While the deer kill this hunting season was far below expectations, bear season offered plenty of success for hunters.

State bear study leader Craig McLaughlin said Thursday the projections have the bear kill at a record or near-record level, with 3,200 animals taken in the first four weeks.

He said he expected somewhere around 3,700 were tagged during the season, which began Aug. 27 and extended through deer season’s conclusion on Nov. 24. He said the kill could be close to last year’s record of 3,951.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologist said the high kill will not negatively affect the statewide bear population, estimated at about 23,000 last spring, but maintenance of the high numbers in some areas could be a concern. That is something DIF&W might have to find a way to control in the future.

McLaughlin said in the northern areas of the state, where he conducts a bear study involving radio collars, the mortality rate of adult females might be excessive, as it has been on the order of 17 percent the past two years.

“I like to manage 10 to 15 percent, keeping it closer to 10 percent,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin said in the central Maine region, another area where he studies bears using radio collars, the mortality of female bears was about 8 percent this year.

“We might need a regionalization of [hunting] effort,” McLaughlin said. “We’re looking toward the future.”

McLaughlin said many bears went into dens around Oct. 10 due to the low beechnut crop this year. Last year, because of the abundance of beechnuts, the bears’ chief source of protein, just the opposite happened.

The difference in the bears’ period of hibernation may be apparent to those who live near woodlands or fill bird feeders come April and May.

“If we have a late spring, you can expect more nuisance bears next year,” McLaughlin said.

Heavy hunter landed on his feet

Hunters caught in a tight spot in some areas of the Maine North Woods will have a better chance of getting help, thanks to the work of LifeFlight, a helicopter service that has worked with lumber companies to establish landing pads.

Gone are the days of driving hundreds of miles to emergency rooms over logging roads.

Two years ago, Seven Islands Land Management Company decided to create one helicopter landing zone in each township where it has landholdings, according to a report by Dispatches, a publication of LifeFlight of Maine.

The new era of emergency care was evident in the North Maine Woods last year when John Hummel of Pennsylvania had an accident while climbing a tree stand and was rescued by a LifeFlight helicopter. The 425-pound bear hunter was ascending a tree stand near Narrow Pond in T8, R13, when the stand gave way and he fell some 16 feet, breaking kboth his ankles, according to LifeFlight.

Hummel had to be dragged on a litter constructed from trees a mile to the helicopter. The LifeFlight aircraft was waiting there for him, after area guides and Allagash Waterway rangers called ahead.

Era of streamlined license begins

Starting with the 2002 hunting and fishing licenses that will go on sale in the coming weeks, the process of issuing a license is expected to be a lot easier. It can even be done at home if you have a computer.

When you get your license for next year, there will be one form to fill out allowing you to purchase all your licenses at once. You will even be able to order it online, and print it out at home.

The new license is part of the new Maine Online Sportsman’s Electronic System, or MOSES. The Internet-based system is expected to be ready by the end of February. However, those licensing agents who are not techno-savvy still can offer the traditional licenses.

“The old paper license will still be with us,” said DIF&W budget director Rick Record on Thursday.

Famous holiday critters

Two attempts have been made to reintroduce caribou into Maine, to no avail, so it’s unlikely the state will see this mammal, which is too bad for Christmas shops and fans of the holiday season.

Caribou are also known as reindeer and a number of characteristics about the animal explain why they play an important role in fables as members of Santa’s entourage.

Because reindeer float and swim much better than most large mammals because of an oversized air cell in their hair, they are the best beast to pull a sleigh around the world, more than 70 percent of which is water.

Also, the tendon that slips over a bone in the reindeer’s hoof actually causes a clicking sound, the same that is mentioned in songs about the clamor they make on roof tops.

Moreover, both male and females have antlers, which is why there are never antlerless-reindeer in illustrations of Santa’s sleigh.

Charity shoot growing

The “Christmas is for Kids” charity shoot, which was sponsored by the Maine Bowhunters Association last weekend, was even more successful than last year, the first time it was held.

The three stores that hosted the shoot – Archers Edge in Old Town, the Great Outdoors in Winthrop, and Howell’s Gun Shop in Gray – raised in excess of $3,000. All of the money goes to the Crisis Intervention Center in South Portland for toys and Christmas meals for children.

Deirdre Fleming covers outdoor sports and recreation at the NEWS. She can be reached at 990-8250 or at dfleming@bangordailynews.net.