Five Club Poker Run set Jan. 15 Turkey hunting permit applications due Jan. 14

With a small snowstorm behind us, there’s enough of the white stuff on the ground to get us thinking of winter activities, but not enough to make Bangor-area snowmobilers cancel their plans to head north.

That won’t matter next weekend as area riders will host the Jan. 15 Five Club Poker Run, snow or no snow.

According to John Monk, the president of the Penobscot Snowmobile Club, the five clubs are hoping for a good blanket of snow, but the poker run can be completed with or without a sled … or snow.

“You can do it by car or snowmobile,” Monk said. “For people who want to take the heated route, there will be maps at each club on how to get to the next one.”

The four other clubs involved are the Goodwill Riders of Hampden, the Carmel Snowmobile Club, the Hungry Hollow 76ers of Levant and the Glenburn Lakeside Riders.

Poker run participants will visit each club, picking up a card at each stop.

“Munchies will be served at each club, and each of us have the grills fired up,” Monk said.

A poker hand costs $5, and all proceeds will go to the Pine Tree Camp.

The poker run begins at 8 a.m. Those looking to participate in a car must begin the course by noon, while snowmobiles must begin by 11 a.m.

Participants can begin their trek at any of the clubs and will finish at the same club, where awards and raffles will be held beginning at 4 p.m., Monk said.

Turkey deadline drawing near

Hunters interested in hunting wild turkeys in the spring have less than a week 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, ME 04402-1329.