‘Wiggie’ a true friend to people, outdoors

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Wilmot “Wiggie” Robinson didn’t answer to “Mister,” least of all from people he considered his friends.

That’s something I’ll always remember.

I tried to call him that once. Mr. Robinson. It only seemed proper; I was, after all, 43 years younger than the renowned Maine guide from Millinocket, and was just trying to show him the proper level of respect … just like my mother had always taught me.

Wiggie didn’t cotton much to that notion, however.

“Wiggie,” he corrected me, and although I can’t remember all the subsequent details, I’m certain that he was grinning broadly. “I’m Wiggie.”

To all of his friends, that’s exactly what he was. Wiggie. And as I learned over the ensuing years, it was extremely difficult to meet the man without ending up being his friend.

Nearly two weeks ago, Wiggie Robinson died in his vegetable garden. He was 85, and had just delivered a birthday present to his wife of 61 years, Joyce.

It was a bouquet of home-grown flowers, no doubt lovingly arranged, and delivered (I’m sure) with a huge grin.

When I met Wiggie, he was the guide I’d been hearing about for years – the guy who, I later learned, hiked into Baxter State Park at the age of 10, with his 8-year-old brother in tow, and unofficially began guiding tourists up Mount Katahdin.

I was new to the outdoor writing game, and Wiggie had been doing it for years.

He had no reason to go out of his way to make me feel more comfortable in my new job. He had no reason to offer to show me some of his favorite spots or to take me (along with his son, Jay) on my first actual woodcock hunt.

No reason, that is, save this: Being nice to people is what Wiggie was all about.

Wiggie was a small man, wiry and strong, with a spring in his step that belied his advancing years. I followed him and Jay over well-worn paths through Baxter State Park, and through prickly bird covers, and often struggled to keep up.

Every time I saw him, his eyes would light up, and he would smile broadly. Then he’d say something nice to me.

Every time.

You undoubtedly read quite a bit about Wiggie Robinson last week, in the wake of his death.

And though a long-awaited week of vacation relieved me of deadline responsibilities for a spell, it didn’t relieve me of this responsibility: I had to tell you a few things about the man I got to know.

About the man who loved his wife and family and God.

About the man who always had something positive to say to everybody he’d pass.

No, I didn’t know Wiggie Robinson that long, nor that well.

But I do know this: Every time we’d see each other, and every time we’d part company after sharing a few tales, he’d say the same thing.

It’s good to see you, my friend.

To be perfectly clear, Wiggie Robinson didn’t have a shortage of friends. Not by a long shot.

When he entered a room full of strangers, he’s the kind of guy who’d leave knowing everybody by name, and would have made plans to catch up with many of them in the woods, or on the waters he loved.

No, being a friend of Wiggie’s didn’t mean you were a member of a small, exclusive fraternity.

However, it did mean that you were extremely fortunate to have crossed paths with this one-of-a-kind gentleman.

That’s what I’ll remember.

It was good to see you, my friend.

Any-deer permit deadline Aug. 3

The state’s deer hunters won’t be in the woods en masse until firearms season begins on Oct. 27, but it’s not too soon to increase your odds of success.

The deadline for hunters to apply for an any-deer permit – more often referred to as a “doe permit” – is inching closer.

Licensed hunters have until 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 3 to apply for those permits. Receive one of the 66,275 doe tags and you’ll be allowed to shoot an antlerless deer, should you choose.

Interested hunters can apply by mail, but the quickest, easiest way to put your name in the any-deer hopper is via the Internet.

If you’re a traveling hunter who’s not necessarily committed to hunting in just one Wildlife Management District, here are your best bets for garnering an any-deer permit: WMD 17, where 11,000 permits will be awarded, WMD 23 (10,125 permits), and WMD 22 (7,275 permits).

An added benefit for those using the Internet: Just for applying via the state’s automated MOSES system, your name will be automatically entered in a drawing for a classic Rangeley boat.

You can access the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Web site at www.mefishwildlife.com.

Fisheries hearings on tap

The DIF&W is studying a number of proposed fisheries changes that would go into effect for the upcoming open water and ice fishing seasons, and is looking for your input.

Many of the changes are designed to eliminate confusion and increase consistency in the state’s fishing laws.

And if you’re an avid angler in the state, chances are good that you’ve fished on one of the lakes or ponds that will be affected.

The list of proposals is too long to itemize here – more than 160 pages of proposals are available for view on the state’s DIF&W Web site – but the lakes and ponds are listed alphabetically by county, so it’s not hard to find out if your local waters are being discussed.

One hearing has already been held, and two more are scheduled: One on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Bangor and another on July 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Princeton Elementary School.

For more information on the proposals, go to www.mefishwildlife.com, click on “What’s New,” and then click “IF&W Rulemaking Proposals.” Once there, you can find a complete list of the proposed laws.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.