The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Maine Deer Harvest Smallest Since 1930s

February 13, 2010 - AUGUSTA — Wildlife officials say hunters killed 18,045 deer in Maine last fall, a 14 percent decline from 2008 and the smallest deer harvest since the 1930s.

Biologists were projecting a small harvest because the deer herd had shrunk after two straight winters with deep snow and cold temperatures.

Two weeks of poor hunting conditions in November drove the numbers even lower than expected.

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife officials say the deer kill fell more sharply in neighboring Quebec and New Brunswick, where the harvest was down more than 30 percent.

To try to restore the dwindling deer population in northern Maine, a state legislator is asking the state to allow trapping of more coyotes.

Rep. Peter Edgecomb, R-Caribou, presented Gov. John Baldacci with petitions signed by 4,000 people, mostly residents of Aroostook County, including guides, trappers and hunting camp operators.

The petitions call for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to allow predator management that could reactivate a winter coyote snaring program.

Lynx, which are listed as threatened in Maine under the Endangered Species Act, cover much of the area in northern Maine.

The governor says he will make sure the game commissioner receives the petitions.

-Associated Press, Portland Press Herald, February 13, 2010

Lakes:
Regions:


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News