As many Maine sportsmen know, Gerry Lavigne, Maine’s deer biologist for three decades, quit his job in early March.

Lavigne reportedly submitted his request for an early retirement from state government following a verbal reprimand from one of his supervisors in the Wildlife Division of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W).

Lavigne’s reprimand from his superiors was reportedly a result of his critical comments in the Northwoods Sporting Journal about former Maine Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Ray “Bucky” Owen’s pro-wolf position, which was outlined in an earlier Sporting Journal article by Owen.

This was not the first time in his long and productive career that Lavigne had been taken to the woodshed by his DIF&W bosses. Lavigne told outdoor reporter Roberta Scruggs that he’d “had an adversarial relationship with his supervisors for 15 of the past 20 years.”

Lavigne’s sudden departure from Maine’s deer management program at a critical time is being minimized by many Augusta outdoor observers as simply the changing times, the end of an era. Maybe so. It appears that Lavigne was ostensibly driven from his post simply because he spoke his mind in a manner that made DIF&W leadership uncomfortable, or breached the political correctness codes of the times.

Lavigne, widely acknowledged to be one of this country’s most respected and knowledgeable deer scientists, has been directing Maine’s whitetail management program for 30 years. He has been known over the years for his almost uncanny ability to estimate annual deer harvests. A popular speaker at Fish and Game clubs around the state, Lavigne was one of the state’s most accessible and articulate biologists. He probably has done more than any other Maine contemporary to teach us all about the complexities and interrelationships of Maine wildlife, and the role that hunting plays in resource conservation.

“Gerry is a gifted wildlife biologist and we’ll miss him,” said Ken Elowe, DIF&W’s No. 3 man.

That, in our view, was an understatement. Lavigne, as Scruggs reported, “developed the system, that rebuilt Maine’s deer herd.”

Besides his years of hard work in state service, and his dedication to intelligent deer management and wildlife science, there was something unique and refreshing in Lavigne’s demeanor and personal approach. He never temporized or double-talked. Always direct, down to earth and outspoken, he was at the same time a thorough and insightful biologist, and an intellectual in the traditional sense.Yet his bedrock common sense made him shine in the eyes of sportsmen throughout this state. A popular wildlife manager, Lavigne stood out above the rest even though he tended to steer clear of the limelight.

Many of us who write about the outdoors in this state have always valued Gerry Lavigne’s accessibility, candor and professionalism. We are all saddened by his early exit from state service, but know that, as his own man, he will find in retirement useful endeavors and the personal satisfaction of knowing that he did his job exceedingly well.

As our state deer biologist, Lavigne really did make a difference.

His legacy will not soon be forgotten.

V. Paul Reynolds 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, WCME-FM 96.7) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is [email protected].