Maine’s 15-year Game Management Plan for the four big game species – black bear, deer, moose, and turkeys – was released at the beginning of May.

With regards to deer, the plan states, “Overly abundant deer populations may also lead to public dissatisfaction due to, for example, high rates of high rates of deer-vehicle collisions, browsing of ornamental plants, and crop damage.”

The solution is more hunting of deer now in central and southern Maine. It should come as no surprise, since Maine has had an ongoing war against predators with hunting, trapping, and hounding of bobcats and coyotes for years, ensuring that the deer population and hunting revenue remains high. More deer and moose are now co-mingling due to less deep snow in northern Maine, which can lead to the spread of disease, including the dreaded chronic wasting disease. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife would like to expand “any-deer” permits this year to nearly 85,000, which is up 28 percent from last year. Any-deer permits allow hunters to kill deer of either sex. This cruel attack on Maine’s wildlife would leave many fawns to fend for themselves over the winter. This reckless proposal seems more geared toward profit rather than conservation.

Please submit your comments on or before July 6 to: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Attention: Becky Orff, Secretary to the Commissioner, 284 State St., 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333 or becky.orff@maine.gov. Let your voice be heard.

Val Philbrick
Scarborough