The Penobscot River and the Bangor area share a special place in the hearts of many Atlantic salmon anglers. It seems only fitting, then, that the Atlantic Salmon Federation’s U.S. board of directors has chosen a Bangor man as its U.S. chairman.

Richard J. Warren assumes the post previously held by Donal O’Brien of New Canaan, Conn.

O’Brien who served as the ASF’s U.S. chairman for 13 years, and was on the U.S. board of directors for 26 years.

“The time has come to give new blood a chance,” O’Brien said in an ASF news release.

If you’re a longtime reader of this paper, Warren’s name is probably pretty familiar. If not, it should be: He’s the publisher of the Bangor Daily News, as well as an avid angler, conservationist and philanthropist.

Warren has been on the board of directors for about 15 years, he said.

“It’s a very exciting challenge,” Warren said. “I’ve never taken on anything of quite this magnitude, but I’ve got a lot of good help and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Warren was one of about 60 directors, but his election as chairman marked a bit of a regional change.

“I’m the first chairman of the ASF from outside the New York City area, but also being from Maine it’s also the last, best hope for Atlantic salmon in the United States,” said Warren, who can look out his office window and see the Penobscot River. “So it’s kind of exciting.”

Warren said he’s encouraged by developments close to his Bangor home.

“I think the possibility of having even a limited season on the Penobscot is very exciting,” he said. “I think it will bring some new life back to the three [salmon] clubs and I think you will see more people back along the river.

Warren said the ASF will continue to be vigilant in confronting the many threats to wild Atlantic salmon.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind that ending the commercial netting by Greenlanders has produced results on both sides of the Atlantic in salmon rivers,” he said.

“We need to keep our research programs going; we need to try to do more smolt tracking to see if we can determine where this problem with salmon is occurring,” he said. “And this recent escapement … of aquaculture fish is a huge concern.”

The Atlantic Salmon Federation is an international non-profit organization that promotes the conservation and wise management of the wild Atlantic salmon and its environment. ASF has a network of seven regional councils which have a membership of more than 150 river associations and 40,000 volunteers.

Hunters meals on tap

Deer season continues, and so does the string of hunter’s meals across the state.

Here are a few more options for the eager eater:

. In Brooksville, at the community center, today from 5-9 a.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children. The menu includes eggs cooked to order, muffins, baked beans, sausage, bacon, corned beef hash, hash browns and French toast.

. In Passadumkeag, a hunters supper at Passadumkeag Community Building in the rear of the fire station, today from 4:30-6 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12. The menu includes baked beans, brown bread and all the fixings, with assorted pies for dessert.

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.