Folks who are not looking at the facts in Massachusetts are calling for deer herds to be increased in the State.......... 9,000 deer were either shot or "arrowed" this 2011 hunting season,,,,, a very robust number and quite in line with the goal of Game biologists who seek to reduce the negative impact of deer overbrowsing ............Yes, the 2000-2010 average deer take was 11,333, but the 1991-1999 average kill was 9677,,,,,,,9000 in 2011 is a good thing for the land!..............Remember that in colonial times deer density in the Northeast was 6 to 15 per square mile.........Mass Wildlife Officials now want 15 to 20 per square mile to satisy sportsmen............Taking 9,000 of the 90,000 deer who reside in the State(10%) is hardly going to put deer density at the lower end of State desired goals.............Looks like Black Bears and Coyotes are not limiting agents of White Tails in the Bay State

White-tailed Deer in Massachusetts


The graceful white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the most abundant of Massachusetts' large game animals has become controversial because of its burgeoning population.

Before European settlement, the deer population was checked by native predators such as timber wolves and mountain lions, both of which were soon extirpated by the colonists. Settlers as well as native Americans

also hunted deer, and much deer habitat was eliminated as forests were converted to farm land. It is estimated that by the early 1900's, there were fewer than 1000 deer in Massachusetts. In 1910 the first deer
hunting statute was passed in the Commonwealth, establishing a restricted season and setting limits on the number of deer that can be taken.

In recent decades our deer population has increased steadily largely for two reasons:
(1) The reforested but suburbanized Massachusetts landscape is ideal deer habitat, providing shelter and breeding areas in fragmented woodlands that are interspersed with open areas in which deer prefer to feed. An added bonus is the tasty ornamental shrubbery thoughtfully provided by suburbanites. (2) Predation continues to decline with recreational hunting losing popularity in rapidly growing developed areas.

 As of 1999, MassWildlife (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife) estimates the deer population to be approximately 85,000 head. John McDonald, Jr. a biologist with the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, estimates that the ideal the number in the state would be 15 to 20 per square mile.

Other Massachusetts Deer estimates in 2011

Massachusetts has a robust and healthy deer herd statewide as most of the state offers adequate deer habitat year-round. Biologists estimate there are about 85,000 to 95,000 deer statewide. Densities range from about 10 deer per square mile in northwestern Massachusetts to 45 to 55 per square mile on Nantucket Island
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Deer kill total low at Quabbin Reservoir


Frank Sousa

There is a move afoot to slow down the special hunts at Quabbin Reservoir, since a paltry 73 deer kills were recorded this year. Preliminary reports indicate the statewide archery, shotgun and black powder totals are down as well.

While complaints are a constant visitor to this column, a great majority on this issue appear to be well thought out, including one which seeks to have the Quabbin hunt shortened.

Rob Roy, who lives in the vicinity of Quabbin, wrote in part, "I think we can all agree as sportsmen that we waited a lifetime to be able to hunt this enchanted place and we do not want to see it end.

"However, after 21 years of controlled deer hunting, I feel as former president George W. Bush said, 'Mission accomplished.'

"The hunt was sold not as a deer hunting opportunity but rather a water quality issue, due to lack of forest regeneration."

Roy continued, "the places that were once fields are now adorned with dense 20-foot tall saplings."

"In the 2011 Fish and Wildlife abstracts, 'The deer herd west of Interstate 495 is in balance.'
"The goals have been reached of deer reduction, regeneration and water quality. Our hats are off."

Roy there are too few deer inside Quabbin and five to eight miles outside the reservoir boundaries. "We as sportsmen do not want to see the Quabbin hunt end, but rather we would like to see it slowed down." Currently, one of the five areas hunted is rested each year. Sportsmen would like to see additional zones rested or not hunted on a rotation basis.

Roy said petitions are being circulated on the issue. Petitions, available for signing, are at the Hardwick, Amherst Norwottuck, Ware Aspen, Petersham, Ware River, Swift River, Barre, South Barre and the Ware and Palmer Nenameseck Sportsmen's clubs.

They are also at R&R Sports in Belchertown, Buck Rub Sporting Goods in Orange, Flags Bait and Tackle in Orange, New Salem General Store and Nick's Sporting Goods in Palmer.

PRELIMINARY DEER HARVEST: There were 3,689 archery killed deer checked and 5,343 shotgun deer kills, according to the state's preliminary figures.

With the Southeast District leading the bow totals with 1,210, Northeast (995), Central (657), Valley, (430) and Western (397) it shows where the deer are. The deer population has shifted from the woodlands west of the Connecticut River to thickly settled areas in the east.

The preliminary report for the shotgun season shows there were Western, 688, Valley (725), Central (1,038), Northeast (910) and Southeast (1,982). It is easy to see that the east has the whitetails, by the totals of both archery and shotgun results. The northeast is also loaded but the density of population and homes cuts back on shotgun action.

I would attribute part of the lower harvest to the lack of tracking snow and the reduced number of hunters afield.