New Public Hunting Opportunities At Newtowne Neck State Park

Compton, Md. (November 1, 2010) — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced new public hunting opportunities at Newtowne Neck State Park in St. Mary’s County. The 776-acre park, managed by the Maryland Park Service and situated on St. Clements Bay and Breton Bay in the Compton area of the county, was acquired by the State of Maryland and designated as a State Park in April 2009.

“Opening up a hunting program at Newtowne Neck is a great opportunity for the public and it stays within the historical uses of this beautiful property,” said Christy Bright, Manager of Point Lookout State Park complex.

The property purchased for this new State Park was historically used by hunters to pursue a wide variety of game and that tradition will be continued with these new public hunting opportunities for Maryland sportsmen and women. With its diverse habitat including woodlands, wetlands, agricultural fields and shoreline, it will provide hunters with numerous opportunities to pursue upland and forest game species, migratory game birds, waterfowl and deer.

Hunting at Newtowne Neck State Park will be in accordance with season dates and bag limits established by the DNR for statewide hunting and will require a daily permit. Permits may be obtained by calling the Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management Area at 301-743-5161. Hunters must park in designated areas, with access limited to a specific number of vehicles as designated on signs posted in the parking areas.

Additional information about Newtowne Neck State Park is available online at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/newtowne.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