Rangeley Region Guides & Sportsmen's Association

Portland Press Herald – Moose Calling Contest Article

Kevin — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:19:41 +0000

As the 2012 Moose Lottery Festival approaches, here is a great “primer” story in the Portland Press Herald:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/the-call-may-not-be-wild-but-event-is_2012-04-01.html?searchterm=Moose+calling

Monthly Club Dinner – Thursday, March 22nd @ The Gingerbread House Restaurant

Kevin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:23:16 +0000

This month our dinner will be hosted by The Gingerbread House Restaurant, in conjunction with their “locals night” Southern BBQ theme. $15 menu includes: ribs, brisket, chicken, mac & cheese (regular dinner menu is also available). Please contact Joyce Fay at 864-2651 or Joyce5196@aol.com to sign up and sit with other Club members.

RRG&SA Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Country Club Inn

Kevin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:49:17 +0000

Take your special sweatheart out for a special dinner. Tuesday, February 14th at 6:30 PM. Social hour at the bar (with snacks) starts 5:30 PM. Choice of Prime Rib, Haddock Provencal (tomatoes, peppers, onions, wine sauce), or Chicken Julienne (breast filled with vegetables, topped with almond mustard sauce). All entrees $23 each, includes salad & bread, rice or potato & vegetable, coffee and choice of 2 desserts. Tax& gratuities are extra. Reservations required. Contact Joyce Fay 864-2651

RRGSA Wins Prestigious 2011 IF&W Land-User Award

Kevin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:02:11 +0000

MDIF&W Commissioner Chandler Woodcock presents the RRG&SA with the 2011 Organized Land User of the Year Award." Left to Right: Commissioner Woodcock, RRG&SA members Elaine Holcombe, Marsha Baker, Kirby Holcombe, Rick Baker, Doreen Sinnett, Kevin Sinnett, and "Mac" Dudley.

By Kirby
Holcombe

Maine outdoor sportsmen and sportswomen enjoy substantial freedom to access private land which is uniquely special in the U.S. today. With over 90 percent of Maine’s land privately owned, the sportsman is dependent on the generosity of private landowners to allow access for recreational pursuits. Private landowners also voluntarily contribute to the enhancement of these sports by providing assistance with snowmobile and ATV trail routes, deer wintering areas, food plots, access improvements, and many other valuable benefits for outdoor sports.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W) has long recognized how essential this relationship between landowner and sportsmen is to outdoor recreation. As part of the Department’s Landowner Relations Program, landowners and user groups that exhibit exceptional efforts to enhance cooperation between sportsmen and the owners of the land they use are honored.

Each fall a banquet jointly sponsored by MDIF&W and the Maine Snowmobile Association is held to honor these award recipients. Over 1,000 nomination forms seeking nominees for the award were distributed. This year we are proud to announce the Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (RRG&SA) was honored as the OrganizedLand User Group of the Year.

We were nominated by the Maine Forest Service. District Forester, Patty Cormier, in her nomination letter said , “The RRG&SA has grown to be one of the largest and most influential sportsmen’s associations in Maine and over its 100 year plus history has played an important role in maintaining good landowner relations in the western Maine area to ensure quality sporting experiences, and healthy wildlife habitats”. Her letter went on to mention many of the programs of the RRG&SA including our Wildlife Forage Program (deerandwildlifeforageproject.blogspot.com ), deer habitat improvement project, stream restoration work for now retired Fisheries Biologist, Forrest Bonney, the Junior Guides Program, and many others.

Several letters of support for the nomination were submitted on behalf of the RRG&SA. State Senator Thomas Saviello wrote, “Thanks to a unique community partnership (Wildlife Forage Project) and more than 25 local volunteers, deer and other wildlife will be getting an extra boost for a healthy winter in the Rangeley Lakes region this year. Clearly this is a successful collaborative project that includes volunteers, forest land
managers, local contractors, and an energy company.”

In her letter of support, Sarah J. Medina, Land Use Director of Seven Islands Land Company cited RRG&SA efforts in youth education, writing “The RRG&SA is a leader in this regard with a junior guides program, a mentoring program, a kids-only fishing pond and special youth events such as fly tying and skeet shooting at Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day. We trust RRG&SA is instilling in these youth, respect for all
of the out-of-doors including working forest landscape.”

Scott D. Rineer, Regional Supervisor for Wagner Forest Management, Ltd. cited in his support letter the achievements of the RRG&SA wildlife food plot program. He wrote, “The program has helped many of our old log yards in Rangeley Plantation Twp., grow into great sources of
forage for many species of wildlife.”

Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Director of Development, Bill Pierce, wrote, “If IF&W, DOC, or local entity needs support, volunteers or funding to further habitat or to make a brighter future for the use and appreciation of private forestland in this region; the RRG&SA has always answered the call.”

Other support letters were submitted by DIF&W Assistant Regional Wildlife Biologist, Robert Cordes; Stephen Philbrick, owner of Bald Mountain Camps; and Don and Sandy Dumont, local land owners. The RRG&SA is pleased and honored to have had the support of all these entities.

The RRG&SA was not the only Rangeley area honoree at this banquet. Bob Linkletter from Athens and Randy Cousineau from Strong both received Landowner of the year awards. They were nominated by the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands and supported by many local sporting organizations. The nomination letter stated, “These two landowners both played critical roles in helping solve the 10 year dispute over the motorized crossing of the Appalachian Trail in Rangeley. The final approved permanent crossing crosses their properties on
both ends allowing access to the Bureau of Parks and Lands’ property where the approved crossing of the AT is. All trail users (motorized and non-motorized) as well as the State of Maine and the National Park Service all owe them a debt of gratitude for helping to solve this decade long dispute.” These two gentlemen are also working with the High Peaks Alliance on permanent hiking trail agreements which will expand the local trail system by allowing the Alliance to develop the new Fly Rod Crosby Trail in remembrance of Maine’s first registered guide.

Captain Dan Scott of the Maine Warden Service summed up the importance of the MDIF&W Landowner Relations Program and the Awards Banquet when he said, “Landowners and responsible land users are keepers of Maine’s natural resources, and they make possible the outdoor opportunities which we all enjoy and make Maine unique.”

More information on the RRG&SA can be found at:http://rangeleyguidesandsportsmen.org

RRGSA & Rangeley to host State of Maine 2012 Moose Lottery Drawing

Kevin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:30:10 +0000

RANGELEY SELECTED TO HOST 2012 MOOSE LOTTERY DRAWING – SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 @ 4PM. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife commissioner Chandler Woodcock announced in June that Rangeley was selected to host the 2012 moose lottery drawing. Since 1999, the moose lottery drawing has been held at different locations around Maine, including Millinocket, Boothbay Harbor, Old Town, Bucksport, Scarborough, Presque Isle, Rumford, Phippsburg, Kittery, Fort Kent, and Freeport. Nearly 50,000 people entered the 2011 lottery for a shot at the 3,862 permits that were available.

The 2012 lottery date and time has been set for Saturday, June 23rd at 4pm.. The Rangeley Region Guide’s and Sportsmen’s Association (RRG&SA) will be the lead organization for the planned weekend activites and moose permit drawing. The Town of Rangeley and Village of Oquossoc will provide the perfect setting for this special weekend of activites culminating with the moose drawing on Saturday at 4pm. Accomodation, dining, and activity packages are being developed for the weekend. Interested businesses, vendors, and individuals may contact the RRG&SA Moose Lottery Committee Chairman, Sheri Oldham, at 207-864-4323 or sheridan.oldham@gmail.com. As they are finalized, the schedule of events and activites will be posted on the RRG&SA web site: www.rangeleyguidesandsportsmen.org

September Guest Speaker Steve Walker – Beginning With Habitat

Kevin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:17:35 +0000

Beginning With Habitat (BWH) is for organized towns to use as a tool when completing their long term comprehensive plans. Each town participating in this program receive BWH maps that include, among other things a detailed depiction of surface water resources, high value plant and animal habitats and large undeveloped blocks of habitat. The maps (specific to the area) are delivered to local comprehensive planning committees, conservation commissions, or planning boards together with a binder of narrative information covering basic conservation planning and species specific habitat requirements.

BWH not only provides organized towns throughout the state with comprehensive fish, wildlife, plant and natural community information tailored to the specific town, but provides local bards, committees and planing staff with technical assistance in crafting tools to address local habitat needs and concerns. The intent of this program is not to stop growth so vital to Maine’s economy, but to ‘do growth better’ and in a way that helps to conserve our natural heritage while at the same time conserving our
irreplaceable Maine character.

Board of directors Mac Dudley has been working with the Town of Rangeley and IF&W Beginning with Habitat Program Coordinator, Steve Walker since 2007.

2011 Youth Day Hunters Breakfast a big success

Kevin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:50:12 +0000

On Saturday, October 22nd the Rangeley Region Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association hosted their 8th annual Youth Hunt breakfast. Nine local youth attended and enjoyed a hearty breakfast prepared by Club Director Sherri Oldham and received a complimentary Club blaze orange ball cap. The RRG&SA mission includes a commitment to support the outdoor sporting heritage for the youth of our the community. We wish all the hunters a safe and successful hunting season. Pictured are (L to R) Ernie Gilbert, Ricky Thompson, Cody Steward, Randy Thompson, Tomas Clinch, Josh Haley and Natasha Haley.

RRG&SA – 3rd Annual Turkey Shoot – Sunday, Oct. 9th

Kevin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:37:18 +0000

The Rangeley Region Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association will be holding a turkey shoot at the Association’s rifle and pistol range on Sunday, October 9, 2011. Registration is at 10:00 AM and the shoot begins at 11:00 AM. Shooters will have the chance to win a turkey or ham for the holidays.

There will opportunities for both big bore shooters as well as those who prefer .22 cal. rim fire guns. A .22 cal. rifle and ammunition will be available at the range for the small bore competition. A novice competition will be held for youths under the age of 16. Shooters will be staged with 12-15 other shooters and will fire a single shot at a target. The shooter closest to the bull’s-eye for each round will win a gift certificate redeemable for either a ham or a turkey. Entry fee will be $3 a round or 4 rounds for $10. Enter as many times as you wish.

To get to the rifle and pistol range travel 5 miles west on Rt. 16 from Oquossoc then 1.5 miles north on the Morton Cutoff Road. So grab your guns, eye and ear protection, and a box of ammunition (targets will be provided) and come on out for a fun day of shooting. Call the River’s Edge Sport Shop at 864-5582 for more information.

RRG&SA Shooting Range – Open Shooting Day – Sat. Oct, 8th

Kevin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:34:04 +0000

Hunting season is almost here! Now is the time to get out for some target practice and to sight in those rifles and pistols in anticipation of the season. The Rangeley Region Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association will be holding free shooting, open to the public, at the Association’s rifle and pistol range from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, October 8th, 2011.

To get the range, travel 5 miles west on Rt.16 from Oquossoc then 1.5 miles north on the Morton Cutoff Road. Range officers will be present for your assistance and to provide club membership information. Eye and ear protection are required for all shooters. For more information call The River’s Edge Sport Shop at 864-5582.

Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day – 2011

Kevin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:25:38 +0000

Check out the photos from this year’s Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day!

Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day 2012 - Smokey makes a guest apprearance

Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day 2011 - Vendors had a busy day!!!

See the complete gallery here!