For More Information, Please Contact:
Mark Latti
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
mark.latti@maine.gov
207-287-6008
pager 818-9617
fax 207-287-6395
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

For Immediate Release                                              September 1, 2006

Fishing Season Extended To October 1

AUGUSTA, Maine -- This year, anglers hoping to get just one more day of fishing will get their wish, as the open water fishing season will conclude on Sunday, October 1, not the customary September 30.

Generally, the open water fishing season runs from April 1 through September 30. However, when September 30 falls upon a Saturday, state law allow the commissioner to extend the season by one day.

“We are thrilled to give anglers one more day to enjoy some fantastic fall fishing. Fall can be a spectacular time to fish, with foliage at its peak, and salmon and trout are very aggressive as they prepare to spawn,”’ said Roland D. Martin, Commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Title 12, section 12456, subsection 2 C reads “whenever the last day of open water fishing season falls on a Saturday, the season is extended one day to include the following Sunday.”

All laws fishing rules and laws that are applicable from April 30 through September 30 will be in effect for October 1.

After October 1, there are fall fishing opportunities available, but they are limited to specific bodies of water, and there are more restrictive regulations on tackle and possession. For more details, please consult the fishing law book or fishing regulations on the department’s website at www.mefishwildlife.com. Look for waterways with the S-23 (closes Oct. 31) and S-24 (closes Nov. 30) regulation codes.

-30-

Any Deer Permit Drawing Is September 8

AUGUSTA, Maine -- September 8^th marks the date for this year’s Any Deer permit drawing, and results from the any deer drawing will be posted by 3:00 pm on the department’s website at www.mefishwildlife.com. There are 67,725 permits available.

Once again, this year’s numbers show that hunters continue to enjoy the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife online application system.

This year, 80,765 hunters applied for the any deer permit, and 49,004 or 60% of those applied online.

Once again, this is an increase from years past. Last year, 85,451 hunters applied for an Any Deer permit, and 48,341of those hunters, or 57%, applied online. That is up from 48% in 2004 last year, and 42% in 2003.

“People are realizing the ease and convenience of applying online,” said R. Dan Martin, Commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “Not only are we keeping customers who applied online last year, we are also attracting new customers. The increased efficiency of applying online also keeps Department costs down.”

The online application system is fast and simple, and it saves the department money in time and labor. Each paper application must be processed through several steps in order to enter the lottery, but with the online application, the hunter enters the information themselves. Hunters get instant confirmation of entering the lottery, and can print their confirmation.

-30-