According to Jerome Richards, president of the Maine Bowhunters Association (MBA), the experimental, two-week deer reduction hunt on some parcels of municipal land in Old Town went off well. As you may recall, the hunt was a collaborative effort of the MBA, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W), the University of Maine, in a minor way, and the municipal leaders in Old Town.

Although the total deer reduction (five bucks and three does) was less than expected, the process – the hunt – proceeded smoothly and without incident. Of significance is the fact that the hunt happened at all. The negotiations took years and were periodically blocked by University of Maine officials concerned about student safety, and no doubt cowed by the political correctness implications.

As was the prior agreement, only 20 BLIP qualified bow hunters from the MBA were allowed first dibs at these deer. As you might expect, there were some sour grape asides from a few gun hunters and bow hunters who are not BLIP qualified. BLIP stands for Bowhunters/Landowners Information Program. Along with improving landowner relations between landowners and bow hunters, BLIP requires that MBA bow hunters meet shooting proficiency standards and demonstrate a good understanding and appreciation for hunter ethics.

If you are going to have an experimental hunt that, if it goes well, can be a precursor to a conventional deer hunt, what better way to start than with some bow hunters who have proven themselves?

Richards, who bagged a nice buck, said that the deer reduction was lower than expected for a couple of reasons. Brutally cold weather and high winds didn’t help. Surprisingly, the does, which were the target animals, hunkered down and made themselves scarce.

Meantime, Richards says, the bucks were running about like they were “bulletproof.” Interesting situation that is contrary to the deer hunter’s conventional wisdom and experience. Any theories?

Now that hunters have confirmed our suspicions that, indeed, there are some respectable bucks in these largely unhunted areas of Marsh Island, what’s in store for next year? It’s too soon to tell, but if you are a bow hunter you could do worse than join the MBA and get yourself BLIP qualified. You can reach Jerome Richards at 314-2885.

If you are one of those deerless hunters nursing a grudge over the ground rules of the Marsh Island hunt, shake it off. The MBA did us all a favor. Its hard work and patient dedication toward bringing about this deer reduction hunt will benefit us all in the long run.

Maine Sportsman editor, Harry Vanderweide, said it well in a recent editorial in his publication:

“This is a group (MBA) focused on effective public relations for bowhunters, but their work shines a positive light on all hunters by association.”

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. 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, WCME-FM 96.7) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is [email protected].