MR KANTAR,

I THINK THE STATE SHOULD PASS A LAW THAT LOGGING CONTRACTORS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HARVEST TREES WITHIN ONE MILE OF A DEER YARD, BROOKS,STREAMS, OR RIVERS. OUR DEER CANNOT SURVIVE DEEP SNOW AND PREDITORS WITHOUT COVER. ALSO HAVE A LAW PASSED THAT ONLY BUCKS WITH ANTLERS THREE POINTS ON ONE SIDE OR BETTER CAN BE HARVESTED. THIS BUCK LAW HAS WORKED IN MANY STATES AND HAS PRODUCED MORE DEER AND BIGGER BUCKS THAT MANY OF US HUNTERS WOULD RATHER SEE THAN THE CLOSE OF THE SEASON.

I would gladly give up deer hunting to perhaps hunt for predators if a small bounty ( PERHAPS A FREE LISCENSE) were offered.

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If we only allowed out of state people to hunt say every other year - then all Maine hunters could enjoy the sport every year - This should help keep the deer population in check -

Why don't the non residentsgo hunt where the deer are more abundent like in the southern states where they pick and choose the ones with the bigger head gear and they see 20 or30 in one setting where as here in Maine you can see one in a season with antlers

A minimum size limit on antlers should definitely be imposed... with some exceptions such as youth day. There is no question that the destruction of wintering habitat by commercial logging is a major player in this. The logging industry, by and large, cares little about the environment. They are constantly seeking exemptions from the state and federal agencies that hinder conservation efforts- the endangered species act, chapter 335 rules for significant wildlife habitat- just to name a couple. There obviously needs to be a balance between forestry operations and conservation, but it would appear that the system is in definite need of adjustment.

"A minimum size limit on antlers should definitely be imposed... with some exceptions such as youth day. "

The problem with that is, the spike and prong bucks are the ones least likely to survive the winter... Why not have the hunters shoot THEM in the fall (better meat anyway) and preserve forage for the _breeding_ bucks and the does.

Close down deer season up north for one year every other year for 10 years. I'd be happy to see it, the population is down so bad you can ride roads for a whole month and only cut a few tracks up north.

"The problem with that is, the spike and prong bucks are the ones least likely to survive the winter..."

The same can be said for mature bucks who are physically exhausted after an intense breeding season. The younger bucks still breed post rut under the right circumstances, if I am not mistaken. It seems sort of like a 6 vs 1/2 dozen issue. It would probably come down to what accomplishes the greatest good for the greatest number of deer (utility). Most of us hunters would prefer to manage for the mature bucks, but it may be strength in numbers that will get us through this down turn (along with some friendly winters). Having an antler size requirement seems like a logical way to increase the numbers of male deer based on what it has done in other parts of the country, but obviously most of them aren't dealing with the combination of things that is wreaking havoc on our deer population.

In a wider perspective, the two main elements of survival for any species would be habitat and feed (after the ability to reproduce and recruit...which is facilitated by the first two mentioned). Deer wintering areas provide both of these fundamental elements of survival, and managing the assault on these areas of land is the primary tool with which the deer herd can be brought back and hopefully sustained. We can't control the weather and there is a certain amount of winter mortality that will take place, but what we can control is how we manage this resource (deer wintering areas) and hopefully provide an opportunity for the herd to get back to a healthy level. I think that this would be the only long term solution to what is an increasingly severe problem. Closing seasons, even if only in certain areas = loss of revenue for a department already on a shoestring budget, and is only putting a bandaid on a wound that requires some surgery.

Why doesn't everybody that is whining about the deer population sit and think hard for a minute....Did anyone think that the coyote has a role in all this? My brother and I hunt up north every year. We have noticed an incline population of these animals and they hunt and kill only to waste a deer or moose. They will kill an animal today while they are hungry and then leave it. Tomorrow they will do the same thing. Its a fact! We have seen it. Why doesn't everyone stop believing its the foresters,snow,and out of state people thats hurting the deer herd up north. PUT THE BOUNTY BACK ON THE COYOTE LIKE IT WAS IN THE 80'. If a true "up north" hunter has been there. He or she would tell you that. When there is snow on the ground one can see the deer and moose are chased to their death. Not by one coyote but several until that animal is to tired to run.

acountyboy:

Coyotes definitely play a significant role in this. There is no question. I don't know anyone who would disagree with that. If you think that commercial logging is not an equal or greater culprit, you are sorely mistaken. I didn't say that greater restrictions on logging were the only solution... I said it is the primary tool or policy that should be used, in my opinion. Just make them adhere to the same regulations that everyone else does. It's fairly reasonable, wouldn't you say? It is also something that we can readily control. A bounty on coyotes would probably help some, but they are extremely adaptive and respond to population lows with large litters. A lot of studies have found that predation, starvation, and collision account equally for winter mortailty, at least during mild winters. See Dumont et. al Vol. 78 (5) Canadian Journal of Zoology. It's not all coyotes as you made it sound to be, although certainly a part of it.

Also, who is going to pay for this bounty? IF&W? I don't see the money in their budget anywhere. I'm not familiar with the finances involved in bounties, but I would assume that is who would have to fund any sort of bounty program.

I don't personally hunt coyotes, but I have relatives who kill 25-30 of them every winter. With the proper equipment and dedication, it looks like a lot of fun along with being helpful (to some degree) to the deer herd. I definitely agree with your take on the coyote aspect, but I disagree with your "severity index" if you will.

Under Maine's current laws and customs, maintaining habitat for wildlife is of no benefit to the landowner. Currently, a landowner gets a return on his investment by maximizing the yield of pulp or timber. If we want more and better habitat we need to follow some form of what I hear people refer to as the "African Model". That is, it's worth more to the landowner to maintain healthy game populations than it would be to turn the land to some other productive use.

SHUT IT (deer season) DOWN FOR 2 YEARS!!!!! Shouting intended. Put a bounty of the song dog and cut their numbers. Who do you think did the most damage this year???? Hunting and sporting clubs can set up largest coyote competitions. All men kick in some $$$ and have 3 places. Set ot for twice a year. Coyote breeding season and winter.

I love to hunt and fish but is the money from licenses so important we ruin the herd for our children to enjoy? Kill the season and have state wide shooting competitions from hand gun to 22 lr rifle. Gone are the days of Turkey shoots that many of us enjoyed with our dads.

Last thing you need to do is hammer non-residents. They provide a great bit of cash flow throughout this state. Only the misinformed and ignorant seem to call for banning them.

Pull back on cutting within the deer hearding areas and some of the feed and bedding areas.

As a hunter you need to practice self control. Does the State have to mandate you take a 4 or 6 point. NO! do it on your own.

safedman:

You make it sound like people can just ride around and shoot 7 coyotes on any given Saturday. It takes a great deal of time and effort to successfully hunt coyotes. I believe the first "coyote derby" of sorts was down in Washington County- an area with the highest coyote density in Maine- and I want to say that only a single dog was taken. This was 4-5 years ago now. I'm not sure if the success rates are higher in more recent coyote derbies (if they have them).

Secondly, who is going to pay for some bounty system?

I believe you all have some very good points. The Coyote is a major problem! Logging of and near our Deer Yards is a major problem! Why did we allow the stopping of snaring of the Coyote around our deer yards? That sounds like a perfect job for the Fish and Game Department / Biologist. Lets not forget about the Moose population in the North. I hunt the North country every year and have done so since I was a young boy. When I can see 15 / 20 Moose a day while hunting deer, this includes driving and Tracking (that tells me that we have a population issue). When the Deer are in compatision with the Moose for vital feed as well are dealing with the lost of wintering area and being killed at will by the Coyote what due we think will happen? This is not the first time Maine has seen a couple of bad Winters Back to Back but add in the rapidly growing Moose and Coyote population and now we have an issue. I believe that if the Coyote numbers were down and the Moose population was (UNDER CONTROL) the the Deer would have a much greater change dealing with the reduced wintering areas.

I do agree with shutting down the deer season for 2 yrs. If you need a deer that bad go down south for a hunt and bag 10 of them. Coyotes are sneaky fellows. I've heard stories of packs of coyotes running a heard of deer onto ice where they can't get off and just slaughter them. I've seen packs of Coyotes, by the time you get the gun out they are gone. Don't seem to see as many Moose in Washington County as you use to. Maybe it's just because the forest is filling back in where they clear cut and you just don't see them, who knows. Bring some of the moose down from "THE COUNTY" and drop em off in Gods Country..

TO MANY OF OUR FUTURE BREEDING BUCKS LIKE SPIKES AND FOUR POINTERS ARE BEING SHOT. ANTLER SIZE LAW NEEDS TO BE IMPOSED. I MYSELF HAVE PASSED UP SMALL RACK FIVE AND SIX POINT BUCKS FOR BIGGER RACK BUCKS. AS FAR AS THESE YOUNG DEER NOT SURVIVING WINTER IS HORSE POOP. WITH PROPER COVER AND FOOD THEY WILL SURVIVE. YES THE COYOTE PLAYS A ROLL IN THIS ALSO. WHEN A DEERS HABITAT IS DESTROYED DEER BECOME WEAK AND ILL FROM LACK OF FOOD AND THE COYOTE TAKES OVER. ALSO OTHER STATES ARE FEEDING DEER WERE THERE ARE HARSH WINTERS. OUR LICENSE MONEY IS SUPPOSE TO GO TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. IS IT?

Are you telling me that Coyote's are not killing Deer in the Deer Yards? Take a snow shoe into a Deer Yard sometime and tell me what you see. Why did the Fish and Game bring back the Coyote in the first place? Will they still standby and claim that they did not? They should have taken action years ago once they knew the Coyote population was exploding and putting the Deer at risk. Ontario Canada has a thriving population of deer and they also have Wolfs but the manage the Wolf and do not allow its numbers to become unmanageable. I think that the FIsh and Game / Biologist have let us down and has not be honest with us and themselfs. They need to step up to the plate and act now.

NO I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

The IF&W mantra is loss of habitat. Very generic when closly looked at. Lets simplify. Large deer yards no longer exist= loss of habitat= no more well developed trail systems = large predation losses. Take a look at the States winter feeding site. They state that predation, not starvation is the major cause of winter loss.

We had a string of easy winters with no gain in our herd. The 60-80% losses of last winter were only a matter of time.

We cannot replace large forest tracts suitable for wintering overnight. However, the winter predation could be addressed if our State policies were not dictated by a vocal minority of animal rights extremist groups.

Watch for a grass roots movement already started up here to force the State into action.

Mr Kantar.

I know your job will be hard over the next few weeks and we all must stand behind you to protect the heard. We also have to make sure the fire does not get put out in our young hunters. These young hunters are the future to the Maine hunting tradition. So makes sure they are considered when you decide the out come of the hunt. I would like to see bucks only, but allow the hunter under 16 to hold an anterless permit. I know everyone will say, the kids will be tagging deer that others shoot. That will always go on with the greedy hunters out there. Most kids will not be put in that situation, because the hunters that takem out hunting cares about the tradition and wants to share that. Lets dont let a few rotten apples spoil the whole barrel. SO just dont forget the kids, make it work for them. Best of luck with you on going battle Mr. Kantar

YOU CANNOT TEACH YOUTH'S PROPER DEER MANAGEMENT BY LETTING THEM SHOOT SMALL BUCKS SUCH AS SPIKES AND FOUR POINTERS WICH ARE OUR FUTURE BREEDING BUCKS. WICH WOULD YOU BE PROUDER TO SHOOT, A SPIKE BUCK OR A SIX POINTER? I REALLY HOPE THEY PASS THE LAW THAT OTHER STATES HAVE OF THREE POINTS ON ONE SIDE OR BETTER ANTLER SIZE.