Women interested in taking part in the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman program will have a couple of options this spring.

On May 21, a Hunting Over Dogs clinic will be offered at Three Rivers Wingshooting in Milo.

The program will cover safe handling, zones of fire, dog behavior, balance techniques, and how to locate game birds. Each field team will include an instructor and a dog handler.

The course requires that each participant has previously completed the Hunter Safety Course and has some experience with a shotgun. Participants musts bring their own shotgun, ammunition and snacks. The cost is $60, which includes lunch.

On June 4, a Swiftwater Canoeing program will be held at the Maine Conservation School on Bryant Pond.

Women who have canoed on flatwater but who want to increase their paddling skills are welcome. Strokes, rescue techniques, ferrying, peelouts, eddy turns and route-finding will be covered.

The entry fee is $60, which includes all equipment and lunch. Bunkhouse lodging for Friday and breakfast on Saturday are available for an additional fee of $20.

The BOW program is aimed primarily at women age 18 and older, and seeks to provide introductory learning experiences in a variety of outdoor skills.

For more information contact Emily Jones at 284 State Street, SHS 41, Augusta, 04333, call her at 287-8069 or e-mail emily.jones@maine.gov.

Taxidermy championship on tap

The Maine Association of Taxidermists will hold the 2005 Maine Taxidermy Championships at Nokomis High School in Newport on April 22-24.

The show is open to the public for viewing on April 24 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. There is no charge to attend.

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.