While there are plenty of outdoors pursuits to occupy our winter time, enthusiasts can also fulfill state requirements by taking a variety of safety courses during the cold months.

Among the courses being offered are safety sessions for hunters, snowmobilers, trappers, ATV riders, and bowhunters.

With completion of a safety course a requirement in some situations, the chilly winter season is a perfect time to spend some valuable time indoors, preparing for the seasons to come.

Some of the upcoming courses in northern and eastern Maine:

Snowmobile and ATV

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

At Dexter, Jan. 27-28 from 6-9 p.m. at Dexter High School.

At Corinna, Feb. 18, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the middle school.

At Dixmont, March 4, 6, 11, 13 from 3-5 p.m. at the Etna/Dixmont School.

At Corinth, March 17-18 from 6-9 p.m. at the Central Middle School.

Boating Safety

At Dixmont, March 4, 6, 11, 13 from 3-5 p.m. at Etna/Dixmont School.

Trapping

At Howland, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Penobscot Valley High School.

At Bangor, Feb. 3, 4, 5 from 6-9:30 p.m., at United Technology Center.

Turkey applications available

Hunters looking to capitalize on the opportunity to hunt wild turkeys in Maine next year may want to start planning now.

Applications for the 12,000 turkey permits are available, and must be filled in and mailed by Jan. 15.

The permits will be awarded by random drawing in mid-February, and 6,000 hunters will be assigned to one of two seasons.

Season A runs April 28-May 3 and May 19-24, while Season B runs May 5-10 and May 12-17. All hunters can hunt during the fifth week of the season, May 26-31.

Last year, nearly 26,000 hunters applied for the 9,000 available permits, and 3,391 turkeys were killed during the spring season – a 38 percent success rate.

Just five years ago, there were only 1,750 permits available, but thanks to a trap-and-transfer program conducted by Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists, a flock that started as 41 birds in York County now numbers more than 17,000 and has spread through 15 of Maine’s 16 counties.

Eager fishermen can start now

While the “statewide” date for the start of ice fishing isn’t until Jan. 1 (regulations on each pond may differ), there are plenty of opportunities already available for eager fishermen and women.

In most cases, December fishing is confined to species that don’t include salmon, trout, togue, and bass.

The state allows fishing on many warm-water ponds as soon as the ice is safe, and thanks to a recent cold snap, there are plenty of places that are fishable already.

Hundreds of local ponds that are fishable in December (remember to check the ice yourself before venturing onto these waters, and check your DIFW law book to check on this year’s rules):

Penobscot County (90 lakes, ponds and rivers are open already, including): Patten Pond in Newburgh, Mower Pond in Corinna, Chemo Pond in Clifton, Garland Pond in Garland, Hermon Pond in Hermon, Swetts Pond in Orrington, and Pickerel Pond in Alton.

Piscataquis County: (25 lakes, ponds, and rivers, including): Abbee Pond in Brownville, Boyd Lake in Orneville, Dunham Pond in Dover-Foxcroft, Eighteen Pond in Monson, Greenleaf Pond in Abbot, Harrriman Pond in Sebec, Jacquith Pond in Brownville, and Marr Pond in Sangerville.

Aroostook County: (24 lakes, ponds, and rivers, including): Bracket Lake in Weston, Green Pond in New Limerick, Longley Lake in Orient, Mud Pond in Oakfield, Reed Pond in Macwahoc, and Wytopitlock Lake in Glenwood.

Hancock County: (60 lakes, ponds, and rivers, including): Alamoosook Lake in Orland, Duck Pond in Franklin, Fourth Pond in Blue Hill, Great Pond in Franklin, Hamilton Lake in Bar Harbor, Hurd Pond in Dedham, Leonard Lake in Ellsworth, and Somes Pond in Mount Desert.

Washington County: (66 lakes, ponds, and rivers, including): Beaver Lake in Calais, Beddington Lake in Beddington, Upper and Lower Cranberry lakes in Township 30, Hadley Lake in East Machias, First, Second, Third, and Fourth Machias Lakes, Otter Lake in Wesley, and Simon Lake in Codyville.

Waldo County: (38 lakes, ponds, and rivers, including): Bear Pond in Palermo, Lawry Pond in Belmont, McClure Pond in Searsport, Northern Pond in Monroe, Tilden Pond in Belmont, and True’s Pond in Liberty.

Knox County: (20 lakes, ponds, and rivers, including): Fish Pond in Hope, Howard Pond in St. George, Johnson Pond in Appleton, Maces Pond in Rockport, Mud Pond in Union, and South Pond in Warren.

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.