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It is our great pleasure to announce that the recipient of the 2022 Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award is Galen Ruhlin of Gouldsboro, who at age 80 has truly lived a lifetime in the Maine outdoors. It?s not only the number of years that he has spent outside, but also the quality of those years that have truly made an impact.
Galen began hunting and fishing at an early age. His daughter Meghan recently saw some old films from the 1940s showing Galen hunting deer with his family at the age of 6 in Township 16, as well as lobstering and fishing off Gouldsboro Point as a kid.
Galen passed that love of the outdoors to his daughter, who has fond memories of waking at 3:00 a.m. to go salmon fishing on the Narraguagus. It?s clear Galen knew how to get young people hooked on the outdoors, as part of his daughter?s memories included stopping for a glazed donut at the local bakery. With incentives like that, it's no wonder his daughter Meghan was cleaning fish and skinning deer by the age of six!
In the many nomination letters submitted for Galen, folks talked about his expertise and passion for the outdoors, gleaned over decades, and how he gladly passed that along to others through conversation or actions. He was a teacher to all, whether it was friends, children, or those that he guided. He shared in all their successes, whether it was just viewing a bear while on a hunt or taking one himself.
There is also a compassionate side to Galen that shines when dealing with others who love the outdoors. Several Game Wardens have shared that Galen always has always had coffee or tea with biscuits or pie for anyone who may stop by. Galen has been an excellent source of information regarding fish and wildlife resources in the area, and many game wardens and biologists have leaned on him and his woods expertise.
Warden Dave Simmons shared that over the years Galen has always been willing to assist anytime there is a sick or injured moose, or a moose/vehicle accident, no matter the time of day or weather conditions. While that is commendable, Simmons also noted that Galen would never keep the meat to himself, but instead would always provide it to those who needed it the most, spreading the meat throughout the community.
Galen?s efforts over the years have also had significant impact on Maine?s black bears. Galen was a driving force that helped influence one of the state?s largest blueberry companies to adapt to non-lethal methods to keep bears away from beehives in the blueberry barrens, including getting the company to spend money on exclusionary fencing, and relocating bears.?
Galen?s efforts over the years certainly exemplify stewardship and wise use of our natural resources. That combined with Galen?s compassion for others and passion for the outdoors makes him the clear choice to be honored as this year?s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award Winner.
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