It is time to demand public funding for the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department, which does a lot for all the citizens of Maine, but gets almost no funding from most Mainers. Public funding for DIFW should be the top priority in the next legislative session for all of Maine’s groups representing hunters, anglers, conservationists, […]
DIF&W recently presented their plan to expand protection of our native brook trout to members of the legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. Today I want to share with you the reaction of committee members. This all began with a bill I submitted in the last legislative session to expand protection to the tributaries to […]
A proposal and plan to expand protection for Maine’s native brook trout is taking shape at Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and I must report that I am very pleased that Francis Brautigam, DIFW’s Fisheries Division Director, has taken the lead on this. Francis has been working with a small group of individuals, […]
Both the House and the Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto of a moose bill, so it will become law. The bill had won the support of the legislature’s Fish and Wildlife Committee, after a lengthy discussion, and was enacted by the House and Senate before the Governor vetoed it. The bill requires the […]
A legislative hearing last week on a modest gun bill was ugly. Pro-gun folks showed up in force and were loud and angry, ignoring the requests of the committee’s Senate chair to remain quiet and calm. I testified in favor of the bill, although I don’t think either side liked my testimony. The intent of […]
Great news! The House and Senate over-rode both of Governor Paul LePage’s vetoes of important hunting bills. Both bills were supported by his Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. One bill reduces the penalty for hunting deer over bait. Last year the legislature passed a bill that called for a one year suspension of the […]
Governor Paul LePage has vetoed two important hunting bills, both of which were supported by his Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. I wrote about these two bills in earlier outdoor news columns. One would reduce the penalty for hunting deer over bait. Last year the legislature passed a bill that called for a one […]
My Mount Vernon friend Dr. Dan Onion and I have come together to share our thoughts on guns. Dan: George, as town health officer for two small towns here in Western Kennebec County, I’m charged with finding ways to promote public health. I have practiced primary care and preventive medicine here in Central Maine for […]
The Maine Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee has released its report on conservation lands owned by nonprofit organizations, which it was authorized to undertake by a provision in the General Fund Biennial Budget for 2018 and 2019. The report gives high marks to our land trust community and includes some interesting recommendations. I was […]
After resisting requests that tributaries to our Heritage waters be protected, DIFW Fisheries Director Francis Brautigam told members of the legislature that his agency will do that. This has been a long and sometimes ugly battle, but I am delighted that the department is now on board with those of us who have advocated for […]
