Maine plan to bump deer permits by 45 percent up for hearing

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Deer hunters are headed to Maine’s capital city to make the case for more hunting permits.

The state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is planning to offer more than 65,000 permits this year. That’s an increase of more than 45 percent from last year’s total. Biologists with the state say deer have had strong survival rates in recent winters.

The fish and wildlife department is hosting a public hearing on the proposal at the Augusta Armory on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The state is also accepting comments from the public until July 3.

The deer hunt takes place in the fall.