The Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission is expected to take another step toward reopening the Penobscot River to salmon fishing on Thursday during its regular monthly meeting.

The ASC held a public forum in Brewer in November at which it presented scientific reports and solicited the opinions of anglers.

After ASC board discusses the opinions shared at that public forum, it may decide to move forward and have staffers formulate a new regulation that would open the Penobscot in some form.

The Penobscot – along with all of Maine’s other salmon rivers – has been closed to salmon fishing since 1999. Increased salmon returns over the ensuing years have prompted debate on the possibility of reopening the Penobscot.

The ASC has completed a scientific report that indicates reopening a catch-and-release fall fishery may be the best first step for the Penobscot.

The ASC meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. until noon on Thursday at the commission’s office at 161 Capitol Street in Augusta.

Colonel’s outdoor tip

Each week Maine’s chief game warden, Col. Tom Santaguida, offers an outdoor tip in the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s weekly report.

Here’s this week’s tip:

The 2005 fall fishing and hunting season brings with it many opportunities to use a boat for hunting adventures in Maine.

Float hunting for ducks and

deer; late season waterfowl hunting and taking advantage of fall fishing opportunity all put outdoorsmen and -women on the water at times when few

people went on the waters in the past.

This time of year, our Maine waters are very, very cold. Be sure to not only comply with the law by having a

serviceable life jacket for each person on board – go that extra step and wear it. Most boat-related drownings that occur in Maine involve a person in

a non-motorized vessel without a life jacket.

Be safe and have fun at the same time!

Christmas charity shoot on tap

The Maine Bowhunters Association will hold a pair of Christmas is for Kids charity shoots on Dec. 11.

A $10 donation is required to shoot, but a larger donation is welcome.

One shoot will take place at the Old Town Archery Shop from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Call 827-9489 for more information.

The other shoot is set for The Great Outdoors in Winthrop from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Shooters of all ages are welcome.

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.