As Maine's deer hunting season gets underway, the state is taking steps to conserve the population. Maine Conservation Commissioner Chandler Woodcock says any-deer permits--in other words, permits to take a doe--have been reduced by 46 percent for the coming season.
Hunters are allowed to take one antlered deer annually, but those with any-deer permits can bag a deer with or without antlers. State deer biologist Lee Kantar says the doe harvest this year has been set fairly low.
"By decreasing any-deer permits by 46 percent for the coming season, we hope to give a boost to deer numbers across the state for future growth," he says in a statement.
Kantar says harsh winters in 2008 and 2009 took a tool on deer populations across the state. He predicts that about 4,800 antlerless deer will be harvested this fall and about 12,000 antlered bucks.
Woodcock says Maine is also working with landowners to conserve dear yards and to control predation in an effort to grow the state's deer herd.
The 25-day regular firearms deer season opens for Maine residents this Saturday, and for non-residents the following Monday. It ends Nov. 26.
That's followed by the muzzleloader season, which begins on Nov. 26.
Learn more about Maine's deer hunting season.