Archive for October, 2007
Posted on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
A better week weather-wise greeted moose hunters for the second of the two six-day seasons. The one-day exception being Friday, and that was a major rain event. Still, temps were cooler than the unusually warm first week two weeks prior. An early Saturday morning call to our nine tagging stations monitored by Region F suggested that results were quite varied throughout the Region. As with the first week, some stations were registering moose within the average number they usually tag, while others were significantly less. Once the data is analyzed, it will be interesting to see what the success rates were by season, WMD, and bull vs. anterless-only permits. While being selected to hunt moose is always a special opportunity for hunters, monitoring the hunt has changed over the years. As mentioned, Region F contracts with 9 tagging stations to collect biological data for us. This leaves us with the opportunity to not only visit several stations, and take part in some data collection, but more importantly to talk with moose hunters or perhaps bird or deer hunters. It is important for us to be out and about, listening to, and discussing the views and opinions of our public. Visiting the many tagging stations throughout the week affords us that opportunity to listen to folks who are in many ways our “eyes and ears” in the field. It also affords us the opportunity to continue work on other important initiatives that are not associated with the moose hunt. Region F is very grateful for the quality of work our tagging stations perform during both the moose and deer seasons. Thanks to all.
Reports from the field suggest a rosier picture for grouse hunters. A good nesting year for a change this past spring has translated into plenty of action early in the bird season. Reports of hunters getting into birds throughout the Region have been commonplace thus far. A nice change after poor hunting seasons (for the most part) the previous two years.
The early fox and coyote trapping season began on the 14th. Trappers are reminded of the additional trapping restrictions and guidelines for the northern WMDs that were part of the lynx lawsuit settlement agreement. And don’t forget that this coming Saturday (20th), is Youth Deer Hunting Day. Junior hunters may take a deer of either sex during this one-day opportunity.
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Tags: Penobscot Valley Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
When are deer numbers optimum? Farmers (and others) know that you don’t want to stock too many animals on a pasture of a given size. Competition for food would affect their well-being. At extreme levels, more and more starvation occurs. And where there are effective predators, they can cash in on weakened animals.
In winter our deer are on a “pasture” of limited size. What we call WMD 9, approximately 950 square miles east of Moosehead Lake has only approximately 25 square miles of winter range in 3 major deer wintering areas today. (We have a pretty good knowledge of where deer winter in 9, I think, compiled through years of research. Probably 90 percent of WMD 9 deer winter in those 3 wintering areas.) The deer found throughout WMD 9 in spring/summer/fall must subsist on the plant life within reach, and their fat reserves, for approximately four-plus months each winter. Other potential foods are too far from their shelter needs & in areas where the snow is generally too deep (landscape level).
Our official management plan for deer calls for us to get the population up to, & keep it at 50-60% of K carrying capacity, a theoretical level where productivity (production of young, thus potential harvest) is maximized. Our management system says the average beam diameter of the antlers of bucks in the yearling age class, YABD, when it equals 15-16 mm, will tell us we are at 50-60% of K (and when we are above or below). This notion is untested.
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Tags: Moosehead Region Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
The October portion of the 2007 Maine moose hunt ended this past Saturday. Once again, we had registration stations in Rangeley, Eustis, Solon, and Andover. This year we added a station in Strong for the convenience of people hunting in the southern portion of Wildlife Management District (WMD) 7. The addition of a fifth station will also accommodate moose hunters in 2008 when WMD 16 (includes Farmington) is opened.
Biologists from Region A (Gray), B (Sidney), D (Strong), and Bangor (Resource Assessment Section) aided in the collection of biological data again this year. I was able to visit each of the stations for the first time. When I arrived at the Eustis station on Wednesday, District Game Warden Blaine Holding introduced me to a father, daughter, and step-mother moose hunting group who were registering a second moose. Both women drew permits, one for WMD 7 and the other for WMD 8. Dad was the sub-permittee for both. Here is their story.
Dawn Hatch and Frank Guptill of Friendship, Maine were hunting with Frank’s daughter Jennifer. Jennifer took an adult bull in Adamstown Township (just west of Rangeley) the day before and Frank was there weighing and registering a second bull which he took off the Gold Brook Road north of Eustis that morning. Frank has been applying for a moose permit every year, but has never drawn one. Either the person drawing the permit, or the designated sub-permittee, which Frank was, can shoot the moose. They must hunt together. Dawn drew her first permit this year after applying for 10 straight years. Jennifer drew her first permit after applying for five years. The lesson is: if you aren’t lucky enough to draw a permit, be close to someone who is.
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Tags: Western Mountains Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
This coming Wednesday evening, October 17 at 6:00 pm, Department representatives will be attending a Sportsman’s Forum hosted by the Bucks Mill Rod & Gun Club in Bucksport. These events are periodically held at different locations around the State; often at the request and invitation of the Commissioner’s Advisory Council Member that represents that geographic area. Normally, the Commissioner as well as some of the administrative heads are there representing the Wildlife, Fisheries, Warden Service, and Public Information & Education bureaus / divisions. Also in attendance are Regional Department staff who cover or work in the general area. This includes district game wardens as well as both wildlife and fisheries biologists. These forums are set up to provide the public an opportunity to bring questions or concerns to the attention of the Department. Over the years, they’ve proven to be a great opportunity for both Department personnel as well as the public to gain new insights as well as get some answers on various issues concerning our wildlife and fishery resources. If you happen to be in the greater Bucksport area come mid-week, consider stopping by … and don’t hesitate to bring along your youngster, as there’s often something included in the program for them.
Speaking of youth … this coming Saturday, October 20, is youth deer hunting day. This is a tremendous opportunity to introduce a young hunter, who holds a valid junior hunting license, to the pursuit of deer hunting. Those licensed hunters who are at least 10 years of age but younger than 16 can participate under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or qualified adult. The supervising adult may not possess a firearm while accompanying a participating junior license holder. The junior hunter is allowed to take 1 deer of either sex with either a firearm or bow and arrow; which would constitute their season bag limit unless they were awarded a bonus anterless deer permit for a specific Wildlife Management District, or participate in the expanded archery season in certain designated areas of the State.
After two mild winters, it was expected, and many early reports would seem to indicate, an increase in deer sightings in favored fall locations. This is an excellent opportunity to school young hunters to all of the various aspects of hunting deer before the regular firearm season begins. As with any schooling, some preparation would be helpful in making Saturday’s venture a success … not necessarily defined only by a deer hung in the garage, but by taking the steps in developing a future hunter who knows his quarry (habits, life history, signs, etc.) and is committed to being a safe and ethical hunter. As with any pursuit, if they learn the basics well, with proper coaching and patience the rewards will be forthcoming.
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Tags: Downeast Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
It always amazes me with wildlife populations, with what goes around comes around. A species can be virtually non-existent one year and thick as thieves the next. That appears to be the case with this year’s ruffed grouse numbers as reported from the County and within central Maine. For the last several years’ upland grouse hunters have complained and quietly prayed for a season like this one. Recruitment and survival of first year birds appears high as reported by those with the inclination for primary wing examination.
Would someone please tell me a year when they can remember the soft mast crop being so abundant? I have never seen the apple trees so laden with fruit. There are enough wild grapes in the woods to consider starting an organic winery. Some folks would say that portends a real winter. I can’t confirm that but it clearly demonstrates that food is rarely a limiting factor for most wildlife populations.
Woodcock appear to be late or their numbers not as abundant. The fall rains appear to be late in arriving and perhaps drier conditions may have dispersed worm doodles from their traditional alder wetlands. I recruited some Pennsylvania hunters to come up this year and hunt Frye Mountain Wildlife Management area. I told them no problem getting woodcock the second week of October. Oops! Hopefully this year’s grouse numbers will convince them to return next year and leave a pocketful of money behind.
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Tags: Central Maine Hunting Report • Categories: General
