Funding for the state’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife has always been tough to procure.
Those outdoors enthusiasts who purchase hunting and fishing licenses pay the vast majority of the department’s budget, and despite efforts to tap into money from the state’s general fund, in tough economic times even funds that have been promised to the DIF&W are often diverted.
Many have maintained that the department that manages both game and nongame species, and that also provides search and rescue services to those who don’t hunt or fish, deserves support from all Mainers.
Tapping into the so-called “nonconsumptive users,” those whose participation in outdoor activities do not generate any income for the DIF&W, has been difficult.
Among the potential methods that have been explored in the past: registration stickers for canoes and kayaks.
According to an ambitious plan that was officially unveiled at the 15th annual Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine Congress on Friday, the yearly dilemma could be addressed through an amendment to the Maine constitution that would provide mandatory funding to the DIF&W.
The SAM Congress, which was held at SAM headquarters in Augusta, is a yearly event that allows the state’s outdoor decision makers a chance to discuss important issues and share opinions on the issues that state lawmakers and fish and wildlife managers will face in the future.
Joining George Smith, the executive director of SAM, during the announcement were Tom Abello of The Nature Conservancy and Ken Elowe of the DIF&W. Maine Audubon is also participating in the funding initiative.
“What this is really about is about long-term dedicated funding for the department,” Abello said. “Sportsmen and women are really bearing the burden for the department’s budget, but yet what the department is doing is much broader than the traditional sportsmen’s activities.”
Smith said details are still being ironed out, but he said the amendment could set aside one-third to one-half of the $45 million the DIF&W raises now.
“This would set up a permanent, ongoing funding source — say it’s a tiny percentage of the sales tax, I think that’s what we’re going to do — and that money would be protected by the constitution so they would always get it,” Smith said. “To me it is critical that it get the constitutional protection.”
Smith explained that in order to initiate a constitutional amendment, two-thirds of the legislature would have to approve of the measure. If approved, it would then be offered to the voters of the state as a ballot measure.
Abello said that timing of the amendment effort will be a key, and he doesn’t expect it to move forward this year. And he said that legislators are showing an interest in finding ways to share the department’s financial burden with those who don’t hunt or fish but do benefit from the department’s efforts in a variety of ways.
Another key announcement made during the meeting — by Tom Doak, executive director of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine — outlined an effort that will explore private access to Maine land, and ways to find meaningful incentives to encourage landowners to allow that access.
Doak explained that a project will team University of Maine researchers with stakeholders in an effort to test various incentives that could be offered to landowners who allow access to their land.
After research and pilot testing, Doak said project leaders will let legislators and policy leaders know about effective programs that could be used to help public access to private land.
A pair of lively panel discussions were held at the SAM Congress, with topics ranging from coyote hunting to deer management efforts, ATV laws, trapping and a proposed saltwater fishing license.
Among notable quotes by attendees at the five-hour event:
• “Just imagine. There’s going to be a coyote season, a coyote license and a coyote limit.” — moderator Harry Vanderweide, on the idea of categorizing coyotes as game animals, rather than viewing them as nuisance animals. The thought shared by some at the SAM Congress is that coyote hunting could be marketed and attract more participants to the sport, which could reduce coyote predation on deer.
• “Last year I made some coyote sausage. Everyone who ate it loved it, unless they knew what they had.” — former DIF&W biologist Gerry Lavigne, during a panel discussion on predator control and the role hunters could play in reducing the number of coyotes.
• “The day [Gov. John Baldacci] leaves the Blaine House, I’m sure his final words will be, ‘We should have merged the natural resources agencies.’” — SAM Executive Director George Smith, on proposals that his group has helped thwart over the past several years.
• “I’m just a borderline idiot from Hancock County and I could figure that out.” — Bob Mercer of the Bucksmills Rod and Gun Club in Bucksport, on how the rancor over a proposed saltwater fishing license could have been avoided if freshwater anglers and hunters were asked to check a box indicating that they planned to do saltwater fishing when they bought the licenses they already buy.
• “What you asked me to do is replace general fund money that buys me nothing.” — guide and lobbyist Don Kleiner, on his opposition to a saltwater fishing license that he says would provide no valuable research.
• “Nobody should have an exemption [to buying a saltwater license]. The only reason you have exemptions is to sweeten the deal [for those who wouldn’t have to buy one].” — former guide Gary Corson, on a provision that would allow saltwater guides to take non-licensed anglers on their boats.
• “It is true. The federal government has never issued an incidental take permit for trapping.” — Ken Elowe of the DIF&W, during a discussion on the permit, which the DIF&W needs in order for a coyote snaring program to move forward.
