Skip Maine state header navigation

Agencies | Online Services | Help

Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

Home > News and Events > Press Releases

Press Releases

October 23, 2008

Advisory Council Approves Limited Deer Reduction Season in Old Town

Augusta – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council on Wednesday, Oct. 22, unanimously approved an emergency rule to allow a limited two-week deer reduction season on two parcels of land owned by the City of Old Town.

“I am very pleased with the Advisory Council’s unanimous support for this limited harvest,” said Roland “Danny” Martin, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “Discussions on whether a deer reduction season should take place have been going on for several years, and the result of those talks is a positive agreement to implement a harvest this year. I’m glad we’re able to move forward with this season.”

Commissioner Martin said he is appreciative of the City of Old Town, the Town of Orono, and the University of Maine for their collaboration in developing this pilot project.

“The long-standing belief of all of us was that we needed to come up with a solution that focused on public safety,” Commissioner Martin said. “We have achieved that result.”

The emergency rule goes into effect on November 1, and the limited season will take place the first two weeks of December on what’s called the Airport Parcel and the Penny Road Parcel. The harvest will be managed through a cooperative venture among the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the City of Old Town, and the Maine Bowhunters Association.

The controlled harvest will be conducted by approximately 20 selected bowhunters who meet specific qualifications through the Bowhunter Landowner Information Program (BLIP), and they will receive a special permit that verifies they can participate in this season.

“This one-year pilot project will give us the information we need to decide how to manage deer populations in the Old Town area in the future,” said Mark Stadler, Director of the Wildlife Division at IF&W. “At the end of the harvest, we will come together and evaluate whether the limited season accomplished our objectives.”