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AUGUSTA, Maine - Preseason scouting can be critical in the success of any hunt, and scouting should include seeking landowner permission on the land you want to hunt. Asking for permission only takes a minute, and the time that it takes benefits both you and the future of hunting. "Land access is the number one issue facing the sporting public these days," said Sergeant Michelle Belanger of the Maine Warden Service, coordinator of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Landowner Relations Program. "Private landowners are the most important element to outdoor recreation. Without them and the ability to access their property, opportunities to enjoy the outdoors would be severely restricted." The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife offers landowners and landusers courtesy cards. By exchanging information on a courtesy card, a positive landowner-landuser contact is established. Landowners are much more likely to allow access if they have the names and vehicle descriptions of land users. You can get your own landowner-landuser courtesy cards by calling the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Information Center at 207-287-8000. |