AUGUSTA – Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin announced today that Dr. Kenneth Elowe will leave the position of Director of the Bureau of Resource Management on July 30, 2010.

Dr. Elowe, a 22-year employee of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, has accepted a position as Assistant Regional Director of Science Applications at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Region 5 headquarters, based in Hadley, Mass.

“Today, I have accepted Ken’s resignation with regrets,” Commissioner Martin said. “Ken has served this Department and the citizens of Maine with distinction, by creating and implementing several programs that now are nationally recognized, including Beginning with Habitat, and by being an outstanding spokesman for the agency. He truly is a talented individual and will be missed by all of us.”

In his new role, Elowe will be responsible for providing leadership and direction in the development and execution of high-priority regional science activities, including those involving climate change, adaptive resources management, and landscape conservation, particularly Strategic Habitat Conservation.

Elowe was named Director of Resource Management in 1998, which serves as the lead fish and wildlife biologist for Maine, after 10 years in the Department. Previous positions included Director of the Wildlife Division, leader of the Mammals Research and Management Group, and project leader for the Bear and Furbearer Group. As bureau director, he manages 120 employees, a $14 million budget, and all projects and initiatives related to wildlife and freshwater fish management.

For more than 11 years, Elowe has served as the Department’s senior liaison, building solid relationships with fish and wildlife agencies in other states and on the federal level, as well as conservation and sporting groups, and businesses.

“Ken has been instrumental in working with a variety of Maine conservation and sporting organizations in an effort to secure permanently protected funding for MDIF&W for the future,” said Peter Bourque, Director of Fisheries Program Development. “By ensuring proper funding, the Department can continue its efforts to preserve Maine’s outdoor resources for future generations.”

During his tenure, Elowe has monitored the status of fish and wildlife resources throughout Maine; directed the development of effective management programs for all species; lead the strategy for conservation land acquisition; and worked with private landowners and timber companies to develop strategies to manage lands while maintaining wildlife habitat. Currently, MDIF&W and 11 companies have wildlife habitat management agreements regarding more than 500,000 acres of forested habitat.

In Maine, Elowe was one of the originators of the Beginning with Habitat program, which seeks to integrate the principles of landscape conservation into municipal comprehensive planning. Beginning with Habitat also serves as one of the two pillars for Maine’s Wildlife Action Plan.

“Ken has been, and continues to be, an enthusiastic advocate for Beginning with Habitat and landscape conservation, using every opportunity that arises in Maine and the northeastern states, within the Northeast Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, and within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to support and advance sound landscape conservation application,” said Mark Stadler, MDIF&W Director of Wildlife. “His goal? That 50 years from now, our grandchildren will also be able to enjoy abundant and healthy wildlife management populations and habitats.”

Throughout his career, Elowe has sought to advance the concepts contained in Beginning with Habitat as well as worked extensively on endangered species policy and conservation initiatives at state and national levels.

Last year, Elowe helped celebrate the delisting of the Bald Eagle from Maine’s Endangered and Threatened Species List, after a 30-year effort by MDIF&W biologists and other natural resource groups to restore the populations in Maine.

Elowe is a member or a leader in the following groups: Atlantic Flyway Council, Atlantic Coast Joint Venture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Strategic Habitat Conservation Committees, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; and North American Waterfowl Management Plan Revision Steering Committee; also a federal-state joint task force on federal aid policy.

By Capt. Jim Hirt

From time to time we all can use a little help. These changes in thinking or additions to your fishing arsenal will improve your success. The speed of your bait whether it is a spoon, jig, or crankbait is important. The right lure at the wrong speed will be less productive.

The correct speed is dictated by many variables.

Always consider the mood of fish and the environment they are in. This will help you find the best speed. Mood is defined by weather and the time of year. High and low barometric pressure are a part of the weather question. They both have a significant impact on the mood of all fish. Activity level in fish will change with the movement or lack of barometer movement. You must know what the weather has been preceding your fishing trip. This information will set the stage giving you the information you can use to your advantage. A clear blue high sky after a low pressure front is every anglers nightmare. Fish get spooky, neutral or negative in these conditions.

A slow spot on the spot presentation is key.

Inactivity is normal, pick your favorite locations on any body of water and look for your target species in the next break to deeper water. Work smaller spoons, lures or baits in a slow presentation. If motor trolling is your method of fishing, use small spoons. Present them at slow speeds and fish them near the bottom. On the other hand steady barometric pressure for an extended period of time with overcast sky conditions is time to grab your pole and to head for the water. Don’t miss these ideal days. The fish will be up on the shallow flats, near shore and active. Pound these fish with big baits and fast erratic actions.

Work hard, work fast and cover a lot of water.

This sets up a great opportunity for trolling big water. The correct lure color for overcast will put more fish in the boat. Silver or gold has long been the standard until resent years. Cutting edge anglers are now going to glow in the dark lures. The visibility of glow spoons far exceeds the old standards. Badger Tackle has a great line up of glow spoons.

For the anglers that run a boat speed from 2.0 to 3.5 MPH, I would recommend the Vulcan magnum. This is a tough heavy weight spoon with a slim profile that fits well with most freshwater and saltwater forage base sizes. The other one I like is the Reaper. Run the regular size on clear calm days and magnum at first light, overcast or whenever you are down deep or in a low light presentation. The Reaper is a wide spoon with a crippled baitfish action for trolling at speeds of 1.0 to 2.5. The Striper and Salmon fishermen say it is a perfect match to the Shad and Alewife forage. Both are exclusively sold at http://www.badgertackle.com/. You won’t be disappointed.

Time of year is also to be considered.

Time of year is also to be considered when trying to catch moody fish. As the seasons change so do the temperatures of the water. Fish are cold blooded and their metabolism changes as their body temp changes. Most anglers know there are cold and warm water species of fish. Which means all fish, if given a choice, will find their preferred temperature range. In fact, too high or too low beyond their limits will cause stress and eventual death. In large fresh water lakes, the time of day isn’t nearly as critical as locating the depth of the preferred temperature level for the fish species you’re seeking.

Lakes layer into three separate layers of water in the spring and stay that way until cold weather. The middle layer, where there is a larger concentration of dissolved oxygen, baitfish and therefore predator fish, is called the thermocline. It can usually be found any where from ten feet to the bottom. This is a temperature layer as well as an oxygen-saturated layer and fish will relate to it as both a comfort zone and one where their body metabolism functions the most efficiently. These fish will be suspended and feeding on alewives, smelt or other forage fish.

The peak feeding and optimum temperatures

The peak feeding and optimum temperature for Coho and Chinook is 52° with an active range from 44° to 58°. For lake trout, the peak feeding and optimum temperature is 51° with activity from 43° to 53°. Fish will rarely venture out of these zones, once stratification has taken place, except to catch a meal and then will quickly return to it. One thing to remember when fishing the thermocline is that its depth can change from day to day because of wind and wave action. It may be several feet deeper or shallower from one day to the next so you’ll have to relocate it each time you go out.

Having said all that, when fishing in water temperatures near the bottom of your target species preferred temp, adjust to small spoons in a slow presentation. At their optimum temp go aggressive with large baits in quick presentations. Most anglers under estimate the speed of their quarry.

Good Luck! Let’s go fishing!

Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2010, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.

Students from Telstar’s Challenge Program [Telstar High School] collected over 800 lbs of trash, including bed springs, pylons, washing machine, air conditioner and refrigerator parts, during the annual river clean-up on the Upper Androscoggin River between Gilead, Maine and West Bethel, Maine on Monday, May 24. National River Clean-up is sponsored by American Rivers and locally by the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance. Magic Falls Rafting Company provided rafts and garbage scows to collect the trash. Bruce Pierce, UAAA Director, coordinated the event along with Steve Keane, Telstar Challenge course instructor.

I got a telephone call one day from Les Otten, owner of Sunday River Ski Resort. He wanted to know if I could meet him at his office. When I arrived he was on the telephone heavily engaged in a telephone conservation concerning the sale of several new condominiums being constructed on the mountain. Twenty-five years ago, a few hundred thousand dollars was a lot of money. I waited.

Les wanted to know if I was interested in building on an addition to one of his ski lodges. We walked around the building and peered under a deck where the addition would go, both of us raising several questions about the existing structure. Soon, with Les in his work clothes (dress slacks and dress shirt) and I in mine (grubs), we were both crawling on our bellies through the dust, gravel, weeds, debris and just about everything else one might have the pleasure of finding under a heavily traveled ski lodge deck. I did make a couple of comments about our adventure but I’ll refrain from posting them here.

I’ve told that story more than one time but as I was thinking more about it this morning after getting off the phone with Les, that action actually is a pretty good characterization of him. Here’s a man who could have sat in the comfort of his clean office but instead did not hesitate to roll up his sleeves and get dirty.

I’ve known Les for perhaps 30-plus years and during that time he has given unselfishly to his community. Time and space will not permit the endless list of how he has impacted the people in his home town and surrounding area.

Les Otten is a businessman who understands many things, among them tourism, promotion, marketing, investment, providing a viable product and operating within a budget. Whoever resides in the Blaine House will face daunting tasks and challenges. I believe he is up for the challenge and can put together the right people to make it all happen.

One huge undertaking will be the financial shortfall of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, a depleted whitetail deer herd, an overgrown population of coyotes and other predators, and environmental groups eager to make a living serving up lawsuits to stop hunting, trapping and fishing. The hunting, fishing, trapping and general outdoor recreation brings millions of dollars into Maine each year. The next governor has got to find a way to tidy up fish and game and make sure that those running it are in sync with the mission.

True to character, Otten will “roll up his sleeves and get dirty” on this issue.

All of the United States is at a crossroad. Things are changing and many of us don’t care for the direction it is going. If there’s one weapon we have as free Americans it is the right to vote. That’s where we can begin to push back.

Outdoor sportsmen can be independent people. We love to be outside, in the forests, on the water, enjoying the peace and quiet and the beauty God gave us. But to protect that, we have to give a bit more than we take sometimes. I’m asking every sportsman in Maine to make it a point to vote on June 8, 2010. Vote for the candidate(s) that you believe best represent your ideals. Finding the right people is extremely important at every level of government. Don’t wait to see who comes out on top. Be the one who puts your candidate at the top.

Tom Remington

Eric York of Damariscotta, Maine caught a record-setting yellow perch on Damariscotta Lake on Feb. 28, 2010.

The fish was weighed 1.73 pounds and was weighed on a certified scale at Yellow Front Grocery in Damariscotta. The record was confirmed by Maine Warden Service Game Warden Joe Lefebvre.

The previous state record was caught by Chad Mostats of Portland on Worthley Pond in East Peru in August 1989. It weighed 1 pound, 10 ounces (1.625 pounds).

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Sportsman newspaper, which is edited by avid outdoorsman and TV personality Harry Vanderweide, jointly announce new records. The publication has maintained the state record book for more than 30 years.

According to Vanderweide, this is the seventh state fishing record set in the past three years. That is more new records in a three-year period than any other three-year period since the records have been kept.

Editor’s Note: This is the second part of an article by Blaine Cardilli I published here recently containing the same title. Please follow this link to Part I of “God Has A Sign And It Reads: “Gone Huntin’”.

Last week I wrote an article titled, “God Has A Sign And It Reads: Gone Huntin’”. If you haven’t read it, scroll down this website and find it. It seems to be generating some talk so I thought, why not continue the discussion in a “Part II”. In the first article, I laid the basic ground work for hunting having a Biblically supported background, and I introduced you briefly to “Mountain-Man Outdoor Ministries”. In this installment, I’ll elaborate a bit more on why I believe hunting has a base in scripture, why I believe God wants, (and needs), to get involved on a more personal level with hunters, and what I plan to do about it. Hold on to your seats because I’m going to both challenge myself to take on a bold new ministry, challenge you to not only read these articles but open your camps up to a radical new outdoor preacher, and challenge the Anti-Hunters who are trying to use God and the Bible against us. You might just want to sit down for this one.

The Redneck Preacher Revealed

A few years ago, while I was in the process of trying to outline and develop this ministry, I was talking with a friend about my concerns. One thing I wanted to do was keep hunting and keep doing my pro staff work, yet try to bring God’s word into the mix in a way that wasn’t too “confrontational”. The other thing that scared me was the thought that some might think me a “Bible-thumper”, or worse, a hypocrite, because I was known to swear once in awhile plus I enjoyed a beer and a shot of good whiskey on occasion. Still do. Of course, I know the scriptural background to alcohol and drinking while many others don’t, and believe me when I say that topic is a whole bible study in itself. And before you condemn me, you might want to talk to me about it first, because the hype has been strictly religious and unwarranted. If you combine scripture with a little common sense, you’ll find out you don’t have a leg to stand on with that argument. Anyway, by the time the conversation was finished I had decided I had no other choice but to just “be me” and go with the flow, repercussions and all, and my friend wondered out loud how a redneck could become a preacher. I liked the concept and it stuck.

From that point on, I took it before God in prayer and made a deal with him; If he’d allow me to be myself without putting on airs, I’d do my best to make myself…and His Word….available to my fellow sportsmen; folks like me who love God but just don’t have the time to go to church. It soon became clear that the place to combine both my passion for hunting and my love for God was the all-American Redneck Hunting Camp. And you know what? I found out that God never intended for me to be anyone other than myself all along. Now, to those who have asked about my “credentials” and why I feel I’m uniquely qualified to actually teach christian studies, considering I’m so off-the-wall and edgy, here’s the skinny.

I’ve been a christian since age 10 but it wasn’t until 1991 that I rededicated my life to Christ and really started studying. I joined a local non-denominational church near my home, (I like non-denominational because I’m under no particular administration…which is how it should be, by the way), and I was baptized in September 1994. Between 1991 and 2010 I have logged somewhere between 35,000 and 36,000 hours of Bible studies and comprehensive research into the scriptures. That period includes a stint at a Bible college near my home where I took a 13-week course on “Understanding God”, a 12-week course on “Hermeneutics & Exegesis”, (go ahead…look it up), a 12-week course on “Theology & Church Doctrine”, an 8-week course on the “Art of Preaching and Teaching”, an 8-week course on “Discipleship” and one on “Apologetics”. It includes many hours spent in libraries doing exhaustive research on additional topics of interest ranging from crucifixion to Jewish history and culture. On top of that, I have conducted and/or been a part of men’s study groups, have put in more than a few hours of “pulpit time” helping my pastor, and served what I like to call ten years of “on the job training”. I say that because I was the only christian on a construction crew made up entirely of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 10 years. Believe me when I say, every single day was an in depth Bible study program. Seriously…I took my Bible to work everyday and we discussed issues constantly while we worked. Do that for awhile and then come see me. That’s an education in itself.

And the thing about me is that I have finally learned to accept who I am and what my unique calling is. I know I’m far from perfect; I get mad and swear once in awhile, and I enjoy a cold beer with my friends while we’re sitting around a summer campfire. I’ve always been appalled at the constant religious bickering and everyone insisting God has chosen their ministry as the only one he will accept, all others be damned. Excuse me but that’s a huge load of bull. When I present my case to someone with a topic of interest, we examine the whole context, not just a line or two, and after I’ve explained the true meanings of the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic words in their original texts, I give counsel on what I feel it means, but in the end the issues are ultimately between you and God. It’s not my place to force any of my own opinions onto you. To do anything else would be legalistic, unless it’s a simple matter of someone clearly trying to exploit accepted Christian doctrines. That, I would oppose.

I’ve learned to let the ridicule and disdain from others roll off my back. I speak my mind and I tell the truth about the Gospel…the whole truth, not just the rhetoric that pleases a stubborn and religiously-strict society full of stuffed shirts and pompous asses. I’m here to reach a class of people who have literally become a class unto themselves…the Sportsmen and Hunters of this great country who aren’t afraid to open their camps and their hearts; A people proud to be American, proud to be redneck, and proud to defend both their country and their God. These are my friends, my co-workers, and my companions and it’s time someone with a Bible background stood in the gap with them and for them; someone able to bring God to the playing field in a way all will be able to understand.

Hunters Making A United Stand

It has been my experience that hunters and sportsmen in this country truly share a deep-seated love for family, tradition, for country, and especially for God. Go into any hunting camp from the deep South, to the Midwest, to the extreme Northeast and you’ll find the same type of people; open, honest, friendly, all-American, and God-fearing. And it doesn’t matter who we are “back in the world” either. When they get to Huntin’ Camp, the camos go on, the guns and bows come out, the beer coolers get filled, and I swear I see a literal change come across every hunters face, usually within the first 30 minutes. The stress vanishes once the talking starts, and the worry-wrinkles, made apparent through time and age, deepen now, but from laughter instead of fear. I can almost hear the twang of each man’s inner “good old boy” coming out, too, and you know what that is? It’s the camaraderie that only comes from spending time in Hunt Camp…or Fish Camp, or wherever we choose to leave the world’s chaos and problems behind. It defines who we really are…….Rednecks to the end, every one of us.

I mentioned in my previous article that hunters & fishermen usually share a common sense of guilt when they take a Sunday off to head out into the woods or hit the lakes, when they or their families feel they should be in church. Some feel they’re in God’s true church every time they enter the woods or traverse the waters, and for most, a hunting or fishing camp is a place they can share a true spiritual experience, comparable to none found inside any four-walled building. I agree with them, which is why I plan on trekking across America every chance I get, so I can experience it with them and add strength to their convictions. The upside, for all of us, is that when I’m in camp with them, I can solidify their experience and ease that guilt, because I’m bringing a touch of God, (not religion), directly into their midst.

Do you know how many hunters get turned off by the arguments, rhetoric, and back-stabbing found in modern society? A lot. You know how many hunters have walked away from church in general because of all the bickering and legalism that abounds between them? Do you know how many are appalled at the extent the Anti’s are using God and the Bible against them now, and how some folks actually believe the lie? It’s no wonder hunters would rather plead their case for finding God in a tree-stand or in a ground blind somewhere deep in the woods. I don’t blame them. And I suspect much of the need to get away and experience “Hunting Camp” is rooted in the fact that sportsmen find a sense of true peace in worshiping God there. There’s acceptance, camaraderie, brotherhood, and best of all, no guilt.

Now imagine if you will, and I’m speaking to hunters and fishermen right now, you were told a preacher was coming to camp this week. Lie to yourselves all you want but I’ll tell you what your first reactions would probably be.

“Oh no….a Preacher? Coming here? Crap! That means hide the beer, try not to swear, and be someone I’m not until he’s gone.”

And in that vision you see a small meek individual, not impressive in frame or body by any means, who walks in, lays his shiny black Bible on the counter, and starts out with, “Shall we pray for each other, my brothers?” Every sentence is followed up with an “Amen” and whether you want to or not, you find yourself drawn into the falsehood of acting in a way you think he wants you to act. That would suck because I’ve been there. Now don’t get me wrong, I know some mighty fine outdoor preachers who don’t fit that bill either. I’m just saying.

Now imagine another preacher comes to camp. He walks in wearing a cut-off camo shirt not unlike Larry the Cable Guy, torn blue jeans, and a black leather cowboy hat with shades. He sets his ice cooler on the floor next to his camp chair, cracks open a Coor’s Light, and lays a really, really worn out tattered old Bible on the table next to him. He leans back, hands behind his head, puts his feet up and says, “So….you guys gonna talk all day about old hunting stories or are we gonna start making some new ones this afternoon?” He takes a haul off his beer, looks you straight in the eye, and immediately you feel at ease, thinking “Hey…this guy might be alright”. Ummm….in case you haven’t figured it out yet, that would be me.

Nothing changes when this Preacher comes to camp, I can assure you, and you certainly don’t want to be changing who you are for me. When I’m there, it’ll be me and a cameraman because we’ll be filming almost everything in hopes of laying down footage that someone’s going to want to see, either for an existing outdoor show or simply as a matter of personal record. No prank is too big and none too small, and all I’ll be is myself…which will be plenty. Want some spiritual advice? I can give it. Want to tell me why you hate “religion”? I can take it. I guarantee if nothing else, the spirit of camaraderie and brotherhood will be even stronger with me around. Why? Because I’m called to be there and nothing happens without a reason. I firmly believe that. The bottom line is that you need God just as much as he needs you, and with me, you not only get a fellow redneck, down to earth and a little rough around the edges, but one who can share the Word with power and authority and maybe even be able to help you find answers to some of your deepest questions. Plus my sense of humor is awesome, it really is!

The second reason I’ll be traveling to hunting camps will be to share a special hunt or trip with a special individual from time to time. Perhaps this person, young or old, has been battling cancer. Perhaps he or she has been crippled or incapacitated in some way that has made hunting almost an impossible chore without help from others. Or maybe the focus will be on a child whose life has been touched by tragedy. Maybe it’s a son whose father lost his life serving this great country in Iraq or Afghanistan, and this trip is for him because his dad had promised to take him turkey hunting when he returned….but he never came back.

The point is, we’ll all be together in that camp because we all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves…something life-changing. I think that’s what Hunting Camp is all about anyway, at least on some level. And I’m also here to provide assistance to already established organizations geared to help in circumstances such as these, but the reality is there are far more people waiting in line than there are organizations able to help, so whatever I can do, believe me I will. Time is of the utmost importance to these people. Time we should never ever take for granted because some are dying before ever getting the chance to live their dream. Every single hunt with an extraordinary individual battling against the odds leaves us teary-eyed, thankful and inspired to do more. That’s what I want to be a part of.

I’ve been a hunter and outdoorsman for almost 40 years, an outdoor writer and columnist for twelve, and been in the professional end of the hunting industry itself since 2002. I have made friends in the form of outdoor celebrities and personalities, and even outfitters and guides, and if I can come up with a plan to bring people together all in one place to make a special hunt happen for someone less fortunate than myself, I’m in. The plus side is I can give counsel and spiritual strength to the families and hunters involved, help solidify connections between organizations and families once the hunt is over, and if needed, I can even help call in turkeys or deer, right to the gun if no one else is available. And whatever happens, it will all be laid down on video because for some, memories will be all they have to hold on to.

A Challenge to Celebrity Hunters & Sponsors To Get Involved

Obviously, for this ministry to be successful, I need to generate money so I can help foot the bills necessary to make each hunt and trip happen….and I want to make a lot of these special hunts happen. Not only do I wish to use my connections between industry personnel and outfitters to get some basic hunts set up, there’s travel expenses to and from the hunting camp for the families to be considered, as well as other costs which unfortunately include maintaining this ministry and allowing it to expand and grow. But, and I can’t stress this enough, one thing I will never ever do is ask any man for money. It’s not scriptural to beg for funds when one trusts in God to make things happen. That, my friend, is called “faith”, and it’s a very powerful force. No, you don’t use people to get money; you use money to get people. I heard that somewhere and I liked it! This is not a religion I preach either. It’s a relationship. You’ll go far once you understand what that means. I intend to make this outdoor ministry flourish and be a blessing to everyone it touches and I have the assurance of the apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians chapter 9 that if I sow spiritual seed among you, it is my right to receive a material blessing from it as well. He goes on to say that Jesus commanded that anyone who preaches the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. I can only put myself out there in faith, and trust God to open the financial doors necessary to allow me to make this a full-time venture. Time will tell.

In the meantime, if you or anyone you know wishes to help me in any way, please contact me. If you’re an outfitter wishing to donate a hunt package, I need to hear from you and what you have to offer. If you’re a company willing to sponsor us with some much needed gear, I need to hear from you. We need basic equipment and camouflage clothing so we can outfit any special guests that ask for our help, and in return I will openly endorse each sponsor willing to provide it, and will do so publicly. If you’re a reader who feels you’re led to help in some other way, get a hold of me. And if you’re in the outdoor television or radio business and you’d like to have me on your show or in your camp as a guest, I’m available for appearances and interviews. Wanna spice up hunting camp with something extra like a men’s outreach or study group? Drop me a line, I’m ready and eager to be a part of it. Maybe you just want to kick back with a fellow sportsman who just happens to be a redneck preacher, and toss around a few spiritual ideas while sipping on a cold frosty one. I can do that, too.

Fortunately, the publicity goes both ways; I need your national outlets and venues to spotlight “Mountain-Man Outdoor Ministries” and get it embedded into the public eye, and any camp or sponsor willing to host us or help us will reap not only national recognition for their roles but more importantly, the satisfaction of knowing you made a public stand against those who would tear us down, while at the same time helping to get the Word out. And trust me, God will know and remember what each of you have done. I welcome any and all sponsors willing to give what they can for this cause, and one thing we’d really like to secure is a new truck that we can letter up with the ministry name and logo, along with all sponsors logos. So if you know of a dealership willing to provide us with one, simply for use, travel and advertising, I’d be much obliged to hear from you.

Why Hunting Camp Embraces Every Man’s Spirit

You know, for me, there’s nothing more gratifying than walking down a moonlit trail at 3:30am, on my way to a pre-designated turkey-hunting spot, hundreds of yards from nowhere. By moonlight I place my decoys out and then nestle into the darkness of a secluded stone wall on the edge of a blueberry field here in Maine. With my back resting comfortably against a huge old oak, I await the stirrings of life. Within an hour the birds begin serenading the dawn and the first gobbles echo across the valley; music to my starving ears. As the mist rolls across the blueberry barren, knee-high and ghostly in the early light, I see the forms of several deer appear on the opposite woodline, silently moving their way back to bed. As the distant gobbles continue to announce that the dawn has indeed arrived, two Barred Owls resonate their familiar cadence of “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all”. As I close my eyes and open them again, relishing this moment and thanking my God for it, I see a lone coyote trotting a hundred yards away, on his own little mission and oblivious to my presence. It is here that I, the Redneck Preacher feel closest to my Creator, and I know I am not alone. You feel it, too. That strange pull and the same sense of peace. Why? What is it and who can explain it? This is what I can share with you in Hunt Camp and this what I have to offer…

Over a crackling campfire on a calm clear evening I would ask you to consider the many passages of scripture relating to this spiritual connection we share out here. I would put you at ease and remind you that in Psalm 50 God said that every bird, every creature, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to him. I would remind you that in Job chapters 38 and 39, almost everything you feel or relate to as an outdoorsman is explained, from the forming of the ice on a lake, to the breath of the wind against your face, to the birth of a fawn in the wild. And let us not forget that in Genesis God gave us the responsibility of conserving and managing all His natural resources, of which hunting and fishing are merely tools of the trade for the responsible Christian outdoorsman. Who was it that said “rise, kill, and eat” to Peter in Acts chapter 10? Was it a man? No, it was God.

When you’re in Hunt Camp, why do you think you feel such tremendous peace and camaraderie, and such a spiritual bond with God? I’ll tell you why. Because in Psalm 84 we find the true nature of God’s presence and of his church explained in outdoor terms we can understand. For in that passage it says that out in the woods even the swallow and the sparrows have found a home, and a place to raise their young…a place near the altar of God. For the hunter, no other place of worship can compete with the solitude of having your back against a tree in the spring turkey woods or the joyous laughter of good friends in Camp. And God is aware that hunters have been misunderstood, persecuted, mistreated and even attacked for their traditions and values. The sad part is that many are now using the Bible against you; Against us. Well, rest assured I know more than enough to stand in the gap with you publicly, privately, or both, and I’m outspoken enough not to care what others think. They want to bring God into the equation to condemn us? Guess what…I’m going to prove they picked the wrong argument this time. The Redneck Preacher is here to make a stand alongside all the other brave outdoor warriors who have already laid it all on the line to make a stand for America and the right to hunt. I believe I’m in very good company and Uncle Ted was certainly right; When we’re experiencing Hunt Camp each and every season, putting meat on the table for our families and friends, and honoring our God, we truly are enjoying the Spirit…….of that which is Wild. Hey Uncle Ted, give me a call, brother!

(Blaine Cardilli is a freelance outdoor writer and christian speaker who enjoys the prospect of sharing his faith in God with hunters & sportsmen in churches and hunting camps across the country. If you’d like to learn more about “Mountain-Man Outdoor Ministries”, would like to discuss hunting, the Bible, or both, or would like to invite Blaine into your camp or on your radio or television show, he can be reached at the following: www.facebook.com/theredneckpreacher or at indianwd@hotmail.com)

The Upper Andro Anglers Alliance in co-operation with Trout Unlimited will host a free family fishing festival on Saturday, June 5. The festival will be held at Angevine Park on the North Road in Bethel, from 9 am to 2 pm, rain or shine. Free casting workshops and fly-tying instruction will be available throughout the day.

Local Maine guides and members of the Mollyockett Chapter of Trout Unlimited will teach the workshops. Instruction will include both spin casting and fly casting for older youth and parents. Maine’s Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program will supply complimentary rods and reels for use at the festival.

Families can practice newly learned casting skills in the one acre pond and are welcome to take home their catch. The pond will be stocked with trout courtesy of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Each young angler will receive a mini-tackle box complete with bobber, sinkers and hook courtesy of the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance.

Kids can learn how to tie flies with materials provided by local outfitters and fly shops. Children will be able to take home their hand-tied flies.

Families participating in the event will be eligible for door prizes from local outfitters and businesses as well as L.L. Bean and Kittery Trading Post. The Bethel Fire Dept. will host a barbecue of hotdogs and hamburgers, chips, and drinks and families are welcome to bring a pack lunch.

The weekend of June 5 and 6 is a free fishing weekend in Maine. Resident and Non-resident freshwater fishing licenses are waived each day.

The Family Fishing Festival is one many nationwide events that provide families with an opportunity to have fun on the water. The events are promoted by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (www.rbff.org). For those families wishing to stay overnight and fish or canoe the Androscoggin River on Sunday, special family packages are available for the weekend at local lodging establishments.

For information on the Family Fishing Festival, contact the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance at 207-824-3694, fish@upperandro.com or www.upperandro.com

“God Has a Sign And It Reads: Gone Huntin – Part II“, is now available for reading.

Okay, before you go into a tizzy and start screaming “blasphemy” or some other nonsense, give me a chance to explain the title. Believe me, it’s warranted. Many people in this country have fought long and hard to remove God from the docket, but I’m here to tell you, he’s alive and well, and rooted deep inside the hearts of a lot of American sportsmen.

Did you know that in Genesis, Chapter 9, God commissioned man with the job of wildlife management? He did. Did you know that Nimrod and Esau were very skilled hunters who hit the woods and fields with bows and arrows harvesting wild game for food? They were. Did you know that deer, antelope and other wild game were the chosen foods, even before man started eating domesticated meat? Read Deuteronomy Chapter 12. Did you know in Proverbs 12:27 it says that a lazy man neglects to roast his game, but the substance, (the meat taken through hunting), of the diligent man is considered precious? Well, it is. How about in Acts Chapter 10 where God himself commanded the apostle Peter to “rise, kill and eat” when he was hungry…and the passage spoke specifically about animals?

Yup…it’s all in there. The list of scriptures goes on and on my friend. And don’t even start about fishing. Jesus and several of the apostles were fishermen; some of whom even cast “lines” for fish, as well as nets. It was Jesus himself in John Chapter 21 who broiled some fish over a campfire for breakfast, and you outdoors-folk will also be glad to know that an occasional beer or glass of wine is not anti-biblical, no matter what you thought you heard. That’s right, I said it and I can back it all up.

So what’s with the title of this article? Why would it say that God has…’Gone Huntin’”? It’s because I’m bringing him into any and every hunting camp that will personally invite us both in, that’s why.

Not Just Inside Four walls

I’m a hunter, born and bred, and I’ve fished since the age of seven. I’ve got more outdoor stories inside me than you can shake a stick at, and yes, I was raised like most country boys, with a good Mama and a strong Christian background.

However, sad as it may seem, many outdoorsmen today, myself included, have little time for the standard church ceremonies. And I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, and I’m certainly not blaming anyone. Most of my friends are what I affectionately call “modern rednecks”, and that’s a good thing. The guys and gals I know, who love to share hunting and fishing stories over an open fire-pit in the summertime, are also God-fearing, red-blooded Americans, and very proud of it! They work extremely hard…often six days a week or more, they love their families, and any time off they may get, is spent out in the woods and fields or on the water, with family and friends in tow.

Unfortunately, many of us only get the traditional Sunday off as a day of rest, and though we firmly love God…and our pastors…we find it difficult at best to squeeze in a mid-day or evening service that could potentially be spent in camp or on the lake. Obviously, I need to stress that anytime we, as individuals, can make the time to go to church, we should. Our families need the support and so do the countless pastors who strive hard to keep us spiritually fed and “on track”. However, there are a myriad of sportsmen across the country who simply feel they don’t have time on Sunday, and who instead, go “out there”, all the while just trying to enjoy themselves after a hard week, yet still feeling a sense of guilt about it. And that’s where I come in…

Spiritual ‘Road Trips’

About two years ago, I was struggling as a concrete contractor, (self-employed), and found myself working long, hard hours, often six and seven days a week, just to keep the jobs moving. I found that there was little time for church anymore, and with my spiritual upbringing, I was guilt-ridden, especially if I tried to squeeze in a few days for spring turkey hunting or fall deer hunting. In time, I messed up my back and found I couldn’t do the strenuous work anymore so I quit…and immediately found myself unemployed and practically starving. The up side was that my situation drove me back to the books and most importantly, my Bible, and after many months of contemplating where my life was headed, I made the decision to bring both my faith and my outdoor passions, together. The only thing I didn’t want to do was change who I was and become some stuffy old Bible-thumper, knocking on people’s doors and shoving “God” down everyone’s throats. One day it came to me that I didn’t have to change, and ‘Mountain-Man Outdoor Ministries’ was born.

I won’t bore you with details but suffice it to say I’m a redneck, a hunter, a fisherman, and an outdoorsman, and I just happen to like sharing my faith when I can. What better way to do that than to just “be me”, and preach the Word, redneck attitude and all, through which I have also been appropriately referred to as “The Redneck Preacher”. Funny how God works sometimes, isn’t it? We are developing outreaches and programs designed to help kids, and are very interested in working to help set-up special hunts and trips for special people, (any age, disabled or incapacitated beyond their means), who are unable to enjoy hunting on their own anymore.

I’d like to think that the many friends and contacts I’ve made in the professional outdoor industry would be willing to help me in this venture by donating trips, hunts, and much needed gear. If you or anyone you know, wishes to become an active partner in this ministry, please contact me. I am available for interviews, discussions, and studies, and would love to be invited into your hunting camp this season! There’s no better way for me to share my faith than to visit hunting camps across America, share some campfires with redneck sportsmen just like me, hunt and fish with them, and, in effect, bring God straight into the heart of the American Hunting Camp.

I just wonder how many invitations I’ll actually get! You think Waddell and The Nuge could stand the extra excitement in camp? A Redneck Preacher with a Bible in one hand, a rifle or shotgun in the other, and a turkey call hanging out the side of my mouth. Hmmmm….I dunno… Let’s praise God, pass the ammo, and find out. And did I warn you I’d be bringing a camera and cameraman along for the ride? I didn’t? Uh oh…

(Blaine Cardilli is a freelance outdoor writer, industry prostaffer, and seminar speaker on hunting; He also enjoys teaching christian studies to rednecks & sportsmen, and has been referred to as The Redneck Preacher. He can be reached on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theredneckpreacher)

PORTLAND, ME – Fly Fishing in Maine (FFIM) is proud to present screenings of “The Good Life – Tall Tails from the East”, a fly fishing feature film produced by Maine native Carter Davidson. The event, hosted by FFIM, will be at the Frontier Cafe and Cinema in Brunswick on April 15, at two separate showtimes of 6:00pm and 7:30pm.

This is the 3rd full-length feature from Gray Ghost Productions, with last year’s “East by Northeast” exciting angling audiences with amazing footage from all over Maine, New Hampshire and beyond. This year’s film tours the better part of the East from Labrador to the Florida Keys and everything in-between. Hitch a ride in the flying Beaver with Luke Gray in search of huge Eastern Brook Trout and enormous Northerns. Check out the alluring saltwater for Stripers in the north or toothy monsters of the southern latitudes. From Peacock Bass to Landlock Salmon, from urban pools teeming with silver Shad to remote runs with glorious trout and a dash of the occasional Stonefly hatch, this film is proof that the good life is never too far away.

The Frontier is a stunning intimate venue located in the Ft. Andros complex, with excellent food and a unique collection of beverages. FFIM’s Dan Tarkinson adds, “The Frontier has quickly become somewhat of a favorite in the Maine Fly Fishing community. We’ve held several events there now, and the crowd and ambience of the theater have always gelled so well. We’re very pumped to be able to showcase the film-making talents of Carter Davidson and the Gray Ghost Productions crew at such a fine establishment”.

Due to limited capacity, we strongly recommend ordering your tickets in advance, by either purchasing online with a credit card at
http://www.flyfishinginmaine.org/thegoodlife/, or by calling the theater at (207)-725-5222.

The event festivities will also include several door prizes for each screening, as well as the chance at some larger fund-raising raffles, including a 2-person Pontoon Boat to be raffled off at the annual FFIM Conclave in June.

All proceeds from this event and the raffles will go to the FFIM Grassroots Grant fund. FFIM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Past recipients of FFIM Grassroots Grants have included Trout Unlimited, Casting For Recovery, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and many more. Among the beneficiaries this year is the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited, providing them with a grant for their “5-in-5″ Southern Maine pond reclamation program.

For more information about Fly Fishing in Maine, please visit our website at http://www.flyfishinginmaine.org/

For more information about “The Good Life”, including the trailer and where you can purchase a DVD copy, visit their website at http://www.ggpfilms.com/

Photo from fOTOGLIF

The people at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are claiming they are broke and are in need of funding, as much as doubling the current funding, according to Dr. Ken Elowe, Director of Resource Management for MDIFW.

You’ll get no argument from me that MDIFW is underfunded. What you will get are questions as to why and suggestions about the best way to deal with it. Let’s first address why the MDIFW is underfunded.

In the new issue of Maine Fish and Wildlife, MDIFW Commissioner Roland D. Martin, states that all the programs and responsibilities his department has to care for, brings back to the state of Maine some $2.4 billion annually. Maybe that amount could be more.

Dr. Elowe, in his article on who should fund MDIFW, also states that responsibilities to the department have grown out beyond fish and wildlife issues.

Over time, the Department’s mission has broadened significantly: It now manages whitewater rafting, registration of watercraft, snowmobiles, ATVs, hunter, trapper and recreational vehicle safety, conservation education, environmental permitting and other matters.

And that’s just scraping the surface. To this we should add search and rescue, law enforcement of recreational vehicles and all non game programs.

The major reason the MDIFW is underfunded is because it has been tasked to perform duties well beyond management of fish and wildlife. All of this has been done with essentially no additional funding. Presently the overwhelming majority of funding to MDIFW comes from license fees paid by hunters, fishers, trappers, and snowmobilers/ATVers.

I know of nobody who thinks MDIFW is properly funded. The problem now becomes what to do about it.

George Smith, Executive Director for the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, is promoting funding to come from general taxation. He is proposing that a percentage of the tax revenue be designated to the MDIFW. In all honesty I haven’t heard anybody else make a specific proposal that doesn’t involve using tax money to fund the current composition of the MDIFW and it’s ever expanding non game services.

While this proposal may seem functional on the surface, I have to wonder if most sportsmen, the one’s who will still be the major fund providers for the Department, understand that with such a move opens the door for non hunting, non fishing interests to demand more and more input into the decisions and direction the MDIFW should take. The majority of states that have followed this path have faced this problem and a problem it has become, with organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and PETA directly seeking or sponsoring their own representatives to fill seats on fish and game commissions. What could possibly be wrong with that?

I support increased funding for all the issues that Dr. Elowe lays out in his article. However, I don’t support them to be part of and funded by MDIFW. For regular readers, you know that I support a move that will put all non game programs into the Department of Conservation. Dr. Elowe says MDIFW doesn’t have enough biologists to cover everything. Fine, DOC, funded by taxpayer dollars, can hire their own wildlife biologists to take care of non game wildlife species. DOC can take care of environmental licensing, conservation education, etc. Law enforcement of snowmobiles and ATVs should be handled by state and local law enforcement as well as search and rescue.

This move would be unprecedented as the tendencies these days are to mash departments together believing money can be saved and programs run more efficiently. History has already shown us that that is not the case. As a matter of fact, the bigger the department the further away from the average sportsmen a sense of ownership becomes, resulting in a significant loss of interest. In other words, when sportsmen lose their voice, participation drops. The larger the department the more bureaucratic it becomes swelling the budget, resulting in depletion of programs. In other words, more of the same.

Conservationist or perhaps better labeled, environmentalists, have no business dictating to a fish and game department how to manage game for hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities. Funding fish and game with tax dollars will accomplish that with very negative results.

It’s easy for Commissioner Martin or Dr. Elowe to exclaim how their programs contribute $2.4 billion dollars annually to the Maine economy. Think how much bigger that amount would be if the programs were split up so that each one saw the attention it deserves and that would provide better opportunities. With a smaller MDIFW, they could get back to managing just fish and wildlife for the purpose of providing opportunities for hunters, trappers and fishermen, then I believe these resources could improve with the end result a better revenue stream for MDIFW.

With a better funded and more targeted Department of Conservation, similar results could be seen and achieving the wishes shared by Dr. Elowe. This can be done and the results impressive, in my opinion. Who has the chutzpah to try it?

The groups involved in examining how MDIFW should be funded are supposedly contacting other states that fund their departments with general taxation. I hope these groups understand that just because everybody else does it, doesn’t mean it’s the best. I’m confident that if they look at the issue with open minds, they will realize what I did several years ago.

Let’s properly fund the programs that need to be funded in Maine and not just throw money at it. Two lean, mean departments, each properly structured with sufficient funding could reverse a management trend that is seeing lousy results.

Tom Remington

Photo from fOTOGLIF

AUGUSTA – Open water fishing season is now open under an emergency law signed by Gov. John E. Baldacci today, Thursday, March 25, 2010.

All lakes, ponds and brooks are open except those with specific opening-day regulations that start after April 1 as listed in the 2008-2009 Open Water Fishing Law Book.

Bag and size limit rules contained in the 2008-2009 Open Water Fishing Law Book also apply.

The emergency law is in effect from March 25 to April 1, 2010.

A new fishing law book that combines ice fishing and open water fishing rules, including several new regulations, will become effective on April 1, 2010. Distribution of this law book began a couple of weeks ago and is available where fishing licenses are sold.

“People have been anxious to drop their lines given that ice fishing season ended too soon in some parts of the state, with many lakes and ponds experiencing early ice out conditions,” Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin said. “We’re happy to provide this opportunity to anglers, and remind them to be mindful of early spring cold-water conditions by being safe.”

Open water fishing season historically begins on April 1 on most waters of the state. Because of unseasonably warm weather opening up waterways in many counties and strong public interest in wanting to fish, Maine Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Oxford County, sponsored emergency legislation to start the season early.

“Let’s go fishing!” exclaimed Sen. Bryant, upon the Governor’s signature of the bill.

By Capt. Jim Hirt

In this article we will complete the series on catching trophy fish. I would like to explore location, presentation and lure selection for Lake Trout. Fishermen everywhere covet them for their table excellence giving them a nickname of poor man’s Lobster. Lake Trout baked or poached and served with melted butter is a feast fit for a king.

This slow growing member of the Char family can attain a life of over twenty years and have been known to grow to more than 50 inches and reach over 100 pounds. Lake Trout are mature enough to reproduce when they are six or seven years old. Some Lake Trout respond to a homing instinct. They return to the same spawning grounds year after year, while others do not. This trout lives in deep cold lakes. Their preferred water temperature is about 50 degrees. In the summer they stay deep and can usually be caught by deep trolling. But as the water cools with the fall season and into spring, artificial lures and flies may take lake trout fished shallower, near shore.

Finding a trophy may be a difficult task, although I feel following a few rules will augment your odds for success. I have found that in twenty years of fishing, my biggest have come on spoons. I believe the reason for this is spoons will maintain an attractive appearance at very slow speeds. When you think Lakers think slow. This very cold water species has the slowest metabolism of all the game fish. If you have not caught a Laker, you are trolling too fast. The bigger the Lake Trout the colder the water they prefer and the slower they move.

A quality, large spoon that trolls well at speeds below one mile per hour is required. Keeping in mind that you will be working in deep water below 100 feet. The color choices should be in the bottom half spectrum of the rainbow. There is not much light down there and green, blue, indigo violet colors will sustain some color at these depths. A silver plated spoon will reflect light better in low light and used in combination with the colors is a good choice. You might try the new Reaper glow in the dark spoons. They were very productive for me this last season.

The lack of light has brought me to my favorite presentation. In some cases bouncing the bottom is the only way to provoke a strike. A one pound lead ball sinker will allow the contact needed. Use a wire line rod with 30-pound wire terminated with a plastic keel and lead ball. The keel provides a three way connection for wire, ball and monofilament. At the end of a two-foot mono leader, run an 8-inch silver or glow in the dark dodger and a 4 foot lead to the spoon. Troll with the bottom contour letting out enough wire to allow the ball to bounce on the bottom. A word of caution, some bottoms have lots of hang ups and it takes a constant vigilance on your part to avoid hanging up and still keep constant bottom contact.

As you read earlier, when the water cools in fall they return to the same spawning grounds year after year. The eggs are deposited over a boulder-strewn or rubble bottom structure, in depths from 40 feet to about one foot. This affords the angler another opportunity to get into some serious laker action. Work this shallow water with the same wire line rod. Go with 8 ounces of weight, no flasher and standard Reaper Big Joe red/green or Reaper Peacock blue/green spoons. Motor troll the shallows while hand holding the rod bouncing the bottom as you go.

Let’s wrap this up with my favorite Lake Trout lures. Dodgers and magnum spoons are my first choice with dodger Spin n Glows a close second. The two most productive Lake Trout spoons for me in recent years are the glow in the dark Reaper Green Fox Glow and Fish n Chip Silver; both sold by http://www.badgertackle.com. The standard Reaper in the silver combinations are best for shallow water.

This completes the trophy variables series. I hope you enjoyed it and it leads to your fish of a lifetime. I will give an overview of different types of lures in the next article with a focus on spoons.

Good Luck! Let’s go fishing!

Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2007, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.