Firearm Deer Season Opens November 27

Annapolis, Md. (November 15, 2010) — Maryland’s two-week deer firearm season opens Saturday, November 27, 2010. Hunters usually take nearly half of the annual deer harvest during this popular Maryland tradition.

“The two-week firearm season is the main event for most deer hunters,” said Brian Eyler, Deer Project Leader for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “It’s a great opportunity for family and friends to spend time together in the woods and the substantial harvest helps manage our deer population.”

Deer hunting regulations vary between Maryland’s two Deer Management Regions:

• Region A consists of Garrett and Allegany counties and, new this year, a portion of Washington County west of Clear Spring. The white-tailed deer firearm bag limit for Deer Management Region A is one antlered and one antlerless. However, no more than two antlerless deer may be taken on public lands in Region A with any combination of the bow, muzzleloader and firearm bag limits, excluding the Junior Deer Hunt Day.
• Region B includes eastern Washington County and the remaining 20 counties. The firearm season bag limit for Region B is two antlered and ten antlerless deer.

Hunters are urged to carefully inspect all tree stands before using them. A full body safety harness should be used while climbing into or out of a tree stand and while in the stand. DNR strongly recommends using a sliding knot, commonly known as a prussic knot, attached to a line that is secured above the stand. This allows the hunter to be safely tethered to the tree as soon as they leave the ground. For more safety tips and a video on tree stand safety go to http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/ts.asp.

Complete bag limits, season dates, Deer Management Region boundaries and other deer hunting information can be found at www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguidede. The 2010-2011 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping issued with each hunting license contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons and includes tips on treestand safety (see page 24).

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