Black-powder shoot, Sportsman’s Congress on tap

Muzzleloading enthusiasts may want to head to Stetson on Sunday for the Penobscot Longrifles’ monthly black-powder shoot.

The games begin at 10 a.m. and a hot lunch is provided.

From I-95, take exit 42 and head north on Route 143. Cross Route 2/100 in Etna, proceed 1.5 miles and turn left on the New Sweden Road.

For more information, contact Evelyn Chase at 672-9210 or crash@midmaine.com, or Arthur Richardson at 342-4649 or foxtail@midmaine.com.

Sportsman’s Congress on tap

The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine will stage its 9th annual Sportsman’s Congress on Friday at the Elks Lodge in Augusta.

The Congress is open to the public and no admission fee is charged. An optional lunch is available for $10.

Space is limited and reservations should be made for the Congress by contacting SAM at members@samcef.org or by calling 622-5503.

The Sportsman’s Congress is a once-a-year, daylong event during which decision-makers and sportsmen meet to discuss key outdoors issues.

Many hunting and fishing issues will be explored utilizing panelists from state agencies and sportsmen’s groups.

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

An expansive list of fishing projects will also be discussed, including Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Dan Martin’s plan to implement 62 recommendations offered by an outside assessment of the department.

A preview of bills expected in the next session of state Legislature will also be presented.

The Sportsmen’s Congress runs from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Penobscot Fly Fishers to meet

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

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 and $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.

Snowmobile Safety Course

The Frenchman Bay Riders Snowmobile Club, Maine Snowmobile Association and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will host a Snowmobile Safety Course on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 8 a.m. at the Lamoine Grammar School. The course will cover all aspects of safety including maintenance, first aid and survival techniques. Lunch will be provided. Contact 288-3162 for information.

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.