Youth Day exemption sends wrong message

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One of the state’s biggest outdoor success stories in recent years has been the introduction and subsequent widespread support of yearly hunting opportunities for Maine’s youth.

In various seasons, kids have had the chance to head afield with an adult on a particular Saturday and hunt for deer, waterfowl or turkeys.

On those days, adults aren’t allowed to possess a firearm, and all the shooting must be done by the kids.

I’ve said this dozens of times over the years, and I’ll say it again this morning: Bravo.

Introducing kids to outdoor sports at a young age is a good idea, and teaching them about nature and ethical hunting methods is admirable.

On Thursday, the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s Advisory Council passed new rules that will severely decrease the number of any-deer permits that are handed out this fall.

Without one of those any-deer permits – known better to many as “doe permits” – a hunter can only shoot antlered deer.

The reduction in permits was a regrettable but necessary measure after a brutal winter took its toll on the state’s herd.

In some parts of the state, no any-deer permits will be allotted.

During its deliberations, the advisory council decided that youth hunters hunting on Youth Deer Day would be immune to the new rules … even in areas where the deer herd has been decimated to the point of a bucks-only season.

That’s unfortunate.

The council could have used the issue as a valuable educational tool, and it didn’t.

In its defense, during public debate on the permit proposal, those few who showed up and spoke out said that they wanted to continue letting kids shoot antlerless deer on Youth Deer Day.

The council listened to those comments and acted according to the wishes of those who bothered to show up and comment.

That’s understandable.

But here’s the problem: By allowing our youth hunters to essentially ignore the crisis facing the herd in certain Wildlife Management Districts, we’ve sent the wrong message.

That message: It’s more important to us adults that you successfully harvest an animal than it is that we teach you about the hard decisions that sometimes face all of us.

Like the fact that, sometimes, the deer herd needs all the help we can give it, even if it inconveniences us a bit.

We’re in danger of teaching this generation of young hunters that a successful hunt is achieved only when you pull the trigger, shoot a deer and cart it to the local tagging station.

I’ve spent a lot of time with a lot of hunters and have always had a wonderful time. Most of those days, nobody shoots a deer.

And most of those days, we learn something new in spite of our lack of “success.”

To me, hunting success isn’t about putting meat on a game pole. It’s about friendships forged, trails blazed and experiences shared.

That, I figure, is a lesson that is valuable enough to preach to kids of any age.

Instead, we say that our kids will become bored if they don’t get to pull the trigger and won’t want to hunt again if they don’t fill their tag.

Welcome to hunting, kids.

Hunting is not a sure thing. It’s not an easy thing. And it’s not something that everybody will enjoy.

More useful messages that we could be teaching? Perhaps.

I’ve taken kids hunting twice. Neither was on Youth Deer Day. On neither occasion did the youngster even carry a rifle. But hunt? You bet we did.

On both occasions, the kids had a blast.

Sneaking through the woods, looking at tracks and scrapes and rubs and sign was fun. Sitting on rocks, watching small critters slink past, was amusing.

In the truck, we talked about conservation, why people hunt and what kinds of things we would see or had seen. We packed snacks, treated the days like field trips, and I told both that as long as we were having fun, we were having a good hunt.

As you might expect, both of those “hunting” trips were unforgettable successes.

Nobody ever got a deer … or even saw one.

We hunters like to tell each other – usually while seeking the moral high ground during political squabbles – that we are the true conservationists.

In many cases, that’s a fair assessment.

And in any case, it would be another valuable lesson to teach our kids: Wildlife as a whole benefits because of the important role hunters play in management.

Unfortunately, in this case, that’s among the potential lessons – and opportunities – that was lost.

Down East streams heating up

For many trout anglers, late May and early June provide the best fishing conditions of the season.

Hatches of insects have begun, the water has warmed up and brookies are more apt to feed on the offerings that fishermen dangle or drift in front of them.

Greg Burr, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s assistant regional fisheries biologist for the Down East region, recognizes that fact.

And in this week’s DIF&W fisheries report, Burr provided some useful advice for anglers who might be looking to wet a line during the long holiday weekend.

Trout fishermen often have their own favorite spots but are often looking for new places to try.

Burr can help.

“Here are some of the best trout streams and rivers to try during the next three weeks that should give anglers hours of rod-bending fun,” Burr wrote.

Here, without further ado, is his list:

Dennys River in Dennysville, East Machias River in Crawford, Machias River in T31 MD, Chandler River in Jonesboro, West Branch of the Union River in Aurora, Pleasant River in Columbia Falls, Crooked River in T30 MD and West Branch of the Narraguagus River in T22 MD.

Also making Burr’s list: New Stream in Wesley, Old Stream in T31 MD, Haynes Brook in Amherst, Pembroke Stream in T31 MD, Mopang Stream in T24 MD, Tunk Stream in Unionville, East Stream in Whiting, Great Brook in Whitneyville, Scott’s Brook in Northfield, Lawrence Brook in Cherryfield and Great Falls Brook in Deblois.

That’s a starting point, but remember: Everybody fishes near the road. Productive fishermen often venture well up- or downstream, looking for spots that aren’t targeted as often.

Have fun, leave some fish for the next guy, and do yourself a favor: Take a child with you.

jholyoke@bangordailynews.net

990-8214