One fatality is cause enough for hunters to stop and think

Admittedly, I’ve been holding my breath in the hope that the 1994 deer season would end without a hunting-related fatality. As the season entered its final week with only a few minor incidents reported, I crossed my fingers, hoped harder, prayed, and purposely didn’t write anything about the wonderfully quiet fatality-free hunt that was nearing the end of its trail.

On Tuesday afternoon, however, tragedy struck when Alan Wood, 46, of North Vassalboro, was shot and killed while goose hunting on Sandy Pond in Freedom. Wood and his two hunting partners, Randy Fredette, 51, and his son, Kevin Fredette, 30, both of Winslow, were in a canoe when the incident occurred.

According to Paul Fournier, media coordinator for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, homicide has been ruled out in the investigation conducted by game wardens of Division B headquarters in Sidney. Fournier also said Randy and Kevin Fredette were not involved in the firing of the fatal shot, which, apparently, was fired from woods surrounding the pond. An autopsy is being performed to identify the type of weapon used.

I hope and pray now that the investigation, which will be turned over to the attorney general’s office, reveals that the hunting-related shooting that took Alan Wood’s life was not a case of mistaken identity. Because state law does not require waterfowl hunters to wear blaze-orange clothing, the highly visible color was not displayed by Wood or his hunting partners.

In referring to his recent retirement as Chief Warden of the Maine Warden Service, Herbert “Bill” Vernon of Brewer said: “I never had a bad day with the department.” That’s quite a statement considering Bill spent 36 years behind his badge. “It’s a great outfit,” he said, “and it turns out some great people.”

Bill began his career in 1958, serving as a deputy warden in Washington County. “The next spring,” he recalled, “I was transferred up to Daaquam, where I spent two years patrolling the Quebec border. In ’61 I went to the Fish River Chain, in Sinclair, and in ’62 I was promoted to Inspector, which is the rank of warden sergeant now. When Curtis Cooper retired in ’72, I became a lieutenant and warden supervisor in the northern district – all of Aroostook and northern Somerset and Piscataquis counties.”

In 1986, Bill took the trail to Division C’s Bangor headquarters, where he supervised wardens stationed in Penobscot, Hancock, and Washington counties. Two years later he was promoted to the rank of major and transferred to Augusta where he served as deputy chief warden. He became chief warden in 1991.

“We went through some tough times a few years ago,” said Bill, referring to the state budget crisis. “But the department came out all right. We avoided the attempt to consolidate the department with some other agencies, got our money protected, bought some new vehicles and put on a batch of new wardens to boot. We did all right.”

I want to say that during all that political wrangling, Bill kept me informed about what was taking place in the Legislature and how the warden service was faring. When I told him I appreciated his cooperation he replied, “Well, I did what I could without getting my butt kicked.”

Referring to the number of recently retired wardens, he said: “You can’t replace that experience, that’s for sure; but you don’t want to sell the young blood short, either. Young wardens put new energy into the ranks and that’s valuable too.” When asked who he thought would replace him, the retired chief warden replied: “I’d say it’s a toss up between Parker Tripp and Nat Berry.”

If you have a reputation for never missing a meal in a hunting or fishing camp, surely you won’t want to miss the Maine Air National Guard’s 34th Annual Sportsman’s Supper on Dec. 8. In this case, the camp is the dining facility at the Air Guard’s Bangor base. You can solve all of Maine’s outdoors-related problems during the 6 p.m. social hour but don’t be caught talking when the dinner bell rings an hour later.

The menu includes: choice sirloin steak, Maine baked potato, chef’s salad with Argyle sauce, vegetables, rolls, and log drive coffee, which means it will float an axe. To reserve a place, take $12 from the egg money and contact the Air Guard’s “head guide,” Col. Mike Bassi, at 990-7335. No tickets will be sold after Dec. 6.

Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day – if you hunt, keep safety and responsibility squarely in your sights.