Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator
On September 9, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) made a significant public announcement that should have all sportsmen and women in the Pine Tree State even more eager than ever to get outdoors. The MDIFW joined forces with fourteen in-state and national conservation and industry partners to permanently open access to 2,620 acres of real estate encompassing Bald Mountain Pond and the surrounding forest.
As reported by the MDIFW, this area is known as an “iconic stretch of the Appalachian Trail,” where “[c]old, clear Bald Mountain Pond in Northern Maine welcomes anglers, hunters, hikers, and paddlers from across the country.” Once owned by timber companies, access to the land was an unofficial understanding between the outdoor recreational community and timber companies. Due to recent public access developments, the outdoor sporting community will now be able to officially use and enjoy the opportunities available on the 2,620 acres, including hunting and fishing, in perpetuity.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation congratulates the MDIFW on this fantastic news and applauds their efforts in securing additional access and opportunities for Maine’s sportsmen and women.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
