Penobscot Valley Hunting Report: October 25, 2007
The fall turkey season appears to be quite a success, at least in the portion of the turkey hunting zone that falls within Region F (eastern part of WMD 17). Turkey registration stations in East Corinth, Old Town, and Milo tagged 36, 11, and 14 birds respectively. These numbers include birds taken in the first fall shotgun season and turkeys taken by bow and arrow.
Waterfowl hunting in the area continues to be productive. While duck numbers do not seem to be bolstered by incoming migrants, migrating geese are starting to come through the area. It’s a very unpredictable situation though; one morning you may observe hundreds of birds, and the next day it seems as if only a couple of flocks are in the area. The key is to keep scouting and when birds are in your area – take advantage of it!
A couple of friends of mine came up from Pennsylvania to do some upland bird and waterfowl hunting. The grouse hunting was very good. We hunted reverting farmland in the central and northern parts of the Region and were not disappointed. Most areas yielded 5-6 flushes on grouse, but some areas provided upwards of 15 flushes. The woodcock hunting in the central part of the Region was also very good. I believe we were still hunting mostly resident birds, but this is usually the time of year that the migrants will be making their way through the area. If you have ever gotten into a “flight” of woodcock, you’ll know what I mean when I say the action can be fast and furious!
Good reports are coming in about the Youth Deer Hunting Day. One party reported seeing 15 deer in the southern portion of the Region on Saturday. In my travels on Saturday, I observed several successful hunters with their deer in the back of the pick-up. The youth deer hunt is a great way to initiate young people to the required skills, excitement, and the experience of hunting. It is also a great chance to impart to them the importance of safety and ethics of the sport.
Deer hunters should be optimistic after the encouraging reports from the youth day hunt. Although last year’s winter ended up slightly on the severe side for deer, which resulted in a reduction of Any-Deer permits in some WMDs in the Region, hunters should still have plenty of opportunities to pursue their quarry. Remember: get landowner permission, do some scouting, and make sure that your weapon is working properly.
Have an enjoyable, safe and hopefully successful deer hunting season!