McClory: Rifle season for deer in Maine begins soon

Early on Saturday morning, Oct. 31, resident rifle hunters of Maine will be dressed in orange, though not for Halloween, but for the start of Maine’s rifle season for deer. Because we’re not residents of Maine, our hunting party will have to wait for Monday morning because that Saturday is aptly named “Residents Day.” There is an estimated population of 300,000 deer in Maine, and approximately 15-20 deer per square mile in Southern Maine where we hunt, so we can wait. Last winter’s severe weather, according to Maine officials, did impact the deer population. It was one of the worst winters in the last 50 years. Deer hunters should still find plenty of opportunity since deer populations are still higher than years ago ? in fact, the highest level since the 1950s. Preseason scouting can be critical in the success of any hunt. The most successful hunters will be those who have thoroughly scouted their hunting areas and know deer feeding and travel patterns. By the way, the mast crop in southern Maine is unbelievable!The pheasant hunting season in Massachusetts opens Saturday morning, Oct. 17, and will be open through the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Hunting is permitted from sunrise to sunset on any Wildlife Management Area where pheasants are stocked. All participants are required to wear a high visibility orange cap. On all other property, hunting hours begin a half-hour before sunrise and run through a half-hour after sunset on those lands. The daily bag limit is two pheasants.Fall is a wonderful time to be outdoors with its dazzling colors, crisp air, and wildlife activity galore. Whether your passion is hiking, hunting, fishing, birding, or just taking in the scenery, a few common sense safety reminders will add to your enjoyment during a day in the field. Know your limits. Don’t take off on a long hike, hunt, or bike ride if you’re not physically ready. Always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Watch the weather. New England weather is notoriously changeable. Be ready with extra clothing. Expect the unexpected. Carrying a fanny pack with a few first aid items ? matches, water, pocket knife, cell phone, map, compass, whistle, extra food and flashlight ? can help prevent small problems from becoming big ones. Wear blaze orange for visibility. Whether you’re a hunter, hiker, birder or dog walker in rural areas, it’s a good idea to wear a cap or vest of highly visible blaze orange clothing while you’re enjoying the great outdoors. Respect the water. Canoeists and kayakers are required to wear life jackets from Sept. 15 to May 15, but all water enthusiasts, especially anglers who wade in larger rivers, would be wise to wear floatation devices now that water temperatures are cooling. Respect other outdoor users. Mountain biking, horseback riding, wildlife watching, hunting, and hiking need not be and are not mutually exclusive activities. Know the seasons and who is likely to be sharing the woods and waters with you. Keep dogs under direct control and respect other outdoor users’ rights to enjoy our open spaces. Finally, licensed sportsmen and women are reminded to take the basics of hunter safety to heart. Treat every firearm as it were loaded, keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times. Positively identify your target and what lies beyond it.You can always be in style in the woods by wearing fluorescent hunter orange. Hunters who wear it are just as likely to be successful because it’s highly visible to humans, but not to deer. Hunters moving into the line of fire of other hunters and mistaking other hunters for game are two common causes of hunting accidents. Both types involve visibility problems and both underscore the need for hunters to see and be seen during the fall firearms deer and small game seasons. According to a nationwide survey, you are seven times less likely to be shot by another hunter if you are wearing fluorescent orange.With bow hunting in full swing througho