AUGUSTA – Paper applications for the 2010 Moose Permit Lottery are due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Augusta.

Paper applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to MDIF&W in Augusta by 5 p.m. The April 1 deadline for paper applications provides adequate time for department employees to process the paperwork before the lottery.

The April 1 deadline is for paper applications only. For the last few years, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has encouraged hunters to apply online for the lottery through its website, www.mefishwildlife.com. It’s an easy and convenient way to submit an application!

The deadline for online applications is 11:59 p.m. on May 14, 2010.

MDIF&W no longer prints or mails paper applications for the moose lottery.

If an interested hunter is unable to apply using the online licensing system, the Department suggests:

· Printing out a paper application from IF&W’s website at www.mefishwildlife.com, fill it out, and mail it with your payment to the Department;

· Coming to IF&W’s main office to fill out a paper application. The address is 284 State Street in Augusta;

· Pick up a paper application at the IF&W booth at any of the sportsmen shows statewide, such as the Wilton show this weekend.

A paper application also was printed in the February issues of the Maine Sportsman and Northwoods Sporting Journal.

This year, 3,140 permits will be allocated in the state’s 28 Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs). Season dates are:

· September 27-October 2: WMDs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 19

· October 11-16: WMDs 1-14, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28

· Nov. 1-6: WMDs 2, 3, 6, 11

· Nov. 1-27: WMDs 15, 16, 23, 26

Deborah Turcotte
Spokesperson, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
SHS 41 284 State St.
Augusta, ME  04333
W: (207) 287-6008
C: (207) 592-1164

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Note: Dates listed below are subject to change due to any rulemaking or legislation which may be adopted or enacted prior to the season.

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Deer:

Expanded Archery Season (designated areas only): September 11, 2010 through December 11, 2010

Note: Expanded archery permits are required in addition to an archery license to hunt deer during the expanded archery season in the expanded archery areas.

Archery Season (Statewide): September 30, 2010 through October 29, 2010

• During the archery season on deer, bucks may be taken statewide. (Although an Any-Deer permit is not required during the archery season, antlerless deer may only be taken in WMD’s that have Any-Deer permits – WMD’s 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 29.)

Note: An archery license is required to hunt deer during the archery season on deer.

Firearms Season (allows use of bow and arrow, crossbows, firearms or muzzleloaders): November 1, 2010 through November 27, 2010 ( Maine Residents Only Day:October 30, 2010)

• During the firearm season on deer (including Maine Residents Only day), bucks may be taken statewide.
• Antlerless deer (by permit only) may be taken in WMD’s that have Any-Deer permits – WMD’s 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 29.

Youth Deer Hunting Day: October 23, 2010

• On the Youth Deer Hunting Day, bucks may be taken statewide. (Although an Any-Deer permit is not required on the Youth Deer Hunting Day, antlerless deer may only be taken in WMD’s that have Any-Deer permits – WMD’s 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 29.)

Muzzleloader

• During the muzzleloader season on deer, bucks may be taken statewide.
• Antlerless deer (by permit only) may only be taken in WMD’s that have Any-Deer permits – WMD’s 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 29.

Week 1 - (Statewide): November 29, 2010 through December 4, 2010

Week 2 - (WMD’s 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 29): December 6, 2010 through December 11, 2010

Note: A muzzleloading permit is required in addition to a hunting license to hunt deer during the muzzleloader season on deer.
Bag and Possession Limit: Only one deer may be taken annually, except additional deer may be taken by participants in the Expanded Archery Season, or by anyone possessing a bonus antlerless deer permit or superpack antlerless deer permit.

During the archery season on deer, in WMD’s where no any-deer permits are issued, archers are restricted to bucks only. Although an Any-Deer permit is not required during the archery season on deer, antlerless deer may only be taken in WMD’s that have Any-Deer permits – WMD’s 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 29.

During the regular firearms and muzzleloading seasons on deer, only those hunters possessing a valid Maine Any-Deer permit may hunt antlerless deer and bucks with antlers less than three inches in length. Hunters not possessing an Any-Deer permit may hunt “bucks only” (antlers three inches or longer) anywhere in the State.

Any-Deer permits are valid only for a specific wildlife management district. A permit holder may kill an antlerless deer in the wildlife management district for which his or her permit is valid.

Bear:

General Hunting Season: August 30, 2010 through November 27, 2010

Hunting With Bait: *August 30, 2010 through September 25, 2010

Hunting With Dogs: September 13, 2010 through October 29, 2010 Note: See new law regarding dog training season below.
*Bear bait may be set out 30 days prior to the start of the bear bear hunting season which would be July 31, 2010.

Note: A bear hunting permit is required in addition to a hunting license to hunt for bear before the firearm season on deer. The fee for this permit is $27.00* for residents and $67.00* for nonresidents and aliens. During the firearms season on deer, nonresidents and aliens are required to obtain a November (late season) bear permit (if they do not already possess the early season bear permit) to hunt bear. The fee for this permit is $40.00*.

*plus agent fee

Bag and Possession Limit: One bear may be taken annually, either by hunting or trapping.

Dog Training Season: Persons engaging in training activities must possess a valid hunting license. Residents may train up to 6 dogs on bear from July 1st to the start of the bear hunting season (including Sundays), except south of Route 9 in Wshington and Hancock counties. This law is in effect from July 1, 2009 until June 30, 2010 at which time it will be revisited.

Moose (permit by lottery): Moose Hunting Information

• WMD’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, and 19: September 27, 2010 through October 2, 2010
• WMD’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 27, and 28: October 11, 2010 through October 16, 2010
• WMD’s 15, 16, 23, and 26: November 1, 2010 through November 27, 2010
• WMD’s 15, 16, 23, and 26 – Maine Resident Only Day: October 30, 2010

Note: A moose hunting permit is required in addition to a hunting license to hunt moose.

Bag and Possession Limit: One may be taken annually, by permit only.

Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse (Partridge), and Bobwhite Quail: October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010

Bag and Possession Limit:

• Pheasant: Daily Bag Limit – 2; Possession Limit – 4
• Ruffed Grouse and Bobwhite Quail: Daily Bag Limit – 4; Possession Limit – 8

Note: In York and Cumberland Counties, a pheasant permit is required in addition to a hunting license to hunt or possess pheasant.

Wild Turkey (by permit only): Also see Turkey Hunting Information

Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Season (Open to all hunters):
Youth Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Day: May 1, 2010

Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Season: (WMD’s 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)- May 3, 2010 through June 5, 2010.

Note: A spring Wild Turkey Hunting Permit is required in addition to a hunting license that allows hunting for big game or an archery license to hunt Wild Turkey during the spring Wild Turkey hunting season.

Bag and Possession Limit: One bearded Wild Turkey.

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until 12:00 (noon) local time.
Fall Wild Turkey Hunting Season:
Zone 1 (Archery Only): (WMD’s 15, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25, 26) – October 9, 2010 through October 23, 2010

Zone 2 (Archery Only): (WMD’s 21, 22, 23) – September 30, 2010 through October 29, 2010

Zone 3 (Archery & Shotgun): (WMD’s 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25) – October 16, 2010 through October 22, 2010

Note: A fall Wild Turkey hunting permit and an archery license are required to hunt in Zone 1 and 2. In Zone 3, a fall Wild Turkey hunting permit and a hunting license that allows hunting for big game are required to hunt with a shotgun, and a fall Wild Turkey hunting permit and an archery license are required to hunt with bow and arrow.

Bag and Possession Limit: One Wild Turkey of either sex, any age.

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hours after sunset.

Legal Weapons for Fall Season:
Only bow and arrow may be used to hunt Wild Turkey during the fall Wild Turkey hunting season in Zone 1 and Zone 2.

In Zone 3, permit holders may use (with appropriate license), bow and arrow or shotgun guages 10 through 20 using shot sizes 4 through 6.

Crow (Split Season):

• WMD’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6: February 15, 2010 through April 15, 2010, and August 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010
• WMD’s 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29: February 1, 2010 through March 31, 2010, and August 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010

Bag and Possession Limit: No limit.

Gray Squirrel: October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010

Bag and Possession Limit: No limit.

Gray Squirrel (Falconry) : October 1, 2010 through February 28, 2011

Bag and Possession Limit: Daily Bag Limit – 4; Possession Limit – 8

Snowshoe Hare: October 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011

• Season on Island of Vinalhaven: October 1, 2010 through February 28, 2011

Bag and Possession Limit: Daily Bag Limit – 4; Possession Limit – 8

Bobcat: December 1, 2010 through February 14, 2011

Bag and Possession Limit: No limit.

Fox: October 18, 2010 through February 28, 2011

Bag and Possession Limit: No limit.

Raccoon: October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010

Bag and Possession Limit: No limit.

Skunk and Opossum: October 18, 2010 through December 31, 2010

Bag and Possession Limit: No limit.

Coyote:

During daylight hunting hours: No Closed Season

Night hunting: December 16, 2010 through June 1, 2011
Note: A coyote night hunting permit is required in addition to a hunting license to hunt coyotes at night.

Bag and Possession Limit: None

Woodchuck, Red Squirrel, and Porcupine: No Closed Season

Bag and Possession Limit: No limit.

Spruce Grouse, Lynx, and Cottontail Rabbit: No Open Season

How to avoid incidental take of lynx while trapping or hunting bobcats and other furbearers.

Woodcock, Waterfowl, Snipe, Gallinules, Rails – Season dates are set according to federal framework and are listed in the Migratory Game Bird Schedule published in September.

A Migratory Waterfowl Permit is not required to hunt woodcock, snipe, gallinule, rails, or crow.

Migratory Game Bird Hunting Schedule

Note: Except for migratory game birds, there is no general hunting season on any species of bird or animal which is not listed above.

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The smelts run in May, the suckers spawn in May, the Hendrickson’s hatch in May.  These are all significant events that hungry fish who have just endured a long Maine winter are very tuned into.  So I struggle to understand why so many people insist on waiting until June to do their serious Maine fishing trips. 

Maybe it’s because everyone thinks things are still frozen solid here in May.  Trust me, they’re not.  Large main stem rivers are usually swollen with runoff in May, so I wouldn’t recommend a drift boat trip at this time of year.  And the weather in far northern Maine usually runs 2 or 3 weeks behind the rest of the state, so I wouldn’t be in too much of a hurry to travel to Aroostook County.  But the lakes, ponds and small trout and salmon streams are usually in prime condition throughout much of the rest of the state.

One of the other perks of fishing in May is that the fish tend to be most active during the warmest (middle) part of the day.  So unlike the summer months, you don’t have to get up at dawn, or fish at dusk, to be successful. 

I fish a lot of small streams in the vast and sparsely populated Down East region of Maine in May.  Typically, we drive logging roads and park the vehicle within fairly close proximity to the spot on a given stream where we will fish.  So we frequently have the opportunity to fish 3 or 4 different streams in a given day; and often fish for both trout and salmon (in different streams) on the same day.

Top water trolling is also very good in May, and informed boat anglers from Rangeley to East Grand have some of their most productive days before many people even know that the ice has gone out.  The same is true on many back-country trout ponds. 

It looks like we’re going to have an early ice-out in 2010, so start to make your fishing plans now.  Please feel free to call or email me to discuss the diversity of fishing options that are available in May.

Kevin Tracewski, (Tracewski Fishing Adventures), info@fishguideme.com, (207) 827-3110

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The snowboarders told the Maine Warden Service that they were following snowboard tracks and did not see the out-of-bounds signs.

The search was focused at the 3,500-foot elevation mark on what’s called the “backside” of Sugarloaf Mountain, a heavily forested area with extremely steep terrain and ravines. The temperature was 22 degrees, with 30-40 mile-per-hour winds on Sunday night. At least 50 inches of new snow has fallen over the weekend.

The snowboarders used cell phones and text messages to contact family, friends and public safety dispatch crews throughout the night. The Maine Warden Service began its search after 6 p.m. Sunday, and suspended it at 1:30 a.m. Monday for approximately four hours before resuming.

One snowboarder, Luke Poisson, 18, of Lewiston, Maine, who separated from the three others, was located at approximately 9:30 a.m. today by Maine Warden Service Game Wardens Tom McKenney and Pat Egan. The wardens used a compass in the direction of Mr. Poisson’s voice to pinpoint his location, which was approximately 1 mile (as the crow flies) from the marked trail. He was hiked down the mountain to West Kingfield Road, where he was evaluated by an ambulance crew. He did not require hospitalization.

The three snowboarders were located at approximately 10:20 a.m. by teams from the Sugarloaf Ski Patrol. The men were given food and water. The teens were off the mountain by 1:45 p.m., and were evaluated by ambulance crews. None were injured.

The three snowmobilers are: Cory Koop, 18, from North Pole, Alaska, who is believed to be a student at the University of Maine-Farmington; Machali Belluscio, 19, from Keene, N.H., who attends UMaine-Farmington; and Aaron Nadeau, 15, from New Portland, Maine.

Eight Game Wardens, six members of the Sugarloaf Ski Patrol, and members of the Carrabasset Valley Fire Department participated in the search.

On Friday night, a group of snowboarders also became lost on the backside of the mountain and were located a couple of hours later.

Deborah Turcotte
Spokesperson, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
SHS 41 284 State St.
Augusta, ME  04333
W: (207) 287-6008
C: (207) 592-1164

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