The New Year is almost always a welcomed event. The slate is clean. As we look ahead, it’s a lot like a field of virgin snow. As we move on, the tracks we leave will take us to unseen ground. This is especially sweet for outdoor people who have an affinity for exploration, for finding what is just beyond the hill, or on the other side of the cedar swamp.

Move on, yes. But don’t forget to check your backtrack! Animals do it for survival. For the rest of us contemplative bipods, who struggle for understanding and perspective, a check of what already took place can often divulge clues or insights into what lies ahead. Let’s check that backtrack for the Maine outdoors, circa 2011.

For most sportsmen, the appointment of a new Commissioner for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife early in 2011 was welcome news. At the outset, Gov. LePage’s selection of Chandler Woodcock as commissioner seemed like a wise choice. Woodcock possesses the basic qualifications. A lifelong sportsman, he came on board at DIF&W as an experienced state lawmaker and proven leader. Woodcock hit the ground running. He named an experienced DIF&W insider, Andrea Erskine, to be his Deputy Commissioner, a prudent and bold move. Woodcock has not been a disappointment. With him at the helm, morale has improved significantly in the whole DIF&W operation. Woodcock has shown himself to be a good listener and an energetic, determined leader, an able administrator who doesn’t wince at controversy and knows what needs to be done. As one sportsman said, “He gets it!”

Except for the unusually warm weather, the fall hunting season in Maine went pretty well. According to a number of reports, grouse numbers, especially in the North Woods, were phenomenal — a banner year for the thunder chickens. The bear harvest was down, but not because of bear populations. In fact, bear biologist Randy Cross says that bear numbers are up in many areas. Abundant natural forage kept the bears away from hunters’ bait sites this fall. The moose hunt went well, although it was far too warm, and a few hunters were unable to get their critters to the coolers in time. There is no official deer-hunt tally yet in Maine, but speculation is that the 2011 deer harvest may even come in under official projections, which were already low. Anecdotal evidence from the tagging stations indicated, however, that there was a surprising number of large bucks being tagged late in November.

Although Maine’s newest outdoor umbrella organization, the Maine Outdoor Federation, made its promising debut last winter, there have been reports that the organization really hasn’t done anything much to establish itself as a player on the Maine outdoor scene. One report said that MOF was “defunct.” A number of MOF founders have insisted that reports of MOF’s demise have been exaggerated. Time will tell. If MOF is an organization in search of a cause, it need look no further than deer recovery. Although MDIF&W’s new Deer Action Plan does contain the seeds of hope, it will take action and involvement from sportsman groups like SAM, MOF, and statewide rod and gun clubs to maintain the necessary momentum.

Maine’s outdoor community lost some good people this year, too. An airplane crash claimed the life of Maine Warden Pilot Daryl Gordon. Maine Guide and bush flyer Steve Coleman was killed in a freak accident. Former Senate President Joe Sewall, a sportsman, also passed a way.

There were some surprises this year, too. Some good, some not so good. The Land Use Regulation Commission, LURC, to the delight of many Downeast outdoor folks, gave a thumbs down to the Bowers Mountain wind turbine project. On the downside, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service put out some feelers to take the pulse of Mainers to see how they feel about USFWS introducing wolves into the Pine Tree State. (What a wonderful present that would be to our already hard-pressed deer herd!) In their wisdom, Millinocket voters gave an overwhelming thumbs down to the idea of a feasibility study for Roxanne Quimby’s national park in Maine. Speaking of Ms. Quimby, she took Mainers on a roller-coaster ride this year. Despite the nonstop press coverage, it was difficult to keep track of Quimby’s land use policies. First she said that snow-sledders could use her land if they supported her park feasibility study. Then after the Maine Snowmobile Association accused her of extortion, she backed off — sort of.

There also were some substantive changes in the way the Maine moose lottery is handled. A number of changes will ensure that the next time around those who have never drawn a moose permit will have the best odds ever. According to Commissioner Woodcock, moose lottery applicants this year who have never been drawn will have one chance out of three of being selected.

This fall, for the first time in many years, some of the land on Marsh Island land was opened for bow hunting for deer during the early Expanded Hunt. Much of the credit goes to the Maine Bow Hunters Association (MBA) and regional wildlife biologist Mark Caron, who worked hard to bring about the change. Unfortunately, though, some of the best deer cover on the Island comprises the University of Maine Forest, and UMO officials refuse to allow bow hunting in this forest. Bow hunters, whose taxes support the University, have every reason to question UMO’s decision. The University’s reason for refusing to allow bow hunters on state property was “concerns about safety.” Anybody, who knows anything about bow hunting deer, knows that this rationale just doesn’t pass the straight face test.

Overall, 2011 was a pretty good year for Maine sportsmen. Fishing was excellent, whether anglers were after bass action, trout or salmon. For the year about to unfold, all eyes will be on Maine’s Deer Action Plan. A year from now, if our new leadership does its job, we should see progress in controlling coyote predation on wintering deer and better protection of key deer wintering areas.

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The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network (WVOM-FM 103.9, WQVM-FM 101.3) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is [email protected] and his new book is “A Maine Deer Hunter’s Logbook.”