A few weeks ago organizers announced an ambitious environmental plan for the Penobscot River.

The Penobscot River Restoration project will eliminate dams, improve fish habitat, and allow spawning opportunities in sections of the watershed that have been impassable.

Lou Horvath, who is a leader of two local river clubs, announced this week that the first public informational meeting related to the project is on tap Monday.

The meeting will be held from 7-9 p.m. at the Orono Town Council chambers.

The meeting will provide an opportunity to hear more details of the project and to ask any questions you may have.

A key component of the project will be fund raising, and people will undoubtedly find out how their help can aid the restoration of the Penobscot.

Penobscot Fly Fishers to meet

The Penobscot Fly Fishers will hold their holiday meeting on Dec. 3 at the Coach House Restaurant in Brewer. The meeting begins at 6 p.m.

A gift swap is planned, and nonperishable food products will be donated to local food cupboards.

Fly-tying course offered

Each year the Penobscot Fly Fishers offer a popular introductory fly-tying class, and this year will be no exception.

Slots in the class are filled quickly and the class size is limited to 24 students.

The class will be held at the Bangor Recreation and Parks facility on Main Street in Bangor beginning Thursday, Jan. 8, and will run each Thursday through Feb. 26.

Club member Don Corey will supervise the program, which costs $25 for nonmembers, $15 for members.

Tuition includes instruction, materials, and the use of equipment.

Following the introductory course, an advanced course will be offered from March 4 through April 1.

Biologist shares deer facts

As deer hunters head back from the woods toting animals, many follow age-old traditions that may be better left in the past.

Jim Connolly, a regional wildlife biologist with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, offered some advice in his weekly report.

He said meat processors have asked him to remind hunters that allowing deer to hang outside to freeze does not improve the quality of the meat.

“In fact, the freezing and thawing that occurs to deer left outside dries out or causes loss of meat,” Connolly said. “A quick trip with your deer to your cutter after tagging will do more to improve the quality of your meat than anything else you do other than field dressing it properly.”

Connolly also said that a close examination of your deer may reveal some interesting things. A few hunters call him each year reporting wart-like growths on their deer that are in fact hairless tumors.

“These cutaneous fibromas, as they are known, are usually found on the face or neck of the deer,” Connolly wrote. “Some are smooth, black to gray and hairless, while others are more warty in appearance.

“They can be as small as 1/4-inch to 8-plus inches across and occur alone or in clumps of multiple tumors. A virus that is specific to deer and is not transferable to cattle, sheep, horses or rabbits causes these tumors. [They] are not contagious or harmful to people and can usually be cut around or discarded with the skin of the deer.”

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.