PORTLAND (AP) -Young hunters in Maine get to fire the first shots of the season during today’s Youth Deer Day, an event designed to generate interest from boys and girls ages 10 through 15 in the sport. Junior hunting license holders may take one deer – buck or doe – by firearm or by bow and arrow today. An any-deer permit is not needed to take a female deer on this Youth Deer Day, said officials.

Youth hunters must be with a qualified adult. Anyone with a junior hunter, other than a parent or guardian, must have a valid hunting license or have completed a hunter safety course.

Many veteran hunters believe the five-year-old program is achieving its goal, saying it has helped to stave off a decline in the sport that’s being reported in other states. The number of youths with deer permits in Maine has remained stable since 2001, at about 17,000, officials say.

Interest is also reflected by those who signs up for hunter-safety courses.

Bruce Martin, hunter safety coordinator for York County, said more youths are attending his classes, and many are being brought by their mothers.

Glen Dochtermann, who has been teaching hunter-safety courses for 35 years in Alfred, also sees more women taking the courses, and believes many are mothers who are interested in hunting safely with their children.

“For a while, you’d see old-timers. I’d say in the last eight to 10 years, I’ve seen a lot more of a mixed group – a lot more are kids and young women. I had one (class) in February with maybe 44 people. I’d say almost half were women,” Dochtermann said.

Art Lamontagne, who has been teaching hunter safety for three decades, believes fewer youths are getting involved in the sport, although he sees more women attending his classes.

“I have three children, none of whom hunt,” said Lamontagne. “They never got interested.”

The deer-hunting season for adult Maine residents begins Oct. 28, and the season for everyone else starts Oct. 30.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, https://www.pressherald.com

AP-ES-10-20-06 1206EDT