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Maryland Deer Hunters Continue Steady Trend
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland deer hunters harvested 91,930 white-tailed deer during the bow, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons this year, down about 2 percent from the 2005-06 season. Statewide, the antlered harvest of 33,114 deer (889 sika deer) was similar to last year’s harvest of 32,837 deer, while the antlerless harvest decreased from 61,215 deer to 58,816 deer (890 sika deer). The relatively stable antlered harvest suggests the deer population in rural counties is stabilizing at current levels.
In Deer Management Region A, comprised of Allegany and Garrett counties, revised regulations put in place last year to stabilize a too rapidly declining deer population appear to be working. The antlered harvest increased from 4,922 deer last year to 5,246 deer this year. The antlerless harvest increased from 3,637 deer last year to 4,013 deer this year.
“Today’s news is that our plan is working; the deer population is stable in rural Maryland and our efforts to expand hunting opportunities are beginning to show an impact on overabundant deer herds elsewhere in Maryland,“ said Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul A. Peditto. “We will continue to monitor the Garrett and Allegany deer populations and, if necessary, adjust regulations accordingly to maintain a balance between high quality hunting opportunities and the Region A ecosystem.”
Maryland’s current Deer Management Plan calls for stabilizing white-tailed deer populations at 1997-1998 levels. The current deer population in many areas of Maryland continues to be near or below those levels. Revisions to the plan during the year, based partially on public input, will establish revised population goals for the state.
The attached chart indicates the current deer harvest figures by county for bow, firearm and muzzleloader season.
Maryland Reported Antlered and Antlerless Deer Harvest by County for the Bow, Firearms, and Muzzleloader 2006-2007 Hunting Seasons COUNTY BOW FIREARMS MUZZLELOADER TOTAL Antlered Antlerless Sub Total Antlered Antlerless Sub Total Antlered Antlerless Sub Total Antlered Antlerless Grand Total Allegany 663 401 1064 1505 1011 2516 480 536 1016 2648 1948 4596 Anne Arundel 341 593 934 405 836 1241 158 426 584 904 1855 2759 Baltimore 747 1844 2591 705 1595 2300 331 868 1199 1783 4307 6090 Calvert 223 352 575 388 695 1083 157 394 551 768 1441 2209 Caroline whitetail 149 241 390 447 950 1397 186 449 635 782 1640 2422 sika 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 1 1 2 3 Carroll 435 684 1119 1034 1874 2908 291 704 995 1760 3262 5022 Cecil 318 498 816 566 1229 1795 170 380 550 1054 2107 3161 Charles 394 543 937 785 1388 2173 299 603 902 1478 2534 4012 Dorchester whitetail 157 175 332 546 1186 1732 194 397 591 897 1758 2655 sika 133 153 286 397 445 842 277 164 441 807 762 1569 Frederick 562 788 1350 1462 2488 3950 488 1096 1584 2512 4372 6884 Garrett 647 457 1104 1442 997 2439 509 611 1120 2598 2065 4663 Harford 464 710 1174 521 997 1518 222 530 752 1207 2237 3444 Aberdeen Prv. Grds. 108 265 373 73 203 276 58 139 197 239 607 846 Howard 294 693 987 285 687 972 135 335 470 714 1715 2429 Kent 241 373 614 643 1337 1980 279 528 807 1163 2238 3401 Montgomery 551 1232 1783 602 1794 2396 249 688 937 1402 3714 5116 Prince George's 291 447 738 425 767 1192 190 413 603 906 1627 2533 Queen Anne's 223 361 584 635 1436 2071 232 542 774 1090 2339 3429 Saint Mary's 264 381 645 525 810 1335 265 498 763 1054 1689 2743 Somerset whitetail 149 155 304 531 1161 1692 172 418 590 852 1734 2586 sika 2 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 4 0 4 Talbot 146 264 410 442 1214 1656 166 423 589 754 1901 2655 Washington 706 1030 1736 1954 3177 5131 641 1307 1948 3301 5514 8815 Wicomico whitetail 214 340 554 687 1435 2122 172 481 653 1073 2256 3329 sika 5 4 9 14 13 27 4 7 11 23 24 47 Worcester whitetail 188 342 530 851 2151 3002 247 573 820 1286 3066 4352 sika 16 34 50 20 36 56 18 32 50 54 102 156 TOTAL 8631 13360 21991 17891 31914 49805 6592 13542 20134 33114 58816 91930
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