IFW Hunting Report for October 12, 2013

Southern Lakes Region

Hunters are enjoying the pheasant season in southern Maine.

“We have had two pheasant releases so far, and we have one final release for the season on Sunday, October 20,” said IFW Wildlife Biologist Scott Lindsay. “We have received some very positive comments about our two dozen release sites.” You can find a list of the pheasant release sites on the department website at www.mefishwildlife.com.

Lindsay said there has been a lot of outreach with area landowners about the release sites and very good cooperation with the area rod and gun clubs.

“One member even set a new standard for landowner relations by baking and delivering apple pies to about a dozen landowners,” said Lindsay. “That type of outreach goes a long way towards keeping land open, and allows us to keep stocking pheasants.”

It is also the middle of the archery season for deer, and Lindsay said that during the first week,  “some very impressive animals were brought to registration stations,” but as is typical, it slowed down after the first week.

Lindsay noted that there are also a lot of turkey hunters out taking advantage of the expanded opportunities for turkey this fall.

“We have a pretty good number of turkeys coming through the registration stations,” said Lindsay, who said a lot are poults but there are some pretty good adults as well. “We have noticed a lot of people out turkey hunting, particularly compared to past falls.”

Central and Midcoast Maine

“Reports out of Merrymeeting Bay is that birds are moving around, but location is the key” for waterfowl hunters, said IFW Wildlife Biologist Kendall Marden. “Some areas are hot, others are not. Warm weather is holding up the migrating birds coming through, as well as the woodcock flight.”

Marden said that there are small groups of partridge here and there, and you can find them if you are willing to look for them. Several groups have had days with multiple flushes. Those with dogs are getting more flushes than others.

“Turkey hunting has been somewhat slow, but people are picking up birds here and there,” said Marden, who noted there are lot of small broods, and late broods as well with younger birds.

If you are looking to go duck hunting, Marden suggest the Merrymeeting Bay WMA. There are over 5,000 acres in the WMA, spread out in multiple locations in the bay. Check out your DeLorme Atlas Map 6 for where these parcels are located. Green Point in Dresden is also a good location for launching and setting up.

Downeast Region

“We’ve had some goose hunters who have done well with the early goose season. Some are even getting them in the blueberry barrens, where the geese are picking up what has been left behind,” said IFW Wildlife Biologist Tom Schaeffer, who noted that most successful hunters were in the green, grassy areas and pastures.

Upland birds haven’t been showing in great numbers, and moose hunters haven’t been reporting many grouse sightings either. Hunters shouldn’t be overly worried, however.

“For the last three or four years it seems that a lot of our birds don’t appear until later in the season,” said Schaeffer, who added that waterfowl hunting will pick up as well once it cools down and birds start moving.

Rangeley Lakes and Western Mountains Region

“Grouse numbers seem to be down in the region, but the woodcock numbers seem to be good,” said IFW Wildlife Biologist Chuck Hulsey.

Hulsey also noted that he is seeing lots of turkeys in his region, but contrary to southern Maine, he is not seeing a lot of hunters. “

“If someone is wants to hunt turkeys, they should have great hunting,” says Hulsey.

Hulsey added that if someone wanted to go archery hunting for deer, they should try the Chesterville WMA and take a canoe ride down the river.  It is quite an effective way to take a deer. Be aware the first one hundred yards of the river is a little low right now, but it is pleasant paddling for the remainder.

Moosehead Region

In the Moosehead region, moose season is Monday, and even though this season is a little later with the way the calendar falls, there is plenty of opportunity for hunters.

“Some bulls will definitely be able to be called because they will be without cows, but they are probably going to be in the young vegetation where the food and visibility is good,” said IFW Wildlife Biologist Doug Kane. “Hunters may even see groups of moose, because post rut, that is what you often see.”

Kane also noted that this year, there are a lot of bears around.

“The beechnuts are here this year, so the bears are probably going to be out late this season, so they will probably even be available to deer hunters,” said Kane.

Kane added that the grouse are just starting to show in the region, and that he is seeing a variety of sizes of turkeys in the region, indicative of the females renesting.

Penobscot Region

In the Penobscot region, birds are spotty as well, indicative of a poor nesting season.

“I was out hunting last week myself, and didn’t see much for birds,” said Mark Caron, IFW Wildlife Biologist.

Caron notes that hunters should take heart, as it will get better as the season goes along.

“It will get better as the season moves along. Once it starts to cool off and the leaves come off the trees, hunters will be seeing more birds,” said Caron.

Caron also noted that while he has seen a lot of turkeys, he hasn’t seen many turkey hunters in his region. He notes that part of the reason is the unfamiliarity with the fall season.

“It is a whole different ball game,” said Caron, “Right now, many of the birds are taken incidental to the grouse hunting and even bowhunting season for deer.”

It’s moose season Monday in Enfield, and the regional headquarters is one of the moose tagging stations.

Aroostook Region

“The birds are spread out up here,” said IFW Wildlife Biologist Rich Hoppe, “The grouse hunting is fair, nothing great, but fair. The birds aren’t bunched up a lot, which is typical of failed nesting.”

Woodcock are spotty, but there are some fair to good numbers this year compared to last year, added Hoppe. “We haven’t seen many flight birds yet, but we feel they will be coming through soon.”

Moose hunting resumes next week, and bird hunters in the North Maine Woods are saying that they are still seeing a lot of moose, which bodes well for the upcoming moose hunt.

Waterfowl hunters have been having a difficult time, not due to a lack of ducks, more because of an abundance of water in the region. Ducks are spread out, many making temporary homes in puddles and shallow ponds that used to be farmer’s fields.

Hoppe did say there is still plenty of natural food in the woods, and it looks like bears will be out late this year, which will offer some lucky deer hunters an opportunity to take a bear during deer season. In lean years, bears will den up early, but this year, the rains and warm weather means plenty of natural food.

In an unusual task, department biologists are busy with the remnants of a tornado that touched down in the area several weeks ago. Hoppe is working with several large landowners concerning salvage operations for timber that was downed during the storm. The storm hit some deer yards where there are cooperative management agreements, and work is being done to remove the timber while protecting the deer yards.