Maine 2002 Season Report and 2003 Any Deer Permit Recommendations.
Press Release from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
April 29, 2003
Hunters bag best deer season since 1968
AUGUSTA, Maine - Deer hunters in Maine had a remarkable season this past year, with hunters killing 38,153 deer, the highest total since 1968, marking it as the tenth best season ever.
"Hunter success can be directly attributed to several factors, including excellent survival rates for deer during a mild 2002 winter, a low 2001deer harvest, and very favorable hunting conditions this past fall," said Gerry Lavigne, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife deer biologist.
The 2002 deer kill stands in stark contrast to the low kill of 2001. This year"s total of 38,153 was 37% higher than the 2001 harvest of 27,769. The 2002 statewide harvest of bucks was one of the best ever (20,694), second only to the record buck kill of 2000 (21,422). Success rate for all hunters was 22%, up from the 16% of the previous year.
Bowhunters registered 1,428 deer in the expanded archery season, and 601 deer during the October archery season. Muzzleloaders killed 1,038 deer during the two-week season. The highest deer kill during the season was 34,533 during the regular firearm season on deer. Young deer hunters got their own day in 2002, and 553 youth hunters were successful.
Following a review of harvest data and the likely impacts of the 2003 winter, department biologists have recommended issuing 72,600 Any Deer permits in various parts of Maine. These permits allow the hunter to kill a doe or a fawn, and permit allocations are varied annually to attain deer population objectives in each of Maine"s 30 wildlife management districts (WMD) despite severe wintering conditions in about two-thirds of the state. The total number of Any Deer permits recommended is the second highest ever, second only to 2002 (76,989).
The number of permits and what WMD they are issued in are listed below:
WMD 1 - 0
WMD 2 - 0
WMD 3 - 0
WMD 4 - 100
WMD 5 - 0
WMD 6 - 0
WMD 7 - 750
WMD 8 - 650
WMD 9 - 300
WMD 10 - 300
WMD 11 - 0
WMD 12 - 1,900
WMD 13 - 1,900
WMD 14 - 400
WMD 15 - 3,550
WMD 16 - 6,500
WMD 17 - 15,450
WMD 18 - 200
WMD 19 - 0
WMD 20 - 4,500
WMD 21 - 4,100
WMD 22 - 5,350
WMD 23 -15,550
WMD 24 - 3,500
WMD 25 - 3,500
WMD 26 - 3,250
WMD 27 - 0
WMD 28 - 0
WMD 29 - 0
WMD 30 - 850
Total - 72, 600
The above permit recommendations are proposed, pending approval of the Commissioner"s Advisory Council in late May. Any Deer applications will be available in mid-June, and hunters should be aware of the new July 15 deadline date for returning applications.
Maine"s statewide post-hunt population of deer is estimated to be approximately 259,000 deer. This represents an 8% increase in the deer population from 2001 (241,000). Deer population management during 2003 will focus upon continued population recovery from the severe 2001 winter in northern and eastern WMDs by conservatively issuing Any Deer permits. In central and southern Maine, we will continue fairly aggressive doe harvests requiring substantial allocations of Any Deer permits to bring deer populations in line with new (generally lower) population objectives. This requires slight reductions in deer populations in most central and southern WMDs.
RE: Maine 2002 Season Report and 2003 Any Deer Permit Recommendations.
You got it! I wish I still lived on a dirt road next to that lake with more trees than neighbors. That specific area of #23 is quite unique. They seem to get more snowfall than anywhere beyond 10 miles of them, the deer, turkey, and every other form of wildlife are in abundance, and the fishing is great too.
Man I can' t wait for November to come back around.
RE: Maine 2002 Season Report and 2003 Any Deer Permit Recommendations.
I hunt in 13 and 17. Usually get a permit but 75% of the time I' ll shoot a buck so I don' t really need it. Can' t wait for november either. Find out about moose permits on tuesday. maybe this will be my year.
RE: Maine 2002 Season Report and 2003 Any Deer Permit Recommendations.
I hunt in #23 on my family' s land - big stretch of golf course and woods. We had a good year last year - 4 bucks and a doe between my uncle, two brothers, my father and myself. Off the same land about 15 more deer were taken friends.
I had an extra doe tag as did my little brother. However, we all stopped hunting on Thanksgiving morning after we each had taken one and we didn' t want to get greedy. But, looking at the herd after the fact (coupled with the fact that I ran out of venison in January) I won' t be as hesitant next year if I am lucky enough to get an extra permit.
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This will probably go a lot quicker if you just recognize that you are wrong and I am right.
Maine 2002 Season Report and 2003 Any Deer Permit Recommendations.
