October 2006 Almanac

This Month: October’s Big Question: What Should I Hunt Next?

October can begin like more of summer, but by month’s end, it can feel like winter — or certainly very late fall. Between the extremes will come an explosion of color that makes mountainous sections of Maine look like the Sound of Music in red, yellow, orange and gold Technicolor.

It all happens this month, too, inland salmonids, black bass and warm-water fish keep some folks fishing through November. Coastal stripers stick around until at least month’s end and deer hunting with a bow and arrow has become a huge Maine sport. Squirrels, upland birds and waterfowl vie for attention, and that doesn’t count a jillion other options.

The 2006 duck season dates are as follows: The North Zone is open from Oct. 2 through Dec. 9. The split south season goes from Oct. 2 to Oct. 28 and Nov. 13 through Dec. 23.

For Canada-geese hunting in the North Zone, the season runs Oct. 2 through Dec. 9. In the South Zone, goose hunters have a split season that runs from Oct. 2 to 28 and Nov. 13 through Dec. 23.

The statewide archery season for deer began on Sept. 28 and continues through Oct. 27.

Speaking of archery…. The expanded archery season in designated areas kicked off last Sept. 9 and goes through Dec. 9 — a three-month season with an unlimited bag limit on does. Check the law book for details. Hunters can bag one buck in this hunt.

The youth deer hunt for firearms is Oct. 21.

The resident-only day for deer hunters with firearms is slated for Oct. 28.

The four-week, regular firearms season for deer goes from Oct. 30 through Nov. 25. This season always ends the Saturday after Thanksgiving, but a powerful movement has started to move this whole season a week later so it ends the second Saturday after Thanksgiving. This move caters to our warming climate.

Deer hunters with muzzle-loaders can hunt from Nov. 27 through Dec. 2 across all of Maine.

In WMDs 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 29, deer hunters with muzzle-loaders have from Dec. 4 to Dec. 9, so roughly speaking, hunters in the bottom third of Maine where most of the population lives have two weeks to hunt deer with black-powder firearms.

The bear-season structure has two static dates that dictate the rest of the bear-hunting dates:

1) The general and baiting seasons always begin the last Monday of August.

2) The general bear hunt always ends the Saturday after Thanksgiving — Nov. 25th this year.

Hunting with dogs doesn’t start until bear hunters over man-placed baits have had the woods to themselves without the dog hunters for two full weeks. Then, the Monday after the second Saturday of the season, hounds men begin their bear hunt and have through Oct. 27 this year.

The second half of the split moose season is Oct. 9 through Oct. 14.

Ruffed grouse, pheasant and bobwhite quail hunters have from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. Grouse hunting slows in December when covers open up because these wary birds bust way ahead of dogs or hunters — as a general rule with enough exceptions to keep bird hunters on the prowl.

(Woodcock dates have not been set as of this writing.) Check the law booklet for details on pheasant hunting.

Gray squirrel hunters also have a three-month hunt from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.

Rabbit hunters, a serious group, have a long season from Oct. 1 until Mar. 31; however, the real season doesn’t pick up until after the firearms season on deer and snow flies.

Fox hunters can chase the red bandit from Oct. 16 to Feb. 28, but like the rabbit-hunting crowd, fox hunters don’t hit high gear until snow flies and deer season for regular firearms hunters ends.

Raccoon hunters enjoy a three-month season — Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.

The skunk and opossum chasers have from Oct. 16 to Dec. 31. This writer has never met a bona-fide skunk or opossum hunter in Maine — not one.

Many salmonid waters have extended seasons from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, and a few are open year-round. Check the fishing regs for details.

There is also a special season on hundreds of ponds and lakes that allow fishing from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, but salmonids and black bass must be released at once. Check the fishing regs for details.

Striped bass are here through October, and darned few people are sunbathing or swimming, so solitude is almost a gimme’. However, folks do jog and walk on beaches and ledges that attract striper anglers.

Canoe trippers, backpackers and car campers love early October because of the cooler days, no bugs and lack of other campers.

Wildlife photographers find critters on the move at daylight and dark.

Scenic photographers have colors galore in mid-month for spectacular scenery, and then, they have drab browns and gray by month’s end.

Gardens in the bottom third of the state are producing the staples now — potatoes, carrots, parsnips, winter squash, Brassica fruits and more.

Next Month: Hope You’re All Sighted In, It’s Deer Hunting Time!

“Got ya’ deer yet?” will be asked untold thousands and thousands of times in November because in Maine, deer hunting is as big as Christmas and July 4th. Maybe fewer people participate in whitetail chasing, but the ones who do it live and breathe the sport.

The regular firearms season for deer starts Oct. 30 and ends Nov. 25 30 minutes after sunset. In much of Maine, the first week often begins with warm weather, making a typical woolen coat too warm. By the 25th, though, it can be winter-like, particularly in the top third of the state.

The expanded archery season for deer goes through Dec. 9.

Deer hunters with muzzle-loaders statewide have from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 to shoot a deer if they didn’t get one in the regular firearms season.

In WMDs 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 29 can hunt deer with a muzzle-loader from Nov. 27 through Dec. 9, a delightful two-week season.

The general bear season in November parallels the dates for the deer season. If snow flies early, bear den up. If not, deer hunters have a chance for a bonus bear all month.

Waterfowl hunters in the North Zone hunt ducks from Oct. 2 through Dec. 9, and in the South Zone, the second half of the split season is Nov. 13 to Dec. 23.

Canada-goose hunters in the North Zone have from Oct. 2 through Dec. 9 and in the South Zone Nov. 13 through Dec. 23.

Grouse, pheasant, bobwhite quail, rabbit, gray squirrel, raccoon, skunk and opossum are open season all through November and December. Fox stays open through Feb. 28.

Fox hunters often use predator calls and also concentrate on coyotes.

Fishing in hundreds of ponds stays open on a catch-and-release basis for salmonids and black bass.

Salmonid fishing is open in a handful of rivers and one stream year-round.

Gardens in Southern Maine still produce Brassica fruits like Brussels’ sprouts and pot herbs like spinach.

A brown-and-gray landscape produces mood scenes, and new snowfalls make for aesthetically pleasing photos that look like a Currier and Ives print.

Cold November dawns get critters moving for wildlife photographers to score big shots now.