Healthy herd gives promise to thousands with antlerless deer permits

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff

Maine’s deer herd is healthy and is one of the largest the state’s ever had, according to a deer biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Although the state does not track the number of deer specifically, state biologist Nathan Bieber said the estimate is 360,000. The size of the herd is much more in line with the 1990s, when it was estimated at 331,000, he said.

A mild winter and a drier spring than last year means a higher survival rate, he said. There are no particular diseases or other maladies causing biologists concern at the moment either. The closest wild case of chronic wasting disease is in Pennsylvania, he said.

The health of the herd is key to a successful hunting season, as the state releases the list of successful antlerless deer permit holders today. The number of permits increased from last year by about 20,000. A total of 128,030 antlerless deer permits could be issued.

Last year, the state made extra permits available for purchase, and will do the same this year. Some Wildlife Management Districts, such as WMD 25, end up with a lot of extra permits because there aren’t enough hunters in those areas, he said.

Other areas that have plenty of deer and not enough hunters are some coastal regions that have land access issues and several islands where it’s more difficult to reach.

The state has a breakdown of how many permits are available in each WMD.

Deer, unlike other species, thrive in developed areas because of landscaping that creates a “hedge habitat” for the animals, he said.

Most of Maine has room for the deer herd to grow, and there are no physical indicators that the animals are pushing their habitat beyond its capacity, Bieber said.

“Deer are incredibly adaptable and resilient and stand to benefit when a lot of other species don’t,” Bieber said. 

Even with that, biologists want to learn all they can about deer behavior and trends and ask people to report their backyard sightings to the state’s Deer Spy program. There are instructions on the site and entries will be accepted through the end of the month.