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Press Releases

October 23, 2008

Landowners Recognized for Allowing Outdoor Enthusiasts to Access Their Land
              
Augusta – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Snowmobile Association on Tuesday honored private, municipal and corporate landowners for their generosity in opening up their land to outdoor enthusiasts.

Six individuals or entities received recognition at the annual Landowner Relations Awards Banquet on Tuesday, Oct. 21 in Augusta, which was sponsored by IF&W and hosted by MSA.

The IF&W Landowner Relations Program seeks to maintain and build on Maine’s unique heritage of public access to private land for recreation and sport use, and works to ensure that the relationship between private landowners and the public is one of respect and good judgment. The Department works closely with Robert Duplessie, the state’s Director of Recreational Access and Landowner Relations, other state agencies, clubs from the various user groups, and landowners to build strong partnerships and to proactively address the issues that arise.

“More than 90 percent of Maine’s land is privately owned, and the generosity of landowners to allow access to hunters, anglers, snowmobilers and ATV riders, as well as other enthusiasts, is something to be applauded,” said Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “We remind outdoor recreationalists to always ask first before going onto someone’s land. It’s the right thing to do.”

This year’s honorees are:

  • Corporate: Black Mountain of Maine, of Rumford, nominated by the Rumford Polar Bears Snowmobile Club;
  • Municipal: Carrabassett Valley Sanitary District, Carrabassett Valley, nominated by the Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association;
  • Private Landowners (100+acres): Paul Foulkes, Brownville and Williamsburg, nominated by the Brownville Snowmobile Club;

Conan Furber, Kingsbury, nominated by the Moose Alley Riders ATV Club;
Medomak Valley Land Trust, Waldoboro, nominated by the Lincoln County Fish and Game Club;
Francis Fitzpatrick, Houlton, nominated by the Aroostook Riders ATV Club.

More than 500 nomination forms were distributed to various user groups, such as ATV, snowmobile, and fish and game clubs, and the nominations were reviewed by an awards committee that included representatives from the Maine Warden Service, the Maine Snowmobile Association, Maine ATV, and the state’s Landowner Relations Director.

To date, the IF&W Landowner Relations Program has recognized more than 70 landowners for their outstanding efforts in allowing their land to be used for public recreation.