AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine's deer hunters are dealing with a steep reduction in permits this year, but thousands are still likely to take to the woods this month.
Saturday is Maine Resident Only Day for deer hunters, and the full season runs from Monday to Nov. 30. The state trimmed the number of "any deer" permits by 20% this year.
The state still issued more than 68,000 of the "any deer" permits, which allow hunters to harvest deer of either sex. The state reduced the permits after a year in which hunters exceeded Maine's goal for the harvest of does.
Last year's permit total of nearly 85,000 was a record high.
The November deer season is for hunters who use firearms. Archery is still legal in some parts of the state, too.