Because of global warming, soon there will be mosquitoes in the Millinocket area and especially in Baxter State Park big enough to suck the blood out of a German Shepard. The deer and bear will have migrated to the Hudson Bay region and alligators will be common occurrence in Katahdin Lake. Did those who fought so to acquire the Katahdin Lake parcel ever stop to think about that? Come on, Mr. Baldacci! Did you?

Because of global warming, the climate in Allagash, Maine will be just as it is in Trenton, N.J. in only 180 years from now. Species like the mosquito that can easily adapt will become larger, eventually seeking humans and killing them. Species incapable of rapid adaptation will die up and go away.

If you believe this garbage, then you better begin buying up land in the Northwest Territory, especially if you like living in the northern parts of the U.S.

This article in the Boston Globe can only make a sane person laugh. I’m laughing, are you?

Tom Remington

From Mark Latti, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and wildlife.

AUGUSTA, Maine – Game Warden Neal Wykes of Naples, a game warden of 26 years, was honored today when he was named the 2006 Maine Warden of the Year at the Maine Warden Service 2007 Awards Banquet in Winslow.

“During his 26 years of service” said Colonel Tom Santaguida, Chief of the Maine Warden Service. “Warden Wykes has consistently performed his duties an extraordinary high level, setting the performance bar to a point that others should aspire to.”

Wykes was honored for his work in one of the busiest recreational areas of the State. The Naples District contains the busiest boating region of the State, an intensive open water and ice fishing season, many hunters and plentiful game, and recreational ATV and snowmobiling.

“What strikes me the most significantly about Neal is his professional demeanor and consistency year after year in a district that is second to none in regards to the shear numbers of contacts with the sporting public,” said his supervisor, Game Warden Sergeant Tim Place.

Although known primarily as a water activity district, Naples also has some remote areas with dense populations of game. Deer and turkey harvests are high, which in turn generates the corresponding enforcement responsibilities to Warden Wykes. Wykes’ district also includes the 6000-acre Hancock Land property that is open to the public for ATV and snow sled use. Wykes’ ability to keep this activity under control has been remarked positively upon by the property owner to the Warden Service. Being sensitive and responsive to landowner/land user relationships has helped maintain access to land that might otherwise be off limits to the public.

Wykes has been the primary officer investigating a yearly average of two dozen boating accidents that resulted in personal injury or death and countless others involving substantial property damage. Other recreational vehicle accident investigations, including ATV and snowmobile, are handled efficiently and with precision. Warden Wykes possesses considerable knowledge and expertise in recreational vehicle accident investigation and reconstruction, often being called on for guidance by fellow game wardens that find themselves as primary investigators of an unusual accident.

Wykes currently is a member of the airboat team and has been so since its inception 15 years ago. He also is the Southern Team Leader of the Warden Service color guard and has been an active member of the team for 23 years. Neal is one of the go to people on decibel meter operation and is often called upon to facilitate enforcement of noise emission violations. He also instructs on this type enforcement activity, as well as recreational vehicle accident investigation, at every Warden Service Academy. Wykes was on the firearms training team for a decade and won the coveted Commissioner’s trophy in 1983. Neal was also instrumental in setting up the new Naples sub-station that allows area wardens to use their computers on a high speed network connection.

“Warden Wykes is a very recognizable and respected member of the Lakes Region community and has developed relationships that aid in his mission. Whether it is the State Police, County Sheriff’s Department, or Naples Marine Safety, Neal doesn’t hesitate to lend a hand or ask for one when needed,” said Santaguida, “Twenty-six years of calm, confidence and consistency
makes Warden Neal Wykes a valued member of the Maine Warden Service and most worthy of our highest honor and title of ‘Warden of the Year’.”

Along with the Warden of the Year Award, Meritorious Service Awards were awarded for conduct above the ordinary course of duty, in which a warden because of their initiative, courage and diligence places themselves in danger while performing an unusual task.

Game Warden Sergeant Dan Menard of Houlton and Game Warden Bill Chandler of Shirley received Meritorious Service Awards for their dramatic rescue of a lady trapped in a submerged vehicle in Moosehead Lake.

Game Warden Chris Cloutier of Bridgton received a Meritorious Service Award for his courage and determination in apprehending an armed and dangerous bank robbery suspect on the grounds of an Elementary School in Lovell.

Game Warden Rick Clowry of Harmony received a Meritorious Service Award for his rescue of three overturned canoeists who weren’t wearing lifejackets on an icy Kingsbury Pond last April. The canoe tipped over, and Clowry went into the icy water twice to save the victims.

Game Warden Pilot Dan Dufault of Turner received a Meritorious Service Award for his part in the rescue of two lost children who were floating down the Kennebec River. Dufault flew in conditions that kept most planes grounded, but realizing that the lost children wouldn’t last long in the weather, he flew anyway.

The following Game Wardens received Exemplary Service Awards for rendering outstanding service that deserves special attention: Game Warden Alan Dudley of Easton for his expertise in search and rescue, fish and game enforcement, and his record of achievement over the past ten years; Game Warden Bill Livezey of Sherman Mills in recognition of his outstanding undercover work in Operation Deer Snare in Washington County in the Fall of 2005; and Game Warden Bruce Loring of Enfield for freeing an entangled warden service diver who was running out of air under the ice on Cold Stream Pond. The pair were retrieving a snowmobile that went through the ice.

Game Warden Dan Scott of Hamden and his canine Roxy received the Search and Rescue Canine Case of the Year award, for their part in finding and rescuing a diabetic man who was found nearly unconscious, and Warden Mark Merrifield of Searsmont and his canine Aspen received the K9 Conservation Law Enforcement Case of the Year Award for their part in a poaching case involving a crossbow with night vision equipment. The case netted the suspect three days in jail and a $2,000.00 fine.

Game Warden Captain Joel Wilkinson of Windsor received the Supervisor of the Year Award for demonstrating superior knowledge and leadership in supervisory law enforcement and by doing so has gained the respect of fellow officers, department employees and other agencies. Wilkinson was honored for what he has accomplished in this past year in the newly created captain position, along with his consistency of outstanding performance for his thirteen years of service.

Retired Game Warden Gary Dumond of Aroostook County received the 2006 legendary Game Warden Award.

Tom Remington

I received this photo yesterday from U.S. Hunting Today’s chief photographer, Milt Inman, as he has been out roaming the countryside looking for signs of spring. This comes after returning to Maine from his winter retreats in Florida, where spring arrived some time ago.

From Mark Latti, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:

FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — The Maine Warden Service and others continue to search for 3 year-old Alexandra Wright, age 3 of Fort Fairfield, who was reported missing just after noontime on April 25. The search is focused on a section of the Aroostook River in Fort Fairfield behind their apartment on Main Street.

Searchers are concentrating on a two-mile stretch of the river in Fort Fairfield east to the Canadian Border. Yesterday, searchers found a boot that was identified as belonging to Alexandra. That boot was found approximately 500 feet down river from the apartment. Later in the evening, a matching boot was found approximately one mile downriver.

Game Wardens, Maine Forest Service, Maine State Police, Border Patrol, local police and rescue personnel along with volunteers will be searching today. Plans are to continue an intensive ground search along the river banks, search the river by boat and by airplane, and sent divers into various areas of the rivers. The warden service will have five boats and an airplane on scene today.

There are nine Game Warden divers there today, and seven other divers from the Maine State Police and the Maine Marine Patrol. Divers are set to start searching around 8:00, and will focus on some of the eddies in the river.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police are searching areas of the river on the Canadian side.

The river currently is flooded, flowing at 40,000 cubic feet per second, and the water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, with ice and debris floating downriver.

The search began yesterday just after noontime when Alexandra’s mother stated that she had left Alexandra in a room unattended for a moment around noontime, and when she got back to the room where Alexandra was left, a sliding glass door was open, leading to the river. She immediately called 911.

A boot was found at the river and the mother identified it as belonging to Alexandra.

The search is focused on a two mile section of the flood-swollen Aroostook River in Fort Fairfield.

Tom Remington

FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — The Maine Warden Service is searching for a missing 3 year-old from Fort Fairfield. She was last seen around noontime today. The search is focused on a section of the Aroostook River in Fort Fairfield.

The mother of the missing girl stated that she had left the toddler in a room unattended for a moment around noontime, and when she got back to the room where the toddler was was left, a sliding glass door was open, leading to the river.

A boot was found at the river and the mother identified it as belonging to her missing child.

The search is focused on the flood-swollen Aroostook River. Currently there are 12 game Wardens, 5 game Warden Boats, a Game Warden Plane, Border Patrol Helicopter, and area police and fire department personnel searching for the missing 3 year old. The Maine Warden Service Dive team is headed north to help in the search.

Tom Remington

Thursday April 26th from 1-4pm at Thomas College in Waterville. This Action Group Meeting will focus on Kennebec Corridor protection, restoration and access projects.

The second meeting will occur on Wednesday May 2nd at the same time and location. This meeting will focus on economic growth and development in the Kennebec Corridor. Discussions about marketing and tourism will be part of this meeting as well.

Driving to Thomas College Atrium: Thomas College is located at 180 West River Road in Waterville, Maine. From Interstate 95 exit 127 (formerly 33), go east on Kennedy Memorial Drive (Route 137). In approximately 1.5 miles, turn right onto West River Road (Route 104 South). Thomas College is 1.5 miles on the left past Strike Ten Bowling.

Tom Remington

The infant and anonymous entity that calls itself RESTORE-SAM, has begun what appears to be a campaign to solicit input from any concerned sportsmen, or citizens in general for that matter, on specific topic matters.

Earlier this month, I announced the formation of this group that insists it will remain anonymous while asking all curious sportsmen to only consider the issues that affect them most and not focus on who might be asking the questions or directing any discussions. This approach of anonymity has been controversial to say the least with some Maine sportsmen vowing to ignore RESTORE-SAM as they would have trouble with credibility.

I have to say that I have been one of those skeptical few but am determined to try to keep an open mind about the issue.

Within a few days of RESTORE-SAM making their announcement at the New England Outdoor Voice website, the debate over their purpose and effectiveness highlighted a few hunting and fishing message boards as well as become the topic of at least one Maine newspaper outdoor writer, Ken Allen.

With the controversy stirring heated debate in places where more heated debate wasn’t needed, it appeared that RESTORE-SAM wasn’t properly prepared to deal with the consequences of laying claim to want to bring the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine back to its roots.

On April 9th, only about 3 days after their announcement, I criticized the efforts of RESTORE-SAM in an article by stating that they have no means of communicating quickly and effectively with the masses of Maine sportsmen looking for answers. They still don’t.

It’s now 2 weeks since I wrote that article and only now has RESTORE-SAM awakened again in quest of input from Maine sportsmen. I found a post this morning again at New England Outdoor Voice from R-S, inviting members there to offer input to a specific issue that has faced Maine hunters for the past 30 years.

The post at the message board states the following.

Over the coming weeks and months we will be collecting information and opinion from the visitors to the website with the objective of writing a SAM Management Assessment Report (SMART) by this fall. The first subject we propose for debate is Sunday Hunting. Thank you to those that have sent in comments and ideas. Keep them coming. We will begin by asking the following question.

With SAM’s apparent failure to once again enact Sunday Hunting, do you think it is in the best interest of SAM members for SAM to continue to push for Sunday Hunting?

We have posted new content that can be found at: http://www.restore-sam.com/sunhunt.html or as a link from our main page http://www.restore-sam.com

restoresam

A quick trip over to the R-S website and they expound a bit more on the issue of Sunday Hunting and how the repeated attempts, 26 out of the last 30 years according to R-S, to enact a law allowing Sunday Hunting by SAM has hurt Maine’s hunting image and resulted in more land closures.

There have been 26 legislative attempts in the last 30 years to enact Sunday hunting. Each time it has been submitted for consideration, it has been rejected by the legislature. Statewide polls and surveys indicate that the majority of Mainers are opposed to Sunday Hunting. Many Mainers and specifically land owners strongly oppose the idea of Sunday Hunting.

We want to encourage the Sportsman Alliance of Maine to stop submitting Sunday Hunting legislation unless new statewide survey data indicates a shift in Maine viewpoints. The persistent efforts of the Sportsman Alliance of Maine have furthered the divide between hunters, landowners and non-hunting outdoors people. This has resulted in an increase in the amount of posted land in Maine and a loss of hunting opportunity for Mainers.

The continual pushing of Sunday Hunting as an issue is not in the long term best interest of the Maine Sporting Community. By using discretion and knowing what fights to pick and what fights to avoid SAM will be better positioned as an effective lobbying organization in the future. Sunday Hunting is an example of using up precious political capitol on an issue that SAM should know is not going to happen unless average Mainers change their views.

What would make their effort more effective is if they could provide links to back up some of the claims they are making. One such claim is that “Statewide polls and surveys indicate that the majority of Mainers are opposed to Sunday Hunting”. A simple link to where that information came from would help sportsmen in making better decisions.

Another claim says, “The persistent efforts of the Sportsman Alliance of Maine have furthered the divide between hunters, landowners and non-hunting outdoors people. This has resulted in an increase in the amount of posted land in Maine and a loss of hunting opportunity for Mainers.”

I think it would be safe to say that it is the opinion of R-S that persistent efforts of SAM have created a divide. Once again though, they claim that this effort has resulted in posting of land and loss of hunting opportunity. If this is fact, they should provide the resource from where this came from. If not, we can only assume it to be of their opinion or belief. Of course they don’t need to but it would assist them in their struggle with credibility.

R-S, in choosing to remain anonymous in this effort, has to do everything it can to gain as much credibility with Maine sportsmen. To do that they should use as much documented facts to support issues. We all know that polls and questions can be worded in such ways as to influence the responses of those participating. Perhaps a better approach for R-S is to pose a question as they did today and provide a link to a fact-filled page supporting the reasons both for and against why a persistent effort on Sunday Hunting has proven to be bad for Maine.

I don’t intend to be critical. It is my intention as I said before, to keep an open mind. It is part of my commitment in what I do, to improve outdoor opportunities for all sportsmen. If this effort can do that, I’m all for it. If it is going to further divide the community, I’m against it. I am simply offering some suggestions.

If you are interested in offering some of your own suggestions, comments, observations, etc., click on this link. It will take you to the Sunday hunting question with a link to contact RESTORE-SAM.

*Previous Posts on RESTORE-SAM*
RESTORE-SAM Off To A Poor Start
Group Seeking To RESTORE-SAM (Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine)

Tom Remington

In today’s Kennebec Journal, outdoor writer Ken Allen takes a moment to try to explain what he meant when he called a group in Maine “Right-Wingers in the movement” and “consumptive users to the core”.

I’m not sure he did a real good job of explaining that aspect of his previous article but he did make an attempt to attack certain members of a message board in Maine called, “As Maine Goes“. Regardless, Mr. Allen shares with readers his choice of weapons for hunting and his position on catch and release.

For the record, and as I have described here and elsewhere many times, I hunt with a percussion-cap Hawken replica (not a flintlock) in the muzzle-loader season, a Jennings T-Star compound (not a recurve) in bow season and a slide action or auto-loading firearm in some hunting seasons, depending on the critter hunted. (I choose a slide action for ducks and an auto-loader for gray squirrels.)

Like most people, including even the most dedicated member of organizations like Trout Unlimited, I may kill the occasional trout, but I fish nearly every day for part of the season. It’s imperative that I release most of my catch, or other anglers fishing after me may suffer. To paraphrase the late, great Lee Wulff, a trout is too valuable to catch but once.

After reading this I thought that, for the record, I would share with my readers what I do in the outdoors.

I hunt whitetail deer and an occasional partridge. Back in my high school days, I hunted ducks and geese almost everyday, in season, with my high school buddy, Greg Cummings. I don’t anymore, by choice.

When I hunt deer, I use a Remington auto-loading .308, usually with 150-grain bullet. It’s ironic in a way because I have owned that gun for about 25 years and have shot a few deer with it. I have never fired more than one shot, so I could have very easily been hunting with a single shot bolt action rifle as some say is the “fair chase” way of hunting.

I choose to hunt with the auto-loader for two major reasons. One, it has a scope on it…….yes, as could any weapon. I opted for a scope when Maine instituted the “Bucks Only” law. With a scope, I increase my chances of verifying my target. I’m a meat eater. If a trophy comes along, what a treat.

The second reason I use the auto-loader is because it doesn’t kick real bad. As many of you know, I have a bad back – bad case of degenerative disk disease, arthritis and sciatica. At times it has been quite debilitating. The auto-loader doesn’t pain me so much when I fire it.

Most all of my friends hunt with black powder. I choose not too for a number of reasons, the biggest being that I see how much gear these guys carry with them in the woods. They certainly enjoy using the muzzleloaders and have taken their share of game with them.

At one time, I was quite proficient with a bow and arrow but I never hunted with one. This has just been one of those things that hasn’t gnawed at me to give a try. I’m not sure I could effectively draw the bow but archery hunters have told me with the new equipment I could or I could try a crossbow. Maybe.

Should I opt to go partridge hunting, I have an old single-shot twelve gauge shotgun that I carry.

Although I don’t fish as much as I used to, I do love to fly fish but I’m not opposed to grabbing a spinning rod with a little “garden hackle” (worm) and locating a general law body of water in search of a feed of native brook trout. I’m not a big fish eater but I do like an occasional feed of native brookies. My mom loves fish and much of what I catch goes to her. Whether I catch and release or keep what I catch, depends on the circumstances. If I cannot assuredly return a fish to the water to live another day, it goes home with me. I’ve also been seen using a bobber.

I haven’t ice-fished in several years. My traps are still in my shed at camp. I think my last outing at ice fishing was several years ago with friends on a week-long trip to Nugent’s Camps on Chamberlain Lake. I think that was the last trip with that old Ski-Doo Nordic too.

I am a boater as well. I own two canoes and a small boat with an outboard motor. I use the boats for leisure, fishing, hunting and sight-seeing. I have canoed the Dead River white waters before but I’m afraid another go at that is not in the cards.

I have owned snowmobiles in the past and use to ride a fair amount. I think it is a terrific pastime and the sport has changed dramatically over the past 30 years, both equipment and organization.

I don’t own an ATV because I can’t afford one but through the generosity of friends, we usually have one or two made available to us for the thrilling week at hunting camp each season. Having those machines available for me has allowed me to get to places to hunt that otherwise I would only be able to think about. For that I am grateful.

I have in the past and do some still today, hiking. Generally the hiking is a family event as I like to take the grandkids out and share with them.

I don’t ski anymore because of health but at one time I was on the slopes skiing everyday as I coached the local high school alpine racing team for about 13 years. I also was an avid cross-country skier. I skied at centers with tracked and groomed trails and have bushwhacked at well.

I even still own snowshoes.

This in a nutshell, explains what I do and how I do it when I head outdoors. Is my way the “right” way? I guess it is for me. These are my choices. Thank God I have the choices. What others choose is their business. All I expect is that they treat the outdoors with respect and keep it clean while respecting all landowners.

Tom Remington

VASSALBORO, Maine – The State of Maine added ten new game wardens to its ranks at a graduation ceremony at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy this morning. These game wardens will fill ten vacant districts across the state.

The newest Maine Game Wardens, and the district they are assigned to are: Alan Curtis – Kennebunk; Tony Gray — South Paris; Ryan Fitzpatrick – Rumford; James Babiarz — Jackman; Tom Mckenney — Ripogenus Dam; Dan Christianson – Topsfield; Charles Brown – Oakfield; Josh Smith – Monticello; Preston Pomerleau – Ashland; Adrian Marquis – Madawaska.

“The Maine Warden Service has a history that dates back over 125 years, and I am pleased to say that with the addition of these new game wardens, the future of the Maine Warden Service is in good hands,” said Roland D. Martin, Commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The graduation marks the culmination of 32 weeks of training for the game wardens that included a 20-week Basic Law Enforcement Training Program followed by a 12-week advance warden service academy.

“I congratulate you on your successful completion of the prescribed course of training, and I envy you as you embark on your new careers,” said Colonel Thomas Santaguida, Chief of the Maine Warden Service and a game warden of 20 years.

The advanced warden training is designed to provide newly hired game wardens with the basic skills necessary to perform their duties as a District Game Warden. It encompasses a number of topics, including but not limited to: search and rescue, warden patrol techniques, wildlife and fisheries management, equipment maintenance, public relations, public speaking, fish and wildlife law, investigation techniques and a practical exercise. The 20-week law enforcement course included such course work as emergency vehicle operations, constitutional law, search and seizure, first aid, water safety, basic firearms, arrest procedure, and physical conditioning.

Beginning Sunday, April 22, Maine Game wardens will continue their training with an eight-week field training officer program. Each of the new wardens will work under the direct guidance of an experienced game warden and will be evaluated by field supervisors. During this training, new game wardens are evaluated while performing their duties and critiqued daily as to their strengths and areas in need of improvement. Upon successful completion of the Field Training Officer Program, these newest wardens will begin their patrols under the supervision of a sectional sergeant.

This 32-week training for game wardens is a requirement of the Maine Warden Service.

Tom Remington

TOWNSHIP 10, RANGE 11, Maine — A Maine Warden Service aircraft was damaged as it was turning on Clear Lake, in T10 R11 on Saturday April 14, 2007.

The Cessna 185 aircraft, piloted by Warden Pilot Daryl Gordon, of Eagle Lake was damaged when a ski on the aircraft’s landing equipment dug into the ice and snow and caused the plane to tip forward onto its nose and wing. The plane was traveling slowly at the time. The aircraft suffered damage to the propeller and wing, and will be repaired onsite. No one was injured in the incident. Warden Pilot Gordon patrols the area around Clear Lake and had stopped there on routine patrol to check on a Department camp in the area.

Colonel Thomas Santaguida, Chief of the Maine Warden Service said, “Our warden pilots are highly trained professional pilots. They fly in all kinds of conditions and weather to carry out the mission of the Bureau and conduct search and rescue missions. Our pilots have an outstanding safety record. Although very rare and unusual, when operating an aircraft thousands of hours in demanding terrain and weather, accidents may happen. I have complete confidence in the competence and abilities of all our warden pilots to operate our aircraft in a safe and professional manner.”

The Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and Maine Department of Environmental Protection were notified quickly after the incident.

Chief Warden Pilot Charles later said, “Repair and removal of the aircraft has been delayed due to weather yet I expect to be fully operational for our spring season”

Tom Remington

I just finished writing an article this morning about how the media sways its readers by twisting, distorting and inaccurately handing out information and then I stumbled onto this piece of confusing writing by Ken Allen, outdoor writer for the Morning Sentinel. (When you get to the page, scroll down a bit to find this part of his article.)

I guess Allen lines up on the left because he seems to have a problem with those lining up on the right. There’s nothing wrong with being left, right or somewhere in the middle. It’s what makes us an interesting lot. Right or left shouldn’t matter. What matters is debating facts and making decisions based on such.

What I find puzzling is that Allen used his platform at the Morning Sentinel to levy unsubstantiated comments lumping anyone opposed to his beliefs as being all the same. Allen’s rant comes in reference to what he describes as a movement by the right in the sporting world in Maine in a way that makes a reader easily see he doesn’t care much for. Read this.

Right wingers in the movement do not want to be told that they cannot use live fish as bait, that they cannot day-trip on the Allagash, that snowmobilers and ATVers have no access on certain lands, etc.

They’re consumptive users to the core and have no interest in backpacking for backpacking’s sake or cross-country skiing without a firearm or fishing traps.

We can argue all day about whether all people have a right to voice opinions and if being a consumptive sportsman is good or bad. Obviously Allen believes anyone who consumers their fish and game they catch is bad. But the culmination of his comments lumping what he calls, those in the right-wing movement, as having “no interest in backpacking for backpacking’s sake or cross-country skiing without a firearm or fishing traps”, is a ridiculous statement and quite childish when you look at the entire writing.

But it doesn’t stop there. Allen then makes an embarrassing statement that makes me question how much thought he put into it or whether he was just pulling a “Jim Zumbo” and reacting out of anger.

What makes these right wingers particularly tenacious is this: Some of them make a living at their chosen sports by working in an industry affiliated with bait, snowmobiles, ATVs, ice-fishing equipment and so forth.

First of all, doesn’t Mr. Allen make a living, of some sorts anyway, from what he does? Does that make him “tenacious”? Do right-wingers find that tenaciousness bad? If Allen makes a living thusly, then I guess I am to assume that making a living off writing about your chosen sport and having tenacity is higher on the list of acceptable practices than say selling bait, snowmobiles, etc.

By the tone of Mr. Allen’s comments, I would have to say that he views selling bait, working in the snowmobile and ATV industry, selling or manufacturing ice-fishing equipment and whatever else on his list he doesn’t approve of, as nothing any better than prostitution, selling crack cocaine or dealing in illegal arms trade. Are these activities above sponsoring terrorism?

If being on the right, having an opinion, some compassion for your “chosen” sport and taking an active role to protect what you believe to be in the best interest of all sportsmen is somehow wrong, maybe even evil, then where does that leave those on the left like Ken Allen?

His choice to lump all right-wing sportsman into a group of consumptive criminals, while ridiculing right-thinking people and painting a picture of them as somehow sub-human, isn’t a real pretty picture either.

As much as I might like to, out of angers and the sometimes overwhelming passion that wants to flow from within out through my fingertips to my keyboard, I won’t lump all left-thinker sportsmen into a group that thinks progressiveness is the right thing for our industry. Not all left-wing sportsmen believe that Baxter State Park, the Allagash and trout fishing should be for only select groups. Not all left-leaning fishermen think catch and release is the only humane way to treat a fish. Not all left-minded backpackers and cross-country skiers think that consumptive hunters and fishermen are evil people.

It’s only a few!

Tom Remington

Two guys who are suing the state of Maine over access to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway are now suing to stop the reconstruction of the Henderson Bridge over the Allagash River.

Kevin Miller, Bangor Daily News has the story.

Tom Remington