Moosehead Region Hunting Report: November 21, 2008
-Physical Characteristics
Region E, or more commonly known as The Moosehead Lake Region, is located primarily in Piscataquis and Somerset Counties. It is the most lightly populated of all of our fish and wildlife administrative regions as it contains only 15 organized towns but 112 unorganized townships. A south to north progression within the region includes a marked transition from the rural farmland of central Maine to the spruce and fir “Big Woods” country of northern Maine. Snowfall comes early in this part of the state and it can accumulate to 4 feet or more by late winter northwest of Moosehead Lake. Excellent hunting opportunities exist in the region for deer, bear, moose, ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare and coyote.
-Hunting Opportunities
White-tailed deer: Hunting opportunities for deer in the southern part of our region are consistent with those common to central Maine. Access is a key issue since most of the area is privately owned by small landowners. And, unfortunately, a little more of the area appears to get posted each year. Therefore, as with any area you plan to hunt, it is always a good idea to secure landowner permission before entering the woods. Although obtaining access to hunt in this area may be difficult at times, the success you enjoy while hunting deer may be well worth your effort. Our southern towns contain an excellent mix of white-tail habitat (i.e. active farms, reverting farms, managed woodlots) combined with good numbers of deer. In addition, each year this area produces a number of bucks that make the “Biggest Bucks of Maine Club” and the “Maine Antler and Skull Trophy Club” (MASTC).
Hunting deer in the rest of our region is more characteristic of the big woods experience. Most of the land is owned or managed by commercial forestland companies and it contains thousands of miles of gravel surfaced land management roads. Although a lot of these roads can be traversed with most 2-wheel drive vehicles, a 4X4 will allow you to access older secondary roads and will increase your chances of making it back to the “blacktop” if it snows. A couple of areas north of Moosehead Lake are gated specifically to restrict vehicular access. These areas are ideal for the hunter who doesn’t mind walking to access remote hunting opportunities. Although this part of our region is not known for high deer densities (i.e. 4-6 deer per square mile vs. greater than 20 farther south), it consistently produces some of the largest bodied deer taken in the eastern U.S. (200-300 lbs dressed weight). In addition, we frequently have good tracking snow during at least part of our firearms season each year. The combination of the availability of older, large bucks, tracking snow, and the remote nature of much of our region, provides a truly unique hunting opportunity for white-tails.
Black Bear: During the past 20-25 years large acreages of mature spruce and fir forests in this region have been harvested for pulp, sawtimber and other forest products, resulting in an abundance of young regenerating stands. With this rebirth has come a dramatic increase in the availability of important spring and summer bear foods and an increase in bear numbers. Today, we have good numbers of bear throughout most of our region. Bear hunting guides and outfitters are common and the use of bait for bear is the most common hunting technique. If anyone wishes to place a bait for bear or to hunt bear with hounds, without the aid of a guide, they should first contact the landowner. Most of the landowners or managers of the industrial forestland within this region have specific land use policies regarding the use of bait or hounds to hunt bear. If a hunter chooses to hunt bear over natural foods, there is ample opportunity in some of the clearcuts that have late summer berries or on some of the hardwood ridges that have beech. At this point in the season, it appears that this falls beechnut crop is going to be excellent.
Moose: Similar to bear, moose have benefited greatly from the extensive logging that has taken place in the region over the last three decades. Today, we have high densities of moose throughout the region except for in a few of the more developed towns in our southeastern corner. For those hunters fortunate enough to be picked in our annual lottery, the Moosehead Lake Region provides a premier moose hunting opportunity. Each year, trophy bulls are harvested in this area with antlers spanning greater than 60 inches and weighing between 900 and 1100 pounds dressed weight.
Small Game: Although deer, bear and moose often get the most publicity, small game hunting opportunities in our region should not be overlooked. Hundreds of miles of secondary logging roads and winter-use-only logging roads (not graveled) provide excellent hunting opportunities for pursuing grouse on a frosty October morning. In addition, many of these same roads access vast acreages of regenerating spruce and fir stands that frequently house good numbers of snowshoe hare. And, lastly, don’t forget predator calling and hunting opportunities in our region. Whether you hunt with a 35 mm camera or a flat shooting varmint rifle, current forest conditions support significant numbers of coyotes just about anywhere in the region.
