ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 24, 2003) -- Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul A. Peditto today announced that Maryland deer hunters harvested 94,114 deer, a record season up 12 percent from last year’s total. Antlerless deer harvest rose by 27 percent while antlered deer harvest declined by 2.5 percent.
Maryland’s 84,000 deer hunters bagged 40,042 antlered deer (39,039 white-tailed deer, 1,003 sika deer) and 54,072 antlerless deer (53,034 white-tailed deer, 1,038 sika deer). Bow hunters took 19,088 deer (9,691 antlered, 9,397 antlerless). Firearm hunters tallied 51,290 deer (21,307 antlered, 29,983 antlerless). Muzzleloader hunters bagged 23,736 deer (9,044 antlered, 14,692 antlerless).
The objective of Maryland’s comprehensive deer management plan is to maintain healthy deer populations as a valuable component of Maryland’s ecosystems, stabilize deer population numbers throughout the state, then gradually adjust populations to bring them into acceptable ranges for the social and environmental conditions of individual communities. The harvest of female deer is the most effective way to limit the growth of the deer population because it reduces the number of deer available to reproduce.
Since 1997 DNR’s Wildlife & Heritage Service has adjusted deer hunting seasons and bag limits to encourage the harvest of antlerless deer. In 2002, deer hunters again responded by taking 54,072 antlerless deer compared to 42,707 taken last season. These hunters spend their time and money playing a critical role in deer population management.
Deer hunting provides positive economic benefits to Maryland’s economy. The 2001 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service survey revealed that retail sales of deer hunting equipment and supplies produced $82.3 million for Maryland’s economy. When this initial spending is multiplied by the accumulative effect to the economy, the total rises to $156 million. Deer hunting generated $4.1 million in Maryland sales/motor fuel tax and $1.4 million in Maryland state income tax. Total salaries and wages generated by businesses associated with deer hunting totaled $37 million.
Additional information regarding deer biology, management and the 2003-04 deer hunting season is available at DNR’s Web site at: www.dnr.state.md.us
|
2002-2003
Maryland Deer Harvest Summary - Bow
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antlered
|
|
Antlerless
|
|
Total
|
|
|
County
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
%Change
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
%Change
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
%Change
|
|
|
Allegany
|
|
785
|
823
|
4.8
|
|
528
|
689
|
30.5
|
|
1313
|
1512
|
15.2
|
|
|
Anne
Arundel
|
|
401
|
304
|
-24.2
|
|
315
|
400
|
27
|
|
716
|
704
|
-1.7
|
|
|
Baltimore
|
|
789
|
870
|
10.4
|
|
893
|
1217
|
36.2
|
|
1682
|
2087
|
24.1
|
|
|
Calvert
|
|
190
|
189
|
-0.5
|
|
146
|
149
|
2.1
|
|
336
|
338
|
0.6
|
|
|
Caroline
|
|
131
|
139
|
6.1
|
|
163
|
174
|
6.7
|
|
294
|
313
|
6.5
|
|
|
Carroll
|
|
759
|
691
|
-9
|
|
379
|
339
|
-10.8
|
|
1138
|
1030
|
-9.6
|
|
|
Cecil
|
|
315
|
274
|
-13
|
|
306
|
316
|
3.3
|
|
621
|
590
|
-5
|
|
|
Charles
|
|
347
|
267
|
-23.1
|
|
218
|
260
|
19.3
|
|
565
|
527
|
-6.7
|
|
|
Dorchester
|
whitetail
|
162
|
127
|
-21.6
|
|
190
|
120
|
-36.8
|
|
352
|
247
|
-29.8
|
|
|
|
sika
|
109
|
98
|
-10.1
|
|
127
|
111
|
-12.6
|
|
236
|
209
|
-11.4
|
|
|
Frederick
|
|
1132
|
904
|
-20.1
|
|
595
|
630
|
5.9
|
|
1727
|
1534
|
-11.2
|
|
|
Garrett
|
|
884
|
927
|
4.9
|
|
483
|
572
|
18.4
|
|
1367
|
1499
|
9.7
|
|
|
Harford
|
|
465
|
476
|
2.4
|
|
356
|
355
|
-0.3
|
|
821
|
831
|
1.2
|
|
|
Aberdeen
Proving Grounds
|
|
114*
|
201
|
76.3
|
|
210*
|
419
|
99.5
|
|
324*
|
620
|
91.4
|
|
|
|
Howard
|
|
451
|
385
|
-14.6
|
|
504
|
642
|
27.4
|
|
955
|
1027
|
7.5
|
|
|
Kent
|
|
355
|
325
|
-8.5
|
|
413
|
400
|
-3.1
|
|
768
|
725
|
-5.6
|
|
|
Montgomery
|
|
283
|
449
|
58.7
|
|
618
|
702
|
13.6
|
|
901
|
1151
|
27.7
|
|
|
Prince
George's
|
|
235
|
280
|
19.1
|
|
276
|
260
|
-5.8
|
|
511
|
540
|
5.7
|
|
|
Queen
Anne's
|
|
305
|
307
|
0.7
|
|
325
|
326
|
0.3
|
|
630
|
633
|
0.5
|
|
|
St.
Mary's
|
|
296
|
212
|
-28.4
|
|
238
|
207
|
-13
|
|
534
|
419
|
-21.5
|
|
|
Somerset
|
whitetail
|
132
|
94
|
-28.8
|
|
138
|
115
|
-16.7
|
|
270
|
209
|
-22.6
|
|
|
|
sika
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Talbot
|
|
165
|
153
|
-7.3
|
|
161
|
154
|
-4.3
|
|
326
|
307
|
-5.8
|
|
|
Washington
|
|
965
|
940
|
-2.6
|
|
556
|
553
|
-0.5
|
|
1521
|
1493
|
-1.8
|
|
|
Wicomico
|
whitetail
|
120
|
116
|
-3.3
|
|
172
|
132
|
-23.3
|
|
292
|
248
|
-15.1
|
|
|
|
sika
|
3
|
2
|
-33.3
|
|
1
|
2
|
100
|
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
|
|
Worcester
|
whitetail
|
168
|
128
|
-23.8
|
|
254
|
145
|
-42.9
|
|
422
|
273
|
-35.3
|
|
|
|
sika
|
20
|
10
|
-50
|
|
34
|
8
|
-76.5
|
|
54
|
18
|
-66.7
|
|
|
Total
|
|
9967
|
9691
|
-2.8
|
|
8389
|
9397
|
12
|
|
18356
|
19088
|
4
|
|
|
*2000-2001
Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2002-2003
Maryland Deer Harvest Summary - Firearms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antlered
|
|
Antlerless
|
|
Total
|
|
|
County
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
%Change
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
%Change
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
%Change
|
|
|
Allegany
|
|
2732
|
2555
|
-6.5
|
|
1287
|
1834
|
42.5
|
|
4019
|
4389
|
9.2
|
|
|
Anne
Arundel
|
|
369
|
388
|
5.1
|
|
497
|
911
|
83.3
|
|
866
|
1299
|
50
|
|
|
Baltimore
|
|
685
|
847
|
23.6
|
|
856
|
1638
|
91.4
|
|
1541
|
2485
|
61.3
|
|
|
Calvert
|
|
241
|
315
|
30.7
|
|
242
|
552
|
128.1
|
|
483
|
867
|
79.5
|
|
|
Caroline
|
whitetail
|
497
|
452
|
-9.1
|
|
539
|
811
|
50.6
|
|
1036
|
1263
|
22
|
|
|
|
sika
|
0
|
1
|
100
|
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
1
|
100
|
|
|
Carroll
|
|
1261
|
1248
|
-1
|
|
1045
|
1314
|
25.7
|
|
2306
|
2562
|
11.1
|
|
|
Cecil
|
|
604
|
625
|
3.5
|
|
946
|
1181
|
24.8
|
|
1550
|
1806
|
16.5
|
|
|
Charles
|
|
765
|
690
|
-9.8
|
|
736
|
1094
|
48.6
|
|
1501
|
1784
|
18.9
|
|
|
Dorchester
|
whitetail
|
781
|
612
|
-21.4
|
|
1020
|
1363
|
33.9
|
|
1801
|
1975
|
9.9
|
|
|
|
sika
|
325
|
490
|
50.8
|
|
410
|
579
|
41.2
|
|
735
|
1069
|
45.4
|
|
|
Frederick
|
|
2274
|
1992
|
-12.4
|
|
1852
|
2758
|
48.9
|
|
4126
|
4750
|
15.1
|
|
|
Garrett
|
|
2127
|
2258
|
6.2
|
|
1063
|
1254
|
18
|
|
3190
|
3512
|
10.1
|
|
|
Harford
|
|
425
|
510
|
20
|
|
523
|
787
|
50.5
|
|
948
|
1297
|
36.8
|
|
|
Aberdeen
Proving Grounds
|
|
67*
|
110
|
64.2
|
|
110*
|
238
|
116.4
|
|
177*
|
348
|
96.6
|
|
|
|
Howard
|
|
371
|
370
|
-0.3
|
|
570
|
796
|
39.6
|
|
941
|
1166
|
23.9
|
|
|
Kent
|
|
851
|
774
|
-9
|
|
1101
|
1591
|
44.5
|
|
1952
|
2365
|
21.2
|
|
|
Montgomery
|
|
599
|
622
|
3.8
|
|
1052
|
1582
|
50.4
|
|
1651
|
2204
|
33.5
|
|
|
Prince
George's
|
|
399
|
433
|
8.5
|
|
466
|
639
|
37.1
|
|
865
|
1072
|
23.9
|
|
|
Queen
Anne's
|
|
663
|
633
|
-4.5
|
|
907
|
1208
|
33.2
|
|
1570
|
1841
|
17.3
|
|
|
St.
Mary's
|
|
501
|
502
|
0.2
|
|
617
|
903
|
46.4
|
|
1118
|
1405
|
25.7
|
|
|
Somerset
|
whitetail
|
547
|
551
|
0.7
|
|
784
|
1120
|
42.9
|
|
1331
|
1671
|
25.5
|
|
|
|
sika
|
1
|
0
|
-100
|
|
0
|
2
|
200
|
|
1
|
2
|
100
|
|
|
Talbot
|
|
533
|
498
|
-6.4
|
|
618
|
882
|
42.9
|
|
1151
|
1380
|
20.1
|
|
|
Washington
|
|
2342
|
2299
|
-1.8
|
|
1487
|
1883
|
26.6
|
|
3829
|
4182
|
9.2
|
|
|
Wicomico
|
whitetail
|
623
|
672
|
7.9
|
|
847
|
1335
|
57.7
|
|
1470
|
2007
|
36.6
|
|
|
|
sika
|
4
|
8
|
100
|
|
3
|
5
|
66.7
|
|
7
|
13
|
85.7
|
|
|
Worcester
|
whitetail
|
1023
|
828
|
-19.1
|
|
1278
|
1680
|
31.5
|
|
2301
|
2508
|
9
|
|
|
|
sika
|
7
|
24
|
242.9
|
|
25
|
43
|
72
|
|
32
|
67
|
109.4
|
|
|
Total
|
|
21550
|
21307
|
-1.1
|
|
20771
|
29983
|
44.4
|
|
42321
|
51290
|
21.2
|
|
|
*2000-2001
Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2002-2003
Maryland Deer Harvest Summary - Muzzleloader
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antlered
|
|
Antlerless
|
|
Total
|
|
|
County
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
%Change
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
%Change
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
%Change
|
|
|
Allegany
|
|
926
|
787
|
-15
|
|
962
|
1272
|
32.2
|
|
1888
|
2059
|
9.1
|
|
|
Anne
Arundel
|
|
199
|
232
|
16.6
|
|
380
|
407
|
7.1
|
|
579
|
639
|
10.4
|
|
|
Baltimore
|
|
502
|
438
|
-12.7
|
|
667
|
847
|
27
|
|
1169
|
1285
|
9.9
|
|
|
Calvert
|
|
156
|
206
|
32.1
|
|
300
|
354
|
18
|
|
456
|
560
|
22.8
|
|
|
Caroline
|
|
235
|
203
|
-13.6
|
|
491
|
480
|
-2.2
|
|
726
|
683
|
-5.9
|
|
|
Carroll
|
|
512
|
421
|
-17.8
|
|
543
|
524
|
-3.5
|
|
1055
|
945
|
-10.4
|
|
|
Cecil
|
|
253
|
241
|
-4.7
|
|
343
|
347
|
1.2
|
|
596
|
588
|
-1.3
|
|
|
Charles
|
|
376
|
327
|
-13
|
|
582
|
593
|
1.9
|
|
958
|
920
|
-4
|
|
|
Dorchester
|
whitetail
|
290
|
208
|
-28.3
|
|
526
|
514
|
-2.3
|
|
816
|
722
|
-11.5
|
|
|
|
sika
|
273
|
335
|
22.7
|
|
184
|
261
|
41.8
|
|
457
|
596
|
30.4
|
|
|
Frederick
|
|
966
|
889
|
-8
|
|
1235
|
1405
|
13.8
|
|
2201
|
2294
|
4.2
|
|
|
Garrett
|
|
852
|
723
|
-15.1
|
|
855
|
1048
|
22.6
|
|
1707
|
1771
|
3.7
|
|
|
Harford
|
|
299
|
314
|
5
|
|
446
|
432
|
-3.1
|
|
745
|
746
|
0.1
|
|
|
Aberdeen
Proving Grounds
|
|
59*
|
72
|
22
|
|
106*
|
125
|
17.9
|
|
165*
|
197
|
19.4
|
|
|
|
Howard
|
|
198
|
215
|
8.6
|
|
418
|
381
|
-8.9
|
|
616
|
596
|
-3.2
|
|
|
Kent
|
|
435
|
387
|
-11
|
|
741
|
703
|
-5.1
|
|
1176
|
1090
|
-7.3
|
|
|
Montgomery
|
|
359
|
424
|
18.1
|
|
635
|
606
|
-4.6
|
|
994
|
1030
|
3.6
|
|
|
Prince
George's
|
|
232
|
237
|
2.2
|
|
289
|
341
|
18
|
|
521
|
578
|
10.9
|
|
|
Queen
Anne's
|
|
346
|
404
|
16.8
|
|
630
|
628
|
-0.3
|
|
976
|
1032
|
5.7
|
|
|
St.
Mary's
|
|
252
|
267
|
6
|
|
531
|
480
|
-9.6
|
|
783
|
747
|
-4.6
|
|
|
Somerset
|
whitetail
|
201
|
158
|
-21.4
|
|
385
|
380
|
-1.3
|
|
586
|
538
|
-8.2
|
|
|
|
sika
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2
|
1
|
-50
|
|
2
|
1
|
-50
|
|
|
Talbot
|
|
242
|
204
|
-15.7
|
|
406
|
442
|
8.9
|
|
648
|
646
|
-0.3
|
|
|
Washington
|
|
991
|
914
|
-7.8
|
|
918
|
1172
|
27.7
|
|
1909
|
2086
|
9.3
|
|
|
Wicomico
|
whitetail
|
196
|
152
|
-21.9
|
|
419
|
435
|
3.6
|
|
615
|
587
|
-4.6
|
|
|
|
sika
|
1
|
7
|
600
|
|
2
|
3
|
50
|
|
3
|
10
|
233.3
|
|
|
Worcester
|
whitetail
|
248
|
251
|
1.2
|
|
630
|
488
|
-22.5
|
|
878
|
739
|
-15.8
|
|
|
|
sika
|
23
|
28
|
21.7
|
|
27
|
23
|
-14.8
|
|
50
|
51
|
2
|
|
|
Total
|
|
9563
|
9044
|
-5.4
|
|
13547
|
14692
|
8.5
|
|
23110
|
23736
|
2.7
|
|
|
*2000-2001
Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted March 24, 2003