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Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Roland "Danny" Martin is giving considerable thought to an Old Town City Council's decision to support a limited deer reduction season on city-owned land.
Whether that season takes place in December, as suggested at the City Council's meeting on Monday night, is unknown at this time.
Commissioner Martin first must receive a letter from the Old Town City Council that voices its support for a season as well as asks Commissioner Martin to request that the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council take up the matter through its rule-making process.
Commissioner Martin can suggest either an emergency rule-making session or the three-step process, which takes a few months.
Because the issue of a deer reduction season on Marsh Island has been a topic of controversy for about 15 years, Commissioner Martin may opt for the regular rule-making process to ensure that the Advisory Council's review is thorough and fair and not viewed as hasty by the public.
"The public should be assured that after 15 years of discussions on whether to have a deer reduction season on Marsh Island that the IFW Advisory Council did not spend a short period of time in making its decision," Commissioner Martin said. "I will make a decision as to which rule-making process to take after I have read the Old Town City Council's letter, including its reasoning as to when it feels a season should be held."
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council is made up of nine members representing the state's 16 counties. It meets 10 times annually.
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