Two weeks ago, Maine citizens got the chance to voice their opinions on a proposal that would allow Sunday hunting in the state for most of the year.

That public hearing lasted for hours, and plenty of folks stepped forward to share their thoughts on the matter. Since then, the issue has undoubtedly been the topic of many more informal chats across the state.

Among those who criticized the proposal were farmers and landowner groups as well as sporting groups. Those sporting groups often rally to support legislative ideas forwarded by the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, but this time, that wasn’t the case.

The Maine Bowhunters Association, Maine Snowmobile Association, Maine Trappers, and Maine Professional Guides each sent representatives to the hearing to speak out against Sunday hunting.

One big fear: Allowing hunting on Sundays (the proposal wouldn’t allow Sunday hunting during the regular firearms season on deer) will cause many landowners to completely deny sportsmen access to their land.

Others felt that attaching the Sunday hunting provision to the state budget in effect “kidnapped” the budget by including a proposal some consider unpalatable.

Last Saturday, I asked readers what they thought. They responded. And in a minute, I’ll share some of those thoughts with you.

First, let’s hear from George Smith, the executive director of SAM and the driving force behind the budget provision for Sunday hunting.

On Tuesday, Smith said the backlash of negative feedback will likely lead to compromise proposals.

“We took [open firearms season on deer in] November out of the Sunday hunting proposal because that was the biggest complaint of landowners, but apparently they’re still upset,” Smith said.

“So now we’ve got a hierarchy of other opportunities [we’ll propose instead] to see what will work with legislators,” he said. “The best new idea is to let landowners hunt on their own property on Sundays. This takes away all of the complaints. In fact, it’s an enhancement of your rights as a property owner.”

Smith said that proposal would allow property owners’ family and friends to hunt on Sundays, including open firearms season on deer.

Another proposal would allow Sunday small-game hunting in unorganized territories. That’s a change that had some support last year but was eventually defeated.

“The only surprising thing [that happened at the hearing] was that some of our allied sporting groups felt threatened enough by the landowners to change their positions on Sunday hunting. That was too bad, and that hurt us,” Smith said. “But now that we’re looking at [alternatives], maybe some of them can come back on board.”

Here is some of what readers had to say, edited for space considerations in some cases:

. From Dave Saunders of Orland: “Unlike most of the people I hear chiming in on Sunday hunting, I AM a landowner,” he wrote.

“I spend most of my time trying to earn enough money to keep it. I own three separate pieces of land in three separate towns totaling 251 acres. Most of the recreating done on my land is done by others (most without asking, I might add). Since I spend most of my time working, Sunday hunting might give me a chance to enjoy the sport I have no time for now.”

. From Reed Corson of Bangor: “Why not, if there is so much conflict over the Sunday hunting issue, open Sunday hunting to unorganized territories only,” he wrote. “I realize that it would force many people to have to drive some distance. It would still make Sunday hunting available to those that do want to participate, and leave those that do not the opportunity to enjoy the out of doors on a Sunday without having to share the woods with hunters who I feel are being given a bad rap.”

. From Dwayne Young of Weston: “Sunday hunting is a great idea, but at what cost? If the people that have written to the editor stating that they would post their property are indicative of landowners across the state, the cost is too great,” he wrote.

. From Shirley A. Hersey of Parkman: “I am not a landowner, but I do enjoy the outdoors. I feel that six days a week is enough for the hunters. We should have one day a week to enjoy the woods. Hunters can choose the days of the week to be in the woods. Nonhunters do not have a choice, or at least a safe choice. We have Sunday only.

“To me this should not be a money-related issue. It is a way of life and why we live in Maine – to enjoy the outdoors.”

. Chris Atwood of Brewer emphasized the fact that the proposal did not include the Sundays during firearms season on deer:

“I bowhunt nearly every open day of the expanded archery season and I spend nearly every Sunday scouting areas in the two largest cities in central Maine, and I have never seen another person in the woods that was not a hunter,” he wrote.

. From Hank Metcalf of Orono: “I am opposed to Sunday hunting in any form. As a former hunter and former small woodlot owner, I believe hunting on Monday through Saturday is more than sufficient. Those of us who enjoy hiking are entitled to one day each week that is relatively safe outdoors.”

Time to talk turkey … finally

I’ve got a confession to make.

For the past couple of years, I may have said a couple of things that weren’t entirely true.

Don’t worry. I’m not getting ready to admit some journalistic scandal here. I just have to get something off my chest.

Remember when I didn’t get a turkey permit last year … and the year before that? Remember how I might have said something like “Congratulations to all the lucky permit-winners?”

Well … umm … I didn’t mean it.

I tried to be sincere. I really, really tried. But when my then 11-year-old nephew’s name was drawn for his second straight permit, along with his father and his grandfather, and when every other Holyoke who applied received a permit, I began to feel a bit left out.

Faced with yet another turkey-free spring, I did exactly what society dictated: I swallowed hard and said, “Congratulations …” to (seemingly) nearly everybody I met.

To be completely honest, I was being completely honest in one regard: I really, truly did mean to congratulate my nephew, Ryan Urquhart.

But the rest of you? Well, let’s just say my family’s reputation as folks who don’t particularly care for losing didn’t skip my generation.

This year, however, I’d like to make amends. I’d like to admit my past failures. I’d like to say, “Congratulations.”

And this time, I mean it. Honest.

I’d like to tell you that my new attitude has something to do with growing up … but I can’t. And as much as I’d like to think I’m getting nicer … I can’t fool myself in that regard, either.

The reason for the change is simple: This year, my name was drawn, too.

On Friday, I looked through the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s list of permit winners and found that after two unsuccessful bids, I was officially a turkey-hunter-in-waiting.

If you applied and haven’t checked the state Web site for results, you can do that at www.mefishwildlife.com.

The fact that 20,300 names were drawn – and only about 3,000 weren’t – doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm in the least. At long last, I feel lucky. And it feels great.

Now all I’ve got to do is get equipped (unfortunately the Cabelas catalog beckons and there’s not a birthday or Christmas season in sight) … and learn as much about turkeys as I can before my season begins on May 2.

Perhaps I’ll ask my nephew for a few of his secrets.

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