Each year for the past seven, sportsmen and political leaders have shared center stage at an event that serves to illuminate plenty of issues affecting Maine’s outdoor community.

That event – the Sportsman’s Congress – returns for its eighth edition on Dec. 6, with a daylong program that should prove informative.

The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine organizes the Sportsman’s Congress, which draws leaders from many of the state’s fish and game clubs, who are encouraged to take the information back to their clubs and organizations.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and will be held at the Elks Lodge in Augusta. Attendance is free, but a fee is charged for an optional lunch. Reservations are suggested, and can be made by contacting SAM at members@samcef.org, or by calling 622-5503.

Among the highlights of this year’s program: Attendees will get a first-hand look at the transition from the King administration to the Baldacci administration, and what that may mean for Maine sportsmen.

Both Gov. Angus King and Gov.-elect John Baldacci will address the Sportsman’s Congress.

King will address the throng at 10:30 a.m. and will reflect on the accomplishments of his administration. He will also offer some advice to sportsmen.

Baldacci will be the keynote speaker at the noontime luncheon, and is expected to outline his priorities for sportsmen. He may also announce some members of his administration who will serve in key roles concerning outdoor issues and agencies.

Panelists from state agencies and sportsmen’s interest groups will explore many hunting and fishing issues. Organizers say hunting topics including bear, deer, moose and turkey get more attention each year, and expect ATV issues to be a hot topic this year.

Also, an expansive list of fishing projects will be discussed, including the final recommendation of Maine’s Hatchery Commission, the plan for using the $7 million hatchery bond issue, an outside professional assessment being conducted of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s fisheries division, and the DIF&W’s new fish species management plan. Also, SAM’s classic landlocked salmon initiative will be discussed.

The Sportsman’s Congress will also present a preview of bills expected in the next legislative session, including SAM’s major initiative to simplify hunting laws and rules.

George Smith, SAM’s executive director, and Don Kleiner, DIF&W’s director of information and education, will moderate the day’s discussions.

Informal booths hosted by state agencies and sportsmen’s publications and groups will also be available.

It’s not too early to talk turkey

People looking to take advantage of the state’s popular permit-based turkey hunt in 2003 might want to start planning ahead.

The deadline for applying for one of those 12,000 permits is Jan. 15.

Next year’s spring turkey season is divided into five weeks: April 28-May 3 and May 19-24 in Season A; May 5-10 and May 12-17 in Season B; and May 26-May 31 for all permit holders.

Permit-holders will be randomly selected by computer in mid-February.

Prospective turkey hunters are not required to have a hunting license to apply for a permit, but must hold a license in order to buy the necessary turkey permit if drawn.

The application fee is $5, and lucky applicants will be charged $10 (resident) or $40 (non-resident) for their turkey permit if their name is drawn.

More information is available on DIF&W’s Web site: www.state.me/us/ifw.

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.