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By Misty Edgecomb, Of the NEWS - GREENVILLE - Local people remain divided over whether moose hunting and moose watching can coexist in "the back yard of the Moosehead Lake region." Ten people attended a Monday evening public hearing on whether to add a second week of moose hunting in wildlife management district four, a region due north of Greenville. Three years ago, state wildlife officials redesigned the state's system of moose hunting permit allocation, setting one week of moose hunting in more southwesterly areas, but dividing permits between two weeks in far northern and eastern Maine. Initially, wildlife management district four was given a single week in October, primarily in response to local concerns that moose hunting might interfere with the region's growing fall tourist trade, supported by leaf peepers and moose watchers. The 1,963-square-mile district is a transition area between "the big woods" and more tourism-minded areas near the Western Mountains, and abuts the Allagash River, the Quebec border and Baxter State Park. Because the number of moose hunting permits would remain the same, state biologists don't believe that adding a week of September hunting would cause any ill effects in the western Maine moose population. "Biologically, it makes no difference to us," DIF&W Commissioner Roland "Dan" Martin said. But several local people worried that tourists, who are more prevalent during the early week of hunting, would be turned off by the sight of moose carcasses. Bruce Hamilton, owner of the Lodge at Moosehead Lake, spoke of clients who canceled their reservations when they learned that their visit would coincide with moose-hunting season. "They want to see moose on-the-hoof, and so do I," said Dave Long, a Greenville man who rents cabins to tourists. He spoke neither for nor against the proposal, but feared that too much emphasis on moose hunting could reduce the live animals that his clients pay to see. John Glowa of South China asked the department to reject the proposal to split the moose hunt in zone four, and further, to consider establishing "moose watching zones" - an idea once promoted by late wildlife photographer Bill Silliker. He urged DIF&W to look to the Greenville region's example and consider promoting wildlife watching as well as hunting. "Moose belong to all Maine citizens," Glowa said. "Maine moose are worth far more alive than dead." Dan Legere, who owns the Maine Guide Fly Shop, has guided both wildlife watchers and hunters during his 23 years in business, and he argues that an early moose season is necessary to his bottom line. Hunters come to Maine to shoot "the big moose," and the best way to offer that experience is to call in moose during their September breeding season. "The October season takes us as guides ... out of the prime calling season," he said. Legere called zone four "a wonderful compromise," since most outfitters don't expect that the zones directly surrounding Greenville would ever accept a September hunt. Rocky Rockwell of Greenville, who works as a forester as well as guiding hunters, spoke of the forests that have grown dense since the clear cuts of the 1970s and '80s. The moose are here, but they're hard to see, and calling has grown much more important, he said. And whether they spend their money at a hunting lodge or a moose safari, these tourists are all contributing to the local economy and should all be allowed to participate, he said. "We've got 52 weeks in the year, and we're talking about two weeks here," Rockwell said. The DIF&W commissioner's citizen advisory council will likely take a final vote on the proposal at its November meeting. Written comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, and should be sent to Andrea Erskine, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 284 State St., Augusta 04333-0041. |