Much of the time, hunters and fishermen only find out about regulations that affect them when they head to the town office, buy a license, and scan the new law book when they get home.

Sometimes, the reaction to the new laws they find is positive. Other times, it’s surprise. And sometimes, sportsmen vehemently disagree with a new regulation and gripe about it.

Though many sportsmen don’t realize it, the state is required to solicit response to sporting law changes through its “rule-making” format.

Public hearings, you see, are required.

And even if an issue isn’t particularly controversial, the process allows curious hunters and fishermen the opportunity to listen and learn as a new rule is being debated.

On Nov. 25, state wildlife officials will hold a public hearing dealing with proposed changes to the moose hunt in 2003. The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife office building on State Street in Augusta.

Anyone who has an opinion on the matter – pro or con – may want to attend.

In short, the proposed new regulation has two components: First, the old “any-moose” and “bulls-only” permit system will be scrapped.

In its place will be a system in which hunters are assigned to hunt for either antlerless or bulls. In the past, many any-moose permit holders opted for bulls, but others shot cows. State wildlife officials have said that the new system would make it easier to manage the herd because they could more precisely predetermine the number of females that would be killed during the hunt.

The second component: The total number of moose permits will be reduced to 2,555 from 3,000. In all, 2,045 bull permits would be issued, along with 510 antlerless permits.

In seven of the 18 wildlife management districts that will be open for hunting, no antlerless permits would be issued. Those districts are 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 14.Anecdotal evidence has suggested that the moose herd may be declining.

One of the state’s own moose experts told an October Bucksport sportsmen’s forum that the moose herd certainly doesn’t seem to be growing, and may in fact be declining.

Those factors have contributed to the proposed reduction in permits for next season.

Snowmobile safety courses set

This week’s snowstorms probably made a lot of snowmobilers start thinking about getting ready for the winter. It’s not too early to begin planning to be a safer rider.

The state sponsors affordable safety courses for snowmobilers and ATV riders – many courses are combination classes dealing with both kinds of machines – at various locations, and several of those are coming up.

Among the courses scheduled:

. At Hermon, combination class on Nov. 18-19 from 6-9 p.m. at the high school.

. At Alton, combination class on Jan. 25 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the school next to town hall.

. At Dexter, a combination class on Jan. 27-28 from 6-9 p.m. at the high school.

. At Greenville, a combination class on Dec. 2-3 from 6-9 p.m. at the high school.

Deer tracks

A few tidbits compiled by the state that Maine’s deer hunters may find interesting:

. In 2001, deer hunters enjoyed a 16.3 percent success rate. Moose hunters were successful 85 percent of the time, while turkey hunters had a 41 percent success rate.

. State officials estimate Maine’s deer herd at 241,000, and hunters killed 27,769 a year ago. That number was down from 35,750 in 2000.

. Mainers registered 88 percent of the deer tagged in 2001. Of the deer tagged in the various seasons (firearms, two archery seasons, and muzzleloading), 89 percent of the deer tagged were taken during the four-week firearms season.

. Hunters lucky enough to hold an any-deer permit were successful 27 percent of the time, while bucks-only hunters posted only a 10 percent success rate.

. In some parts of northern Maine, there is a wintering population as low as two deer per square mile. Generally, the northern and eastern Wildlife Management Districts average fewer than eight deer per square mile. By contrast, central and southern Maine WMDs tend to hold between 15 and 30 deer per square mile.

In some coastal sections of Maine where hunting access is restricted or denied, the average is between 30 and 100 deer per square mile.

. This year 76,989 any-deer permits were issued – the most since the any-deer permit system was adopted in 1986.

. The peak breeding time for deer in Maine is the third week of November, which is consistent with peak-breeding times from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas.

To submit an item for publication in the Outdoor Notebook, send e-mail to jholyoke@bangordailynews.net, fax to 990-8092 or mail information to Outdoor Notebook, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor, Maine, 04402-1329.