Center Feature:  

Northeast Deer Forecast
More and bigger bucks

By Mark Scott

In the blink of an eye, a big buck stepped over a large fallen spruce tree, fully exposing him from a thick wall of snow-laden young fir trees that covered the mountain-top.  He stopped statute-like and stared right at us.  Seconds earlier he was fully engulfed from the ridge-top brush. Now, every inch of him, from his chestnut-colored rack to his white belly hairs were in clear sight.  Without a word spoken my 15-year-old son, Douglas, and hunting buddy for more than 20 years, Jeff Ladue, shouldered their rifles and fired.  The 210-pound, 10-point buck dropped instantly.  A five-hour track in the rugged mountains of northwestern Maine ended so quickly, yet joyously.  And so did the hunting seasons last fall for thousands of other lucky northern New England buck hunters.

Nature still holds all the cards when it comes to hunting the deep woods of New England.  Weather during the hunting season, as well as weather during the critical winter survival months can make or break a hunter’s chance for success.  A year ago saw deer hunters in desperate despair facing sunny hot weather.  But last fall was much different.  Colder temperatures and snow in northern reaches and high elevations during hunting season, combined with two previous mild winters tipped the odds in the favor of whitetail hunters.

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