On May 8, a group of outdoors enthusiasts met in Augusta to form a state chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America.

The group, which supports a diverse range of outdoor interests within its membership, believes in finding common ground within the extensive variety of outdoors-people in Maine.

The Izaak Walton League is not a single-issue group, and its programs focus on natural resources advocacy through state and federal legislation, outdoor ethics, community sustainability, energy efficiency and sustainable agricultural practices.

The Maine chapter has announced its three programmatic focuses for this year: outdoor ethics, wildlife conservation and stream restoration.

To address outdoor ethics, the chapter will develop a slide and video presentation and display on ethics that can be presented or loaned to outdoor organizations throughout the state. The chapter will also work with organizations and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to develop a Master Hunter program for Maine with the goal of increasing hunter knowledge, improving landowner-sportsman relations, and expanding hunting opportunities or hunter access to private lands.

Through its “Save our Streams” program, the IWLA will continue to emphasize practical stream water quality monitoring techniques. The program also promotes local wetland stewardship activities as well as raising public awareness about the importance of wetlands.

The chapter assisted in a survey of the Sunday River in June and will be surveying the South Branch of the Dead River later this month. In time the chapter plans to “adopt” streams throughout the state to survey, monitor and help restore when necessary.

Within the chapter’s membership are experts in wildlife management and the outdoors who will share the knowledge in the form of presentations to the general public.

Upcoming membership events:

. Aug. 22-24, a Northern Maine membership and informational meeting and social event at McNally’s Camps in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

. Sept. 12-14, a similar event at Spencer Pond Camps near Greenville.

. Oct. 5, an honorary charter and annual chapter meeting, with elections. This event will include a skeet shoot and family barbecue. Paul Hansen, the executive director of the Izaak Walton League will speak.

For more information or to become a member of the Maine Chapter, contact Debra Davidson, The Maine Chapter, IWLA, PO Box 253, Kents Hill, Maine, 04349. You can e-mail her at mewolf@megalink.net, or call her at 897-2437.

Trapping, bowhunting classes set

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in conjunction with various local organizations, offers safety courses in a variety of outdoor pursuits. Many of the courses are mandatory before an individual may be licensed to participate in a particular form of outdoor recreation.

The following bowhunting and trapping courses are scheduled:

Trapping

In New Sweden, Aug. 9 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Jerry’s Furs;

In Guilford, Aug. 30 at Piscataquis Community High School (Call Woody Thompson at 876-3497 for time);

Bowhunting

In Newport, July 21-23, 6-9:30 p.m. at Nokomis High adult education;

In Mattawamkeag, July 26-27 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., at the VFW Hall on Route 157;

In Brewer, Aug. 16 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Aug. 17 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Penobscot County Conservation Association;

In Dexter, Aug. 25-27 from 6-9:30 p.m. at Dexter High School;

In Skowhegan, Aug. 16 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., at the American Legion Post on Route 201;

In Northport, Aug. 9-10 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Outdoor Sportsman;

In Calais, July 26 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Washington County Vocational Technical Institute;

In Bucksport, Aug. 1 from 6-9 p.m. and Aug. 2 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Bucksmills Rod & Gun Club.

For more information on any of these classes, check the DIFW Web site at www.mefishwildlife.com.

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.