Bill Livezey, who is known for his ability to conduct special investigations as part of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s Resource Protection Unit, was named the 2004 Warden of the Year Friday.

A 15-year veteran, Livezey was honored at the Maine Warden Service 2005 awards banquet in Orono.

Livezey is a part-time member of the Resource Protection Unit. From the fall of 2003 to December 2004 he was the primary case agent on a large-scale special investigation in western Maine, gathering evident on a network of night hunters, deer drivers, and poachers. During the investigation Livezey detected violations in New Hampshire and New York, and a multi-agency task force was assembled. The operation involved more than 100 law enforcement officers, the largest operation of its kind in Warden Service history.

He was also the primary investigator on another case of wildlife crimes which resulted in eight arrests and about 200 summonses.

Livezey previously won a Meritorious Service Award in 1991 and an Exemplary Service Award in 1997.

Nichols Expo on tap

It’s the season for outdoors shows, and even on Easter weekend, sportsmen and -women – will have the chance to plan their next adventure.

Gill Reed, president of Nichols/Bass Business and Technology Center in Wilton, will provide the Bob Nichols Expo Center to the Pine Tree State Sportsman’s Show on the weekend of March 25-27.

The show will feature more than 200 exhibits at the former Bass shoe factory, including appearances by the famed Benoit brothers, a live black bear, mountain lion, and bald eagle, and trout and salmon tanks.

For more information call 732-4604 or check the Web site at www.pinetreesportsmanshow.com.

Acadia ATV’ers plan event

The Acadia Area ATV’ers will hold a combination snowmobile/ATV safety course at the Trenton Fire Station on March 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Preregistration is required, and children ages 10-12 must be accompanied by an adult for the entire time period.

For information, call Pam Boudreau at 664-0674.

Turkey seminar scheduled

The Blue Hill Rifle and Pistol Club will hold a free turkey-hunting seminar on March 26 at the indoor range on Range Road.

The seminar will run from 9 a.m. to noon, and will be conducted by Maine Master Guide Don Loncto.

Hunting, scouting, and call tips will be covered.

For more information, call 667-6167.

The Colonel’s Outdoor Tip

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

Here’s this week’s tip:

Don’t forget hunting for snowshoe hares! For those hunting enthusiasts who already can’t wait until next fall, don’t forget that March offers great hunting opportunities for snowshoe hares. The warms days, strong sun and good snow cover offer excellent conditions for hunting.

A number of guides offer guide services to provide you with an enjoyable snowshoe hare hunting experience. Information on licensed guides who offer hare hunting is available on-line and through publications such as the Maine Sportsman and the Northwoods Sporting Journal. In addition, snowshoe hares are excellent table fare. So don’t wait until next fall – go buy your 2005 hunting license and enjoy snowshoe hare hunting in March.

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.