For the second consecutive fall, BLIP-certified bow hunters were allowed to hunt the deer-dense area in Old Town known as Marsh Island. The hunt was coordinated by the Maine Bowhunters Association (MBA) and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W). BLIP stands for Bowhunters/Landowners Information Program. Bowhunters, to become certified, must pass a bow competency test, which includes some instruction and having previous experience bagging big game in Maine with a bow.

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Although there has been a longstanding biological need to reduce the unhealthy deer numbers on Marsh Island, the hunt option — steeped in controversy and high-anxiety politics — has been a long time coming. The carefully-controlled BLIP hunt came to fruition last fall as an experimental hunt. The object was to cull some deer, and to see if it could be done in an efficient way and without getting anybody upset. Last year's Marsh Island BLIP hunt was a limited success: although hunters conducted themselves well, the unseasonal cold and post-rut period made the hunting difficult. The total deer reduction was eight deer, considerably less than expected and as hoped for by state wildlife biologist Mark Caron.

This fall's recently completed BLIP hunt on Marsh Island could not have been better, according to MBA President Jerome Richard.

"The MBA completed this year's Marsh Island BLIP hunt with 50 deer arrowed and 46 deer recovered (8 percent loss). Of the 50 deer, four were antlered deer (8 percent) and the other 46 were antlerless deer (92 percent). I guess that shows the group was not "trophy hunting" as some had suggested. I am extremely happy with this group of BLIP members with their teamwork and common goal of targeting antlerless deer. Approximately 2/3 of the deer meat was donated to people in need and to some of the landowners who let us use their property for this BLIP event. This year's team was composed of 20 MBA BLIP members included 2 ladies and 1 handicapped bowhunter contributing a 6-day minimum effort per member over a 3 week period.

This one event was the most successful BLIP than any in the history of the program in both harvest and recovery rate. Not even the Wells Reserve BLIP from 2002 to 2007 combined reached the harvest and recovery rate of this year's Marsh Island BLIP.

Another benefit of this year's Marsh Island BLIP, on two different occasions one MBA BLIP member caught a poacher and another member caught two people stealing a tree stand from a handicapped BLIP member. One of the individuals caught stealing the tree stand was caught last year poaching a deer on Marsh Island. The MBA would like to give a special "Thank You" to Game Warden Dave Georgia for his help in apprehending these individuals.

There really wasn't any big deer taken as far as bucks. All the deer seemed very light. One doe fawn dressed out at 37 pounds! The largest buck I believe was an 8-pointer around 160 pounds.

The MBA, especially Jerome Richard, the BLIP participants and MDIF&W are to be commended for good planning and trouble-free follow through. This all goes to show what can be done to maintain a positive image for hunters if we all work at it.

The big question, especially on the minds of bowhunters who are not fortunate enough to be BLIP certified, is this: "What's going to happen next year? Will Marsh Island be designated an Expanded Archery Zone so that other licensed bow hunters can hunt there next fall? MBA leader Richard would like nothing better. "Our goal from the beginning has always been to convince MDIF&W, as well as Old Town civic leaders, to designate Marsh Island an Expanded Zone for bow hunters," says Richard. As Richard points out, the Expanded Archery Zones for deer throughout the state are, by design, a fluid concept that exist only as long as there is a need to cull excessive deer numbers in urban Maine areas.

At this juncture, the Marsh Island decision rests with Maine's Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Danny Martin. The two-year experimental hunt at Marsh Island has proved worthy, but now has outlived its usefulness. The next logical move, after MDIF&W has analyzed its data from the BLIP hunt, is to designate Marsh island an Expanded Archery Zone for fall 2010. The MBA and bow hunters in general remain hopeful that Commissioner Martin will come down on the side of sportsmen.

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal and has written his first book, A Maine Deer Hunter's Logbook. 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 101.3) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is paul@sportingjournal.com.