1994 writers’ conference requires planning, hard work

If you think there are a lot of loose ends and unexpected snags in planning a hunting or fishing trip, you should be part of the organizational committee putting together the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s annual conference scheduled to be held at the University of Maine in June 1994.

The presentation made by the committee representing Maine at the OWAA’s 1991 conference held at Niagara Falls, N.Y., was impressive enough to bring the event to Orono next year. Needless to say, the competition was of the highest caliber. Aside from providing its host state with publicity worth hundreds of thousands of dollars – 1,000 or more writers usually attend – the OWAA conference also results in a healthy boost to state and local economies.

There you have yet another example of the worth of Maine’s natural resources – in this case fisheries and wildlife – which, in fact, are the state’s economic base.

Obviously, it took a lot of accurate casting to lure the OWAA’s conference committee away from other attractive eastern states such as Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. The problem now facing the Maine committee is to net a program of activities that will provide the outdoor writers attending the ’94 conference with memorable experiences that will inspire stories promoting the state’s outdoor recreations.

Hooked with that responsibility are the committees forming the organizational structure for the conference, including: host coordinating committee, Bill Vail chairman, Les Stevens vice chairman; pre-conference and post-conference trip subcommittee, Harry Vanderweide, chairman; dinner and pre-event subcommittee, Nat Bowditch chairman; public relations subcommittee, Charlie Conley chairman; site subcommittee, Bruce Stinson chairman; breakout day subcommittee, Wiggie Robinson chairman; press room subcommittee, Tom Schoener chairman.

A cast has been made in my direction regarding chairmanship of the program subcommittee, but my trails lead in so many directions now that I would be less than circumspect in accepting that responsibility. I will, however, be happy to publicize the conference, provide artwork for the program, and assist in any other way possible.

Not surprisingly, it will take some serious fishing to land a chairman for the funding subcommittee. As you can imagine, a mound of money will be needed to put together just the pre-event social function and the host dinner and reception, let alone the rest of the week’s activities. Always, though, whether planning a trip or any other venture, it’s the incidentals – the unforeseen “other costs” – that often lead to another “home-improvement” loan.

There are people in this neck of the woods, however, who have expertise in raising funds for organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and other conservation agencies. If any of them are willing to donate their experience and time to an outdoor-related event that is of major importance to Maine, they will be more than appreciated. Any takers can contact me at 862-3504 or Les Stevens at 947-5205.

Warden Sergeant Tim Liscomb of Division E reports fishing at East Grand Lake has been productive this winter. He said he has checked quite a few salmon that didn’t require the use of a measuring tape, but also saw a lot of smaller fish in the 15- to 16-inch category. Also, many fish just shy of the 14-inch length limit are putting dents in fishermen’s bait supplies. Liscomb said fishing pressure on the lake was heavy on the weekends, but surprisingly light during the week.

I imagine the absence of snow and the restricted use of snowmobiles has cut into ice fishing activity this winter. Regarding the lack of snow, I heard that a combination store and filling station in the Medway area had lost about $30,000 worth of snowmobile-related trade this winter. That hurts.

Deer, of course, are unrestricted in their foraging for winter fare. Accordingly, Warden Liscomb reported a deer recently was shot by a night hunter while feeding beneath an apple tree alongside a road. Deer have a tough time of it, don’t they? Even during an easy winter.

Speaking of poachers, in its year-ending survey, one of the questions put forth by Sportsmen’s Soundings, an opinion poll published six times a year, was: Do you believe convicted poachers should lose their licenses for life? Out of 167 responses, 45 percent favored lifetime revocation of licenses, 53 percent were opposed.

Personally, I think stiffer fines and confiscation of all equipment involved, including vehicles, would get a poacher’s attention quicker than taking away his or her right to hunt legally. Chances are they wouldn’t miss at all the weight of a license in their wallets, but they’d be mighty off balance without the ballast of that green paper.

What’s your opinion?

Backcast: In Tuesday’s column warning about recent rains opening pressure ridges on West Grand Lake, I was remiss in not clarifying that ice fishing wasn’t legal at West Grand until Feb. 1. The statistics regarding whitefish taken at Junior Bay related to last year. My apologies if that oversight caused you any inconvenience.