Sportsmen and women from across the state will head to the Elks Lodge in Augusta on Dec. 5 for the 9th annual Sportsman’s Congress.

The Sportsman’s Congress, which is sponsored and organized by the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, is open to the public and is free. A fee of $10 is charged for an optional lunch, and reservations for the Congress and the lunch should be made by contacting the SAM office at 622-5503 or by e-mail at members@samcef.org.

The event draws sportsmen from the state’s fish and game clubs and other outdoor organizations, who take the information back to the members of their clubs and organizations.

Staff from the state’s conservation agencies also participate, as do legislators and members of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Advisory Council.

At last year’s Sportsman’s Congress, Gov. Angus King delivered his final address to the Congress and Gov.-elect John Baldacci delivered his first speech to the gathering, providing attendees with an excellent view of the transition to the new administration.

Baldacci Administration officials will be prominent at this year’s Congress as well.

Many hunting and fishing issues will be explored at this year’s event, and panelists from state agencies and sportsman’s groups will be utilized. Hunting topics always include bear, deer and moose issues, and turkeys receive more attention each year.

Bear will be a hot topic this year with the expectation that an initiative to ban the hunting of bears with bait and dogs, and to also ban trapping of bears, will be on the ballot next November.

ATV issues will also be a focus of the Congress this year following the recent release of recommendations from the governor’s ATV Task Force.

An expansive list of fishing projects and issues will also be discussed, including DIF&W commissioner Dan Martin’s plan to implement 62 recommendations offered by a professional outside assessment of the DIF&W’s fisheries division, an epidemic of illegal fish stocking of exotic species, and SAM’s classic landlocked salmon initiative.

An outside assessment of the rest of DIF&W’s divisions began in November, and those who attend the Congress will receive a report on that important process and where it might lead.

A preview of the bills expected in the next legislative session will be offered, including Rep. Monica McGlocklin’s Sunday hunting bill, which recently won Gov. Baldacci’s endorsement.

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

The Congress is conducted from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and seating is limited.

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