DNR Invites Comments on 10-Year White-tailed Deer Management Plan

Annapolis, MD – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today the opportunity to comment on the new White-tailed Deer Management plan. Through September 10, 2009, citizens can comment on the 2009 – 2018 White-tailed Deer Management Plan developed by the DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service. The plan will provide the Department guidance on deer management for the next ten years.

“White-tailed deer are one of Maryland’s most charismatic wildlife species,” said DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service Deer Project Leader, Brian Eyler. “Nearly every resident and visitor to Maryland has had an opportunity to interact with white-tailed deer. Most of these interactions are positive, while some are less so. In the end, few species give rise to the same level of cultural and ecological importance. We encourage all citizens to participate in this process and offer suggestions on how DNR can improve upon its plan to manage white-tailed deer during the next decade.”

Maryland’s first 10-year deer plan was created in 1998. The revised Deer Management Plan is intended to represent the interests of all Marylanders and non-resident stakeholders who have an interest in Maryland’s deer population. The revised plan provides information on white-tailed deer history, biology and management in Maryland, outlines DNR’s deer management responsibilities, and identifies major deer management goals, objectives and strategies for the future.

The draft plan and instructions for submitting comments are available at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/dmpforum.asp.

For more information about deer in Maryland, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/deerhunting.asp.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 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