Tree identification can be easy, even when there are no leaves to study, according to volunteers at the Sunkhaze Stream Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

The Friends of Sunkhaze Meadows NWR will host a winter twig ID hike today beginning at 8:45 a.m.

Organizers say there are simple ways to identify trees by looking at a few telltale characteristics. After the hike, it will be possible to distinguish all the major trees and shrubs of the Bangor area during the winter, when there are no leaves or flowers to provide hints.

The hike will take about three hours, and participants are advised to wear snowshoes or other appropriate footwear. Due to limited parking at the Johnson Brook trailhead, interested hikers should meet at the refuge office at 8:45 a.m. and carpool to the trail.

Archery championship on tap

The Maine State Indoor Archery Championship will be held at Nokomis High School in Newport for the seventh straight year on March 17-18.

Doors open March 17 at 8:30 a.m. with shooting to begin at 10. Shooting will take place at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, and at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

There is a $20 registration fee per line for adults, but reduced rates are available for youths and cubs.

For more information, call Bob at 368-2389.

Public forum set for Somesville

Interested outdoors enthusiasts from Mount Desert Island and the surrounding area are invited to attend a public forum with Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife commissioner Roland D. Martin and his staff on March 14.

The forum will be held at the Masonic Hall and will begin at 7 p.m.

A variety of subjects of interest to area sportsmen and sportswomen will be discussed, including fisheries issues unique to Mount Desert Island, pending legislation before the joint standing committee on fisheries and wildlife, and an update on turkey and deer hunting opportunities.

Admission is free and the public is invited.

Map & compass class scheduled

Outdoorsman Bruce Hodgdon will take the mystery out of map and compass use during a March 24 class at the Greenland Point Center in Princeton.

The class will begin at 1 p.m., and the registration fee is $15.

The class will cover basic compass and map orientation, and is a great course for GPS users, and novice and veteran outdoors people.

For more information, call 796-5186 or send e-mail to greenlandpoint@verizon.net.

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.