By Mike Roche

Local observations seem to indicate that locally, whitetail numbers are good. Does are dropping fawns and again remind you to leave young wildlife where you find it. Whitetail does leave fawns unattended for long periods of time while they feed. That is nature’s best defense mechanism as fawns are shown to emit very little scent. Predators that encounter the doe are easy to elude and the fawn remains safe.

Recently, some information has surfaced that a fawn’s ear becomes obviously wrinkled if it is badly dehydrated from being abandoned. There are also sources that say that some curling or wrinkling is normal. Perhaps the best course to follow would be to back off for a few hours and then check again from a distance before informing the authorities. Do not remove the fawn yourself. There is a lot of good information on the MassWildlife web page about dealing with young wildlife.

Speaking of deer, you need to make sure your Antlerless Deer Permit (ADP) application is submitted by the deadline of July 16. These are required to harvest antlerless deer (deer without antlers or antlers less than 3” long) in Massachusetts. You can only harvest antlerless deer in the zone specified on your ADP. Each year, MassWildlife allocates a certain number of ADPs for each wildlife management zoneto meet deer management goals in different areas of the state. Hunters with a valid hunting or sporting license can apply for an ADP in the wildlife management zone of their choice; the deadline for applying is July 16 each year.

The difference between allocation and demand determines the odds of winning an ADP. If you apply for an ADP by the July 16 deadline, you can check to see if you have been awarded the right to purchase the permit starting at 8 a.m. on Aug. 1. You can check your permit status any time between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31. Your odds of winning a permit are the same regardless of when you check your status. In some years, and in some zones, hunter demand is lower than the number of allocated ADPs. When this happens, the odds of winning a permit in that zone are 100% and MassWildlife can offer Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits. Hunters with a valid hunting or sporting license can buy Surplus ADPs even if they did not previously apply for a permit. Surplus ADPs usually go on sale in late September and provide additional opportunity for hunters and minimize the number of permits that go unused.

Having an antlerless permit obviously improves your chance of taking a deer. This writer hunts for meat so a doe tag is a plus, as you still have two buck tags with your Massachusetts hunting or sporting license. With two weeks of shotguns season and an additional two-plus weeks for primitive arms season, my tendency is to pass on does early in the season. That strategy back-fired last season when on opening morning, a doe was seen with no attempt. The season ended with the tag still in my wallet. Perhaps the real value of the ADP comes into play when a big deer is seen, but conditions or cover make it impossible to see the deer’s head. The tag allows you to focus on taking a shot. You can log into MassFishHunt to check and make sure your application is completed. Good luck!

It will not be long before deer season gets underway in Massachusetts. Archery season kicks off on Oct. 7 with shotgun season this year opening on Dec. 2 and primitive arms following two weeks later. This writer is waiting anxiously for the arrival of my new deer shotgun. After years of hemming and hawing about making the switch to 20-gauge from 12, this writer “pulled the trigger” and ordered a Winchester Super X4 Cantilever Buck model. The gun should be here in July and then we can mount the scope, select the right sabot slug, and sight in using the Caldwell Lead Sled. Can’t wait!

A number of locals who are serious deer hunters have made the switch to the 20-gauge as the ballistics are identical and the lighter gun is a blessing. Now the dilemma is what to do with my 1100 Remington slug gun. Over the years, the upgrades of a Carlson cantilevered rifled barrel, the high-quality Zeiss scope and the Timney adjustable trigger have made it the “perfect” Massachusetts deer gun.

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Word from a local fisherman is that some real nice brown trout have been eating nightcrawlers at Lake Mattawa. There are worse ways to spend time than fishing as the water temps are still quite good, particularly after the recent downpours. Those deluges did not dampen the festivities last weekend as my high school graduating class, the R. C. Mahar Class of 1969, celebrated 55 years with the theme “Still Crazy After All These Years.” There was golf at the Ellinwood and a hike Friday, cocktails Friday evening and a social Saturday at the newly renovated Orange Gun Club and brunch Sunday at the French King Restaurant (outstanding) with a real fun group of people!

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.