these two species. The average annual legal harvest of deer for the years 

 1959 to 1977 is summarized in table 17-5 for each of the six regions. The 

 highest kill occurred in region 4 where an average of 2094 deer were killed 

 each year. More importantly for comparative purposes, the highest kill per 

 square mile (2.3) also occurred there. The lowest kill (89) and kill per 

 square mile (0.4) was in region 1. This is to be expected as much of this 

 region is urban (Portland and South Portland) and is not optimal deer habitat. 

 Hunting losses constitute a significant portion of the annual mortality for 

 deer populations. Depending on the productivity of the population, deer in 

 Maine can withstand an all-cause removal of 25% to 35% (Banasiak and Hugie 

 1975). Present harvest levels are approximately equal to the removable 

 supply. The all-cause removal takes into account the illegal harvest. 

 Between 1969 and 1977 an average of 180 illegal kills was reported annually. 

 However, a study by Vilkitis (1971) indicated that the reported losses 

 constituted only about 1.2% of the actual illegal harvest, which was probably 

 closer to 15,000 to 18,000 annually. 



The black bear kill for the townships in the characterization area is also 

 summarized in table 17-5, for the years 1969 to 1977. No bears were killed in 

 either region 1 or 3, and only one bear was killed in region 2. The highest 

 bear kill was in region 5, where an average of 3 bears/100 sq mi were taken. 



Harvest data for the other game species (except woodchuck and cottontail) are 

 estimated by MDIFW by surveying a sample of licensed hunters each year. The 

 accuracy of these harvest estimates is questionable, since the sample size is 

 very small and hunters tend to exaggerate. For example, Hunt (1975) suggests 

 the estimated harvest of red fox could be as much as twice the actual kill. 

 One test of the accuracy of the survey is the estimate of the deer kill, which 

 can be verified through tagging procedures. The survey estimate is 

 consistently high, sometimes as much as 50%. Until more accurate data are 

 available the estimates have little use except for comparative purposes, since 

 biases should be consistent from one part of the State to another. 



Estimates of the harvest of furbearing mammals are derived from two sources. 

 One is a trapper survey conducted by the MDIFW. The trapper survey, which is 

 similar to the hunter survey, is subject to the same biases, except that the 

 percentage of trappers sampled is much larger. Nearly all licensed trappers 

 received a questionnaire and approximately 60% were filled out and returned. 

 Again, the harvests seem to be overestimated. The second method of 

 determining the trapping harvest is by a tagging procedure similar to that 

 used for deer and bear. Each beaver, otter, fisher, fox, marten, coyote, 

 bobcat, and raccoon legally killed must be tagged by a State game warden 

 before it can be sold. Beaver and otter have been tagged for several years 

 but tagging of the other species began only a few years ago. Tagging is not 

 required for muskrat, mink, skunk, or weasel, so accurate information is not 

 available for these species. The number of animals tagged in the 

 characterization area is summarized in table 17-6. Determination of the 

 extent to which these harvests approach the current supply must await more 

 accurate estimates of population sizes. 



17-24 



