2017 bear harvest by town - maine.gov bear harvest.pdf · a lp t t 36 md bpp t2 6 ed b p m eyb mps...
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Jay
Lee
York
Saco
Bath
Alna
Stow
Hope
Weld
Gray
Peru
Knox
Rome
Troy
Otis
EtnaAvon
Milo
Winn
Wade
Acton
El iot
Wells
Lyman
Hiram
WalesMinot
Union
Paris
Leeds
Wayne
China
Ca sco
Waldo
BealsSurry
T7 SD
Newry
T8 SDUnity
T9 SD
UptonByron
Anson
Orono
Lubec
Solon
Perry
Alton
T3 ND
Abbot T4 ND
Sebec
Waite
Amity
E Twp
Alfred
Day ton
Hollis
Buxton
Porter
Pownal
Durham
Bremen
LisbonPoland
WarrenSwedenAuburn
Oxford
Ca mdenHebron
GreeneLovell
Norway
Turner
Gilead
Sumner
Bethel
Holden
Wilton
Temple
Gorham
Sebag o
Naples
Sidney
Ca nton
VeronaBrooksAlbion
Vienna
MexicoBenton
Orland
Monroe
T10 SD
Mercer
DedhamCutler
T16 MD
Starks
Brewer OsbornCa rmelStrong
T22 MD
Ca naan
VeazieHermon
Bangor
AuroraLevant T28 MD
MadridEmbden
T32 MD
Wesley
AthensExeter
T34 MD
T35 MDHudsonCooper
Ripley
DexterT39 MD
T40 MD T41 MD
Baring
Moscow
Ca lais
Eustis
Lowell
Monson
Medway
Weston
Orient
Patten
Hersey
LudlowSmyrna
Blaine
Ea ston
Perham
Hamlin
Kittery
Berwick
Cornish
BristolTopsham
Cushing
Denmark
Bowdoin
Dresden
Chelsea
Tremont
Windsor
Augusta
BelmontLiberty
Ca stine
Palermo
Morrill Belfast
Fayette
Arundel
Waltha m
Bradley
Windham
Baldwin
Raymond
Lebanon
Sanford
Trenton
LamoineHanover Freedom
Winslow
Hancock
Steuben
Oakland
Rumford
Addison
Jackson
Andover
Cl intonRoxbury
Machia sDixmont
Burnha m
DebloisHampden
DetroitWhiting
Cl ifton
PalmyraMadison
AmherstNewport Stetson
Corinna
Harmony Corinth Milford
Bing ham
Garland
Parkman
HowlandEnfieldMedford
Shirley Lincoln
Chester
Jackman
Sherman
Crystal
Linneus Hodgdon
Houlton
Merrill
Hammond
Chapman
Ashland
Ca ribou
Ca swell
Cy r Plt
Newfield
Ogunquit
Portland
Limerick
Fa lmouth
Yarmouth
Arrowsic
Freeport
Boothbay
Westport
EdgecombWoolwich
Sabattus
Fryeburg
RichmondRockland
Lewiston
RockportPittstonGardiner
Monmouth
Stoneham
WinthropAppleton
Isleboro
Hartford
Glenburn
Ca rtha ge
Standish
Bridgton
Harrison
Brooklin
Sedgwick
Sorrento
Sullivan
Belgrade
Dixfield Prospect
Franklin
Columbia
Newburgh
PlymouthIndustry
Phill ips
Hartland
Ea stport
Old TownPembroke
Ra ngeley
Crawford
Lang Twp Bradford
Atkinson
Edinburg
Lagrange
GuilfordCa ratunk
Maxfield
Talmadge
Dyer Twp
Drew Plt
Danforth
Reed PltBancroft
Ca ry Plt
Oakfield
Moro Plt
Masa rdis
Mapleton
Washburn
Woodland
Allagash
Shapleigh
Waterboro
Limington
SouthportHarpswell
West Bath
Brunswick
Wisca sset
Owls Hea d
Newcastle
ThomastonNobleboro
Waldoboro
Jefferson
Waterford
HallowellBuckfield
Northport
Mason Twp
Greenwood
Readfield
Searsmont
WoodstockLivermore
Blue Hill
Kennebunk
Biddeford
Fort Kent
Madawaska
Otisfield
Montville
PenobscotSearsport
Riley Twp
Swanville
Milbridge
FrankfortThorndikeJonesport
Unity Twp
Ellsworth
Fa irfield
Bucksport
Jonesboro
Ea stbrook
OrringtonC Surplus
Skowhegan
Cornville
Salem Twp
No 14 Twp
Kingfield
Ca mbridge Charlotte
Davis Twp Greenbush
Alexander
Wyman TwpNo 21 Twp
Princeton
T5 ND BPP
T6 ND BPPOxbow Twp
LakevilleBowerbank
Kibby Twp
T2 R8 NWP
T7 R9 NWP
T5 R9 NWPTopsfield
T4 R9 NWPT3 R9 NWP
T2 R9 NWP
Woodville
VanceboroHoleb Twp
Big W Twp
Littleton
Oxbow Plt
Westfield Mars Hill
Limestone
Stockholm
Van Buren
Phipp sburg
Brownfield
Bowdoinham
Vinalhav en
FrenchboroLitchfield
Whitefield
Washington
West ParisAlbany Twp
Manchester
Vassalboro
Milton Twp
Mariaville
Greenville
T1 R8 WEL S
T2 R9 WELS
T3 R8 WELS
T4 R9 WELS
T5 R8 WELS
T6 R7 WELS
TA R7 WELS
Stonington
Gouldsboro
Harrington
SmithfieldWinterportNew Sharon
Fa rming ton
T18 MD BPP
T19 MD BPP MarshfieldPittsfieldTownship C Township D
Beddington
Township E T24 MD BPP Northfield
T25 MD BPPMarion Twp
T18 ED BPP
T30 MD BPP
T31 MD BPP
Great Pond T19 ED BPP
Dalla s PltT36 MD BPP
T26 ED BPP
MeddybempsWellington Charleston
Robbinston
Coplin Plt T42 MD BPPSummit Twp
T43 MD BPP
Burlington
India n TwpT3 R1 NBPP
T5 R1 NBPP
Fowler Twp
Brownv illeMoxie Gore
T8 R3 NBPP
Long A TwpMisery Twp
Forest Twp
Attean Twp
T8 R4 NBPP
T1 R5 WELST1 R6 WELS
T2 R4 WELS
Blake Gore
T3 R7 WELS
T3 R4 WELST3 R3 WELS
TA R2 WELST4 R5 NBKP T4 R7 WELS
T4 R3 WELS
Dyer Brook
T7 R7 WELS T7 R5 WEL S Dudley Twp
T7 R9 WELS
TC R2 WELS MonticelloT8 R5 WELST8 R7 WELST8 R9 WEL S
TD R2 WEL ST9 R7 WELS
T9 R5 WELST9 R4 WELS
T9 R9 WELS
New Sweden
Connor Twp
Ea gle Lake
Wallagrass
New Ca nada
Grand Isle
Scarboroug h
Perkins Twp
North Haven
Fa rming dale
Brooksville
Skinner Twp
Gorham Gore
T9 R18 WEL S
Frenchv ille
Millinocket
T3 R11 WELS
T4 R11 WELS
T5 R11 WELS
Grafton Twp
Cherryfield
Machia sport
Centerville
Edmunds TwpFreeman Twp
Lincoln Plt
Concord Twp
Sangerville
Bigelow Twp Baileyville
Bowtown TwpWillimantic
Seboeis Plt
Coburn Gore
SpringfieldCa rroll Plt
Kossuth Twp
Webster Plt
TB R10 WELSBeaver CoveBeattie Twp
Sapling Twp Kingman Twp
TA R10 WELS
Forsyth Twp
Moose River
T1 R11 WELST1 R13 WELS
Brassua Twp
T2 R12 WELSHaynesville
Lobster Twp Staceyv illeHammond Twp
T4 R13 WELST4 R15 WELST4 R17 WELS
T5 R14 WELS Mount ChaseT5 R17 WEL ST5 R19 WELS
T6 R14 WELS T6 R12 WELST6 R17 WELST6 R10 WELS
Big Six Twp
T7 R12 WELST7 R18 WELS T7 R14 WELST7 R16 WELS
T8 R19 WEL S T8 R17 WELS T8 R15 WELS T8 R11 WEL S
BridgewaterT9 R11 WELST9 R13 WELS
T9 R15 WELS
T10 R7 WELS
Squapan TwpT10 R9 WELSBig Ten Twp
T11 R7 WELST11 R9 WELST11 R4 WELS
T12 R7 WELS Ca stle HillT12 R9 WELS
T13 R7 WELS T13 R5 WEL ST13 R9 WELS
T14 R7 WELS
T14 R9 WELST14 R5 WELS
T15 R8 WELS T15 R6 WELS
T16 R9 WELS T16 R5 WELS
T17 R4 WELS
Parsonsfield
Saint Georg e
Isle Au Haut
Swans Island
Lincolnville
Mount Desert
Roque Bluffs
Saint Agatha
Lily Bay Twp
Mount Vernon
Norridgewock
Trescott Twp
Ra ngeley PltNew Portland
Saint Albans
Brighton Plt
Highland Plt
May field Twp
Tim Pond Twp
Jim Pond Twp
Appleton Twp Prentiss Twp
Mattawamkeag
Brookton Twp
Molunk us TwpShawtown Twp
Prentiss Twp
Plymouth Twp
Island Falls
New L imerick
T10 R11 WELST10 R13 WELST10 R15 WELS
Garfield PltT11 R11 WELS
T11 R13 WELS
T11 R15 WELST11 R17 WELS
T12 R11 WELST12 R13 WELS
T12 R15 WELST12 R17 WELS
Presque Isle
T13 R11 WELST13 R13 WELST13 R15 WELS
T14 R13 WELS T14 R11 WELST14 R15 WELS
T15 R10 WELST15 R12 WELST15 R14 WELS
T16 R12 WELST16 R14 WELS
T17 R14 WELST17 R12 WELS
T18 R12 WELS
T18 R10 WELS
T19 R12 WELS
South Berwick
North Berwick
West Gardiner
Hibberts Gore
Winter Harbor
Big Squaw Twp
Devereaux Twp
Redington Twp
Lynchtown Twp
Kingsbury Plt
Orneville Twp
Flagstaff TwpBlanchard Twp
T3 R5 BKP WKR
Lake View Plt
T5 R6 BK P WKR
Codyville Plt
Long Pond Twp
Sandy Bay Twp
Benedicta Twp
Seboomook Twp
Saint Francis
South Portland
North Ya rmouth
New G loucester
Mechanic Falls
Columbia Falls
Magalloway Plt
Greenfield Twp
Parkertown Twp
Dover-Foxcroft
Bowmantown Twp
Ea st Moxie Twp
Squaretown Twp
Bradstreet Twp
Dennistown Plt
Ea gle Lake Twp
Fort Fairfield
Saint John Plt
Big Twenty Twp
Boothbay Ha rbor
South Thomaston
Sandy River Plt
Grand Fa lls Twp
Seven Ponds Twp
Pierce Pond Twp
Forest City Twp
Soldiertown TwpAlder Brook Twp
Little Squaw Twp
Chase Stream Twp
Lambert Lake Twp
Elliottsville Twp
Bar Ha rbor
Richardsontown Twp
Ca rra basset Va lley
Mattamiscontis Twp
Massachussets Gore
Upper Molunkus Twp
Lower Encha nted Twp
Upper Enchanted Twp
Andover North Surplus
Grand Lake Strm
Ca rrying Place Town
Katahdin Iron Works
Township 6 North of Weld
Rockwood Strip
Hopkins Academy G rant Twp
Ea st Middlesex Ca nal Grant Twp
Bowdoin Coll Grant East
Westbrook
Eddington
Cumberland
Georgetown
Friendship
Somerville
T1 R9 WELS
T2 R8 WELS
T5 R7 WEL ST5 R9 WELS
T6 R8 WEL S
Waterville
Kendusk ea g
T37 MD BPP
Argyle Twp
T27 ED BPP
T6 R1 NBPP
T4 R8 WEL S
T6 R6 WELS
T7 R6 WELST7 R8 WELS
T8 R3 WELST8 R6 WEL S
T8 R8 WELS
T9 R3 WELS
T9 R8 WEL S
Perkins Twp
T2 R10 WELS
T3 R10 WELS
T4 R10 WELS
Dennysville
Barnard Twp
TB R11 WELS
T11 R3 NBPP
TA R11 WELS
T1 R10 WELST1 R12 WELS
T2 R13 WELSRa inbow Twp
T3 R12 WELST3 R13 WELS
T4 R12 WELST4 R14 WELS
T5 R12 WEL ST5 R15 WELS
T5 R18 WELS
T5 R20 WELS
T6 R13 WELST6 R15 WELS
T6 R11 WELST6 R18 WEL S
T7 R10 WELS
T7 R11 WELST7 R17 WELS T7 R13 WELST7 R19 WELS
T7 R15 WEL S
T8 R16 WEL S T8 R10 WELST8 R14 WEL ST8 R18 WELS
T9 R10 WELST9 R12 WELST9 R14 WELST9 R16 WELS
T9 R17 WELS
T10 R6 WELST10 R8 WELST10 R3 WELS
T11 R8 WEL S
T12 R8 WELS
T13 R8 WELS
T14 R6 WELST14 R8 WEL S
T15 R9 WELS
T15 R5 WELS
Westma nla nd
T16 R8 WEL S
T16 R6 WELS
T16 R4 WELS
T17 R5 WEL ST17 R3 WELS
Dama riscotta
Chesterville
Whitneyville
Ea st Machia s
New V ineyard
Passadumkeag
Macwahoc Plt
Glenwood Plt
Comstock Twp
T10 R10 WEL ST10 R12 WELST10 R14 WELST10 R16 WELS
T11 R10 WELST11 R12 WELST11 R14 WELST11 R16 WELS
T12 R12 WELS T12 R10 WELST12 R14 WELST12 R16 WELS
Portage Lak e
T13 R10 WELST13 R12 WELST13 R14 WELS
T13 R16 WELS
T14 R10 WELS
T14 R12 WELS
T14 R14 WELST14 R16 WELS
T15 R11 WELST15 R13 WELST15 R15 WELS
T16 R13 WELS
T17 R13 WELS
T18 R13 WELS
T18 R11 WEL S
T19 R11 WELS
Kennebunkport
South Bristol
Adamstown Twp
Deer Isle
Lexington Twp
T3 R4 BKP WKR
The Forks Plt
Hobbstown Twp
T5 R7 BKP WKR
Thorndike Twp
Forkstown Twp
Nashville Plt
Ca pe El izabeth
Grindstone Twp
Dead River
West Forks Plt
Lowelltown Twp
Frenchtown Twp
Herseytown Twp
Dole Brook Twp
Elm Stream Twp
Chesuncook Twp
Saint John Twp
Webbertown Twp
Livermore Falls
Spencer Bay Twp
Trout Brook Twp
Mount Abram Twp
Stetsontown Twp
Parmachenee Twp
Parlin Pond Twp
Saint Croix
Winterville Plt
Southwest Harbor
Stockton Springs
Alder Stream Twp
Willia msburg Twp
Silver Ridge TwpSoldiertown Twp.
Russell Pond Twp
Old Orchard Beach
Merrill Strip Twp
Nesourdnahunk Twp
India n Stream Twp
Mount Katahdin Twp
Pleasant Ridge Plt
Ca rrying Place
Chain of Ponds Twp
Soper Mountain Twp
Lower Cupsuptic Twp
Upper Cupsuptic Twp
King & Bartlett Twp
Northeast Carry Twp
Johnson Mountain Twp
Batchelders G rant Twp
Day s Academy Grant Twp
T4 Indian Purcha se
T3 Indian Purchase Twp
Pittston Acad. Grant
Bald Mountain Twp T2 R3
Bald Mountain
Andover W.
Sandwich Acad. Grant
W. Middlesex Canal Grant
Bowdoin CollGrant West
N. Yarmouth Acad. Grant
T+R
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2017 Bear Harvest by Town
Wildlife Management DistrictsTownships
WMD # of Bears1 1432 1343 1884 1825 1736 2267 1198 2399 118
10 10511 22312 10513 5414 8315 6716 1017 6218 17619 16320 1021 322 123 024 025 126 5927 6828 17429 0
Unreported 11State 2,897
Male 1,688Female 1,186Unreported 23
By Hunter ResidenceResidents 1,085Nonresidents 1,802Unreported 0
2017 Maine Black Bear Season
Starting in 2015, youth hunters are permitted to hunt the Saturday prior to the opening of the season. The general
hunting season for black bears opens the last Monday in August and closes the last Saturday in November. Hunters
are allowed to hunt bears near natural food sources or by still-hunting throughout the entire three-month season.
Hunting over bait was permitted from August 26 through September 23. The hound season overlapped the bait
season, opening September 11 and closing October 27. The bear trapping season opened September 1 and closed
October 31. Bear hunters can take two bears if one is taken by trapping and the other by hunting. This year, 22
hunters/trappers harvested two bears and 35 youth hunters shot a bear on youth day.
Since 2005, harvest has declined below objectives with between 2,400 to 3,486 bears harvested annually. This fall,
2,897 bears were taken during the 13-week fall season providing approximately 23,000 pounds of bear meat to
hunters and their families. Most bears (92%) were taken with the use of bait, dogs, or traps: 1,927 bears were
harvested over bait (67%), 614 bears were taken by hunters using trained bear dogs (21%), and 126 bears were
taken in traps (4%). Only four percent were taken by other methods: 87 bears were harvested by deer hunters and
38 by spot/stalk or still-hunting. One hundred and five bears (3%) were taken by unreported methods. Most bears
(84%) were harvested earlier in the season with 2,428 bears harvested before the end of September. Natural food
abundance varies from year to year. Often, a year of high abundance is followed by a year of lower abundance or
vice versa. However, this year harvest was similar to last year. The abundance of beech nuts and acorns in northern
and eastern Maine likely influenced the low bait harvest (67%).
Geographic Distribution of the Harvest
Bears were harvested in 26 of 29 Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) with no bears taken in WMDs 23, 24, or 29.
The density of harvest expressed as the number of bears killed per 100 square miles of forested land was greatest in
WMDs 28, 3, and 6 at 21-24 bears/100 mi2 and lowest in WMD 22 with <1 bear/100mi2. In all other WMDs, hunters
harvested between two and 15 bears/100 mi2 (statewide average of 10 bears/100 mi2). Bears were harvested in 13
of the state’s 16 counties. No bears were taken in Knox, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc counties and between one and
eight bears were harvested in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, and Waldo counties.
Residence of Successful Hunters
Maine’s reputation for producing high-quality bear hunting was again reflected in the distribution of the harvest by
hunter residency. Visitors to Maine killed 1,809 bears of the 2,897 bears (62%) tagged during 2017. Non-resident
hunters shot most of the bears (67%) taken over bait and with the use of hounds (66%), although bait hunting
remained popular among resident hunters with 58% of successful resident hunters taking their bear over bait.
Although fewer bears were taken during the deer season, in traps, or by spot and stalk methods, Maine residents
accounted for the majority (82%, 80%, and 71%, respectively) of the bears taken during those seasons.
Assistance by Registered Maine Guides
In 2017, guides assisted 303 residents (28%) and 1,586 non-residents (88%) with their successful hunts. Assistance
by guides accounting for 82% of bears harvested with trained bear dogs, 69% of the bears taken over bait, 25% of
trapped bears, 12% of bears taken by unreported method, and 18% of bears taken by spot/stalk/still-hunt methods.
Sex and Age Distribution of the Harvest
Males made up 58% (1,688 bears) of the 2017 harvest. Adult bears accounted for 94% (2,710 bears) of the harvest
and sex and age were not reported for an additional 23 bears (<1%).
Prospects for the 2018 season
Since 1997, the Department has adopted a generic bear season framework to maintain consistent hunting periods.
However, bear hunting regulations can be modified in response to changes in Maine’s bear population or other
management concerns. The 2018 season will remain similar to recent years, opening with a youth day the last
Saturday in August (25th). The general season will open the following Monday (August 27th) and will close the last
Saturday in November (24th). Successful hunts are influenced by a variety of factors, but natural food availability is
often the most influential. In years with an abundance of soft or hard mast crops, hunters hunting over bait
experience lower success, while deer hunters and hunters that pursue bears with hounds have additional opportunity
as bears remain out foraging on abundant food crops longer than in years with poor food abundance.