NOBLEBORO, Maine — The owner of a small farm that raises fallow deer disputes the claims that as many as 10 of his animals have escaped and are running wild in the area.
George Smith, former executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, wrote on his blog Thursday, Sept. 13, that the deer that have been seen are likely those that escaped from the farm in town that raises them. He did not name the farm.
The town’s code enforcement officer, who has heard about the escaped deer though he has not seen them himself, identified the farmer as James Maxmin.
“I know there are some that are loose,” Stan Waltz said. “I don’t know how many.”
When deer escape, “Usually, they have someone come in and take care of it,” he said, meaning that hunters authorized by the state hunt for and shoot the animals.
State biologists and others are concerned about the potential consequences of different species of farm deer intermingling with wild, white-tailed deer. Fear of disease, particularly the deadly chronic wasting disease, is chief among their concerns.
Contacted Friday, Sept. 14, Maxmin said he is confident that none of the animals local folks have been seeing and identifying as his actually escaped from his pens.
“None of ours are loose,” he said. Maxmin’s operation now has 28 mature animals and 11 fawns.
“As far as I know, we’ve accounted for all of our deer,” he said. And given the number of does that have been in heat over the past year, he doesn’t believe his animals are capable of producing 10 offspring.
Maxmin keeps the deer in three penned areas on 9 acres, and works with state deer biologist Gerry LaVigne on licensing his operation and addressing any problems.
“We sell six a year and we eat three a year,” he said. The deer are sold as live animals to individuals, not dealers. Fallow deer are prized because their meat is low in fat and cholesterol and high in protein. “They’re much tastier than red deer,” another kind that is raised for food, he said.
When his deer have escaped, he said, they tend to stand by the fence, because as herd animals, they want to stay with their peers.
There was a breach in one of his fences, Maxmin said, which he believes was made by someone trying to get some of his deer’s shed antlers.
If there are fallow deer in the area, “We believe someone dropped them off,” he said, or an illegal deer farm was shut down by the state and the owner couldn’t bear to kill the fawns and instead turned them loose.
“That’s the conclusion that we’ve come to,” he said.
Maxmin said his farm carries liability insurance, disputing Smith’s claim that he was denying ownership out of fear of a lawsuit if one of the animals caused a car crash. If any deer had escaped, “I would’ve claimed it on my insurance,” he said.
“Maxmin keeps the deer in three penned areas on 9 acres, and works
with state deer biologist Gerry LaVigne on licensing his operation and
addressing any problems.”
The last I knew, Gerry is not Maine’s deer biologist and has not been for years. Judging from his irrational vitriol spewed forth against coyotes as the biologist for Me Sportsman’s Alliance, it’s a damn good thing he no longer is being paid by taxpayers.
‘Maxmin” …..is that an oxymoron?
Lou Mostleast
lol
I live on the same road as this farm…and they ARE his deer- NO QUESTION!! Over the last few years there have been several that get in & out of the pens and can be spotted on occasion. THIS year, however, there is a large number of them – we’ve counted up to a dozen at times – standing all together, OUTSIDE the deer pen. They can usually be spotted on/near his property by the fences, in the road (between the deer pen & Mr. Maxmin’s house), and beginning this Fall have been wondering further down the road (I have pictures of them in my backyard & we’re a mile away from the deer pens). Just the other day, as he was feeding in the pens, the ones outside were headed towards the rest of the herd & the food – odd that they would know to do that if they aren’t his.
They show no fear of people – as people have encountered them in the roadway while walking and have had to step into the woods to wait for the deer to FINALLY continue on their way; they do no move out of the way of vehicle traffic – one was hit right in the roadway in front of the deer pens – and they are bedding down on people’s front lawns by the road and do not move when cars drive by, or honk; and having them in the backyard with pets & children playing is NOT my idea of being responsible on his part.
The State has told us that they can not come shoot them without the owner’s permission, and by him denying ownership there is nothing that can be done (for now) . By denying ownership, he is also – conveniently – avoiding fines for allowing their escape & not maintaining his fences properly. The inspector even said there are MULTIPLE places along his fence lines where the deer are getting in and out. It is OBVIOUS they are his.
These deer are a hazard to those of us that live here and need to be dealt with. I can’t figure out why the Dept. of Agriculture doesn’t require these types of farms to have tags on each animals ear (like cows, etc.) to easily identify who owns them.
Tagging requirements and CWD testing are an excellent idea. CWD is bad news. If these animals have the slightest chance of carriying the disease it’s as if Maxmin were operating an unregulated milfoil farm.
Shoot them anyways and eat the evidence.
This man is working with Gerry La Vigne ? Well, that explains a lot. I expect wildlife biologists to know what is best for our native wildlife of all species and not have hunters and trappers as their priority. Disgusted, but not surprised.