Here’s the latest legislative report from Maine Conservation Voters. What an incredible legislative session we’ve had so far this year! And it’s been such a great success because of dedicated conservation voters like you who have supported our work and joined us to urge lawmakers to protect Maine, promote clean energy, and tackle the climate […]
Even though only 5000 people hunt turkeys in the fall, DIF&W’s move to expand that hunt is drawing criticism. I guess those hunters want those turkeys all for themselves. For the fall hunt the department is proposing to expand both the days to hunt and the bag limits in 10 WMDs. At the end of […]
Legislation to allow deer baiting drew strong opposition from the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, Maine Professional Guides Association, and Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, pretty much guaranteeing it will be defeated, although Rep. Paul Stearns made a good case for it. I’m going to share Rep. Stearns’ testimony with you, followed by Nate Webb’s […]
On Wednesday the legislature’s IFW Committee held confirmation hearings for 6 people nominated for positions on the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council. Among other things, the Council must approve all DIFW rules. The nominees are Jerry Scribner of Belgrade, Lindsay Ware of Ellsworth, Robert Duchesne of Old Town, Albro Cowperthwaite Jr of Linneus, Kristin […]
The legislature is working to strengthen our protection of endangered species. The bill expands the authority of game wardens to cite people who violate the protective laws for endangered and threatened species, and increases penalties for violations. Here is a report on this bill from Maine Audubon. This is great news! A unanimous Committee Report […]
The legislature’s IFW Committee unanimously endorsed a bill last week that will allow towns to stock fish in ponds in their areas. The amended bill requires a pond to have hand carry access and some parking. Nobody on the committee mentioned it, but we do have a right to walk through any field or forest […]
A bill giving DIF&W authority to establish bear seasons and bag limits drew a lengthy debate at the legislature’s IFW Committee. The bill got lots of discussion and debate. Rep John Martin expressed concern that, if the committee gave the department this authority, including the possibility that bear trapping would be expanded, it would provoke […]
You can expect a significant increase in the use of crossbows by hunters. The legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee voted to allow the use of crossbows in the fall archery deer season and the fall turkey season. Crossbows are currently allowed in the spring turkey season but not the fall turkey season. And they […]
Bills to expand hunting for bears and coyotes drew lots of debate last week, some of it angry. Lots of animal rights groups opposed the bills. The coyote bill drew the most concerns. Right now you can hunt coyotes almost year-round, including at night. It’s hard to believe anyone would think that coyote hunters need […]
The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine proposed significant changes in the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, in a bill sponsored for SAM by Senator Russell Black. SAM’s proposal would limit to 20% the amount of funding state agencies could receive from MOHF, and forbid commissioners who are on the MOHF Board to vote on their agency’s projects. […]
