Moose, bruin permits voted out DIF&W bill to increase hunting licensing fees to be considered Monday

Three hunting bills that were carried over from the last legislative session have been voted out of committee with little enthusiasm. One of them would have limited opportunities in the moose hunt, while a second would have increased them. A third would have created a second bear permit to hunt bruins during deer season, outside the regular bear season.

The Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife voted unanimously ought-not-to-pass on LD 761, which would have created the new bear permit. Right now, during firearms season on deer, a person may legally take a bear with a regular hunting license, without having to purchase the $5 bear hunting permit that is required during the general hunting season on bruins.

However, the additional permit still remains a possibility. A $25 resident bear permit and a $100 nonresident permit is a part of a DIF&W bill to increase license fees, which will be heard Monday at 9 a.m. in Room 209 of the State Office Building.

A bill looking to increase opportunities in the moose lottery was voted out of committee 11-2 ought-not-to-pass.

And the committee voted 8-5 ought-not-to-pass for LD 52, which would have limited the number of chances a person had in the moose lottery from five to one, to help poorer people get a permit without undue expense.

Anglers wanted

For decades biologists around the state have relied on fishermen to help them manage fisheries. They query anglers in person during ice fishing season. But DIF&W biologist Paul Johnson said the most effective tools are the journals kept by volunteers.

Each year, Johnson and Scott Roy interview anglers out on the ice, but they can only survey a few waters in their region, which has 57 lakes and ponds, totaling 165,366 acres.

Johnson said this information provides the basis for them to evaluate each fishery and to determine the success of stocking and the effectiveness of fishing regulations.

“It’s terribly useful,” Johnson said. “We don’t get around on snowmobiles as much as we used to. And we have a vacant position now.”

Johnson said that in the Moosehead Lake region, anglers keep booklets on their fishing on 27 regional lakes and ponds, but there are 30 more waters in the region open to ice fishing and the biologists need more information about those waters.

Anglers who are willing to record information on the number of outings, the total catch of fish (both kept and released), and the size of each fish, should contact Johnson and Roy in Greenville at 695-3756, or scott.roy@state.me.us or paul.johnson@state.me.us.

NBA star promotes youth hunting

Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz is working with the Mule Deer Foundation to offer a mule deer hunting experience for 30 lucky youngsters.

Youth ages 14-19 who enter their name in the Karl Malone Youth Conservation Initiative will be eligible for a hunt complete with license/permit fees, guide fees, lodging and travel expenses up to $1,000 for each participant.

The NBA’s “Mailman” has offered to deliver a quality hunt by picking up the expenses for 30 youth.

The Initiative offers hunts for bull elk, mule deer, mountain lion, wild turkey, black bear, antelope, pheasants, and waterfowl.

Applications for the drawing must be received by April 15 and can be obtained by calling the Mule Deer Foundation at 888-375-DEER.

Deirdre Fleming covers outdoor sports and recreation for the NEWS. She can be reached at 990-8250 or at dfleming@bangordailynews.net.