Outdoorsmen are ignored

I can't believe that the state of Maine passed a law so the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department can charge $5 for tagging a bear, moose, deer or turkey. Tagging stations get $1 while $4 goes back to the department.

Overall, for the past two years, there has been a decline in the deer and moose populations because of the harsh winters. Where is that $4 going? That money should go into a fund for winter feeding projects, such as other states do.

Other states have put outdoorsmen's ideas first and worked together on the problem. Other states don't have a blind eye for their wildlife.

There was a chance of getting a wildlife research team in Maine, but with all the state regulations, the research team decided it was not worth the effort because of the laws against supplemental feeding. Other states, including Montana, Illinois and Colorado, have thriving deer herds because they have supplemental feeding programs.

And how can state officials issue a statement that there is a low deer density but still have a special deer archery season where hunters can take as many deer as they want for a per-deer fee? They issue a special bonus permit, even with the low deer density. I really don't get it.

Outdoorsmen are not being listened to. They fill out comment cards, but those probably get filed away and forgotten.

State wildlife officials need to learn from other states.

John Stevens, North Monmouth