SUN JOURNAL • February 25, 2022
Reversing the precipitous decline in Maine’s traditional deer-wintering areas will help restore our North Woods deer numbers. Deer yards used to comprise about 12% of our big woods. Today, that figure is a dismal 3%. Cooperative protection agreements with timberland owners over the years have proved marginal in protecting deer yards. Thankfully, a recently enacted law allocates part of $40 million for the outright purchase of critical deer-wintering areas. The Land for Maine’s Future will secure matching funds and negotiate purchases of deer-yard habitat from private landowners. LMF has recently announced the contractual agreement to purchase 930 acres of traditional deer-wintering areas in Aroostook County. More deer-yard purchase arrangements will be revealed in May. ~ V. Paul Reynolds