FREEPORT, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The Maine Warden Service is coming under fire in the wake of an article in Sunday's Maine Sunday Telegram.
The story alleges that the Maine Warden Service was overzealous in an undercover sting operation, perhaps to "make a splash" for cameras filming the cable reality show, "North Woods Law."
According to the Maine Sunday Telegram, in 2012, the Warden Service began a two-year undercover operation into poaching in the Allagash region. The newspaper reported that results were unimpressive and that wardens staged a dramatic bust. Using military-styled techniques, 30 wardens, in two dozen vehicles, followed by two film crews from North Woods Law, raided nine residences in Allagash a town of 230.
Representative John Martin says the townsfolk feel violated, and many think the less than successful bust was done to film an exciting segment on North Woods Law.
Longtime Eagle Lake Representative John Martin was one such critic.
"It was like an invasion," said Martin. "(They) walked in, thirty of them, went into the community, went all over the community with search warrants and frankly, in many cases, they were not professional at all."
Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Chandler Woodcock and Colonel Joel Wilkinson turned down NEWS CENTER interview requests.
Colin Woodard, the author of the Maine Sunday Telegram article, said the pair systematically stonewalled his requests for information.
"I work as an investigative reporter for the Press Herald so I am often in confrontational situations with the various branches of state government," said Woodard. "But I don't think ever have I encountered quite the total lack of cooperation from very early on that I encountered there"
The department released a full statement.
Allegations that a clique runs the department go back to the late 1990's. Outdoors writer and political activist George Smith says he has experienced the same frustration in trying to deal with the department on serious news issues.
"(Colonel) Joel (Wilkinson) has made some improvements, but they are still investigating themselves, and it doesn't surprise me that complaints are down because it's pretty widely known that you don't get any satisfaction from making a complaint," said Smith.
Smith is hopeful that the work of Woodard and the Press Herald, the department leadership can be pressured to be more transparent about its actions in the Allagash, its relationship with North Woods TV and most importantly Maine sportsmen who feel like they have been unfairly treated by service.