Eastport to amend bow ordinance after complaints about hunters

The Eastport City Council plans to amend the city's Bow and Arrow Ordinance after numerous complaints have been made during the expanded archery season for deer that began on September 12 and runs until December 12.

During a special council meeting to consider the issue on September 22, Councillor A.J. Seeley stated that the bow ordinance doesn't list the cemeteries, the airport and Shackford Head State Park as areas where hunting is not allowed and that the city's map, indicating no-hunting zones, and the ordinance need to be updated. "We shouldn't have people in restricted areas dispatching deer," he said, with reports of bow hunters allegedly shooting near the elementary school. Under state law, hunting is not allowed within 500 feet of school property. Councillor Karen Raye noted that the high school cross-country team has been running on the road through the cemetery, and "they wrapped them in orange tape." And City Manager Brian Schuth said that a deer that had been wounded by an arrow had to be dispatched by the police the previous week behind the high school.

According to Chris Bartlett of the city's deer committee, game wardens did recently issue a summons for a hunter dispatching a deer in a no-hunting area in the city. Also, a hunter who had his licensed revoked for three years was found to have shot a deer in Eastport. He will now not be able to obtain a license until 2029.

Of the concerns, Seeley noted, "We can't shut down the hunt. That's state regulated. There's nothing we can do this year."

Loring Small of the deer committee suggested that the city make changes to the ordinance "and enforce the law if there are any bad actors." He said that people have called him from Ellsworth about hunting in Eastport, but they don't know what the regulations are in the city.

Small said residents should post their property if they don't want to allow hunting. Also, hunters "are supposed to ask permission before accessing property." Under the city's ordinance, written permission from property owners is required before hunting on their land. Along with the school property restriction, under state law hunting is not allowed without permission within 100 yards of a residence and is not allowed within 10 feet of a road. The city's ordinance increases that distance to 50 feet. Under the city's cemetery ordinance, hunting is not allowed on cemetery property.

Council President Billy Boone observed that three game wardens have been providing a significant amount of coverage to enforce hunting laws in the city. "They're being proactive." Also, the Eastport police are patrolling more around the cemeteries. Police Chief Marc Podschlne said that while the police have the authority to enforce state hunting laws, game wardens have more expertise with the laws. The police can enforce the city's ordinance, while game wardens enforce state laws. Because the state approved the expanded archery season, wardens can enforce the boundaries of the city's no-hunting map, as the state mirrored the city's map.

Resident Jana Sutherland commented that the police do not need to be near the cemetery all of the time but rather can just patrol periodically. She stated, "I see a lot of people going down to Bayside [Cemetery] looking for deer. They're looking at places where they're not supposed to hunt. We need to put up signs around those areas." She also said that arrows are being found on the school playground.

"People are not reading the laws before they go out hunting," she said. "They get a little bit of buck fever and want to get that deer. We need to crack down on people violating the law." She noted that the city draws in people who are not from the area because of its expanded archery season, and some "are not law-abiding."

Allan Sutherland asked, "If little Johnny gets shot by an arrow, who will get sued and who will pay?"

Chris Cook, who hunts, said that hunters "who live here know where they can shoot." Loring Small added, "The island's hunters don't want this ruined." And Walter Cummings, chair of the deer committee, observed that he would like to see as much hunting area open as possible, so that the deer herd can be culled.

As for the feeding of deer, Cummings noted that he saw someone feeding deer from their car, with another car waiting behind it. After the first person finished, the next person started feeding the deer. "It was like a drive-through."

Under state law deer cannot be fed from June 1 through December 15. State biologists discourage the feeding of deer at any time, and it was suggested that the city prohibit the feeding of deer in its ordinance.

As for the posting of signs, Allan Sutherland noted that a few years ago he put up 10 no hunting signs. Five disappeared, three were painted black and two survived.

Councillor Karen Raye asked whether the expanded hunt is being effective, since the goal is to thin out the herd. Cummings commented that an adult male may reproduce with up to eight does, which can have up to two or three fawns each. "Do the math."

Small said that the size of the herd was diminished after the special hunt that the city held from 2016 through 2018, with 82 does removed. The special hunt, held in December, allowed 30 hunters each year. However, the deer have been repopulating since then. During the city's expanded archery season this year, hunters can get multiple anterless deer permits, which also will reduce the number of does.

Following the discussion, the council agreed to amend the bow ordinance and the accompanying map so that all of the hunting restrictions can be found there. Other changes, such as prohibiting the feeding of deer, may also be made. The ordinance will be introduced at the council's regular meeting in October, with a public hearing held at the November meeting. It was also suggested that signs be posted around the no-hunting zones and that the city's restrictions be published in newspapers so that hunters would know the requirements.