For many of us in Greater Bangor, spring has sprung as the first tufts of green grass have begun sprouting in parks and on lawns.

For others – most notably those in Aroostook County – it will be awhile before it looks like anything but winter.

Snow on lawns is deep. Snow on the sides of the road is deep. And snow in the woods is very, very deep.

That’s not good news for our deer herd, which has been struggling to find food for months now.

And as the BDN reported Wednesday, state wildlife officials are prepared to make some pretty significant changes in order to address the plight of the state’s deer.

Roland “Dan” Martin, the commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, has proposed a plan that would reduce the number of any-deer permits – commonly called “doe permits” – by about 23 percent for 2008.

In 2007, 66,275 any-deer permits were handed out. According to Martin’s proposal, 51,125 would be awarded this year.

Truth be told, in certain areas there’s little that can be done to improve the situation. Wildlife Management Districts in extreme northern and eastern Maine were already “bucks-only” zones. The changes being proposed would add bow hunters and youngsters hunting on Youth Deer Day to those prohibited from shooting a deer without antlers.

According to the proposal, any-deer permits would be handed out in only 13 of the state’s Wildlife Management Districts.

Lee Kantar, the state’s head deer biologist, said the mortality rate for deer in some northern zones may approach 30 percent this winter.

Before you start thinking Martin’s plan is set in stone, you ought to realize any action must first be approved by the DIF&W’s advisory council.

And if you think you’ve got a better idea, the DIF&W is interested in hearing it.

Think even fewer permits ought to be awarded? Think wildlife officials are reacting too severely? Think kids ought to continue to get a shot at does on the special youth day, even in areas where there are no any-deer permits being allotted?

Spend a bit of time in Maine, and you learn a few things quickly. First, Mainers care deeply about their state’s deer herd. And second, they’re not apt to keep quiet when it comes to management proposals that will affect it.

Hopefully, those facts remain true here. And whatever your views might be, the DIF&W wants to hear from you.

If you decide not to say anything now, it ought to preclude you from griping about the new rules later.

If you’ve got an opinion, you’ve got two chances to sound off in person.

Public hearings are scheduled April 28 at Greenville High School, and May 8 at the Presque Isle Fish & Game Club. Both hearings begin at 6:30 p.m.

For the record, this year’s regular firearms season on deer runs from Nov. 3 through Nov. 29. Youth Deer Day will be held Oct. 25.

The deadline for additional written comment on the proposal is May 19.

Written comments can be sent to Andrea Erskine, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 41 SHS, Augusta 04333, or to Andrea.Erskine@maine.gov.

Ice fishing hearing on tap

Since we’re speaking about the politics of the outdoors this morning, I ought to mention another public hearing that’s on the horizon.

According to the DIF&W, a petition has been filed asking the department to consider allowing ice fishing on the St. John River in northern Maine.

Rules concerning the season dates, along with size and bag limits, would be addressed at a future date.

Interested anglers can voice their opinions at a public hearing April 30 at the Van Buren Community Center. The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Written comments can be sent to Andrea Erskine at the addresses listed above.

Looking for open water

This week’s warm temperatures have been welcome after a long, snowy winter, and it didn’t take long for folks in the Bangor area to embrace spring.

The parks are full of kids on skateboards, everyone’s walking their dogs and avid motorcyclists have uncovered their bikes and headed onto the streets.

That must mean that the area’s lakes and ponds are shedding their winter coats as well.

As the season progresses, I’d like to let readers know about open-water fishing opportunities as they arise.

If ice goes out on your local pond, I’d appreciate it if you’d consider passing word along, so I can let others know that spring is, indeed, upon us at last.

jholyoke@bangordailynews.net

990-8214