On first glance, it might appear to be a relatively easy task for a hunter to take a deer on Martha’s Vineyard during the six-week archery season that begins one half-hour before sunrise on Monday, Oct. 19. Deer are plentiful on the Island, according to state wildlife officials, who want to see their numbers reduced.
The modern archer is armed with a compound bow with pinpoint aiming sights, which utilizes a pulley system to propel an arrow topped with a razor-sharp point at blistering speed. Hunters with a doctor-certified medical condition that limits arm strength may use a crossbow outfitted with a scope that shoots an arrow bolt with the accuracy of a rifle up to 50 yards.
In most cases, he or she hunts from a platform set more than 15 feet up a tree set in an area where deer are likely to pass, unmindful of what is above, because deer do not naturally expect danger from that direction.
Hunting clothing has evolved from the days of the red wool shirt. There is a dizzying choice of clothing sporting camouflage patterns developed in research labs and which claim to almost eliminate human scent. Some outfits rival the price of a fine suit.
For example, a Sitka Stratus hunting jacket and pants costs $630. Add a beanie for $49. Gloves are another $89.
The deer relies on its vision, hearing, sense of smell, and a natural sense that tells it when an impending threat is near. It is no contest — in favor of the deer.
For responsible hunters, archery season begins with preseason practice. Even a modern bow cannot fully substitute for the time it takes to sharpen skills and reflexes necessary to hit a live deer moving through the woods. Gear must also be in order. Frayed bow strings or rusted deerstand cables can ruin a hunt, or worse.
Reedy’s Archery shop on Wood Street in Middleboro is a popular stop for Island archers preparing for the season. It offers a full range of services not available on the Island, including an indoor range where it is possible to try out bows. Owner Chris Reed is only too happy to accommodate ferry schedules.
In a recent conversation while assisting Randy Shea with his new Mathews No Cam bow, juggling phone calls, and answering customer questions, Chris spoke about what it takes to hit the target.
“Slow down,” he said, explaining that most poor shots can be traced back to poor form and rushing the shot.
Randy hooked his release to the bowstring and pulled it back. Chris recited his mantra: “Anchor point; nose on the center [of the string]; finger on the trigger; now squeeze through that shot nice and slow.”
The arrow struck the mark. “Awesome,” Chris said in approval.
It is natural for a hunter to get excited when he or she sees a deer. “Slow down and think about your shot,” Chris advised. “I don’t mean a minute; I don’t mean 30 seconds; I mean just long enough to question yourself — I’m on it. I’m where I want to be on the deer — squeeze through. The hardest thing to do is wait two seconds.”
The cost of a quality compound bow can easily exceed $800. But the most important piece of equipment in the hunter’s arsenal is a simple line and knot that costs less than $40.
Most serious deer hunting accidents, even during gun season, are related to falls. Hunter Safety System, a company that specializes in safety gear, reports that 82 percent of hunters “who end up in a hospital (or a grave) from a tree stand fall are wearing a harness at the time of the accident,” and that “86 percent of tree stand falls happen during the climb up or down from a stand.”
The company sells a product called the “Lifeline,” a 30-foot rope with a Prusik knot attached, that is specifically designed to protect hunters while entering or exiting a tree stand, as well as while they are in the stand. The knot slides easily up and down the lifeline. Should a fall occur, the knot jams tight on the main line.
Deer numbers
State wildlife officials say there is no shortage of deer for Island hunters. Actual harvest numbers this season will be determined by weather, hunter effort, and access to land where deer seek shelter.
In 2014, Island hunters reported they shot 132 fewer deer than in 2013. A dip is not that unusual, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Deer and Moose project leader David Stainbrook said in an email to The Times.
Mr. Stainbrook said the 2014 number was similar to the 2012 harvest. “The harvest tends to have a lot of annual variation (ups and downs) on the Islands, so we need to use caution when looking solely at harvest from one year to the next,” he said.
Mr. Stainbrook said that based on staff reports, it appeared hunter effort was low in general on the big harvest days, typically the first few days of shotgun season, which may have been related to very poor weather conditions. “It is unlikely that the trend was related to lower deer numbers,” he said. “If anything, we need to step it up and harvest more females this year.”
Mr. Stainbrook said there are some simple steps Island officials can take to increase the deer harvest. These include: the towns working together to make it easier for hunters to find places to refrigerate, process, and dispose of deer, so they are more willing to take multiple deer; and increasing access to huntable lands and reducing sanctuary habitat where deer can hide out.
For Martha’s Vineyard hunters, the start of the 2015 deer hunting season brings the prospect of fresh venison in the freezer and enjoyable days spent in the autumn woods. Public health officials also welcome the season as an effective tool in the effort to control the Island’s deer population, seen as a major factor in the high incidence of tick-borne diseases.
Island deer face no natural predators and wildlife scientists have yet to find an effective means of introducing contraception into the wild. Deer provide a major blood meal for deer ticks at a critical stage of the insect’s two-year life cycle. While factors such as weather and habitat can affect tick numbers — moisture and heavy brush are optimum conditions for tick survival — more deer equal more ticks, scientists say.