[kenton6]

I read here and there about the great deer hunting season going on in Maine but I am not finding too many people showing pictures and writing stories anywhere.
What is your opinion? Is Maine having a good, better, best or bad season so far?
I would like to be able to see more indications other than a couple unreliable stories.

 

[Guest]

Given that this is my first season as a Maine resident, I haven't been real impressed. I don't expect the #'s I used to see in Alabama, but I thought the concentration would be higher than I'm seeing. A question for the pld-timers here.... Is the weather substantially warmer than normal? That's the only reason I can think of for a lack of activity.

Kevin

 

[Lil John]

The weather is a bit warm this year, and that makes it tough for hunting. But as they say, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going".
By that, I mean you have to be on the move to spot deer in the heat. If the deer are not moving and you are sitting in a stand all day, the only thing you will see is the trees around you.
When deer get hot they seek out a cool place to spend the day, then only move at night.
When it is warm, put on your bean hunting shoes, a pair of jeans and a light shirt and start walking. you will see more deer this way, but you better be ready to shoot. Even a hot deer will run when faced with danger, and you can bet you won't get more than one chance for a shot at each deer.
So if your not seeing deer and the sun's gettin hot, get off your rear and you may get your shot. 8)

 

[Guest]

I'm not a stand hunter. I spend most of my time still-hunting with a longbow or flintlock, and I go deep for deer, not staying close to easy access. This has helped me when everybody else is hunting, but has made for some drags that I don't care to repeat. I'm not complaining, just trying to get a handle on a different type of terrain and much thicker woods than I'm used to.

 

[kenton6]

What I have discovered this year - at least in the areas I have hunted - there are deer and there are tons of acorns and the deer are scattered. LJ may be right in that being on the move is a bit more productive - I didn't know he was a poet either.

I have repeated this before but an old timer friend of mine always says, "The deer are where they are."

Sorry, no poetic musings today. We'll wait on LJ for that

 

[sremington]

I was out this morning and sat in a blind for 2 hours. Ithaca37 was up with me but on the other side of the woodlot in a treestand. I left sooner than expected for several reasons. I had planned to walk a bit and wasn't dressed properly for 5 or 6 hours of sitting in 32 - 35 degree temps. There was snow on the ground which I didn't expect either because we drove an hour North. The snow was crunchy and LOUD so walking didn't seem logical. Other hunters were around and I thought sitting was the best plan but again I wasn't expecting to sit all morning.

There are deer up in there, but they do seem to be scattered. I wonder due to the milder Fall we had they aren't yarding up quite yet????

 

[kenton6]

According to biologist - take it for what's it's worth - deer rut or their instincts tell them it is rutting season by the length of daylight. As the days get shorter the internal clocks and systems take over.
They say that the beginning and end of the rut season will never vary more than a few days no matter what the weather.
Many times we say that deer won't move when it's warm. Again, according to biologists, by this time of year, the deer coat is thick and works as an insulated against cold and heat and what we have seen for weather isn't a factor in whether or not the deer move - I'm not sure I can black and white say yes, I agree with that.
Deer have habits - feeding, mating etc. Generally speaking, when we find deer that seem bunched together, it is usually because there is limited food sources and deer will move between bedding areas and eating areas. When there is an abundance of food, deer can scatter out and seem sparse to us.
Bucks will always be on the move during the rut - warm or cold. When the urges are there, rain, snow, sleet, cold, hot, whatever ain't going to slow them down - sounds like the friggin mail man.

My two cents worth and 43 years of hunting experience. Does that make me an old timer? Nah!