Monthly Archives: May 2018

Lots of deer issues from ticks to antler restrictions

DIFW’s new big game management plan tackles lots of deer issues. In southern Maine, there’s a focus on habitat damage, high densities, and tick-borne diseases. This is my 6th column on the new big game management plans. Concerning high populations of deer, DIFW reports, “We’ll need to think outside the box to identify new, effective, […]

Alan Caron makes strong commitments on key environmental and conservation issues

The two independent candidates for governor completed an extensive candidate survey by Maine Audubon, with some great responses, commitments, and plans. Today I am sharing Alan Caron’s responses. On June 29 I will share the responses of Terry Hughes. While neither the Republican or the Democratic nominees answered the survey, I am encouraging them to […]

Maine’s deer herd increased with the extirpation of wolves and cougars

The new deer management plan includes an interesting history of deer in Maine. “In the 19th century, extirpation of wolves and cougars from Maine allowed deer to further expand and increase in number essentially unencumbered by predation. Still, despite their increased presence, deer population status continued to fluctuate with winter severity and large-scale events (spruce […]

Much higher turkey harvests and more public support called for in new plan

Here’s one of the most significant statements in the new Turkey management plan: “Population management should include steps to substantially increase turkey harvest in WMDs that are experiencing significant public complaints, with the goal of reducing population size to socially acceptable levels.” Yup, we need to kill more turkeys. The plan notes that after several […]

New turkey management plan calls for killing more turkeys

With a turkey population estimated between 50,000 and 60,000, Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is searching for ways to kill more turkeys. This is the third in my series of columns on Maine’s new big game management plans. Today we’ll talk turkeys. The plan notes that “Beginning around 2010 and on a nearly […]