Like the infernos of foliage now raging through hardwooded hills, Maine’s hunting season is fast approaching its peak. With that in mind, pour yourself another cup of coffee and set your sights on a few notices affirming that hunting remains a time-honored tradition and a treasured culture hereabouts – not to mention the sport’s ecological and economic value.

First off, come the dawn of Oct. 30, “Maine residents only” day of the 1999 deer season, the Bangor Lodge of Elks and Pickard’s Sport Shop on outer Wilson Street in Brewer – atop what the native stock still refer to as Whiting’s Hill – will sponsor the 2nd annual Young Hunter’s Breakfast.

Last year, attendance at the breakfast arranged to introduce youngsters to the spirit and sport of hunting was more than 150. Without question, the encouraging first-time turnout can be attributed to two factors: 1. The young-hunter concept; 2. The breakfast is free of charge. With that said, it’s a sure bet that more hunters, young and old, will stretch their belts with this year’s serving of belly timber. And to show young hunters that game wardens are also sportsmen, the breakfast sponsors are encouraging wardens to attend.

A menu of eggs, bacon, pancakes, sausage, home fries, toast, juice, and coffee will be offered at the Elks Club from 4-8 a.m. Additionally, the breakfast will be spiced with drawings of door prizes and rafflings of a .30-06 rifle, acquired from Pickard’s, and a framed limited-edition sporting art print. Raffle tickets, $10 each, and free breakfast tickets are available at Pickard’s Sport Shop and West Side Restaurant in Bangor. Although breakfast tickets aren’t required for admission, prior distribution of the tickets is helpful in determining the number of people to be served.

Young bowhunter gets 10-pointer

Because bowhunters tend to go about their business quietly and well- concealed, their successes seldom attract attention. Worthy of mention, though, is the 10-point buck bagged recently by a young Bangor bowhunter named Nick Harvey. It was his first deer.

While hunting in Levant with his father, Frank Harvey, Nick watched the buck and another deer moving through the thick foliage. When the buck stepped into a clearing, the youngster dropped it quickly and cleanly with a well-placed arrow. Field-dressed, the deer weighed 153 pounds.

However, Nick Harvey’s hunting prowess with bow and arrow isn’t surprising. Lately, he has been turning the heads of veteran archers in state competitions. Recently, while shooting with the Penobscot Valley Archers Association in East Holden, Nick won the outdoor 3-D competition in his division. Obviously, the young outdoorsman has learned the lessons of discipline, responsibility, and accountability taught by archery competition and hunting – and parental guidance.

Club sets `Zero-In Day’

Time was when the local gravel pit was a popular place for sighting in a rifle or sharpening shooting eyes. But now, owing to anti-gun hysteria, firing a rifle or shotgun within hearing distance of a dwelling is sure to result in someone calling the cops. Realizing that, on Oct. 23 the Orrington Rod and Gun Club is offering a free “Zero-In Day” at its range off the East Bucksport Road, which some of us still refer to as the Peat Bog Road.

The club will furnish targets posted at ranges of 25, 50, 100, and 200 yards, take your pick. The preseason practice begins at 9 a.m. and ends when the last shot is fired. A word to the wise: arrive early if you want to leave early. Otherwise, bring a lunch. By the time the smoke cleared at last year’s initial Zero-in Day, it was so dark you couldn’t see King’s Mountain.

In keeping pace with the spirit of gun season, and to promote shooting sports, come Oct. 30, the Orrington Rod and Gun Club will hold a Turkey Shoot. Now, before some misinformed animal-rights activist threatens to protest the shoot by jumping off the tallest tower of the Prospect-Verona Island bridge, understand that the term Turkey Shoot relates to prizes of frozen, packaged turkeys won in target-shooting competitions.

Twenty turkeys will be awarded at the club’s forthcoming shoot, which begins at 9 a.m. and continues until you can’t see your sights. Competitions involve a variety of games designed for participants who prefer to shoot with one eye closed or both eyes open.

Isn’t it interesting, though, that all those people can handle all those guns all that time and not have even a thought of committing a crime. According to Clinton and his anti-gun cronies, this country’s gun culture is evil.

PETA urging schools to drop meat

Speaking of turkeys, I’m reminded not only of the feasts and festivities associated with Thanksgiving and Christmas, but that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the animal-rights group that protests the Rockland Lobster Festival, is now urging schools nationwide to remove meat from their lunch programs.

Can you believe it? Attempting to dictate what people can eat and wear – even how they practice their religion – has to be the height of arrogance. If animal-rights extremists want to eat celery and carrot sticks for the rest of their lives, all well and good. But don’t try to stuff them down the throats of everyone else.

With regard to religion, PETA is preaching that Christ was a vegetarian. Accordingly, the group is urging clergymen nationwide to convince their parishioners not to eat meat. God help us. From what I’ve read and heard, I get the impression that the good Lord had an appetite for fish and the fatted calf.

Tom Hennessey’s columns can be accessed on the BDN Internet page at: www.bangornews.com.