The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is now accepting nominations for this year’s Legendary Maine Guide Award.

V. Paul Reynolds, Outdoors Columnist

In 2009, the MDIF&W, in conjunction with the Maine Professional Guide’s Association (MPGA), did a wonderful thing. They created the Wiggie Robinson Legendary Guide Award. As was fitting, Robinson was the first (posthumous) recipient of his namesake award.

The idea was to select annually a deserving Registered Maine Guide for this honor and public recognition.

Legendary is a big word. Since the fabled first Maine guide, Cornelia “Flyrod” Crosby, put Maine on the map for American sportsmen and women, there has been a continuous cadre of Maine guides, some famous, some not so famous, some obscure and a few, perhaps, even on the shady side.

Wiggie Robinson came as close as a contemporary Maine guide gets to being a bona fide legend. He was a true woodsman who grew up with it. He was well-known and well-liked. He was active and involved, having served on the Maine Guide’s board, Fish and Wildlife advisory council and in other capacities as a sportsman and guide. He walked the walk and talked the talk.

Since Robinson set the stage and served as the role model for the Legendary Maine Guide Award, there have been a number of other deserving Maine guides singled out for this special recognition. Dedicated guides like Gil Gilpatrick, Dan Legere, Gary Corson, Matt Libby, Don Dudley, Don Helstrom, Bonnie Holding and Polly Mahoney.

Nominees for this award must have been licensed Maine guides for 20 years and been active in the field for at least 10 of those years. Past recipients of this award have all been leaders in the outdoor community. This means Maine guides that have not only been working guides, but individuals who have been involved in the outdoor community as scout leaders, gun safety instructors, active in fish and game clubs and so forth.

Deadline for submitting nominations to the Department is 5 p.m., Feb. 17. Letters of nomination should be sent to: Deputy Commissioner, MDIF&W, 353 Water St. SHS 41, Augusta, Maine 04333. Nominations may also be emailed to: becky.orff@maine.gov.

As the list of Maine’s legendary guides grows with each passing year, the award and its line of recipients become engraved in Maine’s fabled outdoor history. If you know an award-worthy Registered Maine Guide, take the time to write that nomination letter. It is a way to show appreciation for the important role they serve in the outdoor community.

V. Paul Reynolds is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal, an author, a Maine guide and host of a weekly radio program, “Maine Outdoors,” heard at 7 p.m. Sundays on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. Contact him at vpaulr@tds.net.