The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Becoming an Outdoorswoman program has scheduled the first two of many outdoor programs for 2005.

The workshops are aimed primarily at women 18 and older who are interested in learning new skills or honing existing skills.

For women who want to become more comfortable in Maine’s cold-weather woodlands, the Winter Skills Workshop will provide instruction and field practice in several essential wintertime skills.

The two-day workshop will be held at Southern Maine Guide Service in Parsonsfield from 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, until 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16.

Activities will include using, selecting and maintaining snowshoes; building snow shelters; learning wilderness first aid; using map and compass; cooking over an open fire; and planning food and menus for and organizing winter trips.

The $150 fee includes instruction, meals and equipment.

In addition, a one-day snowmobile certification workshop will be held in Holden from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5

The workshop is aimed at beginners and includes a DIFW snowmobile safety course certification and hands-on snowmobile operation experience.

Classroom time in the morning will cover proper operation and safety, laws, emergencies, basic map and compass, self-help first aid, and conservation-landowner ethics.

After lunch participants will head to a nearby course to practice their skills on snowmobiles. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Holden Snowmobile Club. The $25 fee includes instruction and snacks.

For more information on BOW programs, contact Emily Jones at 287-8069 or e-mail her at emily.jones@maine.gov, or check the DIFW Web site at www.mefishwildlife.com.

Bowhunters plan charity shoot

The Maine Bowhunters Association will hold its fourth annual Christmas is for Kids charity shoot Dec. 12 at The Archer’s Arrows in Hermon.

The shoot will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Soda, chips and hot dogs will be served, and shooters are encouraged to get a sponsor sheet from the MBA at www.mainebowhunters.org. Sheets also are available at The Archer’s Arrows.

For more information, contact Jeff Hopkins at 223-4892, Scott Abbott at 947-4597, Troy Frye at 469-8905 or call The Archer’s Arrows at 947-1616 or 1-866-848-5889.

Turkey applications available

Hunters interested in hunting wild turkeys in the spring have less than two months to fill out the necessary lottery application.

The state’s application deadline is Jan. 14, and only hunters whose names are drawn will be allowed to hunt.

The 2005 split-session turkey season will run from May 2 through June 4. All juniors hoping to take part in the state’s Youth Turkey Day also should apply, as they must have a permit to take advantage of that opportunity.

For more information, go to 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.