AUGUSTA – The severe winter of 2004-2005 in many Maine areas has resulted in a recommended decrease of any-deer permits for the 2005 hunt.

After reviewing data associated with last year’s deer harvest and the winter’s severity, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing to drop the number of any-deer permits to 70,725 for the fall season. A total of 76,150 permits was issued last year.

Through these permit recommendations, the department wants to stabilize the deer population in the northern, central and parts of southern Maine; increase the deer herd downeast and western part of the state; and reduce the deer population in the coastal sections of Cumberland and York Counties. To accomplish that goal, the department is increasing the number of any-deer permits in 5 Wildlife Management Districts, issuing the same number in 7 WMDs, and dropping the number in 18 WMDs.

The recommendation of 70,725 permits is subject to approval by the Commissioner’s Advisory Council.

The following are proposals for each WMD: 1-3, 0; 4, 150; 5, 250; 6, 225; 7, 675; 8, 825; 9, 400; 10, 200; 11, 150; 12, 1,400; 13, 1,950; 14, 450; 15, 3,625; 16, 6,300; 17, 14,700; 18, 375; 19, 0; 20, 4,425; 21, 4,900; 22, 6,000; 23, 12,300; 24, 3,300; 25, 3,700; 26, 3,775; 27, 50; 28-29, 0; 30, 600.

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