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August 26, 2016
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Council supports deer hunt proposal
by Lora Whelan

 

     At a special public hearing and meeting held on August 24, the Eastport City Council voted four to one in favor of sending a plan for a special archery hunt for antlerless deer to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIF&W). The meeting was attended by about 20 landowners, with members of the city's deer committee and state biologist Tom Schaeffer present.
      Councillor Scot Emery was against the plan, with amendments made to it that he did not agree with.
     While the original plan called for 25 permits, of which three would be issued to non‑residents, Councillor Mary Repole amended the plan to 30 permits, with 10 being issued to non‑residents. In addition, the original plan required that archery hunters pass a proficiency test, locally administered and free. Repole amended to delete the proficiency requirement. Schaeffer explained to an audience member's question that in 2017 state law will require that anyone who wishes to archery hunt must obtain an archery license from the state, which will require that hunters must complete a bow hunter education course or have held an archery license in any year after 1979.
      Councillor Rocky Archer did not agree to the lottery approach that favors residents, suggesting that the lottery should be for anyone who puts their name in. However, no other councillors voiced their agreement. Council President Gilbert Murphy asked each councillor their opinion about the proficiency testing, with all but Emery saying they felt it wasn't needed. Emery said, "I don't think it's too much to ask." He added that, if the city was going to have a special hunt, he wanted hunters to be the very best.
     The plan was worked on for many months after the committee was charged with the task by the city council in response to a November 2105 straw‑poll vote about the city's deer population. A total of 78% of voters registered their concern with the deer population density and 76% favored working with MDIF&W to reduce the deer population.
     There is a 90‑day rule‑making process involved with a special hunt, explained Deer Committee Chair Chris Bartlett. With the tight schedule it is not certain that the hunt will take place for the December 2016 hunting season. And even if approved in time for the hunt, there would still need to be work done by the deer committee and the city to create hunting zones to ensure that placement of hunters is appropriate to the land available.
     Concerns about poor archery practices were raised by Donna Thayer and Eleanor Norton. Schaeffer said, "Accountability for actions of participants is an important part of the plan. With the numbers in the plan, every hunter will probably want their deer." With hunters required to hunt from a blind or stand that must be registered with the city, another deer committee member noted that the accuracy of shots should be high. In addition, state law mandates that a hunter pursue a wounded animal. There could be some technicalities to the special hunt and the pursuit of a wounded deer that would involve local law enforcement and the game warden in an "intervention," Schaeffer added, citing the example of a deer wounded in a hunting zone but traveling into a no hunting zone.

Plan details
     The hunt is proposed for two contiguous weeks during December. It would be archery only, and hunters would have to be in a fixed ground blind or elevated stand. Stand and blind locations would be at pre‑approved sites on identified properties of private and municipal lots. The stands would have to conform to city ordinance and state laws for required setbacks. Hunters would have to provide documentation of compliance and written permission from property owners.
     Bait would be allowed at pre‑approved hunting stand sites to "increase hunting success, enhance shot placement and reduce potential for wounding deer."
     By lottery, a total of 30 permits would be issued, with 20 going to property owners, residents and their immediate family members and the remaining 10 to non‑residents. Permit holders would have to hold a valid and current archery hunting license as required by the State of Maine and follow all applicable hunting laws. Lottery winner names would be provided to MDIF&W for background checks and permitting.
     One permit for each of the 30 qualified hunters would equal a total possible harvest of 30 antlerless deer for the special hunt season. A tagging station would be opened in Eastport where deer would be required to be tagged within 16 hours of harvest.
     The special hunt would be monitored with the following information collected: number and age of antlerless deer removed; number of deer‑related vehicle accidents; anecdotal changes in deer behavior towards people; landowner satisfaction; and general public perception.

 

 

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