Back Deck

I don't blame him. Civility is NOT a dieing art. Anyhowwww-if my memory serves me--back in the early 70's there were COY-DOGS--that's what we called them in Vt. & I vaguely remember DEC getting involved for some goofy reason or another & all of a sudden, there were EASTERN COYOTES--what ever ya call them--Native Americans refer to them as the TRICKSTER & they live up to the name real well. I'm kinda in a valley & on either side hill wise, there are new additions yearly & they love talkin to one another, no problem having my dogs chime in----ya can shoot all of them ya want, which I do, but they'll always be strong in number. Very few Bear sightings up this way. But with all the building, etc in the Adirondacks, they head this way on occasion

They called them Eastern Coyotes because they knew they weren't traditional coydogs or western coyotes moved East. They are hybrid wolves, and grow much larger then the Tricksters of old. It has taken 30 odd years for the truth to come out. DNA testing was done. The reason behind the release could be seen 2 ways.
1. The budworm epidemic had struck Maine and the paper companies stood to loose ungodly amounts of money as the cutting practices in Maine were behind the times. Most wood was cut in the winter with archaic equipment and when it would do the least damage to the land. They could not increase the cutting enough to get the stocks of fir, the only tree killed by budworm, not spruce as in it's name, cleaned up. They sprayed Western, Northern, and Eastern Maine with a pesticide to stop the infestation until they could get new equipment into the workforce. They did this with low interest loans, company programs, and the fact that if you wanted to work on company land you had to have a skidder. Clearcuts were unheard of before this time. The areas of Maine sprayed have the highest cancer rates in the nation and are now being "studied". How long before the results of that study will be known?
2. The very wealthy group known as Restore the North Woods is now pushing hard for a national park in Maine and the release of Timber wolves or Grey Wolves. These people are of the Liberal/EPA/the locals are just in the way type. It is very easy to obtain almost %100 percent wolf/dogs, how hard for a wealthy group to obtain a hybrid wolf/coyote and let it go? It wiped out the huge hunting industry in Maine, as before the coyote or spray or both, the deer herd was large and Maine was a destination for many hunters.

The spray was proved in court to cause miscarriages in mammals, and this goes hand in hand with the "local lore" that all of a sudden, there were no small deer in the woods. We(those that lived it and studied it) believe they were released to distract from the real crime(spraying) being done to the inhabitants of those regions of Maine. Once the numbers were down and the clearcuts established, a different habitat better for Moose and Bear, the deer have not been able to recover except in close proximity to towns. Leading less educated folks to reason there are plenty of deer now in these areas of Maine. Add in the fact that deer are a scourge in many areas, particularly where most people that move in come from, and no one cares as deer are not exotic.

When an event occurs to a lifestyle you have become accustomed to and cherish, you educate yourself to what caused it. I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I can read the written word and talk with many locals and categorize these events as they played out in time. And as Sam would say, follow the money.
Maine was "transformed" 30 years ago and since there were so few people up there and they were"ignorant" anyways, no one cares. But it has never recovered it's forest and never will at the present rate of harvesting of smaller and younger trees by larger and larger machines year round, ignoring the damage to the land. I still say a National Park is imminent while this turd is president. He placed Roxanne Quimby on the national park board and her views are well known.

Kevin

Our herds here have probably decreased 50% in 20 yrs. Aside from all the didactic stuff you mention, I'm surprised you didn't hit on Doe permits, which initially were for thinning out some real over populated herds, which was good for a year or two MAX.--the powers to be realized how much money was made with that & have continued till current day. I see way to many un-dressed out/ or just back-strap taken carcass's laying in shallow woods or along the road. I used to hunt Georgia Pacific & Weyerhauser (sp. I'm sure) lumber co. land up in Maine in the 70's. People population has & always will be the biggest threat to all wildlife. Just an old farmers thoughts. I get all sorts of deer on my property during hunting season--I guess they know it's a no hunt zone.

We have been bucks only since 1980 or so in Maine. They were allowing youths to take does up until a few years ago and we shut that down finally. We have a couple of severe outlaw poachers that have been caught repeatedly, they are felons and are not supposed to have guns. One even threatened to kill a warden and did jail time for it. They were caught again last year killing does with illegal guns. They went on a rampage and shot over 20 does(that were found) just in spite. The bucks only did not work as planned. But it probably did save the herd to some degree. It has been found in the last few years that the does in the affected areas are carrying more twins and triplets then other areas. Feed is not an issue and mild winters have helped. But the fawn mortality rates is extremely high so they are not surviving long enough to grow up.
I am familiar with the perceived problems that occurred in Penn. as I have read multiple articles about what happened when the policy was changed. Thinning the herd by 50% may have been necessary to get back to carrying capacity rather then have small sickly deer that died in droves in harsh winters. I know the emotional response people had to not getting a deer when they always got many before. We saw it in Maine when the herd collapsed for other reasons stated earlier.

Kevin

My property was posted also as the "new" hunters would shoot them right of my lawn from the road if I was standing on the doorstep.

Vermont hunting has changed just like the rest of the north east. Seems that with the coydogs, poachers, and the general fund state budget here in VT the whitetail herd is always under attack.
As for taste the cook can make or break the deal. I use a cuber and it has proven to be a big plus.

As for taste the cook can make or break the deal

Yeah, we only keep the best cuts for eating like steaks. Everything else is mincemeat and mostly hamburger and sausage. Improvements in packing(vacuam) helps a great deal. We found ourselves with to much meat with the roadkill and successful hunting trips to NY, Virgina, Anticosti Island in NB and killing one each year against all odds in Maine. Gave quite a bit away to families in need of some help this year. My son in Maine inherited my freezer full. I need to get on the stick and figure out a place to hunt so I can supply myself and the son down here. To little time and to much to do.

Kevin

Plenty around here that's for sure. There was an eight point buck here last year, biggest I ever saw so far.

They have a cull hunt in The Great Swamp every year; and I see signs on people's lawns saying, "Hunters, accidents waiting to happen."
Kind of cracks me up, since deer are always being hit by cars year round.
A lot of southerners are coming up this way to scoff up tree work, they can't believe the amount of deer and turkeys around the area.
Black bears are problematic in North Jersey more than ever. My ex sister in law's boyfriend thinks he's an animal expert, lures them right up on her back deck and pets them. This has caused problems for the neighbors, one ripped the neighbors shed apart to get to the garbage. This is why I don't hang around up there anymore, the guy is an idiot.

Sadly, I must agree with many anti's that "hunters" are accidents waiting to happen. Accidents occur even with safe responsible people. The fact that rifles are not allowed in certain areas is no doubt the only solution. You will not have to worry about that guy if he keeps patting bears. Black bears kill more people then grizzlies.
The power of a bear is amazing.

Kevin

KLook wrote:Sadly, I must agree with many anti's that "hunters" are accidents waiting to happen. Accidents occur even with safe responsible people. The fact that rifles are not allowed in certain areas is no doubt the only solution. You will not have to worry about that guy if he keeps patting bears. Black bears kill more people then grizzlies.
The power of a bear is amazing.

Kevin

I stopped trying to use arborvitaes along the edge of my property because the deer eat them like candy around here Ive lost whole rows of them in a months time and those stupid nets look so stupid it negates the purpose of the arborvitaes

Kev can you post some pics of the house on your profile pic? It looks amazing with that farmers porch but I cant tell the type/style house (it appears to be an American 4 Square)? But in Tenn. Is this a newer "retro" style construction? Ive never seen a builder construct an American 4Square unless the buyer ordered it specifically (and paid through the nose for it, since its a very expensive style to build)

I have found it cumbersome to upload pictures to this site. One at a time? I have them all posted on my wall on facebook. I am not real fluent with facebook but I think you can just look me up and see what is on my wall. It is not in Tenn. It is the last house I built in Maine. For people from Conn. and designed by an architect from down around Lake Winnepasaki. (spelling?)

You are correct in the expense. I was not aware of the American 4 square name. I struggled to explain why such a small house cost so much to build. Luckily, I did not do it under contract. The fact that it started 4 ft. out of the ground did not help as it it high.

Kevin

I have noticed, as Dann mentioned in hios area, that turkey's have must be making a big comeback in eastern Maine at least. In the past few years, I've seem more turkey's up here than I saw in last 20yrs. Deer too at least around me. While I don't hunt anymore, I do remember how and hunt with a camera. Used to see more Moose than deer south of Rt 9 Kevin. Now it seems the opposite and lots of turkey's!

The turkeys are no accident and are not "recovering". I and many other people spent thousands, to bring them to Maine and Downeast. The regional director for the National Wild Turkey Federation's whole Northeast is in sight of your house across the river, Brian Smith, retired state police detective and good friend. Deer are showing up as I said, around towns and people. Leading you to think there are more of them. In the last 3 years the coyotes moved right into the towns to hunt, something they never had to do or did. Having said that, the coyotes are being controlled somewhat by guys with dogs to the west of you and many people with baits and infrared sensors and night permits all around you. The deer have made a little recovery out in the real woods. However, it is tenuous at best and requires good winters and diligence by the hunters. Coyotes breed real fast to fill a void in their numbers. A neighbor of yours, John Gardner, has hunted for years down in Whiting in my territory. He has always been successful as he is a good, patient, hard working hunter of the highest ethics. But he has not got one down there for at least 4 years because there are damn few deer out in the woods. And the moose population collapsed as well but that is a natural thing, not lead poisoning or predation.

Kevin

KLook wrote:The turkeys are no accident and are not "recovering". I and many other people spent thousands, to bring them to Maine and Downeast. The regional director for the National Wild Turkey Federation's whole Northeast is in sight of your house across the river, Brian Smith, retired state police detective and good friend. Deer are showing up as I said, around towns and people. Leading you to think there are more of them. In the last 3 years the coyotes moved right into the towns to hunt, something they never had to do or did. Having said that, the coyotes are being controlled somewhat by guys with dogs to the west of you and many people with baits and infrared sensors and night permits all around you. The deer have made a little recovery out in the real woods. However, it is tenuous at best and requires good winters and diligence by the hunters. Coyotes breed real fast to fill a void in their numbers. A neighbor of yours, John Gardner, has hunted for years down in Whiting in my territory. He has always been successful as he is a good, patient, hard working hunter of the highest ethics. But he has not got one down there for at least 4 years because there are damn few deer out in the woods. And the moose population collapsed as well but that is a natural thing, not lead poisoning or predation.

Kevin

That makes sense Kevin. I am familiar with Brian and not sure if I know John or not? Probably do by sight. I wasn't aware of the turkey federation but it sounds pretty cool. There are a couple of flocks with in a few miles of me here in the "Port". I see them frequently on the way to town by that brook that is near the Machias/M'Port line. Another good sized group is up in back of Guptill's logging.

I do and have been hearing coyotes for the last 10 years or more. They range quite a bit but on several nights with my windows open, I have hear them up on the ridge in back of me (past Barb Malloy's cell tower) Allot of the cats in the hood go missing when these dudes come round.

I'm sure your right that I'm just seeing more deer than before because they are living closer to people. I have a doe thats lived in the alders out back since a tike and now has one of her own. See them regularly at dawn around the yard. They usually help themselves to allot of my produce but mostly at the end of the season ans I leave what I can for them. Always see them near the river too, especially between Whitneyville and Machias along the old tracks.

Yes, the turkeys are doing well even with the poaching going on.
Over in our neighborhood we have had a white doe for years. I do not hunt on my homelot and do not allow anyone else to either. I set on one of the most used deer crossings in the region. Drives the natives nuts. But I am a native, and have purist ideas about what constitutes hunting. When you are not starving of course.
John lives up the sharp right back on Trafton's Hill, his brother in law is Scott Verburght. In fact, do you remember Fran Robinson? She was a great friend of mine. she had a trailer up in there also. Hang a right where Andy Beal lived.