Whitetail Combo Hunts

Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Predator & Upland Birds Combo Hunts

Boundless Opportunity

Maine is one of the few places left in the eastern U.S. where a hunter can leave civilization behind, walk through undeveloped land all day, and potentially not encounter another hunter.

Public Lands

Maine has hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in wildlife management areas, state forests, public reserve lands and other parcels, all open to hunting. If you are looking for a self-guided hunt, this is a great place to start.

Private Lands

Maine contains several million acres of privately-owned, working forest lands. Most of these lands are open to the public, either for free or for a nominal fee. A vast network of unpaved roads supports forestry operations. Visiting hunters are reminded that specific rules of the road may apply in certain areas, and they should always be respectful of those working in the area. Hunters are also encouraged to seek landowner permission before hunting on private land. At Tucker Ridge, we have access to thousands of acres of local private property for hunters to choose from.

Big Buck Potential

Maine is home to one of the largest subspecies of white-tailed deer in North America. Minimal hunting pressure in the North Woods affords bucks a chance to reach full maturity, where some achieve live weights of nearly 400 pounds.

Every year, hunters take Maine deer with a dressed weight well over 200 pounds, with many approaching 300 pounds. Maine consistently produces more Boone and Crockett bucks than any other New England state.

Management Goals

Maine manages the deer herd to maintain maximum hunting and viewing opportunities. Deer harvests range from a low of .08 harvested bucks/100 square miles in northern Maine, to a high of 2.35 harvested bucks/100 square miles in southern Maine. In 2013, the mean dressed weight of yearling bucks was 120.5 lbs, about 15 lbs heavier than the average for the northeast U.S. Tucker Ridge is centrally located between the northern and southern regions.

In 2013, Maine biologists recorded a yearling buck frequency of 42% and our adult deer, those 2.5 years of older, averaged 162.5 lbs, with a range of 81 lbs-268 lbs. Of the 2,838 adult bucks we sampled, 54% sported 8 or more points, 30% had 6-7 points, with the remaining 16% carrying 5 or fewer points. Whatever your interest, Maine will provide you with the opportunity to harvest a truly exceptional deer.

Tracking

Snow often blankets the ground during the later part of the deer season, giving hunters a chance to ply the age-old tactic of tracking down a big North Woods buck.

Hunters often drive remote logging roads until they cut fresh tracks, and then set out on foot in hopes of meeting the beast that made them. We recommend forward planning in camp if you choose to still-hunt and stalk deer in our operational area due to the remoteness of the woods and trails you will encounter.

Fair Chase Bear Opportunity

After the bear over bait season closes in September, we continue to hunt bears by fair chase only (no bait, no hounds). This season coincides with the upland birds, whitetail archery & whitetail firearm seasons. With a big game hunting license & bear permit, you may take a bear during any other hunt through the last day of deer firearms season – usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving. A combination of an archery deer hunt, wing-shooting for ruffed grouse, a fair chase bear hunt and a bear trapping option can make for an exciting October.

Bear Trapping

We trap bears September 1st through October 31st, providing our clients all necessary equipment, traps and baited sites. The bear trapping option may be added to a deer hunt for the opportunity to increase your chance of success exponentially – you will in effect be actively engaging bears 24 hours a day. We are certified by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to supervise bear trapping by our hunting clients, so you do not require a trapping license.

These are semi-guided economy hunts for a Maine whitetail buck with the option for black bear, coyote and ruffed grouse as additional opportunities. The black bear season overlaps with the archery and firearm season on deer in Maine and IFW allows hunters to take a late-season, fair chase bear during the deer hunt. While not the primary species on this hunt, every camp usually has at least one hunter come in contact with a black bear while deer hunting here. Big northeastern coyotes are also prevalent in the area and provide added hunting value. The field edges and wood lines are also flush with ruffed grouse. You can hunt whatever you wish each day.

We’ll help get you set up on good sign and you’ll hunt on your own. We’ll also help with field care and tagging if you are successful. We can provide you pre-positioned stands or blinds in historically active areas, or you can bring your own. These hunts a popular option for experienced hunters looking to save a few dollars. Bear trappers will be assisted while tending snares and checking sites. All trap sites are pre-positioned with all equipment provided.