Woodcock speaks to Rotary

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Chandler Woodcock makes appearances throughout the state and on Feb. 13, he was in Houlton, as the invited special speaker to the Rotary Club.
    “I was very pleased to come,” said Woodcock.
    Woodcock usually begins his address by telling those in attendance about himself, his background and what the department has for some of its initiatives. Generally in Woodcock’s travels, the discussion centers around wildlife.
    “We have responsibility for all the creatures in the state and the arena they encompass,” he said.
    The IF&W has been pretty steady with fishing.
    “It’s been pretty constant for us,” said Woodcock. “We have 6,000 lakes, ponds and bodies of water people use. We are lucky in the state to have that opportunity.”
    Within the next month, hunters will be applying for the annual two-week Moose Hunt. Registration for permits is due by April 2 by mail and May 14 if completed online.
    Last year, 3,862 permits were issued.
    Wildlife Biologist Lee Kanter shared with Woodcock that there are 75,000 moose in the state.
    “That’s a pretty healthy number,” he said. “We will allocate permits accordingly. Though some area of the state are more concentrated than others, the northern part is pretty fertile moose ground.”
    What the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department and hunters have concern over is the deer population.
    “Concern for the deer herd is pretty widely understood,” Woodcock said. “The potential for improving some areas is a little more complicated in terms of the discussion because many people would like to take on the coyote problem with all guns blazing, literally. There are issues and some issues remain in that arena.”
    Seven years ago, the IF&W applied for a federal incidental take permit (ITP) to reduce the coyote population.
    “It’s a government process for trapping coyotes,” said Woodcock. “It’s a wonderful method of managing the coyote population. What we have is an imbalance. Many places in the state coyote far out number the deer. But when you have that coyote pit, meaning the population is threatened, coupled with three bad winters, there is a serious concern for deer population.”
    One of the IF&W objectives is to regenerate the deer herd.
    “Mother Nature has been kind to us this winter in the sense of the deer,” Woodcock explained. “It has been a very good winter. Hopefully, we can regenerate because of that.  Unfortunately, this has been a year when deer didn’t yard because we didn’t have enough snow. It’s been a conundrum.
    “I hope people appreciate that we are looking at a 10- to 15-year solution,” added Woodcock. “It can’t have a rebound in a year or two, not with that particular animal, but we are working on it.”
    The IF&W money is not directly involved with coyotes other than they prey on the deer herd.
    “Our money is in the deer herd,” Woodcock added. “The economic value of what used to be a great hunting opportunity in Maine for white-tailed deer. I would offer, although there aren’t as many deer as we used to have in some areas, we still shoot some pretty darn big bucks. This is a big buck state still.”
    What has also affected the state’s economy is lack of snow for skiing and snowmobiling.
    Obviously the deer herd is under much scrutiny, the IF&W are looking at moose and bear populations, as well. At the Wildlife Research Foundation, in conjunction with IF&W biologists Randy Cross and Jen Vachon, there is live streaming of a web cam in a bear’s den. To take a look visit www.wildliferesearch.org.
    Woodcock was nominated for the IF&W Commissioner by Gov. Paul LePage.
    “I was thrilled he nominated me,” he said. “Being outdoors in Maine is quite a privilege.”
    A native Mainer and Vietnam veteran, Woodcock was born in Mechanic Falls and lives in Farmington. He graduated from the University of Maine Farmington and taught public school for 27 years. He coached basketball for 20 years at Livermore High School, was assistant coach to Lenny McFee for the UMF men’s and women’s program and coached Mt. Blue girls to two state Class A titles.
    Woodcock was a state senator for six years and will have been married for 39 years in June.
    “I’ve been really blessed in my lifetime with great opportunities,” he noted. “But this job, I love. I’m an outdoor person. I started fishing when I was three and hunted since I was young and trapped a couple of years. I love the Maine outdoors and to have some input in affecting Maine policy for research management for generations to come is a real honor.”
    There are two things that Woodcock wants those in the outdoors to consider. First, be careful on the ice and know how thick the ice is and what it can hold since the state has suffered catastrophes this year. Secondly, respect the land.
    Mark Latti, IF&W Landowner Relations person, has been working to gain appropriate relationships between landowners and recreationalists.
    “He makes sure we have a good relationship with the big woods, small wood lots and small land owners,” Woodcock explained. “I would urge people to treat the landowner well. It’s their land you are recreating on.”
    Woodcock is very optimistic about Maine’s outdoor future.
     “Usage is down in hunting, but hunting has trended down nationally, too,” he said. “I think, we have protected and conserved appropriately in a lot of areas.”