October 27, 2012

Maine deer season begins

Nonresidents can join the hunt starting Monday.

The Associated Press

AUGUSTA  — Deer hunting season gets under way Saturday for Maine residents amid optimism that a mild winter combined with efforts to rebuild the whitetail herd will improve prospects for the thousands looking for a trophy.

Maine resident hunters get a head start on the firearms season over nonresidents, who can join the hunt beginning Monday. The season ends for all Nov. 24, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

About 203,000 licenses were issued to resident and nonresident hunters last season, but figures for this year are incomplete, officials said.

Hunters are permitted to take one antlered deer annually in Maine, while hunters with any-deer permits are allowed to take either one antlered deer or one antlerless deer.

A total of 34,160 any-deer, or doe, permits have been issued for 2012 in nearly half the state's wildlife management districts, an increase from the 26,390 any-deer permits issued in 2011, according to the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The increased allocation comes amid efforts by the department to rebuild a deer herd that has been battered by harsh winters and predators, especially coyotes. The hardest-hit regions were northern, eastern and western Maine. But there's optimism in the air as the new season gets under way.

"The deer herd had a pretty easy winter of it last year," said fish and game spokesman Doug Rafferty. And then, an early spring enhanced summer forage for the deer, biologists say.

The increase in any-deer permits reflects improved methods of estimating where deer are. In the meantime, the state is making progress on rebuilding the herd through such efforts as encouraging protection of deer yards, or protected wintering areas, and stepped-up predation-control efforts, efforts, Rafferty said.

The statewide muzzleloader season begins Nov. 26 and ends Dec. 1 in some management districts and Dec. 8 in others.

Hunters who bag a deer may donate meat to food kitchens, shelters and other charitable organizations through the Hunters for the Hungry program.

click image to enlarge

Staff photo by Andy Molloy DEER ARE: Bill Moulton, right, of Pittston, chats with his pal, Gary Alexander, of Gardiner, as they walk down a path in a wood in South Gardiner in pursuit of Whitetail deer. Moulton said the men have been hunting together "for about 68 years."

click image to enlarge

Staff photo by Joe Phelan Owner Gary Hamilton, left, chats with Ted Seney, of Vassalboro, about scopes and ammunition on Thursday afternoon at Neilsen's Sporting Goods in Farmingdale. Seney said that he was getting ready for firearms deer hunting season which opens this Saturday for Maine residents only. The season runs from Monday October 29 to Saturday November 24th.

Staff photo by Joe Phelan

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