Deer Recovery

• Deer Management Network
• SAM Launches a Major New Deer Initiative
• SAM's Deer Recovery Kickoff!
• A Progress Report

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Butcher It Right!
New atricle by: Gerry Lavigne

The Saga of Henry The Eighth
By: Gerry Lavigne

Experimental Wildlife Seed Mix Now Available Through SAM
By Gerry Lavigne

In the last Issue of SAM news, we reported about an exciting project in which SAM and Central Maine Power (CMP) are collaborating to establish wildlife-friendly seed mixtures along a portion of CMP 300+ mile electrical transmission line right-of-ways in southern and central parts of the state. That project is in full swing, as CMP’s contractors will be using SAM’s Wildlife mix to re-establish vegetation along several experimental plots.
READ MORE

Seeding Instructions for SAM’s Wildlife Mix

Which Canine Predator For Maine?
By Gerry Lavigne, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine

SAM's testimony in opposition to The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s proposed rule regulating the feeding of deer.
November 2012
While we share many of the Department’s concerns regarding improper deer feeding practices by the public, SAM disagrees with the Department’s approach toward solving this problem. As written, this rule criminalizes nearly every individual who provides supplemental feed for deer in Maine. As such, the Department has over-reached its legislative authority as defined in Title 12, M.R.S.A. Sec. 10105.
Read the full testimony.

Gerry Lavigne: Deer recovery efforts in Maine are working
November 4, 2012
Managing coyote predation is a focused control effort in the most vulnerable and remote deer yards.
Sun Journal Article
Bangor Daily News Article

The Case for Predation Management for Improving Deer Survival
By Gerry Lavigne, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine
For more related articles, please visit our Library

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Update from IFW coyote effort thru October.

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Predator Control Workshop

On Saturday, September 29th The Sportsman Alliance of Maine sponsored the first workshop addressing the need for and the methods required to control predators, which is one of several key factors causing the decline of the deer herds in the Western Mountains, Aroostook County, and Down East portions of Maine. The loss of these deer herds has resulted in a tremendous impact on the states rural economies. Deer hunting has for generations brought in millions of dollars annually to the state’s economy and been a welcomed addition of healthy meat to the family dinner table.

This work shop is one of the first real positive efforts to reverse the situation. The Maine sportsmen have not had much in the way of constructive support in stopping the downward spiral of the deer within the state. This workshop was the first big step in a statewide effort.

This day long work shop was the result of efforts by Dave Trahan of the SAM, Gerry Lavigne and the dedication and professionalism of the guest speakers and demonstrators from a cross section of well known “working outdoorsmen”, not the normal outdoor writers and politicians seen at many events like this. These keynote speakers were the hands on experts in their respective fields which included two MIF&W personnel who addressed land owner relations and ethics, a firearms specialist who addressed firearms and ballistics commonly used in predator control work, and experts in their respective fields of predator calling, coyote hounding, coyote baiting/shooting shacks/and night hunting, and coyote trapping.

The SAM facility was packed with over one hundred concerned outdoorsmen who are fully supportive of efforts to reduce the predation of deer to a level where the herds will be able to recover. With the excellent results of this first step it is hopeful that this effort will continue at larger facilities across the state to stimulate the public in participating in these efforts.

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Coyote Hunting Gear, Gadgets & Gismos

Prepared by: Gerry Lavigne
September 26, 2012

Firearms, Optics, Illumination, Shooting Shacks, Calling Coyotes, Dogging Coyotes, Alarms, Bells & Whistles.
Read More

Coyote Hunting Laws
Coyote Tips and Tactics

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