Two amended versions of three Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine bills aimed at solving deer predation problems in the state’s northern and eastern regions are expected to move out of committee this week into the House.

During testimony on April 5 at three public hearings on the proposed legislation, coyote proponents targeted the continuing anti-coyote stance firmly held by many who believe the wolfish canines are diminishing the number of deer that hunters can take.

However, during Tuesday’s work session by the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Augusta, LD 1045, which sought to create bounty and animal damage control programs, was culled, committee Chairman Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, said Friday.

“We’re not trying to eliminate coyotes. That went out a long time ago,” Bryant said. “But, we’re trying to keep them out of deer yards. This last snowfall didn’t help, because a lot of does carrying little ones were forced back into the yards, where they’re easy pickings for coyotes.”

The animal damage control concept was retained and amended to LD 824, which seeks to establish year-round night hunting of coyotes. To better help deer yards, though, the night hunting bill was changed to extend the current season of January 1 to April 30 by another month, to May 31.

Bryant said LD 823, a resolve to review and alter the existing coyote control program, wasn’t written legally.

“The resolve couldn’t be processed, because you can’t change a law with a resolve,” he said.

Instead, the revised bill instructs the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to work with SAM’s Deer Task Force to more thoroughly research deer habitat and coyote problems within deer yards, especially in Maine Land Use Regulation Commission jurisdictions. Previously, the department filed with LURC to rezone deer yards within LURC jurisdiction.

Bryant said he expects the two revised bills to be approved.

“We need to work on habitat and, have better control of deer yards. Every year, the problem with habitat is a major issue. It has been that way over the past four or five years. In northern Maine and Washington County, where the deer populations are low due to habitat, coyote predation just adds to the problem. We need to try to have a balance,” Bryant said.

According to retired Maine deer biologist Gerry Lavigne, northern and eastern Maine deer populations are not only limited by excessive losses to predation, but, also by inadequate wintering habitat.

In a SAM report last month, Lavigne stated that department studies of deer mortality during the late 1970s and 1980s pegged coyotes as the major source of deer losses in northern and eastern deer yards.

He said that coyotes readily select very young, weak or sick deer, and also prey on healthy mature does and bucks. Additionally, fawn loss commonly exceeds 50 percent between June and October.

Unless predation losses are curbed, Lavigne said deer populations in the areas are likely to remain far below their potential.

Ken Elowe, director of the department’s Resource Management branch, said that to effect the coyote population biologically, between 60 and 70 percent – from 6,000 to 12,000 – coyotes would have to be killed annually.

Only 2,000 to 2,700 coyotes are killed annually by hunters and trappers now.

Elowe said trying to reduce coyote populations would be an irresponsible use of public funds.