The general feeling among sportsmen at a legislative hearing Wednesday in Presque Isle on a license fee increase was “if you raise our fees, we want more.”

Here are some of the things they asked for during the meeting, which was attended by five head officials of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:

. Programs for children. Registered Maine Guide Barry Flood of Washburn said if youth are not introduced to hunting and fishing they will be more apt to “play arcade games or sell pot on the corner.”

. Helping maintain snowmobile trails. Dave Cambridge of Chapman said the network of trails through northern Maine is cared for by volunteers, but the ever-increasing winter traffic on the trails requires more funding.

. More game wardens. More than a few sportsmen said game wardens do a good job, but their work is more detailed today than what it once was.

“I think other agencies need to help. There is a strain on the warden service,” said John Graves of Presque Isle. “They are getting further away from their original responsibilities.”

. More trail enforcement of snowmobiles and ATVs. Rep. Matt Dunlap, D-Old Town, replied to one sport who asked for help in this area, saying, “I know there is a lot of conflict with ATVs and potato farmers. There, you need to direct money into landowner relations.”

New fish in Chamberlain Lake

Trap netting on Chamberlain Lake this fall by DIF&W biologists revealed a new fish in the lake: the banded killifish.

Regional biologist Paul Johnson said the fish is not native to the 11,000-acre cold water fishery and that before it was found, smelts were believed to be the only exotic in the lake on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

“My guess, and I can’t prove it, but my professional judgement is that the killifish was introduced when someone unintentionally dumped a bait pail,” Johnson said. “Is that bad? No, not really. But it points out the danger of live bait.”

The small fish would be a problem in a small trout pond where few species are welcomed, Johnson noted.

“If it had been yellow perch, I’d be livid. It’s an addition that changes the ecology of the lake. It is unnatural. I don’t want to condone it, either,” he said.

Lake white fish disappearing

Trap netting in Eagle Lake over the course of a 30-year period has shown DIF&W fisheries biologists in Aroostook County that the white fish is fading fast there.

DIF&W regional biologist David Basley said that in 1969, the winter catch rate of lake white fish was 1.45 fish per angler. He said that dropped to .08 in 1997 and to .04 in 1999.

“So, it’s our hope that we have a white fish hatchery soon,” Basley said with some sarcasm to a gathering of biologists at a division meeting this week in Waterville.

“I’m very discouraged about the lake white fish unless we see a difference this winter. For all intents and purposes, the lake white fish there is gone.”

Patience and more patience pays

All fall, hunters complained about not seeing signs of deer – no tracks, no droppings. Even when the rut, the whitetails’ mating season, had begun, they said this year there were fewer fresh scraps, the bucks’ calling card for does.

All fall, biologists told sportsmen patience would pay off if they waited for the rut in the last weeks of November. And so it did for Teresa England.

England, a hunter for more than 20 years, was out every Friday and Saturday in Dedham stalking whitetails – without seeing one deer. But she persisted, having shot her first deer just two years ago, when she took a 10-point buck.

Then Saturday, the last day of the regular firearms season, she had another chance when a 10-point buck stepped into view 50 yards away. England shot, but was doubtful she hit it, so she fired her .30-30 four more times.

She still thought she missed.

“It didn’t flag or bolt. It went 180 degrees and then went up a hill,” said England, a physical education instructor at Washington and State Street schools in Brewer. “He was in the rut, all right. He was on the scent of does.”

Despite her doubts, England spent four hours looking for the buck with her 18-year-old son, James. Then they found a clue.

“We found one leaf with a drop of blood on it. I got the liver, so there was no exit wound. It was bleeding internally,” England said. “I thank God for that one drop of blood. It bothers me to think the way I reacted, like it wasn’t shot.”

England back tracked several times and finally found the buck 200 yards from where she shot it.

Local dog trainer earns title

Local dog trainer Lloyd D. Williams of Bear Brook Kennels in Brewer earned Level I certification through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers, the first national certification for dog trainers.

There are just 136 Certified Pet Dog Trainers in the United States and Canada.

Many schools teach dog trainers and offer certification, but the testing process is not standardized.

The Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers is a true certification. It held its first test Sept. 28 in Ellenville, N.Y., at a test site professionally secured and moderated by the Professional Testing Corporation of New York.

All CCPDT certified trainers must earn continuing education credits or take the exam every three years to keep their title.

Tree cutting allowed for free

The Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge invites families to cut their Christmas trees on either of two divisions of the refuge. A permit is required, but it’s free.

Each family may cut up to two trees. Visitors must have permits in their possession while cutting and moving trees.

No trees may be cut in the National Wildlife Areas of the refuge. And tipping or gathering of evergreen boughs is prohibited.

Permits are available at refuge headquarters. Call 454-7161.

Deirdre Fleming’s Outdoor Notebook appears every Saturday. She can be reached at 990-8250 or at dfleming@bangordailynews.net.