The Conditions

The weather again - proposed heavy rain for the next few days, but at 11:45 pm Sunday its snowing and staying! Into Jellison to see if we could fish, now consider that every pond and lake checked so far is clear of ice. Nope not the camp pond, iced in solid, enough we can walk on it and drill holes - amazing. But being in the valley and protected from any sun, I can understand such.

I hear the salt water smelts are running on the Penobscot, loved fishing Brewer, but now with the new rip rap they have destroyed the fishing spots.

Beaware you can only keep 2 trout from lakes and ponds in Hancock County, new regulation.

Gear List

Recently I have received a couple of emails asking me to reprint my gear list. So here it is, do with as you wish. This is my gear list and how I store them in totes and dry boxes. You may see a few items listed more than once, that is because they are common items and I can reach for them in any box. Good trails!!!
ON PERSON – VEST/JACKET
0 Handkerchief 0 Cell Phone 0 Compass
0 Water 0 GPS 0 Firearm/Ammo
0 Glasses 0 Leather man 0 Lighter
0 Money 0 License 0 LED Light

DAY/GUIDE PACK – GENERAL USE (camo)
0 Knifes 0 Cylume 0 Survival Kit
0 Fire Starter 0 Water 0 Rope
0 GPS/Spare 0 Towel 0 Flashlight
0 Cup/drink 0 Maps 0 Marker
0 Toilet Paper 0 Cat Eyes 0 BU Compass
0 Chap Stick 0 Foil 0 Flagging
0 Aid Kit 0 Lighter/candle0 Bug Dope
0 Trash Bag 0 Trail Mix 0 Mirror
0 Zip Lock 0 Sharpener 0 Spare Glasses
0 Binoculars 0 Wipes 0 Batteries
0 Paper/Pencil 0 Head Lamp BU 0 EPI Pen
0 Peroxide 0 String Line 0 Fold Saw
0 Strobe 0 Candy 0 EM Blanket
0 Whistle 0 0

CHUCK - UTILITY BOX – MASTER TOTE (gray)
0 Notepad 0 LP Tree 0 LP hose (2)
0 LP Tank 1lb 0 Fish Maps 0 Lighter Fluid
0 (2) Lanterns 0 EM Radio 0 Flask JD
0 Hotdog Sticks 0 Hand Saw 0 Grill Regulator
0 Paper Towels 0 Zip Ties 0 Cook Oil
Box 1 – Inside Master
0 Flagging 0 Toilet Paper 0 Shampoo
0 Bug Dope 0 Vinegar 0 Soaps
0 Bleach 0 Trash Bags 0 Table Cloth
Box 2 – Inside Master
0 Zip Lock 0 Water Filter 0 Cribbage
0 Scrubber 0 Matches 0 Mirror
0 Candles 0 Nylons 0 Nails/Kit
0 Duct Tape 0 Fire Starters 0 Mantles (tub)
0 Rope 0 Lighters 0 AA Batteries
0 Cylumes 0 Solar Lights 0 Stove Hose

KITCHEN KIT – York Box (green)
0 Pots 0 Skillet 0 Silverware Kit
0 Utensils 0 2 Red Bowls 0 Bowls
0 Strainer 0 Aid kit 0 Cups
0 Cut board 0 Matches 0 Plates
0 Creamer 0 Sugar 0 Tea

KITCHEN KIT 2 – York Box (green)
0 Plates 0 Cups 0 Silverware
0 Bowls 0 Hang organizer0 Dish pans
0 Salt/Pepper 0 Hammer 0 Tub of bags
0 Napkins 0 Flashlights 0 Rope

***all totes taped or bungee corded, not needed on York Boxes

TENT PACK – Rubber Maid (gray)
0 Rain Fly 0 Air Mattress 0 Air Pump
0 Tie Downs 0 Tarp 0 Power Convert

0 Dust pan 0 Door Mat 0 Repair kit
0 Tents 0 Tent Poles 0 Tarp poles
PERSONAL KIT – Big Blue Dry Bag
0 Socks (4) 0 Pants (2) 0 Shorts
0 Long Johns 0 t-shirt 0 Underwear
0 Slippers 0 Towel 0 Reading Book
0 Shave kit 0 Hat 0 Jacket
0 Gloves 0 Flannel Shirt 0 Turtle Neck
0 Rain Gear 0 Swim Trunks 0 Spare Glasses

SPECIAL ITEMS – AS NEEDED
0 Chain Saw 0 Axe 0 Boat gas
0 ATV 0 Throw Rope 0 Spare Gas
0 Boat/Motor 0 Paddles 0 PFD
0 Kayak 0 Cooler/Ice 0 Sleeping Bags
0 Waders 0 Jump Start 0 Booster Cable
0 Hand Saw 0 Sleep Mach 0 Sun Block
0 Spare Plugs 0 Siphon Hose 0 Tarp Bucket
0 Cameras/video 0 Batteries 12v 0 Power Convert
0 Plaster Equip 0 Meds/Viatims 0 Port Radios
0 Tackle Box 0 Maps 0 Fish Poles
0 Net 0 Crayfish trap 0 Worms/Bait
0 Fish Vest 0 Gallon Water 0 Radios FRS
0 Boat Oil 0 Auger 0 Tote/Sled
0 Snowshoes 0 Snowmobile 0 Climb Gear
0 Come a Long 0 Skinning Kit 0 20lb LP
0 Aid Box 0 License Box 0 Straps/Rope
0 Moose Kit 0 Spare Tires 0 Plastic Roll
0 Clothes Pin 0 Shovel 0 Folding table
0 Flares

IN TRUCK – When Guiding or Tripping
0 Binoculars 0 Radio 0 Ear Protection
0 Leather man 0 Knife 0 Rope
0 GPS Tom/Tom 0 Maps 0 Toilet Paper
0 Aid Kit 0 Throw Rope 0 Gallon Water
0 Flashlights 0 Vest 0 Rain Gear
0 Sock 0 Gloves 0 Flagging
0 Wipes 0 Cylumes 0 Day Pack
0 Trail Mix 0 Paper 0 Tool Kit
0 Stand Box 0 Stand Harness 0 Tag Box

FORESTRY PACK – Yellow Box
0 Adaptor 0 Spanner 0 Flagging
0 Headlamp 0 Water 0 Cylumes
0 Trail Mix 0 Gloves 0 Aid Kit
0 Hardhat 0 Goggles 0 Ear Protection
0 Shirt(2) 0 Pants 0 Radio FRS
0 Handkerchief 0 Boots 0 Chap Stick

Things you need to bring on the trip

0 Air Mattress 0 Sun Block 0 Camera
0 Snacks 0 Sleeping Bag 0 Socks (4)
0 Pants (2) 0 Shorts 0 Sweat Pants
0 T-shirt(2) 0 Underwear 0 Croc/water
0 Shoes 0 Games DS 0 Tooth Brush
0 Towel 0 Reading Book 0 Hat
0 Jacket/rain 0 Flannel Shirt 0 Turtle Neck
0 Meds/Vitamins 0 Chap Stick 0 Fish Gear
0 Girl Stuff 0 Medications 0 Razor
0 Deodorant 0 Cell Phone

My First Aid Kit
0 Medications 0Tri Bandages 0 Roll Bandage
0 Tape 0 Wipes 0 Gauze pads
0 Napkins 0 Swabs 0 Tweezers
0 Safety pins 0 Scissors 0 Bee Sting kit
0 Sinus Meds 0 Compresses 0 Splinting Material
0 Ipecac 0 Band Aids 0 Antibiotic Cream
0 Calamine lotio0 Peroxide 0 Eye Wash
0 Stethoscope 0 CPR mask 0 Gloves
0 N95 mask 0 Hot/cold pack 0 Soap
0 Aspirin 0 Thermometer 0 Mole skin
0 Motrin 0 Cold Med 0 Tylenol
0 Vicks Vapor 0 Micro Shield 0 Witch Hazel
0 Q tips 0 Tums/Rolaids 0 Super Glue
0 Ace bandage 0 Epi Pen 0
MEAL PLAN – GROCERY LIST
BREAKFAST Cereal, Oatmeal, Pancakes, Egg/Ham-Bacon, OJ, Toast, Soft Boiled Egg
LUNCH Ham, Tuna, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Hotdogs or Pressed Meat with Chips, Noodles
Chop Suey
Steak
Hamburger
Ham Steak
Chicken Legs
Mac Cheese
Hotdogs
Chili
Pasta - Spaghetti Rice
Asparagus
Beans
Corn Cob
Noodles

SUPPERS
Rolls, Potato Salad, Potatoes, Beans, Noodles, Brownies, Hard/Soft boiled eggs, apples, cheese, snacks, candy

0 Bacon 0 Beans 0 Chips
0 Eggs 0 Bread /Buns 0 Cereal
0 Cheese 0 Crackers 0 Coffee
0 Steak 0 Bisquick 0 Fruit
0 Hamburger 0 Creamer 0 Honey
0 Corn on Cob 0 Marshmallows 0 Noodles
0 Chicken 0 Juice 0 Pop Tarts
0 Sandwich Meat 0 Hot Coco 0 Tuna
0 Butter 0 Mac Cheese 0 Sauce
0 Hot Dogs 0 Oatmeal 0 Macaroni
0 Milk 0 Peanut butter 0 Potatoes
0 Ham Steak 0 Rice 0 Cup Soup
0 Sausage 0 Crystal Ice 0 Can Soup
0 Salads 0 Syrup 0 Vinegar
0 Sunny D 0 Crisco 0 Cukes
0 Pancake Mix 0 Spaghetti 0 Rolls
0 Onions 0 Drinks 0 Tomato
0 Condiments 0 Smores Stuff 0 Sugar
0 Bars 0 Snacks/Candy 0 Jelly
0 Mustard 0 Relish 0 Mayo
(BOLD) items require ice/frozen cooler.
Suggest that meals be prepared at home and frozen.

Mud Season - Respect Landowners

Well congratulations to our IFW and Governor, they have openned fishing a week early, this was done to allow fisherman a few fish. See the Lake Buzzard is already back "the loon", they get about 8 pounds of fish a day, more than you and I will.

But I am writing to remind you that mud season is here and many of the places we fish we must cross private lands and or paper company lands. GMO has closed, gated and locked all roads until May 15th so early fishing will do little for us. Crashing these gates or finding a way around them only makes things worst. The roads get rutted and destroyed and landowners get very pissed off.

So you mud truck boys and fisherman, please find some hot top fishing spots for a few weeks until things dry out.

FISHING OPEN EARLY - GOV SIGNS EM LAW

Open Water Fishing Season Opens Early
March 25, 2010

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES & WILDLIFE 284 State St., SHS 41, Augusta, ME 04333 www.mefishwildlife.com Main Number: 287-8000

MEDIA: For more information, call IF&W Spokeswoman Deborah Turcotte at (207) 592-1164

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 25, 2010

Open Water Fishing Season Now Open

AUGUSTA – Open water fishing season is now open under an emergency law signed by Gov. John E. Baldacci today, Thursday, March 25, 2010.

All lakes, ponds and brooks are open except those with specific opening-day regulations that start after April 1 as listed in the 2008-2009 Open Water Fishing Law Book.

Bag and size limit rules contained in the 2008-2009 Open Water Fishing Law Book also apply.

The emergency law is in effect until April 1, 2010.

A new fishing law book that combines ice fishing and open water fishing rules, including several new regulations, will become effective on April 1, 2010. Distribution of this law book began a couple of weeks ago and is available where fishing licenses are sold.

“People have been anxious to drop their lines given that ice fishing season ended too soon in some parts of the state, with many lakes and ponds experiencing early ice out conditions,” Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin said. “We’re happy to provide this opportunity to anglers, and remind them to be mindful of early spring cold-water conditions by being safe.”

Open water fishing season historically begins on April 1 on most waters of the state. Because of unseasonably warm weather opening up waterways in many counties and strong public interest in wanting to fish, Maine Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Oxford County, sponsored emergency legislation to start the season early.

“Let’s go fishing!” exclaimed Sen. Bryant, upon the Governor’s signature of the bill.

Emergency law opens season today (March 25), but 2008-2009 rules apply until April 1

Emotional Distrubed Fishing Laws, New April 1

People, kids, family and friends want to fish, most of the time they could care what they catch. There is a new 2 year law book out, the rules take effect April 1st and are designed to create revenue for the Green Monsters – called the Warden Service.

This is the most confusing 104 law book ever written and it will keep lawyers and courts busy for years to come. We call it “emotional disturbed” laws, written by a college educated fool, with the help of SAM. We’ve got CI, CO, B, A, Eastern, Southern, Northern, open water, ice fishing and more (S) regulations than any sane person could understand.

We want to fish year round, all waters, including brooks and streams. What would happen if we didn’t ever have any ice for ice fishing? People writing regulations should sit down and think from the mindset that we don’t have any ice and go from there. It could be very simple, does anyone in Disgusta look to other states that get ice and allow fishing year round, both through the ice or open water?

Fishing would be permitted year round, by either trap or rod. A fisherman is allowed three rods or traps. (no longer two rods, or two or five traps - three period). You can stand on shore, or ice, on your head for that matter, fish in a boat, canoe, kayak, sit on the ice or drill a hole, but only three rods or traps or combination of, but no more than three. The current special lakes just force people to get a big party together to put out more traps and rotate fishing holes.

The limit on salmon, togue and trout state wide from lakes and ponds is two, unless special regulations allow the taking of a higher limit. A person may have four trout from brooks, streams and rivers, unless special regulations allow a higher limit. All trout and salmon caught from October 1 to December 31 must be released immediately.

Night fishing is allowed year round.

Trout must be 6 inches, salmon 14 inches, and togue 18 inches.

Slot laws don’t work – the loons get the bigger fish anyways and fish caught in the slot, especially through the ice have a high mortality rate, so just keep two fish. That or dead fish are stuffed down the hole or packed away and taken home. If stopped oops, ahh I caught these at…just come up with a lake that is open without a slot law.

Amherst Mountain Plan

The Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands invites
you to attend a Public Meeting on the Amherst Mountains Community Forest
Management Plan on March 17th at 6:30 p.m. at the Bangor Motor Inn &
Conference Center located at 701 Hogan Road in Bangor.

The Amherst Mountains Community Forest (AMCF) is a unique
state-municipal partnership involving 4,974 acres of forestland
surrounding six ponds in the town of Amherst. The parcel was acquired
by the Maine Department of Conservation with assistance from the Forest
Society of Maine in June of 2009, with funds from the Forest Legacy
Program, the Lands for Maine's Future program and numerous charitable
foundations and individuals.

The purpose of the Public Meeting is to collect information and to hear
comments from the general public regarding the management of this
parcel. Public knowledge of the region will help shape the plan, which
will provide resource protection and management guidance for this
property over the next 15-year period.

An Advisory Committee has been formed to provide additional input and to
review drafts of the plan. A second public meeting will be scheduled in
June to receive feedback on a final draft. Comments are invited
throughout the planning process.

More information on the management planning process is available at
http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/planning/amherstmountains/index.
shtml. Please feel free to contact me with questions or to submit
written comments.

Please circulate this invitation to interested parties.

Thank you.

Misha Mytar
Senior Planner
Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands
P.O. Box 343
Sullivan, ME 04664
(207) 460-4818
misha.mytar@maine.gov
www.parksandlands.com

Vacation Plans

Well the ice is getting weaker. Pre planning was held this evening for the spring and summer season. Memorial Day Week will find the crew at, where else, Duck Lake. Some will be at the campground and others at the Beach. Between the three familys, looks to be a good group. Next is Fathers Day Weekend, continuing in the 47th year with many generations - Telos at High Bank. Then there is the Machias River and Airline Rips - if only the state would build a few more log lean too's - so much warmth and memories. The trip to Debscogeag will not happen this year, nor are we heading to Musquicook. However Haymock and Eagle will see a trip. The kids really want to do another St. Croix run for 3 days, but I really enjoy camping in the nice sites on the Canandian side, but have been told with proper paperwork and passports we could get in a lot of trouble. At least they invest in recreation on the river, our side leaves much to be desired. I was aksing about Tunk Lake the other day and still hear fishing is slow and not any real big fish. I would really love to give it a two or three day push, but there doesn't seem to be much interest. Lee is selling the camp on Moosehead, taxes are very high and purchased a 36' foot to partol the lake with this year, no taxes. But on the way to Duck, boy I wish GMO would let the state put the bridge back in on the 32-00-0 at Gassiabiass so the southern folk could get there easier and safer.

Huntin and Fishing with the Old Man

Well O'Connor has his newest book out, Huntin and Fishing with the Old Man, I love the section on how we call fishing - farmin.

Short Stories

After the first book on Bear Hunting in Maine I have been working on a few others. One on how to serve in local rural politics, another Maine Professional Guide Manual, then Life on Alligator and a secret special one. However I have started posting short stories at www.registeredguide.blogspot.com, a link on this page. Hope you enjoy the reads. Lorin

MOMO

MOMO
I am pretty sure this is a Clifton term, as I have never heard it anywhere else. I also think Manny started the term. So what is a “MOMO”? Well a momo is just a word or term I would think, like look at that MOMO, or what a MOMO you are. You can also say hi MOMO. I have family members I call MOMO 1, MOMO2 and MOMO3, something’s depending on the action, your number changes. So I guess MOMO means doing something stupid, acting like an idiot, spilling your drink (your such a MOMO), goofing off (mud truck stuck in water) – what a MOMO. Or if you get all the fish – you’re such a momo. MOMO is not a swear word or a negative word per say, it’s just a word to describe something or someone, so take it in stride you MOMO.

The Results

The gang made it to camp, although we had to pull the old man back on the road four times, its mud season. Four trout were taken 8-12 inches long. The boy decided to check out the road and four hours later as darkness fell, jacks were still being deployed to get the truck back on to solid ground. The old man was not happy. Just another day in Maine

Jellison Hill and Alligator Lake

The Boys are Fishing! Dillion and group hit Alligator yesterday fishing off Bamfords Island. Weather was nice and pulled a few salmon through the ice, all within the slot limit however, so no keepers. Today the Old Man and Red has struck off to Jellison with the tracked rig. Hoping to get within them after Zach's Saturday School. Ice conditions along the shore are sketchy, but there was about a foot of ice off shore - just do regular checks before venturing out. Another good friend returned from Millinocket Lake yesterday, the ice was poor so all they got was a few perch, the old ice holes had openned up the size of cars. Lets be Careful out there folks.

Black Bear Info

Black Bear
by Craig McLaughlin
Wildlife Biologist

Physical Characteristics
The black bear is the smallest of the three species of bears inhabiting North America (black, brown/grizzly, and polar), has the widest distribution on the continent, and is the only bear living in the eastern United States. Black bears are found in most forested areas from Mexico north to the edge of the tree line in Canada and Alaska. Although most black bears are not much larger than humans, their weight can vary tremendously with the season of the year. Bears store body fat during the fall months to supply energy during their long winter denning period, and are heaviest in late fall.

Adult males average 250 - 600 pounds, and measure 5-6 feet from tip of nose to the tip of their tail. Females are smaller, weighing 100-400 pounds, and measuring 4-5 feet in length. Males stand about 40 inches tall at the shoulder; females seldom exceed 30 inches in height. Bears are compact, with stocky legs, small eyes, short, rounded ears, short curved claws, and a short, inconspicuous tail. The black bear has a straight facial profile and a massive skull. Black bears in Maine are normally black , but they are often various shades of brown to cream colored in western populations, and are even white, and blue-gray in color in coastal British Columbia and Alaska. They have a brown muzzle, and occasionally a white throat or chest patch or "blaze". Bears walk flat-footed, and their broad feet leave 5-toed tracks that sometimes resemble human footprints. Tracks of female bears rarely exceed 4.5 inches in width; males leave tracks up to 6 inches wide.

Natural History
Habitat.
Black bears require forests for protection and food. They are amazingly adaptable to human presence, and are able to survive in close proximity to housing developments and suburban areas wherever cover to escape cover exists.

Food habits.
Bears are opportunists, and feed on a wide range of vegetation and animal matter. They eat a variety of plant matter throughout the growing season, including early greening grasses, clover, and the buds of hardwood trees in the spring, fruits and berries in summer, and beechnuts, acorns, and hazelnuts in the fall. This diet is supplemented with insects, including ants and bees (their larvae, adults, and honey), and occasional mammals and birds. Bears are not considered efficient predators, but they are known to prey on young deer and moose in late spring, and will consume carrion. Bears are intelligent, and adapt rapidly to new food sources, including agricultural crops and food placed to attract other wildlife, such as bird feeders, and untended garbage. Therefore, they occasionally cause problems for farmers, beekeepers and orchardists, and rural residents in the State.

Reproduction.
Black bears breed from May through August, with most activity peaking in June and July. Adults are solitary, and during the summer months males travel over large areas to enhance their chances for encountering mates. Although males become sexually mature at 1-2 years of age, most do not participate in breeding until they have reached full adult size, at about 4-6 years in Maine.

Females in Maine become sexually mature at 3-5 years of age. Individual females have a 2-year reproductive cycle, which is related to their long period of parental care for cubs. Bears have a long gestation period, but most fetal development is delayed until the final 6-8 weeks. Breeding occurs in the summer, prior to the fall feeding period that provides the female with stored body fat to supply demands for fetal development and her survival during the winter. If a female is unable to store sufficient body fat, the pregnancy is terminated. Most fetal development occurs in early winter, after the female has entered a den, and 1-4 cubs are born inside the winter den during January - February. Cubs weight about 12 ounces at birth, and depend on their mother for warmth and nutrition during the remainder of the winter. They grow to 4-10 pounds by mid-late April, when the mother leads them away from the den. The family group remains together for 16-18 months, until the female reenters estrus and disperses her yearlings as another breeding season begins. In northern Maine, fluctuating beechnut crops have produced alternating years of high and low cub production, with most cubs being born on odd-numbered years. Cub production is more consistent in central Maine, where more stable fall food supplies result in nearly half of adult females giving birth each year.

Longevity.
Bears are long-lived animals, capable of surviving 30 years in the wild. Their survival increases as they mature. Nearly half of newborn cubs may die before reaching their first birthday, with starvation being a major cause of death. By the time bears in Maine reach 2 years of age their survival exceeds 90%, and nearly all deaths of adult bears are due to hunting or other man-related causes.

Movements.
Black bears lead solitary lives, except for breeding pairs,family groups comprised of adult females and their offspring, and occasional aggregations at concentrated food sources. Females use areas of 6-9 mi2 in Maine. They are sedentary and remain within or near the range of their mother for the duration of their lives. Males disperse long distances (often up to 100 miles) as subadults (1-4 years of age) prior to settling into adult ranges that may exceed 100 mi2. Bears often make trips up to 40 miles outside of their ranges to feed on berries or nuts (or occasionally to an orchard or field of oats or corn) in late summer or fall. When feeding on a concentrated food source, bears may use areas as small as several acres; when searching for dispersed food or mates, they can cover several miles in a day. Bears are active in late fall as long as food is plentiful. In years of abundant beechnut crops, they will feed until snow makes travel difficult, and normally enter dens in late November. If late fall food is scarce, bears usually enter dens by mid-October.

Hunting Tips
•Successful hunters know that the best places to locate bears are at food sources. Pre-season scouting increases your success rate. Look for tracks, droppings, broken stems or branches near seasonal food supplies.
•Always ask landowner permission before setting baits or starting hounds.
•Hunt near food sources that are "in season". Early in the fall, bears are found near clear cuts that produce berries; late in the fall, hunt near sources of beechnuts or acorns.
•Scent control is a must for successful hunting over bait. Wear rubber footwear, keep hunting clothing clean, and avoid wearing it in camp where foreign odors can be picked up. Do not smoke on stand. Use cover scent.
•Tree stands are dangerous. Secure yourself with a safety strap. Do not climb with a firearm or bow in your hand; instead, use a haul line after safely strapping yourself in.
•Practice with your weapon continuously to maintain proficiency. Bears must be hit solidly in the lungs or heart, rather small targets compared to a bear's large body size.
•Hunting with hounds is physically demanding. An exercise program will put you in shape to complete a hunt safely.

Historical Management in Maine
Population and Distribution Trends.
Historically, bears were found throughout the State. Following European settlement, bears were extirpated from the south-coastal section of Maine, from Portland north to Penobscot Bay as forests were cleared for farming. Soils were depleted and agriculture declined since the turn of the century, and forests have re-grown and are once again able to support bears. However, bears are slow to recolonize vacant habitat, and are still rare visitors to south-coastal Maine. Most of the State has remained a stronghold for black bears. Historical accounts suggest that population density fluctuated over the last century, but the State has always supported an abundant bear population. Interest in bear hunting increased in the 1970s, and the Department's Bear Study was established in 1975 to monitor population trends. The statewide population was estimated at 6,000-9,000 in 1979, and season restrictions were implemented to guard against over harvests. By 1984, improved information on bear densities yielded a revised statewide estimate of 18,000 bears. The 1985 population was estimated at 21,000 bears, but renewed interest in hunting and escalating harvests during the late 1980s reduced the population to 18,000 bears by 1989. Additional restrictions on hunting season length have increased bear survival during the 1990s, and the population increased to 22,000-23,000 bears in 1998.

Management Goals and Objectives
Wildlife Management Districts 1-23 and 25-281.
Goal: Provide hunting, trapping, and viewing opportunity for bears.

Objective 1: Stabilize the bear population by 2005 at no less than current (1999) levels, through annual hunting and trapping harvests.

Objective 2: Create information and education programs by 2002 that target specific audiences and promote traditional hunting and trapping methods as valid and preferred tools to manage black bear populations in Maine.

Objective 3: Create information and education programs by 2002 that target specific audiences and promote public tolerance of bears in Maine.

Wildlife Management District 29.
Goal: Provide hunting, trapping, and viewing opportunity for bears.

Objective 1: Increase the traditional hunting and trapping effort on bears within the existing season framework to reduce fawn mortality by 15% by (date - to be determined by IF&W).

Objective 2: Create information and education programs by 2002 that target specific audiences, and promote traditional hunting and trapping methods as valid and preferred tools to manage black bear populations in Maine.

Objective 3: Create information and education programs by 2002 that target specific audiences and promote public tolerance of bears in Maine.

1 Wildlife Management Districts 24 and 30 have high human populations and fragmented forests that are largely unsuitable as bear habitat. Consequently, the public working group did not develop goals and objectives for these districts.

Did you know...
Although they appear slow and lumbering, bears can run at speeds up to 35 miles per hours?

Bear cubs have blue eyes, which turn brown during their first summer?

Bears may remain in their dens for 5-6 months each year in Maine. During this time they do not eat, drink, urinate or defecate?

Union River

Will a trip to Tannery Loop Road in Amherst was in order yesterday. Water level is high and relatively ice free which would allow for some playing with canoe or kayak if you are brave enough to stand the cold, a dry suit might be in order. Also at teh site of the falls and old dam one should be careful of the few old rods remaining. Running the falls is a little tricky and there are some dips.

Roaming Dogs

Over the past few weeks we have had a problem with roaming dogs chasing the livestock, horses and calf. It started out as coyotes in the back pasture doing the chasing, but no shots were taken. Then I looked out last week and saw the coyote coming out of the woods in pursuit of the calf. The .308 with special varmit load (.55gr) was put into action. Just as I was about to dispatch the coyote, with pressure on the trigger I thought something wasn't right. I took the tension off the trigger and clapped my hands. With that the animal stopped and looked directly at me. Using the scope I could see this was a dog with coloring like a coyote. I fired a shot near the creature and it took off running. However that night and the next day they were back chasing the critters. By now there were several calls to the Animal Control and local Game Warden. Then I got a call from the ACO that two dogs matching my discription had attacke a lady in her driveway on the next road over. Then an hour later there was a report of two dead dogs on another road. Upon investigation by the ACO, it appears the dogs were at the end of a driveway. The ACO knocked on the door and the person claimed responsibiilty for the dogs - this person had been warned on at least two occasions regarding the dogs. In fact a few months earlier they had bitten another resident.

So I thought all was taken care of, that is until Sunday when the two dogs were back chasing the livestock. Monday morning they were back again, this time on fresh snow. More calls to the ACO. I put the gear together, including a shotgun, and started a track. I finaly caught up with the dogs, an older dog that had all it could to to walk and a mixed shepard. They would stop, but would not let me near them. I went door to door on Rt 180, Clewely Rd, Route 9, Mill Lane and Molly Road attempting to locate the owner. I had several folks tell me the dogs had been around for a while and were chasing deer and pets. I got back home upset that I could not find the owners, no collars on the dogs could be seen. Then the phone rang, it was a person on Rt 9 about a mile away reporting that she was out with her dog on a leash when suddenly these two dogs came out of the woods and started chasing her. They followed her back home, her husband went after the dogs, but they took off. Are these dropped off dogs or a person that goes to work and lets them run free. What ever is the case it is sad that they will get hit by a car or destroyed for something that the owners are responsible for. But damage to people or to livestock can not be allowed to continue. In fact it is clear from the tracks the dogs have been visiting the local deer yard, however I could not find any blood or injured deer at this time.

Road Conditions

Depending on your location you got between 4 to 8 inches of snow yesterday. Driving the back roads this morning, or at least attempting to drive said, one finds that frost is coming out and we are coming into mud season. Trout streams are looking good and many are ice free. Most beaver sets are pulled by now, but the smart trapper knows pelts are prime and water is open for channel sets and a good chance to get a few beaver, especially the big ones searching for fresh twigs. Most of the roads we travel in search of trout or coyotes belong to other landowners, extereme caution should be used when traveling, no landowner likes find deep ruts across their roads. Please be respectful