AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine's special deer hunting season for people who hunt with muzzleloader rifles is getting started across the state.
Maine's special deer hunting season for people who hunt with muzzleloader rifles got under today across the state of Maine with hunting allowed statewide through December 12 in southern, coastal and central Maine. The regular firearms season ended on Saturday. Inland Fisheries and Wildlife spokesman Mark Latti says there are two main reasons hunters take part in the muzzleloader season, one is that it gives many hunters a chance to extend their season and track deer on snow. The other is that it allows hunting in relative isolation.
"The opportunity to have the woods to yourself and not worry about another hunter possibly jumping your deer or you know tracking your deer for a while and only to come across another hunter's footsteps," he says.
Latti says Maine sees about 12,000 - 15,000 muzzleloaders who hunt each year, compared to 180,000 to 200,000 hunters during the regular firearm season.
December 12 is also the final day of the expanded archery season for deer, which is open in some urban areas around the state.
