The flock of 75 or so duck hunters that settled into the Augusta Civic Center Tuesday evening to gabble about the 1998 waterfowl season proposals was uncommonly quiet. And for good reason. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife offered a 51-day duck season in both zones: North Zone, Oct. 1-Nov. 28, South Zone, split season, Oct. 1-17, Nov 9-Dec. 19; daily limit four, possession limit eight. Except black duck season, which begins Oct. 10 in both zones; daily limit one, possession limit two.

Wildlife biologist Pat Corr said the proposals were among the most liberal ever offered in Maine’s long waterfowl-hunting history. Small wonder, then, that subsequent to the public hearing, the seasons listed herein were approved by the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council. The seasons and bag limits for other waterfowl remain as advertised earlier.

Adding to the “limits” taken at the annual public hearing was announcement that Maine would have a regular migratory Canada goose season this year. In 1995, owing to a decline in Canada goose production on northern-Quebec breeding grounds, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implemented an Atlantic Flyway moratorium on migratory Canada goose hunting. Studies show, however, that most of the Canada geese migrating through New England states originate in the Maritime Provinces.

Hence, Maine gunners will have a regular 40-day migratory Canada goose season: North Zone, Oct. 1-Nov. 16; South Zone, Oct. 10-Nov. 25; daily limit two, possession limit four. The special “resident goose” season, Sept. 8-25, daily limit three, possession limit six, will not be affected by the regular season.

Special Falconry Season: North Zone, Nov. 30-Feb. 2; South Zone, Dec. 25-Feb. 27. Woodcock: Oct. 6-Nov. 4, daily limit three, possession limit six.

Sea-ducks: Oct. 1-Jan 20, daily limit seven, possession limit 14; except scoters, daily limit four, possession limit eight. No action will be taken this year on a proposal to reduce the daily limit of eider ducks to five. Although a ground swell of support for the proposal is running among sea-duck guides and hunters, there was a ripple of opposition to it at the hearing.

In promoting the proposal, wildlife biologist Brad Allen narrated a slide presentation on the history of eider ducks on Maine’s coast, life cycle and management of the species, contagious diseases, predation and utilization of hunter harvest. Allen says that, although Maine’s eider population is healthy, there is evidence that the ducks are being stressed by the predation of black-backed gulls and increasing interest in sea-duck hunting. Regarding the latter, the issue of harvest utilization is real and aims directly at hunter ethics. That picture, of course, is colored by the long-standing stigma that sea ducks are poor tablefare. Simply put, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Because the proof of the pudding is in the eating, I offer the following recipe called Sea Duck Jerome: Cut several eider breasts into strips and marinate in buttermilk for 48 hours. Melt one-quarter pound of butter in a large pan, add three tablespoons of red currant jelly, the juice of half a lemon, one teaspoon of dry mustard, one cup of bourbon.

Bring the mixture to a hard boil, add meat, reduce heat and simmer about three minutes. Serve over wild rice. Try it and I guarantee you won’t regret boiling your bourbon.

Considering that an estimated 40,000 eider ducks are shot annually on the coasts of Maine and Massachusetts, the message is clear: it’s time to start protecting that priceless resource. This year, Nova Scotia reduced the daily limit of eider ducks to five.

Speaking of tablefare, set your sights on Sept. 26. That’s the date of the March of Dimes Wild Game Dinner. The fund-raising event, sponsored by the Black Bear Inn, WVII-Channel 7 and 104.7-FM The Bear, will be held at the Black Bear Inn on Stillwater Avenue in Orono. Beginning at 5 p.m., you can wet your whistle at the “Prime Time” cash bar, the dinner bell will ring an hour later.

Judging from the menu, if you plan on pulling up a chair under the tent provided by the Maine Air National Guard, you’ll do well to pass up lunch that day. Take your pick: Baked beans, potato salad, corn on the cob; poached salmon with dill sauce; bear stew; venison tenderloin; honey-glazed wild turkey; top round of buffalo. For dessert: mince meat pie, blueberry pie and, of course, coffee and soft drinks.

In addition to cutting a swath through that belly timber, a $50 ticket includes a chance at bagging valuable door prizes including bear hunting at Break Neck Mountain Guide Service in Alexander and a limited edition sporting-art print. Tickets are available at Van Raymond Outfitters, South Brewer, or by contacting the March of Dimes office, 989-3376.

Not surprisingly, RESTORE: The North Woods, the environmentalist outfit aiming to turn Maine into a national park, is eyeballing the Bowater and Sappi lands up for sale. Accordingly, in a recent fax released by Jym St. Pierre, director of RESTORE’s Maine office, the lands were described as “World Class Landscapes Ripe for the Plucking.”

When is that outfit and others of its ilk going to realize that Maine is and always has been a national park? And when are they going to get the message that Mainers, who cherish their outdoors traditions, cultures and heritage, don’t need or want outfits from away dictating and directing their lives?

Tom Hennessey’s column can be accessed on the BDN Internet page at www.bangornews.com.