AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage and other state officials say they have a plan to replenish Maine’s deer herd.

LePage has made repeated reference to the need to protect deer yards as part of a strategy to rebuild the herd.

Maine game officials say concern over low deer herd numbers has been intensifying for nearly 20 years. Regions of Maine where people would expect to see deer — northern, eastern and western Maine — have been greatly hit by the low numbers, while deer are abundant in southern and central Maine.

Officials see healthy and abundant deer as an important component of Maine’s economy, saying wildlife watching and deer hunting have a $200 million or more economic impact, drawing money to motels, sporting camps, restaurants, guide services and photo shops.