Aroostook County Hunting Report: December 7, 2007
Deer season just ended in northern Maine with the conclusion of the muzzleloader season on December 1. Because of snow cover and good deer tracking conditions, muzzleloader hunters enjoyed a very successful week of deer hunting. Field reports indicate a high number of muzzleloader hunters were out last week taking advantage of the good hunting conditions and many of them harvested deer. For those deer hunters wanting to continue muzzleloader hunting, an additional week of deer hunting is still available December 3-8 in wildlife management districts 12,13, 15 through 18, 20 through 26, and 29. Because these wildlife management districts have higher deer populations and can sustain higher deer harvests, we are able to allow an additional week of muzzleloader hunting in these districts.
This season’s weather in northern Maine is a good example of why we don’t extend the muzzleloader season another week to provide for additional hunting opportunity. Over the last 2 weeks weather in northern Maine has turned from typical fall weather to conditions we normally expect in mid-winter. Snow depths in the County range from just less than an inch in southern Aroostook County to 30” in the high hills bordering the St. John valley. Because of deep snow, deer in the mid-northern part of the region are now congregating in timber harvest operations and in winter deer yards. These early winter conditions restrict deer movement and also their ability to find highly nutritional foods putting stress on deer very early in the winter.
Hopefully, this winter weather will moderate. Winter is starting out very harsh for northern Maine deer and if the snow stays until April, which it often does, deer losses from starvation and predation could be substantial. This week we will be setting up weather stations in four deer yards scattered throughout the region to monitor winter severity on deer. Information collected at these weather stations will include temperature, snow depth, snow profile (e.g., crust or powder conditions) and deer sinking depths. This data will be collected weekly throughout the winter to determine the impact of winter weather on Maine’s deer herd.
With the end of deer season, most hunting and outdoor wildlife activities end for the year. However, there are still many opportunities to get out there and enjoy wildlife related activities. For example, ruffed grouse and snowshoe hare hunting is still open. A popular activity in northern Maine is combining snowmobiling and looking for moose antlers. Moose will start dropping their antlers in mid-December and generally the largest moose antlers are dropped early in the winter. If you like outdoor activities and want to get outside for some winter fun, there’s always some type of wildlife recreational activity available.
