Finally it can be said. The statewide effort to control Maine’s major deer predator – the coyote – is working. This is very good news! Coyote numbers have been excessive and the predators have been doing a number on wintering deer, already hard pressed by population drops, deep snows and prolonged cold spells.
A two-pronged control effort, by volunteer recreational hunters and a state-sanctioned Predation Management Program by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, is paying dividends.
The first prong is an annual coyote harvest contest conducted by the Penobscot County Wildlife Conservation Association (PCWCA). This past season a total purse of $3,505.00 was divided among successful recreational coyote hunters. The PCWCA reports that 135 coyotes were registered. The biggest male weighed 52 pounds and was taken by Rick Labbe. The largest female was tagged by David Tobey and weighed 45 lbs. There have been other localized efforts by a number of Rod and Gun clubs. The Aroostook County coyote control effort netted 105 coyotes this past season. The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, which played a key role in getting IF&W to revamp its predator control program, has done much to encourage recreational hunting of problem coyotes.
The second prong is the state’s official coyote control program. The program, which has been ongoing since 2009, hires contract hunters and trappers who are paid to cull coyotes from 52 major deer wintering areas. According to Ryan Robicheau, Maine’s Wildlife Management Section Supervisor, the state hired 25 contract trappers and 42 contract hunters this past winter. Collectively, the state-hired control personnel harvested 270 coyotes. The budget for this program is approximately $38,000, which is used to pay the contract personnel. “Cost wise, “ Robicheau says, it works out to about $175.00 per coyote.”
In 2014, the state trappers and hunters harvested 500 critters. Robicheau says that this math, coupled with anecdotal reports from winter trappers, strongly suggests that this coyote suppression program is working.
“Our people are seeing fewer coyotes this year in our designated deer wintering areas,” says Robicheau.
Eventually, the state plans to migrate its control efforts into other smaller deer wintering areas. There will be another coyote control effort next winter. Trappers and hunters hired by the state must pass muster with their respective regional biologists and be trained. Unpaid volunteers are also welcome to apply for this program. Contract trappers and hunters are needed for next year, especially in Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) 1,2, 4 and 5 in northern Maine. Anyone interested in learning more about next winter’s coyote control program should contact the state regional wildlife biologist in their area. ( A list of names and phone numbers is available on the Department’s official website: www.mefishwildlife.com).
The state, as well as the sportsmen and organizations, all of which rolled up their sleeves to confront the issue of too many coyotes killing deer, are to be commended for a job well done.
The naysayers among the animal rights lobbyists, who claimed that coyotes could not be controlled, should be enlightened some by this successful program.
The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network (WVOM-FM 103.9, WQVM-FM 101.3) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is vpaulr@tds.net . He has two books “A Maine Deer Hunter’s Logbook” and his latest, “Backtrack.” Online information is available at www.maineoutdoorpublications.com.
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