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Deer Season Slow So Far, Except in Southern Maine

November 09, 2009 - Most deer hunters are not scrambling, with a slow start to the season everywhere but southern Maine, but biologists statewide are scrambling to gather data to determine the health of the herd.

Meanwhile, stories of coyotes, turkey broods and bears abound.

REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE

Despite reports everywhere else, deer season appears to be off to a fast start in southern Maine. Biologist Judy Camuso said many hunters were pleased the first few days, tagging out with fat deer in the 200-pound range.

Camuso forecasts more of the same in the weeks to come.

"In York and Cumberland counties, I expect a reasonably good deer harvest. It's early to tell, but so far things look promising," Camuso said.

REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE

Last week, biologists were out in force collecting data from deer at tagging stations. Each year, they collect from whitetail deer the size of antlers (on yearlings), the weight, teeth samples and samples to test for chronic wasting disease. Biologists collect the lymph nodes under the chin and an area near the end of the spinal cord inside the skull.

In central Maine, there were few deer tagged on Oct. 31, the opening day for adults, said biologist Jim Connolly.

REGION C: DOWN EAST

While gathering information on deer, biologist Tom Schaeffer heard a wild coyote story.

A family farm stand in north Ellsworth witnessed a pack of coyotes circling a number of turkeys, two hens and the broods that were feeding together. The coyotes moved in on the birds and began circling them until one in the pack rushed in to snatch a bird.

"Two to three of these broods came together and were doing their thing, scratching and looking for food, and the coyotes caught them out in the field. It's just predatory behavior, the coyotes came in and circled like an old wagon train and kept running in a tight circle," Schaeffer said. "Every once in a while, one would break from the group, grab a turkey, and shake it one way and then another, and kill it outside the circle. Then it would run into the woods and leave it there."

The coyotes did that 10 to 11 times, Schaeffer said.
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"They kept running in circles, keeping the turkeys off guard. It shows the adaptability of coyotes, that they're very efficient," he said.

REGION D: WESTERN MAINE

Biologist Chuck Hulsey said gathering deer data is not as simple as waiting at a tagging station or deer cutter's.

Biologists must drive far and wide to sample 15 percent of the harvest. And for the chronic wasting disease monitoring, they must gather samples from specific towns to make sure a large area is represented.

When biologists stop in at tagging stations, it's often to find the deer taken in certain towns to track down those samples.

"Then we do what is called a 'search,'" Hulsey said. They'll go to the hunter's home to see if they can gather the data needed.

REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE

Deer hunters won't see black bear up around Greenville. That's because bears are denning early this year as a result of the low beechnut crop, said biologist Doug Kane.

The beechnut crop is abundant every other year, and this was a down year for the harvest. When this natural food that is a favorite of bears is gone, the bruins begin their hibernation early.

At the doorstep of the north Maine woods, the forestland here is made up of spruce fir. So when there are no beechnuts, the bears have nothing to feast upon.

REGION F: EASTERN MAINE

Eastern Maine also had a slow start to the deer season, with six tagging stations only registering one to three deer, said biologist Allen Star.

REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE

Deer season is off to a slow start in northern Maine as well, although the grouse hunt continues to surpass expectations, said biologist Arlen Lovewell.

The grouse season extends through December, but Lovewell said even when the snow chases birds into the trees to feed, the hunt can be productive.

DEIRDRE FLEMING / WILDLIFE REPORT , Portland Press Herald, November 8, 2009


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