7th Annual Youth Ice Fishing Derby has been postponed to January 31st

Becoming a {Winter} Outdoors Woman, Weekend Skills Course Offered.

 

January 5, 2016 at 10:46 am by Emily MacCabe

There is nothing like a little snow on the ground to get me excited about winter! I love spending time in the outdoors during the colder months of the year.  There is so much to do and so much to learn! Not to mention there are no blackflies…
The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program here in Maine will be holding a Winter Skills Weekend February 26-28, 2016 at Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center.
This overnight workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to gain or improve skills in a variety of fun winter related outdoor activities.  The accommodations at Bryant Pond are very comfortable and the instructors we have lined up are fantastic at what they do and they are very excited to share their passion for the Maine outdoors.
The cost to attend is $225 with on-site lodging OR a commuter rate of $150.  Registration includes all meals, equipment and instruction.
The best part is you don’t need to be an expert or have any experience at all to join us! Plus, this is a great opportunity to make some wonderful new “outdoorsy” friends!
Here is the plan:
Friday, February 26: Participants will arrive, check-in and get settled between 4pm and 6pm.  We will have dinner and get to know each other followed by some fun around the fire.
Saturday, February 27: Breakfast at 8am and then off to the first session at 9am.  Don’t worry, there will be plenty of places to warm up and opportunities to drink hot cocoa! Lunch is at noon and then off to a second session at 1pm.  After a break, session 3 kicks off at 3:30pm. Dinner at 6pm followed by some fun evening programming.
Sunday, February 28: Breakfast at 8am then session 4 at 9am.  Lunch will be at noon and then time to pack up and head out with LOTS of great new memories!
Sessions that will be offered include wild game cooking, snowshoeing, ice fishing, archery, shotgun, fly tying, rock climbing, nature photography and snowmobile safety.

Check out some of the photos from the 2013 Winter Skills Weekend and the 2014 Winter Skills Weekend!

For more information, visit: www.mainebow.com.  You can register for the workshop online or print and mail the registration form.  A limited number of scholarships are being offered and the application can be found online.

Contact Brittany Humphrey at brittany.humphrey@maine.gov or (207) 215-0292 with questions.

 

We hope to see you in February at the

BOW Winter Skills Weekend!

NEEDED: Volunteer Safety Instructors with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Do you enjoy teaching others and sharing your love for the Maine outdoors? The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is looking for volunteer instructors to assist with the delivery of our safety programs.

 We annually offer safety classes to approximately 10,000 students statewide in the following disciplines:

 

Firearms Safety         Bow Hunter Safety                         Trapping              Crossbow

ATV Safety               Snowmobile Safety                         Watercraft

 

Interested ethical sportsmen or women who have the desire to keep the Maine tradition alive, promote a safe outdoor experience, and deliver a well structured basic safety class with other team members, should apply.  Giving back to the sport that you have a passion for is a major part of being a true, ethical, sportsman or woman. 

 

We have a growing interest from the public in all of the above disciplines, with major growth in Firearms Hunter Safety and Bow Hunter Safety.  The increase in youth and women in these programs over the last few years has been tremendous. 

 

 

 

If you are interested in becoming an instructor, please visit: 

http://www.maine.gov/ifw/education/safety/index.htm#instructor

 

To apply, contact the local Regional Coordinator in your Area. Regional Coordinators are listed on the IFW website at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/education/safety/coordinators.htm 

 

Passionate for outdoor activities and Maine traditions to continue – be part of the team to make it happen!

Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Offers "Becoming an Outdoor Woman" Course in January 2016

The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program offers workshops for women who are 18 or older to gain or improve skills in hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation in a fun, safe and comfortable environment.

Join us February 26-28, 2016 at the UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Center in Bryant Pond for a weekend of outdoor fun and adventure.

For more information or to register online, visit: http://umaine.edu/bryantpond/adult-programs/becoming-an-outdoors-woman/becoming-an-outdoorswoman-winter-skills-weekend/

Southern Maine Community College to Offer Courses in Wild Game Cooking!!!

 

Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), in partnership with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW), bring 3 exciting and delicious courses to the table.  Each will offer a cooking demonstration and tasting with SMCC culinary faculty Geoffrey Boardman and information and educational discussion with IFW experts in the field.

 

Saturdays, 9 am – 12 pm $40 per course

 

Duck, Duck, Goose!  January 23, 2016

Small Game February 27, 2016

Freshwater Catch March 12, 2016

 

To register SMCC Continuing Studies Online Registration or call 207-741-5758.

2016 Maine Hunting and Fishing Licenses now available online or at 800 Official Licensing Agents Statewide!!

The 2016 hunting and fishing licenses are now available for purchase online or at any of the more than 800 licensing agents statewide.

The Department's online licensing system offers the convenience of purchasing from home, camp or office and allows the opportunity to print out multiple copies of licenses.

To purchase a 2016 license online, go to: www.informe.org/moses

The state of Maine offers a wide range of hunting and fishing opportunities. Maine is nearly as large as all the other New England states combined, with over 17 million acres of forested land, 6,000 lakes and ponds and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Buying a license is an easy and effective way to support Maine's fish and wildlife management efforts, especially this time of year, a license is the perfect gift for outdoor sporting enthusiasts! All proceeds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses stay at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife also offers additional gift items in our online shop such as IFW logo apparel, The Maine Way cookbook, season passes to the Maine Wildlife Park, or the opportunity to support conservation efforts with the purchase of a Maine Birder Band or Heron Sticker.  To visit our online shop or to learn more about IFW programs, please visit www.mefishwildlife.com

Register for the 2015 BOW Intro Skills Weekend!‏ From the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Hello-

Just a quick note to let you know that registration materials for the 2015 Becoming an Outdoors Woman Introductory Skills Weekend are now available!

The workshop is scheduled for October 9-11,2015 at the UMaine 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond.
Here is a direct link to the online registration materials: http://umaine.edu/bryantpond/introductory-skills-weekend/
This workshop is designed to provide opportunity for women who are 18 or older to gain or improve skills in hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation in a safe and comfortable environment.  We are so pleased to be partnered with the folks at Bryant Pond and hope to see you in October!
If you would like a copy of the registration materials mailed to you, or if you have any questions, please feel free to email me brittany.humphrey@maine.gov or call (207) 215-0292.

Sincerely,
Britt Humphrey, BOW Coordinator

Maine Department of Agriculture Offers SURF FISHING Program at Several Popular Maine State Parks!!

Maine Department of Inand Fisheries and Wildlife Seeks Nominations for Annual Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award.

 

 

 

MDIFW Seeking Nominations for

Annual Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award ‏

 

Hunting, fishing and trapping are an important part of the heritage of the State of Maine. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife would like to bring forth and recognize individuals who have been dedicated to the wide use and stewardship of our Maine resources by recognizing an annual recipient of a Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award.
Nominees for the award should be Maine residents who have hunted, trapped and fished for a combined total of 40 years. For example, an individual who has fished for 20 years, trapped for 10 years and taught hunter safety for 10 years would be an ideal candidate.
Nominations for the 2015 Annual Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award are now being accepted and should include the nominee’s name, address, phone number and a few paragraphs about the individual, their experience in the Maine outdoors and why they are a deserving candidate.  Nominations can be sent by email to Bonnie Holding at bonnie.holding@maine.gov or by mail to 284 State St, SHS 41, Augusta, ME  04333.  The deadline for nominations is Monday, August 10 by 5pm.
The recipient of the 2015 Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award will be selected by a committee of individuals from the Department and the award will be presented in Augusta by Commissioner Chandler Woodcock at the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine Banquet on September 12.