Word from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regarding the 1995 deer kill is that hunters, including bow and arrow and muzzleloader, tagged 27,525 whitetails. That’s the preliminary figure. The official figure, which usually doesn’t vary much, is forthcoming.

As it stands, the preliminary figure is about 3,000 more thaproject leader Gerry Lavigne’s preseason prediction of 24,600. But the biologist, whose predictions usually are in the bull’s-eye, isn’t making any excuses for shooting a bit low this year. In fact, he sees the increased deer kill as a sign that the herd is responding to management.

Lavigne attributes last fall’s hunter success to three factors: excellent fawn production last spring, tracking snow in November, and an incredible increase in muzzleloader hunting. The deer project leader said the 6,000 or so deer examined by DIFW biologists during the hunting season were in good condition. Buck numbers were high, he reported, and overall antler development was normal.

A letter from Sam Babineau of Fort Fairfield is timely regarding the deer kill figure and doe permits. He wrote: “Should I be concerned about our male deer population in Aroostook County? Some of the older bucks are not going to be in good shape to face a long hard winter after the rut. If we keep killing bucks only the remaining bucks must widen their range to service more does and I feel it will take its toll. I want to protect the small herd we have up here. Also, I think a 200-pound-plus buck will be a thing of the past in a few years.”

Sam has a point regarding deer survival this winter. If you spend any time off the main road, you know Mother Nature’s cupboards are bare because of last summer’s drought and poor growing conditions. Consequently, when deer paw down through snow this winter, all they’ll find is frozen ground – no acorns, apples, beechnuts or the like.

Fawns will bear the brunt of the slim pickin’s because of their small size, lack of body reserves and inability to compete with adult deer for higher browse. As for bucks, depending on the amount of body reserves expended during rut, they could, indeed, be in for a long, hard winter. Although does have the advantage regarding winter survival, the physiological stresses of a severe winter usually result in poor fawn production.

Now that snow levels are at 10 inches or so hereabouts, deer will begin seeking the shelter of yards for the winter. Upcountry, the whitetails have been occupying winter quarters since early December – and in that neck of the woods that makes for a long winter. In “The County,” as well as Down East, low deer populations can be attributed, in no small way, to two factors: 1. The elimination of yards by clear-cutting because deer simply cannot survive Maine winters without the shelter of coniferous forests. 2. Coyotes.

The aforementioned interest in muzzleloaders doesn’t relate only to hunting. Down Augusta way, for example, the recent Old Fort Western Black Powder Shoot was a dead-center success. Old Fort Western is a national historic landmark fort, store and house located on the Kennebec River in Augusta. The shoot, which was held at the Capitol City Rifle and Pistol Club on Dec. 3, was coordinated by Bill Laney, owner of the Hawk ‘N’ Horn muzzleloader shop on Pond Road in West Gardiner.

Winners of the seven matches were: 50-yard offhand, David Bryant; 50-yard cross sticks, Jay Buckley; 25-yard offhand, James Prentice, Mike Fink, David Bryant; 50-yard offhand buffalo, Roy Griffin; 50-yard buffalo cross sticks, Bruce Jones; 50-yard loser’s match, Bob Howe.

When the smoke cleared, the winners were awarded hams for their sharp shooting. Proceeds of the event support educational programs at Old Fort Western.

Ice fishermen and snowmobilers beware. Ol’ Man Winter is up to his old but deadly tricks. In central sections of the state, fresh snow is insulating lakes and ponds that didn’t become ice-sealed until as late as last week. Consequently, ice conditions are unsafe at the moment and will be treacherous for some time to come. Regarding thin ice covered with snow, keep in mind the adage: “Looks are deceiving.”