BigGameHoundsmen.com

I beleive to change the name is a rather complicated process but we can look into it. We should be able to change or make a note in the by-laws to allow and one owning a hunting dog to join very easy. Keep the idea's and members coming.

Is the name going to stay the same Maine Tree Hound Association ? Do we make out checks to that or to Tim ?

Make checks out to Maine Tree Hound Assn 70 totten rd.Gray Maine 04039 $25.Anually Thanks for all the support so far.

I spoke with tim earlier this evening . I am in NO WAY speaking in any OFFICIAL capacity .
Just a reminder to a lot of Non resident Hound hunters .I know quite a few guys come up for a few weeks during the season .If we lose where will you go next . I will be sending in my membership and making a donation tomorrow . All I will say is even a donation of $20 can go a long way to get this up and running. If you can find it in your heart to make a contribution I am sure it would be greatly appreciated
THANKS

just finished mailing it out .

what about a bottle and can drive to stimulate money for the club .

Buddy : Being an OLD DUBBER with Limited Computer skills I was wondering if it would be allright to have someone post a LINK to the Maine Houndsman Site reguarding this Legislative issue . We all RESPECT what you have going on here at this site but for a lot of us in the Northeast part of the USA the issues that are arising are a Major concern to many . If so THANKS for allowing such to be done.

buddy: Received your PM Thanks for letting the link get posted.

Upcoming Bills Threaten Traditional Forms of Outdoor Recreation
(Prepared by Skip Trask on March 11, 2011)

On Monday, March 21st, at 1 PM, the Fish and Wildlife Committee will hold public hearings on two bills that, if enacted, will forever impact our ability to access privately owned lands for purposes outdoor recreation.

LD #223, An Act To Require Written Permission for Recreational Access to Cropland, Pastureland and Orchards, was submitted on behalf of the Farm Bureau. It would require written landowner permission to enter cropland, pastureland or orchards to engage in any activity regulated by the Fish and Wildlife Department. It would apply year round to just about all non-wooded areas, including hay fields and crop lands that have long since been harvested. It would also include all orchards, whether or not the orchard is being maintained. It would include not only hunting with dogs, but the training of dogs as well.

Most of us strongly endorse the idea of asking landowner permission before entering privately owned lands to engage in outdoor recreation. At the same time, it is often difficult to find out who owns a particular tract of land and equally difficult to contact the owner who may live out of state or at least spend winters in some other state. In addition, there are many landowners who don’t have a problem with us using their land for recreation, but they will never give permission in writing. This bill will result in a huge amount of lost opportunity for sportsmen and sportswomen without doing a thing to address the small number of irresponsible individuals that are causing problems for landowners.

The other bill, LD #559, An Act To Protect Owners of Private Property Against Trespass, would require prior written landowner permission to place bait, to hunt coyotes at night, or to hunt with dogs for bobcats, coyotes or bears. It would also require that all dogs used to hunt these species be equipped with a tracking collar. These restrictions would apply statewide on all privately owned lands. The bill also adds another method of marking private property (a system of marking the property lines with purple paint) to signify that permission is required to access the property for any reason.

Both of these bills are a huge step toward reverse posting. If either of these bills passes, it’s only a matter of time before we’ll be required to get written permission to enter upon privately owned land for each of the activities we enjoy. We certainly need to respect the rights of landowners, but prior written permission for all activities is not an acceptable option. I’ve been talking with several organizations that represent landowners and am hopeful that they will join us at the hearings and testify against these two bills.

We need a good turnout at the public hearings to oppose these bills. Between the time of the public hearings and the work sessions (not yet scheduled) we need to have lots of sportsmen and sportswomen contacting the members of the Fish and Wildlife Committee to let them know what these bills would do to the future of outdoor recreation in Maine. Depending on how things go at the work session, we’ll have a better idea of what else needs to be done to defeat these bills.

If you attend the hearing, please wear something that identifies you as a sportsman/sportswoman – shirt with patch, hat with decal, etc. If you get up to testify, make sure to remove your hat!

If you have questions, concerns or need additional information, don’t hesitate to get back to me.




Here's the committee information.

http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/jt_com/ifw.htm

LD223 got shot down,and LD559 got Tabeled for another day. Also the Maine Tree Hound assn. raised about $800 just in a few days. 1st meeting is Saturday at 2pm at the Augusta sportsmen show.Election of officers ect.....Please try to attend.Our numbers there today were'nt great.The Bill LD559 has alot of us worried with whats exspected to pop-up.They wanted more information from one of the Wardens on a issue that could make or break us.Please show your support and attend these meetings.

Guys, we have done a great job so far getting this going, but I still have a hard time with the fact that there are a bunch of members on this site from Maine, NH,and other states who have not said a word or made any effort to join. It is those who will bitch the most when we lose our hunting rights. Anyone with a hound who has or does run in Maine need's to spend $25 and join. that is about 6 gallons of gas today!!

You guys should start some raffels go to vermont bearhound assoiation.com get pres. name &# and ask how they do it.Pretty smooth running
outfit. I'll send my 25
Better yet go to annual meeting &talk to them April 9 Barre fish &game club starts 10:00
best of luck

The Maine Tree Hound Assn will have a booth at the Sportsmen show in Augusta this weekend.Please stop by and show your support and join.
At 2 pm on Saturday they will be holding a meeting for election of officers,to fill the positions.
They will also be selling 50/50 raffel tickets and tickets on a Diamond plated Beagle dog box as well.
This club really needs the support of all sportsmen.The issues that this club will be face'n are a wide sectrum of sportsmen related issues.So if you enjoy the outdoors,This club is fighting for your heritage as well.Not just hound related. And If you run dogs,either beagles,bird dogs,Running dogs,and hounds.please join and support us.
Hope to see you all there!!!

You guys should start some raffels go to vermont bearhound assoiation.com get pres. name &# and ask how they do it.Pretty smooth running
outfit. I'll send my 25
Better yet go to annual meeting &talk to them April 9 Barre fish &game club starts 10:00
best of luck i have called trying to donate some of my dvds and one of my framed wildlife photos that you could put in a raffel or something but no call back yet??

Folks, you have to think big, if your going to fight them, which is memberships and lots of money. I would suggest, using any avenues, you can from The Wisconsin bear hunters Association, and ask for advice and help. We also got the trappers to stand behind us, which also showed numbers. We went from defense of our sport, to being on the offense now, and good communication and relations with the polititions, and WDNR. We have a lobbist in madison also, keeping any eye on things. A suggestion would be to get in touch with our people and have a membership drive or donation drive, at our annual convention which is April 15 and 16th. Should be 1500 members there, our website is http://www.wbha.us.com/ you will find anything and contacts there. I personally would also get in touch will all hound clubs from the carolina's up, as i know a few of them guys and they are in maine in the fall, get your info on their web sites. Good luck
Ron