Testimony in Opposition
LD 732, An Act To Protect Young Bucks in Northern, Eastern and Western Maine
LD 767, An Act To Prohibit the Feeding of Deer from August 15th to December 15th
LD 1020, An Act To Minimize Crop Damage by Deer by Amending Certain Laws Governing Hunting
LD 1038, An Act To Allow Junior Hunters To Take an Antlered or Antlerless Deer in Any Wildlife Management District on Youth Deer Hunting Day
LD 1041, An Act Regarding the Safe Discharge of Firearms during Deer Hunting Season
LD 1083, An Act To Increase the Penalties for Hunting Deer over Bait.
LD 1065, An Act To Dedicate All Money Raised from the Moose Lottery and Permits to Research and Management of Moose.
Before the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Presented by David Trahan, Executive Director, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine
February 28, 2017
Senator Cyrway, Representative Duchesne, distinguished members of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, my name is David Trahan and I am representing the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine testifying in opposition to LD 732, “An Act To Protect Young Bucks in Northern, Eastern and Western Maine”, LD 767, “An Act To Prohibit the Feeding of Deer from August 15th to December 15th”, LD 1020, “An Act To Minimize Crop Damage by Deer by Amending Certain Laws Governing Hunting”, LD 1038, “An Act To Allow Junior Hunters To Take an Antlered or Antlerless Deer in Any Wildlife Management District on Youth Deer Hunting Day”, LD 1041, “An Act Regarding the Safe Discharge of Firearms during Deer Hunting Season” and LD 1083, “An Act To Increase the Penalties for Hunting Deer over Bait.”
In addition, we oppose LD 1065, “An Act To Dedicate All Money Raised from the Moose Lottery and Permits to Research and Management of Moose.”
In a recent discussion with our consulting biologist, Gerry Lavigne, our organization decided to oppose all of the legislation on today’s schedule. Other than the moose bill, most of the remaining legislation appears to be an attempt by members of the general public to manage the deer population to either protect deer or alter DIF&W management policy. We are concerned with the growing number of bills introduced each year by disgruntled sportsmen concerned with struggling deer populations; in addition, we believe ignoring this public frustration is dangerous to the department and wildlife management.
To that point, our organization would like to propose a new course of action in certain regions of the state where white tailed deer populations are struggling like, Washington County. As a pilot, we propose holding at least one, if not two public hearings, starting in Washington County, including participation from IF&W committee members, staff and interested parties with a goal of establishing a more comprehensive regional approach to restoring deer populations.
A more comprehensive approach would include ideas to protecting deer wintering habitats, expanding protection and management of deer yards local land trusts, LMF, deer yard mapping, etc. In addition, the meetings would seek local feedback from sportsmen and women and other interested parties on acceptable funding sources to further protect deer habitat. Additional subject areas could be alternatives to depredation permits, ideas to reduce deer predation and poaching, etc.
As part of this public hearing process we also suggest educational panel discussions and debates with experts in deer management and public policy as well as participation by local advocates. These meetings could be held prior to the public hearings.
Our organization recognizes that there is a growing frustration among the locals related to the loss of white tailed deer populations, the corresponding jobs, economic losses and the erosion of the white tailed deer hunting culture and traditions.
We cannot ignore the fact that sportsmen and women in some parts of the state want a more active role in restoring deer populations in their communities. Our organization would be willing to work with the department and our outdoor partners to either sponsor or help plan these meetings. If the committee would like to entertain this concept, we suggest Washington County would be a good place to start. When I was a State Senator and served on this committee, we established an IF&W sub-committee with a specific goal of strengthening IF&W policies related to restoring white tailed deer populations in some parts of the state. As a result of those meetings, several important policy changes emerged, including changing the Land for Maine’s Future Program to buy deer wintering areas. Now thousands of acres of critical deer wintering areas in vulnerable parts of Maine are in state ownership and protection.
Maine was once a national destination for white tailed deer hunting. Our deer population was healthy and thriving. It is our opinion, if sportsmen, the state, IF&W and other stakeholders are serious about restoring Maine’s deer population to a shadow of what it once was, we need more resources and a comprehensive approach that includes new ideas and local input and support.