Maine Predator Hunters (night hunt cats and fox)

mainekiller

mainekiller

New member
Why don't we contact MDIF&W and request a night hunting season for cats and foxes like we have with coyotes. The Fox night hunting season would run from Jan 1 - Feb 28 and the cat night hunting season would run from Jan 1 - Feb 14.

It would be great to target all predators not just coyotes at night. Hunting pressure would be minimal but we would take some heat from the houndsmen that run bobcats. They are really the only users of the bobcat season and they will not want another group taking more bobcats (even though it would be minimal!).

I would night hunt much more if we could take the foxes that come in at night.

What do you guys think? I know there are lots of other states that have night hunting for cats and foxes and I see no reason why we couldn't.
 
Hi Mainekiller,

I called in once to the maine outdoors talk show and ask the same Question I could see them starring out into the darness with their headsets on when they replyed with ....Fox can be hunted at night?... In so many words it seemed they didn't know fox should be hunted at night like yotes and Racoons. They went on to say "they" of course were to busy to suggest such legislation. I agree /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif we should have those seasons as well. This state doesn't seem to mind adding more Taxes OH! I mean Fees to everything else sportsman want to do. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif

Vaportrail
 
Hey Vaportrail, I totally agree. We need to get more feedback on this and contact IF&W with our suggestion and the names and adresses of the poeple who support this. One way to gain more clout with IF&W is to form a predator hunters club. How bout MPHA, the Maine Predator Hunters Association? We could then lobby for some changes and finally have a voice like the trappers, bowhunters, water fowl hunters, grouse hunters, houndsmen, muzzleloaders, guides and every other organization. They all have pieces of the pie and the predator hunters have no voice.

We could get feedback from all of the other states that allow night hunting for these species. Keep the replys coming.
 
Of course it hasn't passed yet, we here in Minnesota are making some great strides in getting a law approved in hunting with artificial lights. If you want to chat, give me a shout and I'll fill you in on what we have done.

It might easier to talk on the phone. If you send me your phone number to foxhunter_56308@hotmail.com I'll give you a call. Or, you can try to reach me in the evenings at 218-338-HUNT

Good luck.
Randy
 
Mainekiller,

Hey again!

If you want to get the ball rolling with the IFW here in Maine I will do what I can to somehow to help /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif I'm no lawyer or know the protocall to initiate something like this I do' believe that you don't neccessarily need a club though. You just need signatures and a bunch at that and a written proposal of some sort to provide to the right people and at the right time being the "House" and then "State Senate." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

let me know

Vaportrail
 
I got to this post a little late but with the increase in all the fees and the fact that we can't hunt Sundays for ANYTHING, we ought to have some night hunting for cats and fox. Let me know if I can help and I would join the MPHA if you can get one organized!
 
Last fall/winter a magazine came out, I think it was called Varmint Hunting; there was a piece in it about calling racoons at night. Besides hunting 'yote/fox/bobcat, I would realy like to try coon hunting at night too! I don't see why they shouldn't allow it, there are so many coons around that it seems it will soon become a public health issue. One possible problem that I can see with the night coon hunting is changing the mindset of the F&W Dept. because the season would have to be during November when the the pelts are prime and that would also be during deer season; I don't think the law enforcement want people in the woods at night during deer season.
Maybe we can keep this thread going and start a coordinated letter writing campain. One thing that I've yet to do is join SAM, maybe if there is enough intrest from within its ranks, it would help back us up.
hammerless99
 
Hammerless99,
I agree. Predator hunters in Maine really need a voice and some representation. I think an association (MPHA) would allow us to bring up some of these issues to the appropriate IF&W officials.

Maybe October would work for racoons at night.

Maybe if we can keep this thread going we can rally some of the Mainers to help?
 
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I know that trapping season starts at the beginning of October, so I supose that the pelts are prime then; but if it's a warm fall priming might be delayed a week or two.

I think it would be great to have some sort of club. I don't personaly know anyone else that hunts predators, a few guys I work with hunt deer, duck, partrige .... I don't know if a club that includes other varmints (g'hogs, crow...) would gererate more interest. I'm just sort of thinking outloud now so I guess I'll shut up for now.
 
hammerless99,
I like your idea of including "varmit" hunters too... I know quite a few guys that are interested in hunting predators but they haven't started yet....I guess they're waiting to go with me....

I have too think that in Maine there are as many guys wanting to hunt predators as there are guys trapping in Maine?

Feel free to think outloud....
 
Raccoon hunting starts Oct 1 but raccoon trapping doesn't start until Oct 17th at the earliest. The Oct 1 hunting season is for the hound hunters mostly and the hides aren't worth anything until late october or november. The reason for the Oct 1 start is because the coons are hard to find later in the fall and winter when the hides are prime and the houndsmen want to run their dogs.

Keep the talk going, glad to see you guys are interested. I really think we could have a fox/cat and coon night hunting season that runs after the deer season. We need to express our voice to IF&W and let them know that there are other users besides trappers of these furbearer resources. Predator hunting is growing and we have every right to request seasons same as trappers, deer hunters and houndsmen, we just need to speak up.
 
good luck with your idea, but in my mind all the state cares about is the dollar and the if+w is run by $$$$$$ and the guides and the sporting camps and the SPORTSMANS ALLIANCE of MAINE. pro guides are getting 1700 for a cat hunt and you would be surprised at the other figures..thats my 2 cents worth. have hunted and fished Me for over 50 years.
 
I got to agree that a club or a association would probably be a good first step and then do some brain storming from there. Skinner,there always looking for a few more bucks but would you be willing to pay a extra 2.50 or 5.00 if it ment that we could hunt all predators @ night?
They could tag it onto the coyote permit and maybe call it a predator night hunting permit good from say dec 1 to feb 28 with say a limit of 3 cats per season
I think its time to get something going and hopefully we could get something on the books in the next year or two.
(Maybe)
 
i am not concerned about the cost of another permit as i feel its a bargain for being able to hunt everday but sundays now. i think the big dollar people will see it as lost game for them which means lost $$.if we get something going i know a couple of legislators i can mention it too.
 
Hey Guys,
I would be happy to pay a little more for a night hunting permit that would allow us to shoot cats and foxes. An association would give us a voice with IF&W....especially if they thought they could get a few more bucks out of us.

Please let's keep this thread going, organizing now would help keep the "anti hunting" crap at bay....


BTW, I'm heading to Neil's Saturday....I went to the first weekend he had 20 odd years ago......
 
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