’94 Maine deer kill on target

AUGUSTA – Despite unseasonably warm weather through much of the season, Maine’s 1994 deer kill appears to be close to preseason predictions, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife reported Tuesday.

A preliminary tally of nearly 400 deer registration stations throughout the state conducted by the Maine Warden Service indicated the Maine deer kill statewide will be slightly above 24,600. Those figures do not include the special muzzle-loading season that is expected to add 100 deer.

Final numbers must await the analysis of registration books that must be returned to Augusta and tabulated. The final figure will be released in several weeks, the department reported.

The preliminary deer kill of 24,607 represents a decrease of 2,795 or 10 percent from the 1993 deer harvest of 27,402.

“Much of the decline was attributable to the 25 percent reduction in any-deer permits issued this year,” according to state biologist Gerry Lavigne. “The department desired a reduction of does and fawns to compensate for above-average winter losses in much of the state during the 1993-94 winter. Reducing the mortality of does will enable the herd to recover more quickly.”

Levigne met with other department biologists in April to assess the state’s deer population and to recommend doe harvest quotas for Maine’s 18 deer management districts.

They recommended a doe harvest of 5,250 and a projected take of 3,150 fawns as a result of issuing 32,000 any-deer permits. They also projected a slight deline on the buck kill to about 16,200, compared to 16,700 in 1993.

The projections in April totaled 24,600, which was nearly identical to the warden count of 24,607.

“The deer population is slightly under 230,000,” said Lavigne. “Based on an examination of over 6,000 harvested deer by wildlife biologists during November, the herd appears in good condition,” he added.

“Trophy-age bucks were numerous,” Lavigne said. “Antler development of younger bucks was very good, an indication that the herd remains in balance with its food supplies.”