Monthly Archives: February 2017

$5 million will fix problems at two state fish hatcheries

The legislature’s supplemental budget, approved by the Appropriations Committee last week, includes $4.8 million to fix problems in two state fish hatcheries. Given all the needs in this state, the Fish and Wildlife Department has to be congratulated for getting this money. For example, while there’s been a lot of discussion about what we need […]

Maine’s hunting and other laws are complex, often amusing, and sometimes confusing

It takes 462 pages to give us all of Maine’s laws governing hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor fun. I just finished reading through the law book and found some very interesting things that I will share with you. But first, it’s what I didn’t find that puzzled me. Last year I wrote a series […]

Reduction in warden positions alarms legislators

“We need to reduce the department’s size.” That was DIF&W Commissioner Chandler Woodcock’s response to a question asking why he was proposing cuts to the Maine Warden Service’s budget, including a decrease in positions and mileage. Chandler presented his proposed budget recently to members of the legislature’s IFW Committee, and the Warden Service cuts were […]

February 28 legislative hearings feature exotic animals, fish hatcheries, and more

The legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee will host public hearings on three of my bills on Tuesday, February 28, along with three other bills. LD 305, my exotic animals bill, is sponsored by IFW Committee chair, Senator Scott Cyrway of Kennebec Country, and promises to draw a substantial crowd in opposition. This bill has […]

IFW Committee kills bill to simplify fishing rules

The bill to create a commission to simplify Maine’s complicated fishing rules got a unanimous ought-not-to-pass recommendation from the legislature’s IFW Committee yesterday, even though five members of the committee had cosponsored the bill. That was a big disappointment for me, as I had proposed the bill and asked Representative Michelle Dunphy to sponsor it. […]