The 5th Annual Fall Harvest Fun Shoot was again held at the Hermon Skeet Club. This important fundraiser is possible only because of the great support the program has with members of the Hermon Skeet Club, namely Joan and Henry Trial, as well as the 44 registered shooters (more than in any other year) who participated in this year's shoot. Thanks also go to the many donors, especially Cabelas who donated gift certificates and 25 cases of clay pigeons. Thanks to the Maine Warden Service and 13 Unity College students who put on an elegant barbeque as well as for the dedicated efforts of the OGT Board of Directors.

The entire skeet shoot results can be accessed by the following link: http://ww.hermonskeetclub.com/calendar/OGT_12.pdf

As we enter yet another fall hunting season, we need to be reminded of the disastrous effect poachers have on our fish and wildlife resources. Additionally,  Maine Operation Game Thief is the best line of defense in apprehending these thieves. Please, if you see a violation of our fish and wildlife laws, either call Operation Game Thief our 800 number or email the details of the violation to www.maineogt.org. You can rest assured you will remain anonymous. Our Maing game wardens will do the rest.

Your donations and support of our fundraising efforts, not only help to pay rewards, but continue to support the administrative costs of marketing Operation Game Thief. Please know that no State of Maine monies go to support this important program - the program is supported solely by you, the concerned Maine sportsman.

As everyone knows, Maine's Operation Game Thief program depends upon the generosity of concerned citizens who, not only report violations of fish and wildlife law but, also support the program financially. The Board of Directors of OGT has a number of fundraising events throughout the year to raise these needed funds.

This year is no different. Thanks go out to Cabelas for their generosity for donating, at cost, a 50th Anniversary Winchester Model 94 .38-55 rifle. After expenses a total of $1635 was raised to help pay rewards for information leading to the arrest of poachers as well as supporting the efforts of the Board of Directors to get the message out to the public regarding the negative impact poaching has on our resources.

The winning ticket was drawn at the Augusta Sportsmen show in March and the winner of the Winchester rifle was Lloyd Monroe of Gardiner. Presenting the winning rifle to Mr. Monroe was Tom Nannery of Cabelas.

Thank you Mr. Monroe for your support of Operation Game Thief and thank you Mr. Nannery and Cabelas as well as the Board of Directors for the great work you do in support of our Maine game wardens and the job they do protecting Maine's fish and wildlife resources.

Through the fundraising efforts of the Board of Directors of Operation Game Thief, Maine's OGT program now has the "Wall of Shame" trailer whose purpose is to increase the public's awareness of the disastrous effects that poaching has on our fish and wildlife resources. This 36 foot trailer, full of mounted fish and wildlife poached by thieves, allow Maine game wardens a means of communicating this message to far more people than ever before. 

What's in the Wall of Shame? Mounts of illegally poached fish, deer, moose, turkey and furbearers are a major part of the Wall of Shame. You will also find illegal implements such as gill nets, snares, jacklights and illegal firearms that were all used to poach our fish and wildlife. You will read interesting stories about these poaching incidents and how the poachers were apprehended by our Maine game wardens. We are sure that you will feel, as all concerned citizens, sportsmen and women feel about these thieves - they need to be caught and Maine Operation Game Thief is just one tool that wardens have to help catch poachers. The Wall of Shame is an effective way to get this message out to the public.

If you would like to have the trailer at one of your fish and game club functions, a civic group function, school or any other event that will allow for the greatest opportunity to increase the public's awareness of the work of poachers, then please call the Maine Warden Service in Augusta at 287-2766. We will make every effort to have a game warden and the Wall of Shame at your event.