DNR Releases 2009-10 Two-Week Deer Firearm Season Numbers

Hunters concluded successful firearm season

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (December 28, 2009) — Maryland hunters finished the 2009-10 two-week deer firearm season with a harvest of 44,804 deer. The preliminary figures include 15,447 antlered deer (522 sika deer) and 29,357 antlerless deer (618 sika deer). This year’s total is nearly identical to the 2008-09 tally of 44,837 deer. The antlered harvest declined approximately 2 percent compared to last year while the antlerless total increased by about 1 percent.

“Deer hunting is a win-win situation,” said DNR’s Deer Project Leader Brian Eyler. “Hunters can enjoy a recreational opportunity with friends and family while hopefully putting healthy and sustainable venison in the freezer. At the same time, the citizens of the state benefit from the effective deer population management that hunting contributes.”

Region A hunters (Garrett and Allegany counties) reported 4,809 deer for the two-week season, nearly identical to the 4,817 deer registered last year. The antlered harvest decreased an estimated 3 percent from 2,692 deer last year to 2,620 deer this year, while the antlerless total increased 3 percent from 2,125 deer to 2,189 deer.

In Region B, the two-week firearm harvest decreased slightly from 40,020 deer last year to 39,995 deer this year. The antlered harvest decreased an estimated 1 percent from 12,996 deer last year to 12,827 this year, while the antlerless tally increased an estimated 1 percent from 27,024 to 27,168 deer this year.

Unlike last year, this year young hunters enjoyed good weather during the Junior Firearm Deer Hunt. The mentored junior deer hunters bagged 1,961 deer, a 28 percent increase over a harvest of 1,527 deer last year. Junior hunters are reminded they can obtain an official DNR Junior Hunter Certificate for deer they harvest this year. The certificates are available from participating retail agents; click here for a complete list: http://dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/pdfs/Jr_Hunter_Cert.pdf. Junior hunters can also have their pictures posted on the DNR website by visiting www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/Junior_Hunters/md_jr_hunter.asp.

Maryland’s two-week late muzzleloader season opens Saturday, December 19 and closes January 2, 2010.

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