Downeast Hunting Report: January 24, 2008
Physical Characteristics
Region C, commonly referred to as the “Downeast Region,” is the eastern most of the Department’s three coastal regions. The region encompasses much of Washington and Hancock Counties (along with a few townships in Penobscot County) between the St. Croix River to the east and the Penobscot River to the west.
Both land form and use transitions as one moves away from the coast to the region’s interior. The coastal belt along U.S. Route 1 is characterized by a mix of softwood and hardwood stands in western Hancock County changing to predominantly spruce-fir growth to the east. Most of the human settlement occurs along this belt and along the Penobscot River. It is primarily rural and becomes sparse to the east. There are scattered population centers in Bucksport, Ellsworth, Machias and Calais.Old homesteads and some remaining agriculture with their associated fields and reverting covers provide habitat diversity.
Between Route 1 and Route 9, land character and use changes to a mix of interior woodlands (most under corporate ownership) and extensive commercial blueberry barrens in eastern Hancock to central Washington County. Woodlands range from mixed stands in the west to predominantly softwoods to the east. Intensive timber harvesting over the past 20 years has created a diversity of young age-classed forest stands. An extensive system of gravel roads on the industrial forest lands provides excellent public access. The habitat values and diversity of blueberry agriculture is often limited by the expansive nature of the barrens and a monoculture style of management. Human settlement is sparse and rural occurring on the eastern and western extremes of this area.
North of Route 9 are the interior woodlands under corporate ownership. Forest stands are primarily softwood and generally are of younger age classes. Human settlements are sparse and again limited to the eastern and western extremes. This area also has an extensive system of gravel roads, and access is not limiting.
Wildlife Management Areas
Region C manages 15 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) totaling almost 8000 acres of land, which are open to the public for primitive forms of recreation including hunting and trapping. While none of the WMAs are large enough to accommodate a large number of users at the same time, there are hunting opportunities on these areas with comparatively low use levels.
These WMAs can be classified into 3 categories of habitat types; each provides certain opportunities for hunting. Some areas consist primarily of a managed flowage with little or no upland buffer that is State owned. These areas are well suited for waterfowl hunting and hunting deer from a boat or canoe. Hunting privately-owned uplands adjacent to the flowage may be permitted, but one should always seek permission from the landowners. These state-managed flowages include Orange River WMA in Whiting, Great Works WMA in Edmunds Twp., and Pennamaquan WMA in Pembroke.
Wildlife Management Areas in the second category contain managed flowages or coastal wetlands with adequate acreages of uplands to accommodate both waterfowl and upland hunting. A variety of wildlife habitat enhancement programs are conducted on uplands in these areas to benefit ruffed grouse, woodcock and deer. Waterfowl and upland hunting opportunities are available at Lyle Frost WMA in Eastbrook; Narraguagus WMA in Cherryfield; Horan Head and Morong Point WMAs in Lubec; Commissary Point and Talbot Cove WMAs in Trescott; and Wilbur Neck WMA in Pembroke. Boat access on the WMAs is limited to hand carry. At some locations, access for trailered boats may be available at facilities outside of the Management Area.
The third category of WMAs includes those areas which are primarily uplands with limited or no wetland-based hunting opportunities. These areas include Egypt Bay WMA in Hancock, Jonesboro WMA in Jonesboro, and Tide Mill Farm in Edmunds (private land with acquired public access rights).
Further information on these areas can be obtained from the website of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or by calling the regional office in Machias.
Hunting Opportunities
Region C is comprised of three broad habitat types, coastal islands and estuaries, coastal plain, and interior forests. Each of these habitat types offers very different hunting opportunities.
Coastal islands and estuaries stretch from the mouth of the Penobscot River in Bucksport eastward along the seacoast to Lubec, then north through Cobscook Bay and the St. Croix River to Calais. Many miles of shoreline, islands, and offshore ledges provide exceptional waterfowl hunting. Early season hunting focuses on teal and black ducks. During second season, hunters shift their attention to goldeneye, bufflehead, black ducks, and sea ducks. For those with the equipment and fortitude to face the wintry coastal environment, sea duck hunting continues into January. The coastal islands form a separate WMD (WMD30). Many of the coastal islands have resident deer populations (check your lawbook, as some are closed to the taking of deer). Liberal allocations of antlerless deer permits and the expanded archery season provide many unique deer hunting opportunities in this WMD.
The coastal plain is abundant with freshwater brooks, ponds and flowages. Waterfowl hunters will find wood ducks, teal, black ducks, and mallards feeding and loafing in these flowages. Near the coastline, some of these flowages serve as ‘drinking brooks’ for ducks seeking fresh water. The uplands, reverting farms, abandoned orchards, blueberry fields, and alder thickets that flank Route One provide habitat diversity and offer the best opportunities for hunting deer, bear, woodcock and other upland game. The downeast area is unique in its abundance of soft mast; naturally occurring fruits and berries from native plants, shrubs, and trees. Upland bird, bear, and deer hunters are wise to locate these wildlife foods in seeking their prey.
An infrequently used but effective form of deer hunting is float-hunting. Drifting in a canoe along a slow moving river or stream, or stalking deer by quietly paddling on an open flowage is an under-utilized opportunity downeast with the area’s vast number of wetlands.
The interior forest is a broad expanse of industrial managed woodlands and commercial blueberry lands traversed by an elaborate network of gravel roads that provide unequaled access opportunities. Bear and moose are the primary big game species hunted in this area (presently, moose hunting is restricted to that area north of Route 9). Baiting and hunting behind dogs is the popular mode of bear hunting in this area, although areas of natural foods (both hard and soft mast) provide opportunities for the hunter who prefers to stalk his quarry. Moose populations are increasing in response to the vast quantity of food available in young, regenerating stands. Deer numbers are lower here than in other parts of the region, but there are areas where deer are beginning to repopulate, and a hunter who is willing to scout, and who enjoys hunting in solitude may do well to consider this area. Woodcock, ruffed grouse, and snowshoe hare can be found in areas of regenerating clearcuts.