If you’re a hunter, a fan of the shooting sports or a gun collector, you may want to join some folks who share your passion for firearms at an upcoming event.

The Friends of NRA banquet and auction will be held April 22 at the Bangor Conference Center on Hogan Road. The evening begins at 6 p.m.

For more information, call Tony Richard at 827-3440.

Safety courses scheduled

If you’re looking forward to taking a youngster into the woods on a hunting trip or two this year, it’s not too soon to begin making plans.

First on your to-do list may be enrolling the prospective hunter in a state-sanctioned hunter safety class. There are plenty of options available across the region in the coming months.

Here are a few:

. In Bucksport, at Bucksmills Rod & Gun Club, April 8-9 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., call Troy Frye at 469-8905.

. In Waterville, at the Elks Club, April 19-20 from 6 to 9 p.m., April 23 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., call David Marshall at 465-2797.

. In Glenburn, at the elementary school, March 27-30 from 6 to 9 p.m., call Nancy Butterly at 990-1391 or Gene Seymour at 827-5837.

. In East Millinocket, at Schenck High School, April 3-6 from 6 to 9 p.m., call Ralph Sprague Jr. at 746-9422.

. In Dover-Foxcroft, at SeDoMoCha Middle School, April 29-30 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., call the adult education office at 364-6525 or Woody Thompson at 876-3497.

. In Calais, at Washington County Community Center, March 18-19 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., call Dave Claroni at 454-2591.

. In Columbia, at the Pleasant River Fish & Game Conservation Association, March 29-30 from 6 to 9 p.m., April 1 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., call Charles Robbins at 483-4111.

For a more complete list of all the safety courses offered by the state, go to www.mefishwildlife.com and click on the “education” link.

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.