DIF&W has announced this year’s any-deer permit numbers. Here’s the list by WMD, with the agency’s explanation.
The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing to adopt antlerless deer permit (ADP) numbers for the 2019 regular deer hunting season and special muzzle-loading season by setting specific permit allocations for the 29 Wildlife Management Districts (WMD) as follows:
WMD # of Permits WMD # of Permits
WMD 1 0 permits WMD 17 8,200 permits
WMD 2 25 permits WMD 18 125 permits
WMD 3 25 permits WMD 19 0 permits
WMD 4 0 permits WMD 20 6,000 permits
WMD 5 0 permits WMD 21 8,250 permits
WMD 6 100 permits WMD 22 9,700 permits
WMD 7 0 permits WMD 23 9,750 permits
WMD 8 25 permits WMD 24 6,400 permits
WMD 9 25 permits WMD 25 7,900 permits
WMD 10 0 permits Subunit 25a 270 bonus permits
WMD 11 0 permits WMD 26 325 permits
WMD 12 0 permits Subunit 26a 200 bonus permits
WMD 13 0 permits WMD 27 25 permits
WMD 14 25 permits WMD 28 25 permits
WMD 15 3,150 permits WMD 29 1,500 permits
WMD 16 6,100 permits
TOTAL PERMITS: 68,145
In addition to annual ADP recommendations, the Department is also recommending issuance of bonus antlerless deer permits in two subunits, Subunit 25a and 26a. These additional permits will allow for additional opportunity to harvest deer in areas experiencing elevated levels of Lyme disease, deer-vehicle collisions and public complaints about deer.
Any–deer permits (ADP) are adjusted by MDIFW on an annual basis in response to deer population estimates and population goals in each WMD. Department biologists use deer harvest levels and biological data, including estimates of winter severity, to evaluate the status of deer within each WMD. ADP recommendations are based on removal rates of adult does that will stabilize, increase, or decrease deer densities, according to the publicly derived goals in the deer engagement system. The winter of 2018-19 was mild to moderate in central, southern, and coastal Maine and severe to very severe in northern Maine and the western mountains. This resulted in average to above-average estimated survival rates in central, southern, and coastal Maine and below-average survival rates in northern and western Maine. In addition to annual ADP recommendations, we are also recommending issuance of bonus antlerless deer permits in two sub-units.
These permits will allow hunters additional opportunity to harvest deer in areas experiencing elevated levels of Lyme disease, deer-vehicle collisions, and public complaints about deer.