Posts Tagged ‘Aroostook County Hunting Report’
Posted on Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 by Maine Sportsman
Physical Characteristics
Region G, a northern coniferous forest, offers two very unique geographical areas in Aroostook County to hunt, the first being the area west of Route 11, known as the “Big Woods,”consisting of industrial timberlands and the second being the area east of Route 11 consisting of agricultural lands. These two major land use patterns have created a very diverse region with some of the most remote areas in Maine adjacent to some of the most highly developed agricultural areas. The far eastern third of Region G where the majority of the people live, is mostly tilled fields with varying size woodlots. The western two thirds of northern Maine is a large parcel of relatively undeveloped land managed for forest products. Gravel roads cross this area providing access for timber management and recreation. Hunting any of the game species within the “Big Woods,” the hunter can choose from numerous full service lodges and primitive campsites or stay around quaint towns east of Route 11 at rental camps or Bed and Breakfasts. All amenities including gas, food, and water, should be purchased prior to entering the ” Big Woods,” where a nominal fee is charged to those that enter, but once in, the sports person has over 3.5 million acres of non-posted land to use with minimal regulations.
Wildlife Management Areas
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Tags: Aroostook County Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 by Maine Sportsman
Physical Characteristics
Region G, a northern coniferous forest, offers two very unique geographical areas in Aroostook County to hunt, the first being the area west of Route 11, known as the “Big Woods,”consisting of industrial timberlands and the second being the area east of Route 11 consisting of agricultural lands. These two major land use patterns have created a very diverse region with some of the most remote areas in Maine adjacent to some of the most highly developed agricultural areas. The far eastern third of Region G where the majority of the people live, is mostly tilled fields with varying size woodlots. The western two thirds of northern Maine is a large parcel of relatively undeveloped land managed for forest products. Gravel roads cross this area providing access for timber management and recreation. Hunting any of the game species within the “Big Woods,” the hunter can choose from numerous full service lodges and primitive campsites or stay around quaint towns east of Route 11 at rental camps or Bed and Breakfasts. All amenities including gas, food, and water, should be purchased prior to entering the ” Big Woods,” where a nominal fee is charged to those that enter, but once in, the sports person has over 3.5 million acres of non-posted land to use with minimal regulations.
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Tags: Aroostook County Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, January 24th, 2008 by Maine Sportsman
Physical Characteristics
Region G, a northern coniferous forest, offers two very unique geographical areas in Aroostook County to hunt, the first being the area west of Route 11, known as the “Big Woods,”consisting of industrial timberlands and the second being the area east of Route 11 consisting of agricultural lands. These two major land use patterns have created a very diverse region with some of the most remote areas in Maine adjacent to some of the most highly developed agricultural areas. The far eastern third of Region G where the majority of the people live, is mostly tilled fields with varying size woodlots. The western two thirds of northern Maine is a large parcel of relatively undeveloped land managed for forest products. Gravel roads cross this area providing access for timber management and recreation. Hunting any of the game species within the “Big Woods,” the hunter can choose from numerous full service lodges and primitive campsites or stay around quaint towns east of Route 11 at rental camps or Bed and Breakfasts. All amenities including gas, food, and water, should be purchased prior to entering the ” Big Woods,” where a nominal fee is charged to those that enter, but once in, the sports person has over 3.5 million acres of non-posted land to use with minimal regulations.
Wildlife Management Areas
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Tags: Aroostook County Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Friday, December 7th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
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.
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Tags: Aroostook County Hunting Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
The big hunting news this past week has been the weather. We’ve had somewhat of a repeat from last year’s 3rd week of deer season. For those of you who may have forgotten last year, it rained, actually poured, most of the week. It was some of the most miserable extended hunting weather I can remember. Again this year, we got hit with a couple of days of very heavy rain. On Thursday and Friday, southern and central Aroostook County got approximately 2-4” of rain. This created not only miserable hunting conditions but swelled all rivers and streams resulting in widespread flooding, particularly in lowland swamps and floodplains. Walking any distance through the woods was a challenge, requiring rubber boots and lots of backtracking and skirting around flooded lowlands. Flooded roads also made travel into more remote areas over lightly used gravel roads very difficult.
Also given the wet, muddy ground conditions in central and southern Aroostook County, hopefully hunters will respect private landowner concerns and refrain from causing damage to their field roads. In meetings with agriculture landowners, we’ve heard repeatedly that a major concern in regard to wildlife damage on their farms is not necessarily damage caused by wildlife, but damage to property caused by hunters.
The good news for deer hunters in the Allagash region was that some of this rain eventually turned to snow, dropping 4-10” of new snow. This is great for tracking deer but this additional snowfall, plus the existing snow from prior snowstorms, has made getting around in this region more difficult. Plan on having a 4-wheel drive and chains for icy roads particularly if hunting far from major roads. If possible hunt with a companion and always let a friend or relative know your destination.
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Tags: Aroostook County Hunting Report • Categories: General
