Proposed fee changes raising ire

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A week ago, Gov. John Baldacci announced plans to open most Sundays to hunting in the state, in exchange for a $3 license fee increase that would become permanent for hunters and fishermen.

On the same day, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife commissioner Danny Martin announced plans to revamp the sliding-fee system of boat registration in favor of a flat $23-per-boat fee and said that his department would explore the possibility of registration fees on sailboats, canoes, and kayaks.

While most accept the theory that the so-called “nonconsumptive” wilderness lover in Maine ought to pay a portion of the state’s DIF&W budget, those proposed changes raised more than a few hackles.

One person who disagreed with the proposals was Matt Libby, the respected guide and owner of Libby Camps in Aroostook County.

Libby did a bit of quick math – charging himself $23 per boat and canoe that his camps own – and was alarmed.

While Libby admits that a new fee on canoes might be less than $23, the fact that those who own a lot of boats would pay substantial fees remains.

“I was dismayed to [hear about] the increase in boat fees,” Libby wrote. “We give boat and canoe rentals to our customers (i.e., no charge) and have 60 canoes and 25 boats stashed over the north Maine woods that we have acquired over the last 115 years.

“That equates to a $2,000 fee for registration plus the weed tax of $850 if they put that on canoes also. Then comes the excise tax of at least $6 per boat that is registered, add $510. That all equates to $3,360 a year for a small sporting camp just to have the ability to let our customers and others use our canoes for nothing.

“Sounds like a great business plan to me! If the department wants the little guy in the north to pay all the bills, why doesn’t [it] just ask us to foot it all? At least then we could tell them how to spend it. Nice thought!”

Another reader, former executive director of Maine’s Atlantic Salmon Commission Fred Kircheis, took issue with the Sunday hunting plan.

“What a disaster that would be for community relations with the hunting segment of our population,” Kircheis wrote. “The majority of Maine people do not hunt. Many do not understand hunting and many are unnecessarily afraid of guns and hunting.

“A lot of people enjoy the Maine outdoors as a place to hike, walk the dog, collect mushrooms, etc. Many of these people, including people who may own large tracts of land that are available to hunters, enjoy these activities only on Sundays during hunting season.

“Were Maine to allow Sunday hunting in any form, some of these lands will become unavailable to the hunting segment of our community,” he wrote. “Posting, now more common than it was 20 or even 10 years ago, will become the norm and access for hunting more difficult.”

Kircheis said tapping into funds from all of those who enjoy Maine’s wild areas is a key.

“Let’s not give up on some sort of pay as you go system for these non-consumptive users,” Kircheis wrote. “Arkansas has a small percentage of the state sales tax dedicated to these purposes, a new tax on outdoor equipment has been proposed, and defeated, but has a lot of merit and a lot of support. I am sure there are creative people who can come up with other means of raising the money.”

Coyote derby hot topic

As you can imagine, the column on a Washington County coyote derby that appeared in this space on Thursday has generated a fair bit of controversy.

OK. That’s understating it.

To be honest, about all I’ve had time to do over the past two days is put out coyote fires. Or something like that.

My position – that making a concerted effort to hunt coyotes is probably a good idea, but that holding a “coyote derby” was a bad PR decision – has been criticized by several readers over the past two days.

Some of the people who took time to write have painted me as a coyote-hugging ally of the Humane Society of the United States, while others say I simply don’t understand the situation facing the deer herd Down East. Fewer have chosen to address my primary concern: Holding such a derby may give animal rights activists a tool they can use to sway “on-the-fence” nonhunters in the future.

On Monday, this paper will have coverage of the derby. And on Tuesday, I’ll let some of the readers who took time to write share this space to make their points.

Stay tuned.

Long Lake – long wait?

Head north today and you’re sure to find a lot of ice anglers flocking to one of Aroostook County’s legendary landlocked salmon waters.

Long Lake in Madawaska and St. Agatha officially opens to salmon fishing today, and locals swear that fishing on opening day is as good as it will get all season long.

I’ve spent a lot of time on Long Lake over the past dozen or so years, and one phrase has proven popular among nearly all the anglers I meet: “Long Lake – long wait.”

As one who has done most of his fishing elsewhere, I have always thought the fishing was pretty brisk on Long Lake, but those who have seen it on the best of days swear that on even the best days I’ve spent up north, it can get much, much better.

Scott Picard of Madawaska e-mailed me on Friday to issue an opening day invitation which, unfortunately, I’m unable to accept.

Two years ago I fished with Picard and Lionel Daigle on opening day, and although some fishermen did well, extremely high expectations (often the norm here) weren’t met.

As always, Picard and Daigle are approaching opening day hoping for the best.

“Jan. 15 is the big day for us up here in the frigid north. Large landlocks, waiting to be hooked.” Picard wrote.

But according to the avid fisherman, living in the “frigid north” didn’t exempt St. John Valley residents from the heat wave we experienced on Friday.

“P.S.: It is pouring rain here today. Hopefully this does not affect the fishing,” he wrote.

I hope not, Scott. Good luck to everyone on Long Lake today. I hope to join you for a day or two in the next week or so.

Polar Bear Dip, Egg Run on tap

In spite of my better judgment, over the next few weeks I’ll be participating in a pair of events that some might term foolhardy.

And if you’re interested, you can pitch in to aid a couple of great causes.

On Jan. 28 at least three NEWS staffers, including me, Jeff Strout, and Aimee Dolloff – will jump into Passamaquoddy Bay along with hundreds of others.

The event is Washington County Community College Student Senate’s annual Polar Bear Dip, and all proceeds from the frigid swim will go to the Ronald McDonald House.

If you’d care to donate in our name, you can make checks payable to the Ronald McDonald House and send them to the Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor, 04402-1329.

A week later, I’ll load my snowmobile suit with eggs and join a group of sledders who will travel from Levant to Newport in the Pine Tree Camp’s annual Egg Ride.

For every $50 we raise, riders will add another egg to our suits.

If you’d like to help make sure the ride is a messy one, listen to WQCB-FM, call them, and make a pledge.

Coming up on `Going Outdoors’

On Monday’s “Going Outdoors” segment on ABC-7’s 6 p.m. newscast, I’ll take you to Bangor’s City Forest.

The recreational area used to be one of the city’s best-kept secret.

Not any more.

With the opportunity to ski, hike, snowshoe, and bike just a few minutes from downtown, it’s no wonder.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.