Veterans fishing event coming to South Portland

The Veterans Appreciation Fishing Tournament, a fishing tournament and day of boating held in honor of the men and woman of the armed forces, will be held Saturday, July 28, at Port Harbor Marine in South Portland.

The 2009 inaugural event, and the 2010 and 2011 events involved more than 100 vets representing each military branch.

This year’s event will again feature a day-long fishing tournament through which veterans are given the opportunity to fish inshore or offshore, take in a harbor cruise or just come down for a cookout featuring their catch. During the cookout trophies will be awarded to the veterans with the best catches of the day. Port Harbor Marine has already recruited more than 20 people to volunteer their time and boats so far. Boaters from other marinas are welcome to sign up as captains, volunteering their time, tackle, boat, fuel and fishing expertise.

For more information, go to www.vetsaft.com or search for Veterans Appreciation Fishing Tournament on Facebook.

Local residents go Peaks to Portland

A Pennsylvania man has won the 2012 Peaks to Portland open water swim.

Scott Yeomans, 48, of Bethlehem, Pa., won the race in 45:32.8. Pamela Torrey, 51, of Portland was the top woman finisher, and 11th overall, with a time of 50.14.5.

There were 316 finishers overall for the 2.4-mile swim. Local finishers include: Joseph Parent of Windham (89th), Gretchen Howard of New Gloucester (99th), Nicole Foster of Windham (121st), Emily Cramer of Naples (157th), Douglas Moore of New Gloucester (162nd), Alex Elston of Windham (173rd), David Zeliger of New Gloucester (178th), Dena McVane of Windham (205th), and Terry Swain of Windham (316th).

Deadline approaching for any-deer permit

People interested in submitting a paper application for the 2012 any-deer (antlerless) permit lottery have until July 27 to do so in person at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or by mail.

Online applications, which can be found at www.mefishwildlife.com, are due by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 15.

The department no longer mails paper applications.

It is free to apply for the any-deer permit lottery. The drawing will be held on Friday, Sept. 7.

A total of 34,160 any-deer permits will be issued in 13 of the state’s 29 wildlife management districts for this year’s whitetail deer hunting season, which begins in late October. It is bucks-only in all other wildlife management districts.

The 13 wildlife management districts where any-deer (antlerless) may be hunted this year, with a permit, are 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 29.

Deer hunting season (firearms) begins with Youth Deer Hunting Day on Saturday, Oct. 20. Youth may take a buck statewide or an antlerless deer only in the wildlife management districts where any-deer permits will be issued this fall.

This year, Maine Residents Only Day is on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Deer season runs Oct. 29 through Nov. 24.

For more information, visit www.mefishwildlife.com.