McClory: Countdown time begins for Maine deer hunting

In Maine, early Saturday morning, Oct. 30, resident rifle hunters will be dressed in orange and headed to their stands at dawn for the start of Maine’s rifle season for deer. Because we are not residents of Maine, we are not permitted to hunt on “Residents Day” so our hunting party will have to wait until Monday morning. In Southern Maine where we hunt, the estimated deer population is 300,000 deer with approximately 20 deer per square mile. So, we can wait! According to Maine officials, last season’s mild winter helped deer thrive so hunters should find plenty of opportunities with deer populations so much higher than years ago. They are at the highest level since the 1950’s. Preseason scouting can be critical to 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 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is issuing over 50,000 Any-Deer (Antlerless) Permits this year for Wildlife Management Districts 12, 13, 15-17, 20-26, 29. It is Bucks Only in all other Wildlife Management Districts. This year’s allocation represents 3,340 more permits ? a 7.5 percent increase over last year’s number. The permit allocation is: 32,907 for residents; 12,208 for landowners; 2,649 for non-residents; and 1,061 for Superpack holders. The Department no longer mails permits or transportation tags to permit winners. Instead, permit winners will need to record their permit number and report the permit number to the registration station when tagging their deer. The Department suggests that permit winners write down their permit number and keep the number with their hunting license so it is readily available when needed at the registration station.The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department tracks the abundance of turkeys using such statistics as harvest data, nesting surveys, winter severity, and hunter pressure based on license sales. Vermont’s wild turkey population is estimated to be more than 50,000 birds. As a result, the Fish and Wildlife Board passed new regulations. These will allow turkey bow hunting statewide. They also include the seven-day shotgun season being expanded to nine days and Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) B, D1, D2, and H1 will be open for the fall shotgun season for the first time. Only WMUs A, C and E will remain closed to the hunting of turkeys with shotguns in the fall season. “Weather conditions appear to have been favorable for chick survival this year, so hunters should expect to see a higher number of turkeys going into the fall season,” said Forrest Hammond, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s lead biologist on wild turkeys.Every year, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife offers the opportunity for paraplegic sportsmen and sportswomen to hunt deer in several locations across the state during a special 3-day season. This year’s hunt dates are Oct. 28-Oct. 30, 2010. Locations will include Fort Devens, Quabbin, and two areas in Berkshire County. Licensed paraplegic sportsmen and sportswomen with an interest in participating in this hunt should contact Trina Moruzzi at (508) 389-6318 for more details.Boater, it’s time to put the boat in hibernation. Winterize your boat so it will be ready for spring ice-out. It is not a difficult job. Make sure you clean the hull and engine as soon as you remove the boat from the water if possible ? a pressure washer does a great job. Take the time to wax the hull. Remove all life jackets and batteries, store inside in a cool dry place. Clean the interior and the bilges and add antifreeze. If you have a live well rinse it with baking soda and add non-toxic antifreeze. Next cover your rig with a tarp. Then change the gear case oil, fog the engine by spraying fogging fluid into each of the carburetors, and replace spark plugs. Grease all fittings, fill the fuel tanks and add fuel stabilizer and treat for ethano