The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-01-13
The Big Game Season

The Big Game Season
Closed at Midnight Dec. 31st. An Estimate
of the Total Kill Of Deer, Moose and
Caribou.
BANGOR, Me, Jan. l. The big game
season in Maine closed at midnight, Fri
day, and nearly complete returns have
been received from the greatest of all
Maine hunting regions-the section of
country traversed by the Bangor Il Aroos-
took Railroad. A record is kept, day by
day, of all the game transported over this
road, and the figures furnish basis upon
which the total kill of deer, moose and
caribou in the whole State may be intelli-
gently estimated. The record of the
Bangor & Aroostook for 1897, with the
exception of the last day is as follows:
Oct. Nov. Dec. Total
Deer. ,246 1923 .31 2,64O
Moose. So 81 10 102
Following are the figures showing the
XIII IN previous years:
Deer. Moose. Caribou.
1894. .................1,0O 1 45 80
lo9o.. ........ ,0Sl liz 13U
1896. ..........2,245 1873 100
At the close of November it was con-
fidently predicted that the total kill of
deer in the Bangor and Aroostook country
this season, would exceed 5000 head, but
December gave very little snow and none
in many sections, while in others a slight
fall was succeeded by a rain which froze
into sharp crust, making still hunting
impossible. But for these unfavorable
weather conditions there would have
been enough deer killed in December co
bring the total for the season up to 5000
head. AS it was, the shipments for the
last month fall below those of the cor
responding months of 1895 and 1896 1t
will be noticed that although the open
season for moose was cut down to six
weeks, or half the former period, the
number killed was in excess of the aver
age OF the past four years, the average
being %. This is being used by some in
GLIDING one OF the commissioners. as an
argument in favor of still further shorten
ing the moose season. Commissioner
Carleton says it is only a matter of time
and very short time-when the moose
and caribou Will disappear from the hunt
ing grounds Of Maine and there are many
who share his views. AS for The deer,
there are many and conflicting opinions
Some Of the guides think the deer are
becoming scarce, but the majority OF
woods naVigators declare that there is no
peIceptlble decrease in the visible supply
Upon the basis afforded by the above
figures, it is estimated that there We're
actually killed in Maine this season about
900 deer, 230 moose and 100 calibou. OF
this game about two thirds has been
| transported by rail, the remainder being
/ either consumed in the woods where shot
or taken out by other conveyance. There
is no doubt but that the game laws will be
still further amanded at the next session
OF the Legislature, but as that time is so
far Oft, aud as another game season in
tervenes, these matters are not exciting
much attention at present. 1t is likely
that bill will be introduced making the
legal allowance of deer and caribou one
for each hunter, and limiting the moose
hunting season to the month of November.
Another thing likely to be recommended
and favored by Commissioner Carleton, is
the levying of tax upon all game taken
out of the State. In this way it is hoped
to raise enough money to pay the expense
OF protecting and propagating game and
fish.
FARMINGT0N, Me-, Dec. 81 The hunt
ing season which ternin ties to-day Las
been one of the very best in many years.
More deer We're taken in the vicinity Of
Pennington than in any previous season.
In the towns of New Vineyard and In
dustry, an unusually large number were
killed. The shipments from Dead River
were fifty deer and one moose; Rangeley
twenty deer; Redington, three; Carrabas-
sett eighty deer and one bear. Many
we're also shot by local hunters and are
not included in these figures. But the
records have been broken in every locality
known as a hunting ground.