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IFW To Hold Public Hearings On Proposal To Shorten Grouse Season

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will hold three public hearings concerning two petitions to shorten the ruffed grouse season. Currently the grouse season ends on December 31; the petitions seek to end the season November 30. Ruffed grouse season opens on October 1.
The first public hearing was on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at the Calais Rod and Gun Club on Charlotte Road in Charlotte. The second public hearing was on June 27, 2007 at the Presque Isle Fish and Game Club on Parsons Road in Presque Isle at 6:30 p.m. The third public hearing will be July 18 at the Farmington Municipal Building on 153 Farmington Falls Road in Farmington at 6:30.
There also is an open public comment period that ends on July 30, 2007. Those wishing to comment on the proposal to shorten the grouse season by eliminating the month of December should do so by mailing their comments to Andrea L. Erskine, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333 or emailing andrea.erskine@maine.gov by July 30, 2007.
Comment from member Pat Keliher – “This petition is not based on science. There is no impact to the population of grouse so there is no reason to lose 1 month of hunting - most folks with dogs lose November now do to concerns of interactions with deer hunters.