DLLTLandownerAward

Augusta, Maine - The 2006 Landowner of the Year awards were presented last night at the Augusta Civic Center. Bob Meyers from the Maine Snowmobile Association and Dan Mitchell from Maine ATV joined Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin and staff to present these awards to private and corporate landowners who provide access to their property to outdoor enthusiasts.

Since 1996, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has recognized 57 landowners in one of four categories for their contributions to the enhancement of outdoor recreation by allowing public access to private land. The categories include Private Landowner of 100 acres or less, Private Landowner 100 acres or more, Corporate Landowner and Municipal Landowner.

The Maine Warden Service’s Landowner Relations Program distributed over five hundred nominations forms statewide to various outdoor recreational clubs and associations. A selection committee was then convened and a four-person panel reviewed the nominations. This year, seven separate landowners received awards in three of the four categories.

The focus of this award is to provide awareness and recognize landowners who provide public access to private land for all outdoor recreation. This includes snowmobiling, riding all terrain vehicles, fishing, hunting, trapping, camping, hiking, skiing and general outdoor use and access to the state’s natural resources.

“These individuals and nominating associations are a model of the strong landowner-user relationships needed to ensure public access to private land. The users are responsible outdoor enthusiasts that believe in “asking first” and then conducting themselves in a manner that reflects stewardship of the land they are provided the privilege to access,” said Maine Warden Service Captain Joel Wilkinson. “The landowner in return recognizes they have responsible user groups and individuals utilizing, maintaining and providing extra care and watch over their land against unlawful abuse and misuse. These partnerships benefit all of us who engage in these outdoor activities and care about the future of our recreation.”