MASSACHUSETTS

Species: Whitetail

Estimated Population: More than 100,000

Fall 2018-’19 Harvest: 14,551

Accorded to outdoor life deer hunting forecast Overall Outlook: “Deer numbers are at goal levels that are well-balanced with the forest in most of the state—in the 12- to 18-deer-per-square mile range— especially where there is adequate hunting access,” says David Stainbrook, Deer and Moose Project Coordinator with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. “Deer numbers tend to be much higher in the eastern part of the state, where hunting access is limited. We have plenty of mature bucks in the population statewide.”

Potential Fall 2019 Hotspots: “You can find quality deer anywhere in the state, but numbers are highest in the eastern part of the state, where hunting access is limited,” says Stainbrook. “A few areas in the northwestern and north-central part of the state have deer numbers below goal levels, but that is mostly driven by historically poor soils and habitat.

Stainbrook says that promising public spots include Mount Greylock, Mount Tom, Mount Toby, and Wachusett Reservoir; East Mountain, Maple Hill, Montague, and Leyden wildlife management areas; and Wendell, Upton, Taconic Trail, and Mount Washington state forests.

Quick Tip: “Deer density is very patchy on the landscape, and hunters tend to stay close to parking areas, so the best advice I can give is to hike in over a half-mile from roads and parking areas, and focus on seasonal food and cover,” says Stainbrook.

source of post outdoor life deer hunting forecast

Author: mkmcst

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