Group reviews deer harvesting policy
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
Members of the Aroostook County Conservation Association have been working for years to improve the struggling white tail deer herd in northern Maine by planting food plots, encouraging the development of habitat and participating in predation management, also called their coyote control program.
Problems faced by the deer started about 25 years ago with the spruce-budworm epidemic that crippled the habitat needed for the white tail to thrive in the harsh conditions of northern Maine. Theoretically, the habitat will be restored in 10 to 15 years when the spruce that grew after the epidemic reach maturity,
“Unfortunately, the deer might not last that ten or 15 years because their numbers are getting so low,” said Regional Enforcement Coordinator of the Maine Forest Service Thomas Whitworth to ACCA members during a meeting about a year ago.
ACCA members are looking to keep the herd strong until the natural habitat is restored.
“We planted 17 new food plots this summer,” said ACCA President Jerry McLaughlin. To date, the organization has planted 36 food plots for the white tail which really benefits all sorts of species, humans included.
In 2009, for example, the ACCA was allowed to plant food plots on a couple of Irving Woodlands roads. The growth, which will last about five years, protects the dirt roads from erosion while providing a full buffet of browse for all omnivores of the woods.
This winter has been pretty mild up until this recent cold snap, and the healthy-looking deer have had plenty to eat for the most part; in parts of the Allagash and Portage, for example, McLaughlin described how the deer yards have been over-browsed and food is scarce for many of the ungulates.
While feeding deer is a serious commitment that will more often than not have a negative impact on the animals unless done absolutely properly — providing starving deer with a one-time plethora of food will actually expedite the animal’s starvation, the ACCA has begun providing supplemental feeding for white tail in the Allagash and Portage. The group, which has worked closely with IF&W biologists, is providing a light feed of whole oats and barley for the deer — not enough to fully sustain the herd but just enough to supplement the lack of natural browse available for the animals.
Other measures taken by the conservation enthusiasts are attempts to alleviate predation pressures put on the herd.
The almost single-source of natural predation pressure on the herd is the coyote, who’s population is above healthy levels. The ACCA started their coyote control program on Dec. 16 this season, which is historically early.
“We started earlier this year to help relieve predation pressure already being placed on the deer,” McLaughlin said. Going into a second consecutive mild winter, McLaughlin said that the deer he’s seen look healthy; the coyote, on the other hand, are showing traits of overpopulation.
“They’re overpopulated, and that produces mange,” McLaughlin said.
Actively taking measures to keep the coyote population in check has caused negative speculation regarding the group.
Exemplifying this point, the group asked IF&W to increase limitations being placed on hunters and, as many members of the ACCA are hunters, they’re basically asking the biologists to put more stringent limitations on themselves.
Members of the ACCA, many of which have their finger on the pulse of the outdoors, have noticed skewed buck/doe ratios with far too few bucks and are eager to apply the patience necessary to allow the herd to recover.
During their last meeting on Dec. 10, the collective group agreed that they want a buck to have at least three-points on one side in order to be eligible for harvest.
Implementing an antler restriction for hunters is not without president; McLaughlin sited the use of such a program in Vermont and most recently in Pennsylvania. “There are different theories on [antler restrictions], but out IF&W biologist says that it doesn’t work,” McLaughlin said.
While success of Vermont’s program is debatable, ACCA members are interested in becoming as educated as possible regarding the subject; they’ve invited a specialist on Winter Supplemental Feeding and Antler Restriction to speak at their next meeting on Friday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle. Regardless of membership, everyone is welcome to attend this meeting.
