By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A local sporting club will be recognized in October during a ceremony downstate for the organization’s continued efforts to promote safe, responsible recreational use of land in Aroostook County.
Officials with the Presque Isle Fish & Game Club, located at 600 Parsons Road, received the good news late last month in a letter from the Maine Warden Service/Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
CLUB RECOGNIZED — The Presque Isle Fish & Game Club will be recognized Oct. 15 in Augusta for the organization’s continued efforts to promote responsible use of land — both private and public — for recreational purposes such as hunting and fishing. Pictured from left are Club President Barry Flood and Peter Hilton, membership coordinator.
“Congratulations, you have been selected to be recognized as an outstanding organized land user group at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Landowner/Land User of the Year Awards Ceremony. North Maine Woods nominated you for this award,” stated Shon Theriault, game warden captain with the Landowner Relations Program, in the letter addressed to Club President Barry Flood.
Theriault also referenced letters of support for the nomination were received from: Frank Frost, IF&W fisheries biologist; Rich Hoppe, IF&W wildlife biologist; Lt. Tom Ward, Maine Warden Service; Robby Gross, Maine Forest Service; Sarah Medina, Seven Islands Land Company; Don Dudley, Maine Professional Guides Association; and Matt and Jesse Libby, owners of Libby’s Sporting Camps.
“We’re honored to be so recognized. We represent people who use the woods responsibly,” said Peter Hilton, membership director for the organization.
Hilton said members not only fish and hunt, some are also competitive shooters or join just to have access to the shooting range.
Hilton said it was the first time the club had received this particular award.
Like many of the organization’s members, Hilton has served on various boards and groups with a common interest in sporting activities and proper use of lands.
“I’ve served as a board member on the IF&W Advisory Council; I was on SAM’s (Sportsmen’s Alliance of Maine) original task force almost 20 years ago, and was on the Allagash Advisory Council back in the ‘90s through 2000s,” said Hilton.
“Barry also serves as an IF&W board member. Nick Archer, one of our members, serves on the SAM board. Club member Curtis Lewin is very active in the Hooked on Fishing program, which is heavily supported by the local Elks organization. We have members who are active with the Maine Snowmobile Association and serve as liaisons between us and the snowmobile clubs,” noted Hilton.
“This is a very prestigious award. It’s limited who it goes to. You have to be nominated, with letters of support, then the nomination must be approved,” said Flood. “This makes a very important addition in our standing with the community.”
According to Hilton, the PIF&G currently has 220 members, ranging from the St. John Valley to Houlton.
“We have members from Ashland, Masardis, Fort Fairfield, Caribou, Presque Isle, Houlton — even have some out-of-state,” said Hilton.
The club puts a great deal of effort into encouraging youth participation in outdoor recreation.
“We help send youngsters to conservation camp, they just have to be from our area. Much of the money raised during our annual Sportsman’s Show goes to send kids to camp,” said Hilton. “Promoting educational opportunities is one of our priorities.”
“We’ve also worked with the local fishery to help restock fish in area waterways,” said Flood.
Meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month, except in December. The facility is open to members and guests only, unless a special event is being held, such as the Nov. 2 hunters’ breakfast.
“Our shooting range is used by local law enforcement as well,” said Flood.
“We have a number of members who are certified through the state to teach hunter safety courses. We have four members who are certified to teach hunter safety, with two more in the application process,” noted Hilton. “We also have six members, including one lady, who are certified NRA handgun safety course instructors. The course teaches personal protection, with a focus on ethical and legal aspects of gun ownership.”
For more information on the club or to obtain an application for membership, look for the club on Facebook or visit www.pifg.org. You can also e-mail info@pifg.org.
“Thank you for being such a supportive landowner. All land users in the state appreciate your commitment to all outdoor recreational activities,” concluded Theriault in his letter to Flood.
The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in the North Wing of the Augusta Civic Center.
