Press Releases

December 17, 2008

Marsh Island Deer Harvest Ends

Augusta – The two-week limited deer reduction season on Marsh Island concluded on Saturday, December 13, 2008, with a total of eight (8) deer being harvested.

The Marsh Island deer reduction season, which took place Dec. 1 to Dec. 13, was approved by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council in response to ongoing discussions among IF&W, the City of Old Town, the University of Maine and the Town of Orono regarding public safety concerns and nuisance deer complaints.

IF&W worked with the Maine Bowhunters Association to coordinate the reduction effort. Twenty archers from the Maine Bowhunters Association’s Bowhunters Landowners Information Program (BLIP) were selected to conduct the harvest on two Old Town-owned parcels of land – the Airport and Penny Road parcels.

“The Department’s focus for this limited season was to conduct a well organized, disciplined and, above all, safe hunt,” said Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin. “This clearly was accomplished. We’ve received mostly positive comments, and that’s due to the hard work and coordination given to us by the municipalities, the university and, most importantly, the archers.”

During the two-week period, eight deer were harvested -- five males and three females. One of the deer was harvested off the Airport parcel and seven were harvested off the Penny Road parcel.

Seventeen archers hunted during the first week of the season on both parcels of land. Fourteen took part during the second week. The archers were not monetarily reimbursed for their personal expenses. One archer who harvested two deer donated one to the Hunters for the Hungry Program.

No accidents or injuries were reported.

Very poor hunting conditions, primarily inclement weather during the most of second week of the harvest, played a significant role in keeping down the potential harvest numbers, according to Mark Caron, an IF&W biologist who helped manage the harvest.

“In spite of the weather, BLIP archers were out every day in the elements doing the work required of them,” Caron said.

Observations from the archers indicated very little (current) deer activity on the Airport parcel, and the Penny Road parcel was active with deer and deer sign. A preliminary review of the reporting cards that BLIP archers were required to maintain indicate that at least 43 bucks, 116 does, eight fawns and two of unknown sex and age were observed over the two weeks, with most of the sightings at the Penny Road parcel. Some of the sightings were certainly the same deer observed on more than one occasion, Caron said. Strict standards for shots that archers are allowed to take meant that many more deer are observed than are harvested.

A more thorough review of the two-week season is underway, and a report will be shared with the Old Town and Orono councils upon completion.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

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