re picking blueberries? Or if you see a turtle on its back along the side of a road?

These are two of the 12 questions posed in the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s newest booklet, “What Would You Do? An Outdoors Skills Quiz,” now available for parents and teachers to show their children or pupils before summer vacation begins. It’s also a fun activity for adults! Read the story »

Skinny Moose Media Will Live-Stream Maine Moose Lottery

Mark your calendars! June 18th, 2009 will be the annual drawing for the Maine Moose Lottery. This year 3,015 permits will be drawn and as is usually the case thousands of applicants keep their fingers crossed in hopes of being one of the lucky ones.

This year’s event will be held at the University of Maine at Fort Kent and as last year, Skinny Moose Media, in conjunction with U.S. Hunting Today and Maine Hunting Today, will live-stream the video and audio of the event.

Tom Remington, Vice President of Skinny Moose Media, LLC, author of the Black Bear Blog and Managing Editor of U.S. Hunting Today and Maine Hunting Today, will be on hand at the show to conduct interviews and do the filming of the event. He will have his long time friend and Chief Photographer for Skinny Moose Media, Milt Inman with him to assist and grab tons of candid shots throughout the day and evening. Read the story »

No Better Way To Bag First Turkey Than With First Gun

Editor’s Note: The following story was sent to me by a lifelong friend. The story is of her brother’s first wild turkey hunting success.

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Take a minute for yourself!

After 65 hours of work last week, at 04:30 this morning I started out on my first wild turkey hunt. As I pondered which one of just a few shotguns I should take to the forest, I had a strange feeling come over me; it was like one of these guns was reaching out to me. “Take the old Stevens single-shot 12-gauge”, I could sense.

Well, that one comes with just a little history. Just after W.W. II my father gave this shotgun to then his farther ( Robert Gilbert) for his birthday. My Dad had once told me that the last time he saw his father alive he was carrying that gun into his house after an October grouse hunt. The hunt had been good and my grandfather said, “Shirley, you keep the game tonight.” Dad had told me several times that was the last words spoken with his father. Read the story »