Download - 2016 Bear Harvest by Town - maine.gov · Maine’s 2016 Black Bear Season . Sex and Age Distribution of the Harvest

Jay

Lee

York

Saco

Bath

Alna

Stow

Hope

Weld

Gray

PeruKnox

Rome

TroyOtis

EtnaAvon

Milo

Winn

Wade

Acton

Eliot

Wells

Lyman

Hiram

WalesMinot

UnionParis

Leeds

Wayne

China

Casco

WaldoBealsSurry

T7 SDNewry

T8 SDUnityT9 SD

Upton Byron

Anson

Orono

Lubec

Solon

Perry

Alton

T3 NDAbbot T4 ND

Sebec

Waite

Amity

E Twp

Alfred

Dayton

Hollis Buxton

Porter

Pownal

Durham

BremenLisbon

Poland

WarrenSweden AuburnOxford

CamdenHebronGreeneLovell

NorwayTurner

GileadSumner

Bethel

Holden

Wilton

Temple

Gorham

Sebago

Naples

SidneyCanton

VeronaBrooksAlbionVienna

Mexico BentonOrland

MonroeT10 SD

MercerDedham CutlerT16 MD

Starks

Brewer OsbornCarmelStrong T22 MDCanaan

VeazieHermon

Bangor

AuroraLevant T28 MDMadrid Embden

T32 MDWesley

Athens Exeter T34 MDT35 MDHudson CooperRipley

Dexter T39 MDT40 MD

T41 MDBaring

MoscowCalais

EustisLowell

Monson

Medway

Weston

Orient

Patten

Hersey

LudlowSmyrna

Blaine

Easton

Perham

Hamlin

Kittery

Berwick

Cornish

BristolTopsham

CushingDenmark

BowdoinDresden

ChelseaTremont

WindsorAugusta

BelmontLiberty

CastinePalermo

Morrill BelfastFayette

Arundel

Waltham

Bradley

WindhamBaldwin

Raymond

LebanonSanford

TrentonLamoineHanover Freedom

WinslowHancock

Steuben

OaklandRumford

AddisonJackson

AndoverClintonRoxbury

MachiasDixmontBurnham

DebloisHampdenDetroit Whiting

Clifton

PalmyraMadisonAmherstNewport

Stetson

CorinnaHarmony Corinth Milford

BinghamGarland

Parkman

Howland EnfieldMedford

Shirley Lincoln

Chester

Jackman

Sherman

Crystal

Linneus Hodgdon

HoultonMerrill

Hammond

ChapmanAshland

Caribou

Caswell

Cyr Plt

Newfield

Ogunquit

PortlandLimerick

Falmouth

Yarmouth

ArrowsicFreeportBoothbay

Westport

EdgecombWoolwich

SabattusFryeburg

Richmond RocklandLewiston

RockportPittstonGardiner

Monmouth

StonehamWinthrop Appleton

Isleboro

Hartford

Glenburn

Carthage

Standish

Bridgton

Harrison

Brooklin

Sedgwick

Sorrento

Sullivan

Belgrade

Dixfield Prospect

Franklin

Columbia

Newburgh

PlymouthIndustry

PhillipsHartland

EastportOld Town Pembroke

Rangeley

Crawford

Lang Twp Bradford

Atkinson EdinburgLagrange

GuilfordCaratunk

Maxfield

Talmadge

Dyer Twp

Drew Plt

Danforth

Reed Plt Bancroft

Cary Plt

Oakfield

Moro Plt

Masardis

Mapleton

Washburn

Woodland

Allagash

Shapleigh

Waterboro

Limington

SouthportHarpswell

West BathBrunswick

Wiscasset

Owls HeadNewcastle

ThomastonNobleboro Waldoboro

JeffersonWaterford

HallowellBuckfield

NorthportMason Twp Greenwood

ReadfieldSearsmont

Woodstock Livermore Blue Hill

Kennebunk

Biddeford

Fort Kent

Madawaska

Otisfield

MontvillePenobscotSearsportRiley Twp

Swanville

Milbridge

FrankfortThorndike JonesportUnity Twp

Ellsworth

Fairfield Bucksport

JonesboroEastbrook

OrringtonC SurplusSkowhegan

Cornville

Salem TwpNo 14 Twp

Kingfield

Cambridge Charlotte

Davis Twp GreenbushAlexander

Wyman Twp No 21 Twp

PrincetonT5 ND BPP

T6 ND BPPOxbow Twp

LakevilleBowerbank

Kibby TwpT2 R8 NWP

T7 R9 NWPT5 R9 NWP Topsfield

T4 R9 NWP T3 R9 NWPT2 R9 NWP

Woodville

VanceboroHoleb Twp

Big W Twp

Littleton

Oxbow Plt

Westfield Mars Hill

Limestone

Stockholm

Van Buren

Phippsburg

Brownfield

Bowdoinham

Vinalhaven

FrenchboroLitchfield

Whitefield

Washington

West ParisAlbany Twp

Manchester

VassalboroMilton Twp

Mariaville

Greenville

T1 R8 WELS

T2 R9 WELS

T3 R8 WELS

T4 R9 WELS

T5 R8 WELS

T6 R7 WELS

TA R7 WELS

Stonington

Gouldsboro

Harrington

Smithfield WinterportNew SharonFarmington

T18 MD BPPT19 MD BPP MarshfieldPittsfieldTownship C

Township D BeddingtonTownship E T24 MD BPP Northfield

T25 MD BPP Marion TwpT18 ED BPP

T30 MD BPPT31 MD BPP

Great Pond T19 ED BPP

Dallas Plt T36 MD BPP T26 ED BPPMeddybempsWellington Charleston Robbinston

Coplin Plt T42 MD BPPSummit Twp

T43 MD BPP

BurlingtonIndian TwpT3 R1 NBPP

T5 R1 NBPPFowler Twp

BrownvilleMoxie Gore

T8 R3 NBPPLong A TwpMisery Twp

Forest TwpAttean Twp

T8 R4 NBPP

T1 R5 WELST1 R6 WELS

T2 R4 WELSBlake Gore

T3 R7 WELST3 R4 WELST3 R3 WELS

TA R2 WELST4 R5 NBKPT4 R7 WELS T4 R3 WELS

Dyer Brook

T7 R7 WELS T7 R5 WELS Dudley TwpT7 R9 WELS

TC R2 WELS MonticelloT8 R5 WELST8 R7 WELST8 R9 WELS

TD R2 WELST9 R7 WELS T9 R5 WELST9 R4 WELST9 R9 WELS

New SwedenConnor Twp

Eagle Lake

WallagrassNew Canada

Grand Isle

Scarborough

Perkins Twp

North Haven

Farmingdale

Brooksville

Skinner Twp

Gorham Gore

T9 R18 WELS

Frenchville

Millinocket

T3 R11 WELS

T4 R11 WELS

T5 R11 WELS

Grafton TwpCherryfield

Machiasport

Centerville

Edmunds TwpFreeman Twp

Lincoln Plt

Concord Twp

Sangerville

Bigelow Twp Baileyville

Bowtown Twp Willimantic

Seboeis PltCoburn Gore

Springfield Carroll PltKossuth Twp

Webster Plt

TB R10 WELSBeaver CoveBeattie Twp

Sapling Twp Kingman Twp

TA R10 WELSForsyth Twp

Moose RiverT1 R11 WELST1 R13 WELS

Brassua Twp

T2 R12 WELS Haynesville

Lobster Twp StaceyvilleHammond Twp


T5 R14 WELS Mount ChaseT5 R17 WELST5 R19 WELS

T6 R14 WELS T6 R12 WELST6 R17 WELS T6 R10 WELSBig Six Twp

T7 R12 WELST7 R18 WELS T7 R14 WELST7 R16 WELS

T8 R19 WELS T8 R17 WELS T8 R15 WELS T8 R11 WELS

BridgewaterT9 R11 WELST9 R13 WELST9 R15 WELS

T10 R7 WELSSquapan TwpT10 R9 WELS

Big Ten Twp

T11 R7 WELST11 R9 WELS T11 R4 WELS

T12 R7 WELS Castle HillT12 R9 WELS

T13 R7 WELS T13 R5 WELST13 R9 WELS


T15 R8 WELS T15 R6 WELS


T17 R4 WELS

Parsonsfield

Saint George

Isle Au Haut

Swans Island

Lincolnville

Mount Desert

Roque Bluffs

Saint Agatha

Lily Bay Twp

Mount Vernon

Norridgewock

Trescott Twp

Rangeley Plt New PortlandSaint Albans

Brighton Plt

Highland Plt

Mayfield TwpTim Pond Twp

Jim Pond Twp

Appleton TwpPrentiss Twp

Mattawamkeag Brookton Twp

Molunkus TwpShawtown Twp

Prentiss Twp

Plymouth Twp

Island Falls

New Limerick


Garfield PltT11 R11 WELST11 R13 WELST11 R15 WELS

T11 R17 WELS

T12 R11 WELST12 R13 WELST12 R15 WELST12 R17 WELS

Presque Isle


T14 R13 WELS T14 R11 WELST14 R15 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 TwpKingsbury Plt

Orneville Twp

Flagstaff Twp Blanchard Twp

T3 R5 BKP WKR

Lake View PltT5 R6 BKP WKR

Codyville Plt

Long Pond Twp

Sandy Bay TwpBenedicta Twp

Seboomook Twp

Saint Francis

South Portland

North Yarmouth

New Gloucester

Mechanic Falls

Columbia Falls

Magalloway Plt

Greenfield TwpParkertown Twp

Dover-Foxcroft

Bowmantown TwpEast Moxie Twp

Squaretown Twp

Bradstreet Twp

Dennistown Plt

Eagle Lake Twp

Fort Fairfield

Saint John Plt

Big Twenty Twp

Boothbay Harbor

South Thomaston

Sandy River Plt

Grand Falls Twp

Seven Ponds TwpPierce Pond Twp

Forest City Twp

Soldiertown TwpAlder Brook Twp

Little Squaw Twp

Chase Stream TwpLambert Lake Twp

Elliottsville Twp

Bar Harbor

Richardsontown Twp

Carrabasset Valley

Mattamiscontis TwpMassachussets Gore

Upper Molunkus Twp

Lower Enchanted Twp

Upper Enchanted Twp

Andover North Surplus

Grand Lake Strm

Carrying Place Town

Katahdin Iron Works

Township 6 North of Weld

Rockwood Strip

Hopkins Academy Grant Twp

East Middlesex Canal Grant Twp

Bowdoin Coll Grant East

Westbrook

Eddington

CumberlandGeorgetown

Friendship

Somerville

T1 R9 WELS

T2 R8 WELS


T6 R8 WELS

Waterville

Kenduskeag

T37 MD BPP

Argyle Twp

T27 ED BPP

T6 R1 NBPP

T4 R8 WELS

T6 R6 WELS




Perkins Twp

T2 R10 WELS

T3 R10 WELS

T4 R10 WELS

Dennysville

Barnard Twp

TB R11 WELS

T11 R3 NBPP

TA R11 WELS


T2 R13 WELS Rainbow Twp




T5 R20 WELS


T7 R10 WELST7 R11 WELST7 R17 WELS T7 R13 WELST7 R19 WELS T7 R15 WELS

T8 R16 WELS T8 R10 WELST8 R14 WELST8 R18 WELS

T9 R10 WELST9 R12 WELST9 R14 WELST9 R16 WELST9 R17 WELS


T11 R8 WELS

T12 R8 WELS

T13 R8 WELS



Westmanland


T16 R4 WELS


Damariscotta

Chesterville

Whitneyville

East MachiasNew Vineyard

Passadumkeag

Macwahoc Plt

Glenwood Plt

Comstock Twp



T12 R12 WELS T12 R10 WELST12 R14 WELST12 R16 WELS

Portage LakeT13 R10 WELST13 R12 WELST13 R14 WELST13 R16 WELS




T16 R13 WELS

T17 R13 WELS


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

Cape Elizabeth

Grindstone Twp

Dead River

West Forks Plt

Lowelltown Twp

Frenchtown Twp

Herseytown Twp

Dole Brook TwpElm 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

Williamsburg Twp

Silver Ridge TwpSoldiertown Twp.

Russell Pond Twp

Old Orchard Beach

Merrill Strip Twp

Nesourdnahunk Twp

Indian Stream Twp

Mount Katahdin Twp

Pleasant Ridge Plt

Carrying Place

Chain of Ponds Twp

Soper Mountain Twp

Lower Cupsuptic Twp

Upper Cupsuptic Twp

King & Bartlett Twp

Northeast Carry Twp

Johnson Mountain Twp

Batchelders Grant Twp

Days Academy Grant Twp

T4 Indian Purchase 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

29

8

4

5

7

1

6

2

9

27

3

11

17

18 19

28

15

12

10

262316

25

14

21

20

22

13

24

2

1

5

2

4

7

1

9

9

5

23

1

7

2

7

4

1

3

2

5

1

1

8

7

1

4

6

6

1

7

3

4

8

8

4

7

8

4

2

7

5

6

69

6

6

8

2

1

3

96

6

6

5

2

1

2

5

7

4

6

6

9

3

4

3

1

4

6

1

4

6

8

1

3

7

3

5

34

3

5

1

21

5

5

16

4

6

1

8

8

4

2

1

4

1

5

3

4

4 1

2

3

1

5

3

2

5

4

6

5

2

6

6

1

9

6

4

5

6

5

1

9

6

8

9

8

6

4

23

9

7

8

9

1

1

7

3

4

4

3

3

1

6

2

3

2

4

3

9

20

6

1

4

32

32

2

7

5

2

1

5

4

3

6

6

2 7

5

3

3

7

8

5

5

1

3

3

5

2

4

1

2

1

2

1

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6

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9

1

2

2

7

1

8

7

7

9

8

1

15

3

4

1

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7

3

2

12

8

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2

9

2

2

8

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6

9

2

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2

5

5

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7

9

1

6

6

2

2

6

5

1

4

3

4

6

5

6

2

8

2

7

6

48

1

4

8

2

26

4

1

1

6

4

2

1

1

2

4

1

4

1

7

5

2

9

4

5

1

3

2

5

4

2

3

1

2

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2

37

6

6

5

53

3

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5 4

6

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2

1

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7

1

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3

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3

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3

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7

7

2

2

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2

6

1

2

1

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41

7

9

5

2

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7

4

2

2

1

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9

1

4

4

6

6

2

4

2

2

2

6

4

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5

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7

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64

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9

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34 1

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2

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16

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132

8

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9

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1

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61

20

1

13

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13

2

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10

11

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1

10

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1

2016 Bear Harvest by Town

Wildlife Management DistrictsTownships

WMD # of Bears1 1582 1253 1434 2045 1806 1777 1438 2419 97

10 11411 22512 17213 4114 8015 8316 817 5618 14419 15320 1321 522 023 524 025 426 5327 6328 164

Unreported 8State 2,859

Male 1,613Female 1,217Unreported 29

By Hunter ResidenceResidents 1,082Nonresidents 1,777Unreported 0

Maine’s 2016 Black Bear Season Starting in 2015, youth hunters could hunt the Saturday prior to the opening of the season. The general hunting season for black bears opened the last Monday in August and closes the last Saturday in November. Hunters were allowed to hunt bears near natural food sources or by still-hunting throughout the entire 3-month season. Hunting over bait was permitted from August 29 through September 24. The hound season overlapped the bait season, opening September 12 and closing October 28. The bear trapping season opened September 1 and closed October 31. Bear hunters can take 2 bears if 1 is taken by trapping and the other by hunting. This year, 15 hunters/trappers harvested 2 bears and 27 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, 2,859 bears were taken during the 13 week fall season providing approximately 23,000 pounds of bear meat to hunters and their families. Most bears (93%) were taken with the use of bait, dogs, or traps: 1,936 bears were harvested over bait (68%), 595 bears were taken by hunters using trained bear dogs (21%), and 105 bears were taken in traps (4%). Only 3% were taken by other methods: 63 bears were harvested by deer hunters and 31 by spot/stalk or still-hunting. One hundred and twenty nine bears (4%) were taken by unreported methods. Most bears (87%) were harvested earlier in the season with 2,486 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. This year, the abundance of natural foods was low, although black berries remained abundant at the beginning of the season likely influencing a poor response to bait and low bait harvest (69%); bears also entered their winter dens earlier, decreasing opportunity for hunters late in the season (63 bears harvested during the Nov. deer firearm season). By comparison, 2015 was a good year for natural foods, resulting in less bears taken by bait hunters (69%) and more bears harvested by deer hunters. Geographic Distribution of the Harvest Bears were harvested in 26 of 29 Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) with no bears taken in WMDs 22, 24, or 29. The density of harvest, expressed as the number of bears killed per 100 square miles of forested land, was greatest in WMD 28 at 23 bears/100 mi2 and lowest in WMD 23 with <1 bear/100mi2. In all other WMDs, hunters harvested between 3 and 18 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 Androscoggin, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc counties and between 1 and 6 bears were harvested in Knox, 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 1,777 bears of the 2,859 bears (62%) tagged during 2016. Non-resident hunters shot most of the bears (67%) taken over bait and with the use of hounds (65%), although bait hunting remained popular among resident hunters with 59% 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 (97%, 77%, and 97%, respectively) of the bears taken during those seasons.

Assistance by Registered Maine Guides In 2016, guides assisted 283 residents (26%) and 1,520 non-residents (85%) with their successful hunts. Assistance by guides accounted for 76% of bears harvested with trained bear dogs, 67% of the bears taken over bait, 20% of trapped bears, 19% of bears taken by unreported method, and 3% of bears taken by spot/stalk/still-hunt methods.

Sex and Age Distribution of the Harvest Males made up 57% (1,613 bears) of the 2016 harvest. Adult bears accounted for 93% (2,654 bears) of the harvest, and sex and age were not reported for an additional 29 bears (1%).

Prospects for the 2017 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 2017 season will remain similar to recent years, opening with a youth day the last Saturday in August (26th). The general season will open the following Monday (August 28th) and will close the last Saturday in November (25th). 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.