People agree that a camel is simply a horse built by a committee. Maine’s “Big Game” species could easily have been the next items on that committees agenda. On the Maine Deer Hunters Group page on Facebook I posted a warning that the Maine Legislature’s Nonresident Hunter Task Force has made the recommendation that the wild turkey be degraded in stature to a “Small Game” species. Other members of the group questioned my omission of raccoon and bobcat to the list of big game species. The confusion comes about as a result of the hunting regulation that prohibits holders of a Maine small game license from taking deer, bear, moose, wild turkey, raccoons and bobcats. While it is fact, that holders of a Maine small game license are not allowed to take deer, bear, moose, wild turkey, raccoon or bobcat; according to actual Maine statutes, this does not make raccoons or bobcats legally designated as “Big Game.” 12 MRSA Part 10, subchapter II, Chapter 915, section 11226 A. “Big Game” means bear, deer, moose and wild turkey.” There are at least five other chapter and verse references to the definition of “Big Game” species that support this conclusion. Raccoons and bobcat are designated as “Furbearers” and the license requirement stems from their value as a commodity on the world fur market. The fines and penalties for deer, bear, moose and wild turkey are much more substantial and the management plans for these species are significant compared to other species dealt with as small game. I have not seen the current Maine Guide test but as described to me I would suggest a more succinct question to ask would be, “A holder of a small game license may NOT take which species?” The answer, of course would include raccoons and bobcats. To further muddy the water the literature to study suggestions given by IF&W to Registered Maine guide applicants omits a study of actual Maine law, Title 12 MRSA, Part 10, etc. The booklet offered to hunters and anglers when they purchase a license is merely a syllabus or abstract of the actual law. Granted it has become more accurate over the years but when the Game Warden issues a citation, it is the chapter and verse in the actual law that you are charged with, not the wording in the handout. The rub comes when guide applicants are blind-sided with a “gotcha” question that is not backed up by verbatim law. To make it worse, the instructors authorized to teach and pre-test guide applicants are forced to accept without question, the guide test, including the question that is taken out of context as a political trivia trap. Anyone wishing to look at the actual law as posted can visit http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/12/title12ch915.pdf To examine the source of my complaint to the Legislature’s Non-resident Hunter Task Force, visit the IF&W website, www.maine.gov/ifw and click on the site (Nonresident Hunter Task Force) posted in the left-hand column and scroll down to the committee recommendations. Shortly after World War II there were less than 40,000 turkeys nationwide. Due to strict laws and innovative wildlife management practices (largely by the local chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation) the wild turkey population has grown to over a million and possible more. States such as Maine spent a great deal of money and volunteer time to re-establish flocks to viable hunting levels. The Maine Legislature included the status as big game for several reasons including protection under the law and the imposition of severe fines. The turkey stands nearly 4 feet tall, weighs an average of between 14 and 24 pounds. Can run 30 m.p.h. and fly 60 mph and has the agility to land on a single branch. Serious hunters take as much if not more pride in accomplishing the challenge of taking a wild turkey than they do with deer, bear and moose. Previous to the restorations in the Northeast the hunter success rate was 9% nationwide. Maine now has a success rate of nearly 35%. I blame IF&W for not allowing population control seasons and now we are faced with making turkeys a small game species. That means no big game license bought in the spring, no extra income from turkey permits and non-resident hunters can simply buy a 3-day license cutting down on the time spent in Maine for food gas etc. I have suggested that instead of the small game status that Maine implement the following guideline for turkey hunting: Eliminate the need for a turkey permit or at least offer the permit only for a second spring gobbler. Do away with the excessive $5.00 tagging fee. Hunters complain it is too much and they are forced to travel great distances to tag the bird due to a shortage of game check stations for turkey. Offer a two turkey, either sex season in the fall and extend the season to include at least two Saturdays (Maine does not allow hunting on Sunday). I feel not only the image of the wild turkey as a big game species is diminished as well as re-branding the turkey on par with grouse and woodcock. Not so long ago the black bear had nuisance status but was elevated to big game and now is one of the greatest revenue sources to IF&W. What if bear were diminished to the mindset hunters have about coyotes? In my guide service I cater to a large number of non-resident hunters who pay thousands of dollars each for the opportunity to take a mature gobbler in each state or as an addition to other trophy categories. There simply is no parallel anywhere in the country. Hunters don’t collect grouse tails from every state or police themselves to a set of rules stricter than each state law. The respect afforded to wild turkeys and serious wild turkey hunters should be protected.
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