Maryland’s Two-Week Firearm Deer Season Sets New Record
Three percent jump sets new mark for preliminary deer harvest

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ANNAPOLIS -- Maryland firearm deer hunters registered 43,455 deer during the two-week firearm season, a record preliminary harvest for the firearm season. Liberalized bag limits and overall favorable weather conditions in much of Maryland were likely factors that lead to an increase in deer taken in many areas of the new Deer Management Region B.

Reduced antlered deer bag limits combined with poor weather during the 2-day either sex deer season in Maryland’s far western Garrett and Allegany counties contributed to a drop in the deer kill in the new Region A. The attached table lists the preliminary numbers for each county.

As hunters may legally check deer taken in one county at a check station in an adjacent county, the preliminary harvest totals for each county are subject to change. The official harvest analysis will be conducted at the completion of all deer hunting seasons, using the final harvest figures. A break down of the separate antlered and antlerless harvest figures per county will also be available at that time.

Maryland firearm season is the most popular deer-hunting season. Firearm deer hunters typically take about 55 – 57 percent of the total deer harvest. Eight out of ten deer taken during this two-week period are killed on private lands. In addition, no firearms-related hunting accidents were reported during the two-week season.

“Hunters should be proud of continuing the successful record of safe, effective and efficient management of our deer herd while enjoying an opportunity for outdoor recreation in the forests and fields of Maryland,” said Paul A. Peditto, Director of the Wildlife and Heritage Service.

During this two-week season, Maryland wildlife biologists collect information that is essential for scientific deer management. Age structure, sex structure, antler dimensions and body weights are collected at locations across the State during the firearm deer season. This information, in conjunction with final harvest data, is used to monitor the deer population response to deer hunting seasons and bag limits.

Deer hunters are reminded that Maryland’s two-week late muzzleloader season opens this Saturday, Dec. 18 and closes on Jan. 1.

2004 Maryland Unofficial 2-Week Firearm Deer Harvest
Results As Compared to 2003 Unofficial 2-Week Firearm Deer Harvest
County	2004-2005 Unofficial Harvest	2003-2004 Unofficial Harvest	Difference	% Change
Allegany	2992	3513	-521	-14.8
Anne Arundel	1134	1039	95	9.1
Baltimore	1600	1800	-200	-11.1
Calvert	1280	1391	-111	-8.0
Caroline	1612	1038	574	55.3
Carroll	3670	3150	520	16.5
Cecil	1053	1275	-222	-17.4
Charles	1476	1539	-63	-4.1
Dorchester	2491	2550	-59	-2.3
Frederick	4106	3948	158	4.0
Garrett	2036	2992	-956	-32.0
Harford	1156	1030	126	12.2
Howard	385	356	29	8.1
Kent	2239	2195	44	2.0
Montgomery	1123	1161	-38	-3.3
Prince George's	414	370	44	11.9
Queen Anne's	1643	1454	189	13.0
St. Mary's	1435	1417	18	1.3
Somerset	1856	1691	165	9.8
Talbot	956	1083	-127	-11.7
Washington	5125	3979	1146	28.8
Wicomico	1766	1593	173	10.9
Worcester	1907	1602	305	19.0
Total	43,455	42,166	1,289	3.1

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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to Maryland citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 435,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, as well as Maryland's wildlife and fishery species for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, the department manages natural, historic and cultural resources that attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov