AUGUSTA – Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin is pleased to announce that the 2010 Moose Permit Lottery Drawing will be held Thursday, June 17, at L.L.Bean in Freeport.

The drawing of names will begin at 6 p.m. under the moose lottery tent near L.L.Bean’s Hunt and Fishing Store. This year, 3,140 permits will be drawn for the fall harvest. Last year, 82 percent of hunters were successful.

No more applications for the lottery are being accepted as the deadline has passed.

Since 1999, the Moose Permit Lottery Drawing has been held at different locations throughout the state. Two years ago, the event was hosted by an outdoors retailer, and vendors were on hand to display hunting products and tips, and last year, the St. John Valley community carried that theme when the drawing was held at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

This year, L.L.Bean is scheduling moose hunt education programs, covering topics such as gear, shooting techniques, moose calls, and “secrets” from “moose masters.” An indoor archery moose hunt and a five-stand public shoot also are planned.

“Over the last couple of years, the Moose Permit Lottery Drawing has evolved into a spectacle where hunters can gather to swap tips, learn how to improve their skills, and share their favorite hunting stories,” according to Commissioner Martin. “This year is no exception. L.L. Bean is planning an event that will leave hunters better informed on how to make a hunt a success. And, possibly, the hunters also will leave knowing their names were drawn for a permit. I thank L.L. Bean for its support of the 2010 Moose Permit Lottery drawing and I look forward to attending this well-planned event.”

Ken Kacere, senior vice-president and general manager of retail, L.L.Bean, said the retailer is thrilled to be hosting this year’s event.

“We are very pleased to have been chosen by the Department to host the 2010 Maine Moose Permit Lottery Drawing,” Kacere said. “For generations of hunters, the Maine Moose Lottery has become an annual tradition that celebrates Maine’s rich outdoor heritage. We are honored to be a part of it.”

Commissioner Martin said that IF&W staff from Augusta and local biologists and game wardens will be on hand at the event. The Department will be conducting a panel discussion on how to make the most of a moose hunt beginning at 5 p.m., one hour before the lottery drawing commences.

“This is a great opportunity for sports enthusiasts and the general public to interact with our personnel,” Martin said.

Added Mac McKeever, senior public relations representative, L.L.Bean, “In celebration of the Maine Moose Lottery Drawing, we’re offering a fun, festive array of family-oriented activities throughout the day to really enhance folks’ enjoyment and participation in the event.”

Activities are set to begin at 11 a.m., with most scheduled under the moose lottery tent next to the L.L.Bean Hunt and Fishing Store. They include:

· 11 a.m.: Gearing up for you moose hunt, presented by L.L.Bean experts;

· 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Free indoor archery moose hunt, archery range, L.L.Bean Hunt and Fishing Store;

· Noon: Moose hunting in New England, presented by Mossy Oak Pro Staff panel of experts;

· 1 & 3 p.m.: Josh Cottrell, Primos Pro-Staff, moose calls demonstration and gear tips;

· 2 p.m.: Scouting techniques and tools for your moose hunt, presented by L.L.Bean experts;

· 2 p.m.-dusk: Five-stand public shoot, fee charged, see store representative for details;

· 4 p.m.: Moose calling seminar with Maine Professional Guides Association;

· 5 p.m.: Making the most of a moose hunt, presented by IF&W staff;

· 6 p.m.: Maine Moose Lottery Drawing begins. Moderated by Commissioner Martin and WGME-TV 13 broadcaster Doug Rafferty.

For more information, visit www.llbean.com/stores and select “upcoming events” or www.mefishwildlife.com.

Students from Telstar’s Challenge Program [Telstar High School] collected over 800 lbs of trash, including bed springs, pylons, washing machine, air conditioner and refrigerator parts, during the annual river clean-up on the Upper Androscoggin River between Gilead, Maine and West Bethel, Maine on Monday, May 24. National River Clean-up is sponsored by American Rivers and locally by the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance. Magic Falls Rafting Company provided rafts and garbage scows to collect the trash. Bruce Pierce, UAAA Director, coordinated the event along with Steve Keane, Telstar Challenge course instructor.

I got a telephone call one day from Les Otten, owner of Sunday River Ski Resort. He wanted to know if I could meet him at his office. When I arrived he was on the telephone heavily engaged in a telephone conservation concerning the sale of several new condominiums being constructed on the mountain. Twenty-five years ago, a few hundred thousand dollars was a lot of money. I waited.

Les wanted to know if I was interested in building on an addition to one of his ski lodges. We walked around the building and peered under a deck where the addition would go, both of us raising several questions about the existing structure. Soon, with Les in his work clothes (dress slacks and dress shirt) and I in mine (grubs), we were both crawling on our bellies through the dust, gravel, weeds, debris and just about everything else one might have the pleasure of finding under a heavily traveled ski lodge deck. I did make a couple of comments about our adventure but I’ll refrain from posting them here.

I’ve told that story more than one time but as I was thinking more about it this morning after getting off the phone with Les, that action actually is a pretty good characterization of him. Here’s a man who could have sat in the comfort of his clean office but instead did not hesitate to roll up his sleeves and get dirty.

I’ve known Les for perhaps 30-plus years and during that time he has given unselfishly to his community. Time and space will not permit the endless list of how he has impacted the people in his home town and surrounding area.

Les Otten is a businessman who understands many things, among them tourism, promotion, marketing, investment, providing a viable product and operating within a budget. Whoever resides in the Blaine House will face daunting tasks and challenges. I believe he is up for the challenge and can put together the right people to make it all happen.

One huge undertaking will be the financial shortfall of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, a depleted whitetail deer herd, an overgrown population of coyotes and other predators, and environmental groups eager to make a living serving up lawsuits to stop hunting, trapping and fishing. The hunting, fishing, trapping and general outdoor recreation brings millions of dollars into Maine each year. The next governor has got to find a way to tidy up fish and game and make sure that those running it are in sync with the mission.

True to character, Otten will “roll up his sleeves and get dirty” on this issue.

All of the United States is at a crossroad. Things are changing and many of us don’t care for the direction it is going. If there’s one weapon we have as free Americans it is the right to vote. That’s where we can begin to push back.

Outdoor sportsmen can be independent people. We love to be outside, in the forests, on the water, enjoying the peace and quiet and the beauty God gave us. But to protect that, we have to give a bit more than we take sometimes. I’m asking every sportsman in Maine to make it a point to vote on June 8, 2010. Vote for the candidate(s) that you believe best represent your ideals. Finding the right people is extremely important at every level of government. Don’t wait to see who comes out on top. Be the one who puts your candidate at the top.

Tom Remington

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will be conducting a controlled moose hunt in Aroostook County again in 2010 in response to farmers’ concerns about crop depredation and to address the increasing incidence of moose/vehicle collisions along Routes 1 and 161.

The controlled hunt, which will occur between August 16 and September 25, 2010, was approved by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council on Thursday, April 22.

Last year, which was the first year of the controlled moose hunt, 100 permits were allocated and hunters had an 81 percent success rate.

“Once again this year, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is implementing a controlled moose hunt to ease the negative impacts caused by moose on broccoli and cauliflower crops in parts of eastern Aroostook County, as well as help reduce the risk of moose-vehicle collisions,” according to Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin. “Last year’s controlled hunt was a successful start in helping to alleviate problems in this area, and this year’s effort too will make a significant dent in the population where recreational hunting has not.”

For several years, IF&W has increased the number of moose permits during the annual fall recreational hunt to respond to the landowners’ concerns for crop damage and communities’ requests for safer roads. With the controlled hunt, IF&W has greater flexibility to effectively manage moose in areas that may have limited access or are in “non-traditional” habitats, such as an agricultural-woodland mix, that may not be attractive to hunters.

The controlled hunt is NOT open to all hunters. Persons eligible to participate include:

· Landowners with 80 or more contiguous acres, who own property in Limestone, Caribou, Woodland, Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Washburn, Westfield, Easton and Connor Township. The eligible property is agricultural, forested or undeveloped land that is open to hunting, including hunting by permission. A dependent living in a landowner’s household also is eligible.

· Any shareholder in a corporation that qualifies under the Internal Revenue Service Code as a Chapter S corporation is eligible for the landowner permit drawing if the property meets the landowner permit requirements. Dependents of shareholders are not eligible.

· All Registered Maine Guides that currently have all Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife license privileges in good standing, are not convicted felons, and did not receive a controlled moose hunting permit by lottery in 2009. Guides will NOT be eligible to hunt and only three permittees picked at the discretion of the Guide will be eligible to hunt.

A total of 100 permits will be available. Eligible persons wishing to participate must file an online application form that’s available on IF&W’s website, www.mefishwildlife.com. A person may not file more than one application, and each application is for “one chance.”

This controlled moose hunt is not the recreational moose hunt. Applications for the recreational moose permit lottery were due by May 14.

Applications for the controlled moose hunt are available starting Monday, May 17.

The online application deadline is 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on June 17, 2010. A random chance drawing will be held on June 18. The winners’ names will be posted on IF&W’s website. Selections are final.

Selected landowners and Guides may hunt during the entire six-week period (excluding Sundays).

There is no application charge. Permit fees are $52 for residents and $484 for nonresidents.

A total of 100 permits will be allocated as follows:

* Up to 45 percent will be issued to eligible Registered Maine Guides, and each selected guide will receive three moose permits (one for each of three permittees who will be chosen at the discretion of the Guide.) Of the three issued permits, one will be an any-moose permit and two will be antlerless-only permits. Registered Maine Guides who receive permits are required to guide their permittees in agricultural areas designated by the Department within the 9 towns open to hunting.

Each Registered Maine Guide selected by the lottery must attend a training session on June 30 in Presque Isle.

Registered Maine Guides selected by the lottery in 2010 will be ineligible to receive a controlled moose hunt permit for 2 years.

* Up to 55 percent of the permits will be issued to eligible landowners. Landowners who receive a permit are required to hunt on their own, eligible land. The Commissioner may authorize a landowner to use his permit to hunt on other designated lands identified in the area open to hunting.

In addition to the above moose hunting permits, the Department will allocate five (5) moose hunting permits to disabled veterans to participate in the controlled hunt. At least three of these permits will be issued to residents who possess a valid disabled veteran hunting license and no more than two permits will be issued to nonresident disabled veterans who possess a valid big game hunting license. A ” disabled veteran” means a person who: (1) is a veteran; and (2) has a service-connected disability evaluated at: (a.) 100%, or (b.) has a service-connected disability evaluated at 70% and has served in a combat zone during any armed conflict in which participants were exposed to war risk hazards. These permits will be issued in cooperation with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. Maine Veteran’s Services will provide logistical support to the selected disabled veterans during their moose hunt.

The moose taken under these permits are in addition to the statewide bag limit. Permits issued under this controlled hunt are exempt from the provisions of the moose permit point system of the recreational moose hunt. A person who receives a controlled moose hunting permit is exempt from the two-year eligibility requirement of the recreational moose hunt. All other fees, laws and rules relating to moose hunting will apply to this controlled moose hunt.

Additional information about the controlled moose hunt is available on IF&W’s website or call (207) 287-8000.

The annual Maine Moose Lottery Drawing event will take place this year at L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine. I have attended the last two year’s drawings, the first at Kittery Trading Post and the second at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, and provided interviews and live audio and video Internet feeds of the drawings. Let me explain why this year’s event will not include me.

It was my understanding and perhaps I was wrong, that it was decided that if the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife was going to continue having a live drawing event for the Moose Lottery, they would have to get help from private enterprise.

It took some doing but eventually it was agreed to allow The Kittery Trading Post to host the event. I contacted the people at KTP and at MDIFW and tossed out the idea of my company, Skinny Moose Media, providing a live Internet feed of streaming video and audio. My intentions were to enhance the event and not steal any potential audience away from the event. For myself and my business the benefits of exposure couldn’t hurt, although the commitment was considerable money out of my pocket, time and travel.

The KTP event went extremely well considering it was our first attempt at a live, remote video broadcast. At one time we had well over 600 viewers watching and listening to the drawing. If memory serves me correctly, total viewership topped 6,000. An odd thing happened however, about halfway through the podcast. Viewership crashed.

The trip to Fort Kent was even more expensive but I was determined to make the trip because I knew from past experience that the City of Fort Kent and all its citizen’s would put on a quality event. And that they did.

The Fort Kent event went well and once again we had over 350 viewers on at one point until less than halfway through the event, visitors vanished. What happened?

What I didn’t know was that the MDIFW was posting the results of the random draw at about the same time the announcement of moose permit winners was being made. As soon as viewers found this information out, their interest in my broadcast disappeared but just as bad, attendance at the event in the gym at the University of Maine was also cut in half. People vacated the show and went home to find the results rather than stick around.

It is certainly my fault for not knowing the posting of the names was occurring when it did, but I went to some expense and sacrifice to provide this service. But no need to cry over spilled milk.

This year’s event, as I said, will be at L.L. Bean. I contacted MDIFW to ask them if they would consider holding off posting the names of the winners until the end of the show, or at least later. The answer was “no”!

It seems a shame that private business was called upon to save the show and no effort is being exerted on the part of MDIFW to make sure people have a reason to attend the show rather than wait until 6:30 the night of the show and go online and see if they won or not. This reasoning makes little sense to me. I’m pretty small potatoes compared to other businesses and enterprises that lay out considerable expenses, time and effort to put on a show.

It is just a foolish for me to make the trip and lay out the expense of providing a good service, only to get dumped as soon as the show starts because viewers can go to the MDIFW website and get the one thing they are interested in finding out.

So, if you’re thinking about attending the show at L.L. Bean, believing you’ll find out quicker whether you won, just wait until 6:30 on June 17th. That’s when winners will be posted. Or, you could contact MDIFW and ask them exactly what time the computerized random draw will take place. As soon as that has occurred, call them back and ask them for the information. According to the reasons I was given of why they couldn’t hold back on posting the results is because law prohibits them from withholding public information. No point of waiting until 6:30 is there?

I considered attending the show and perhaps just conducting interviews, shooting some video and taking pictures but it now seems it is not worth the effort. I may perhaps show up and meet and talk with friends, depending on my schedule that evening.

I apologize to some viewers who I know were probably looking forward to an evening online and others who had inquired about advertising sponsorship again this year. Perhaps if we can get MDIFW to change their minds, next year might work. This is an election year and Maine will be picking a new governor. Maybe the new governor will appoint a different Commissioner to IFW who will understand that it’s the thousands of applicants for a moose permit that pay their wages.

We don’t need any Stimulus Money, just a little cooperation and understanding of how free enterprise works.

Tom Remington

Editor’s Note: Friends and readers who have been very supportive of my efforts have asked that I offer what I could for support for this project. The letter below was sent to me by a friend and I’m posting it for those who have an interest in this asking that you get involved.

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, I have been working to protect our local mountains from the massive Industrial Wind Turbine Development Project that is being proposed by Highland Wind LLC. If approved, this project will destroy nine miles of ridge top, while clear cutting over 500 acres, and building over 20 miles of road, to erect and maintain 48 four hundred foot tall turbines. All of this will happen within sight of The Bigelow Preserve, a place so special that the people of the State of Maine voted to protect it from development forever.

After much study, I have yet to find a single redeeming quality in this Industrial Wind Project. It will not clean our air, it will not reduce our use of fossil fuels, it will not reduce our electric bills, and it will not benefit our environment or our citizens in any way. What it will do is fill in wet lands, destroy critical habitat, and drive both animals and people from their homes. It is also likely to destroy many small businesses that depend on tourism.

In return for all this, a few men will get very rich, mostly from the government subsidies that will pay for the majority of the project, and a few politicians will get to look “green” in front of the news cameras.

The Friends Of The Highland Mountains www.highlandmts.org is currently working on a T.V. commercial to educate the people of Maine about this and similar projects. We are working hard to save our mountains and our way of life, but we can’t do it alone. That’s why I’m writing to you for help.

I am personally trying to raise the money to put our commercial on the air. It won’t be cheap. Five thousand dollars [$5,000.00] is my current target to get the ball rolling. The commercial is already in production, but if we don’t raise the money to air it, the people of Maine will never hear the truth about these projects.

So, I’m asking you to help in any way you can. Even five dollars will go a long way. I know money is tight and times are tough, but some things are too valuable to allow to be destroyed. If we allow tough economic times to keep us from doing what’s right, how will we ever live with ourselves, or explain to our children and grandchildren that we allowed a few powerful men to destroy irreplaceable mountain habitat for no reason other than greed?

I’m asking you, from the bottom of my heart, to please send a donation and help us preserve this unique and important corner of Maine. If you are involved with a corporate group, Scout Troop, or other service organization, please consider asking them to get involved as well. If we all work together, we can keep Maine’s wild places wild.

Checks can be made out to Friends Of Highland Mountains, and sent to me at the address below. Please write “for TV commercial” in the memo line. For those wishing to make a tax deductible contribution, please contact me for more information.

If we all work together, we can educate the people of Maine, and protect our mountains. Thank you in advance for your support.

Dave

David P. Corrigan
Registered Maine Master Guide
Fletcher Mountain Outfitters
82 Little Houston Brook Road
Concord Twp., Maine 04920
maineguide@live.com