Archer-I'm not really sure of the status of the request to hike up the license fees. I'm a member of the Sportman's Alliance of Maine (SAM) and I know they blasted the department at a public hearing on the issue a few weeks back. The impression I got from the SAM feedback was that it looked like the overwhelming opinion was that the request for the increases was going to be tossed out. I think my latest copy of the SAM newsletter got thrown away but I will let you know the status of that request when I find out.
On the topic of a mild winter, I had to laugh Saturday. My wife spent the last week in Florida visiting her parents. She flew back here Saturday arriving after 8:00 PM. As the plane touched down the pilot told the passengers that for those that came from Florida wearing shorts (as it was 94 degrees there) he wanted to let them know that it was 24 degrees in Bangor! Some of the looks on the faces of those passengers as they left the airport were priceless!