Well on the first day of the Maine season, the traditional "residents only" day, I have to say that the deer are certainly out there in good numbers.

This morning I saw 7 deer before 7:30. I could only positively identify one as a buck but several didn't give me a good enough look to determine anything other than the fact that they were deer. That's one of the drawbacks of hunting in the thicker wooded areas I guess.

With the bonus any deer permits (which allow you to take a 2nd deer) you are required to take an antlerless so I took the first doe which presented a clear shot. A medium sized doe probably a little over 100 pounds, nothing to brag about but some venison for the freezer just the same.

Now I can go look for #2! This can be either a buck or a doe so I can be a little more picky about what I tag this time.

Anyone else have any first day reports?

I was bowhunting in the Unity area a couple weeks ago and I have never seen as many deer as I did this year. congrats and good luck

I was bowhunting in the Unity area a couple weeks ago and I have never seen as many deer as I did this year. congrats and good luck

I hunted all day and never saw a single deer. Found one scrape near my stand in the morning. In the evening I watched the edge of a field that had 7 scrapes and six rubs along the edge of it. Heard some shooting but not from our family. It was windy and cold though, I can tell ya that.

I'm not a resident anymore so I bird hunted all day (two partridge!) and moved stuff around. I was sitting with my dad who is hunting his first year as a quadrapalegic and we saw a nice 8 pointer. My uncle took a 6 pointer in the next field. I saw does everywhere I walked.

I'm up for Saturday and Monday. I'm taking the first deer I see, be it a doe, buck or a skipper because I want some venison. Then I'm using my extra permit to wait out a nice deer.

We got 7 permits for my father, me and my two brothers. They'll be venison this winter!

We are 3 for 6 here in northern Maine already. Great conditions this week. My friend's brother took one that dressed at 270 (12 pointer) on opening day. We also had a 8 pointer (195) and a 6 (137). I hunted Friday afternoon and yesterday. Saw 6 does and a spike horn. Lot of deer up here this year.

Saw a doe and two fawns on Saturday. First deer I've seen this year. It would have been a long shot through the woods so I passed it up. Probably could have made it but wasn't worth trying with three weeks to go. Hopefully more luck tomorrow. Finding more buck sign now. How about everyone else?

I took a spike yesterday morning - 120 pounds. Not too bad for a spike in that area. I brought it to a place in Rockland called Thin Blue Line game butchering, so I won't have any meat until Saturday. I'm kicking myself for not cutting the inner tender loins out before dropping it off - could have had a nice meal with them.

Later in the day I jumped a herd of does with a HUGE buck in the middle. They came right by my father, but he didn't have a clear shot. He's going to get one of these monsters that keep coming by him.

Opening day was nice spent it with my wife on stand watching the sun rise. Stong winds made it hard to hear anything comming but was surprised to see to small does step out around 45 yards. Wife has an any deer permit but didn't want to take a small one on opening day.

we packed a lunch to share while we where had a few friends in the area too and we all met for lunch and shared our mornings no one had really seen much with 5 out of the 6 having any deer permits we know we will have some venison this winter. The day ended with no one taking a deer.

Following Tuesday woke to some fresh snow (about 3 inces) 45 minutes into my hunt with a friend I tagged an average 7 pointer about 170lbs(167 to be exact). He missed another buck that was with the one I got, excuse was something to the fact that the buck was flat out moving and about 200 yards across the corn field before he coud get his 7mm-08 Browning a-bolt to his shoulder, He did shoot 2 times but didn't cut hair.

Rut is going strong seems early this year but hey I am not complaining the couple of clients I had each tagged out and was happy with there deer. 1 was a nice 9 pointer 187lbs. a small 3 pointer about 125lbs. and a big doe that went 140lbs. (all deer weighed after field dressing w/out heart and liver.)


Shootstraight and goodluck PMG