More than 31,000 Deer Harvested During Maryland Firearm Season

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

More than 31,000 Deer Harvested During MD Firearm Season. Maryland has a estimated Whitetail Deer population of 227,000 and counting.

Maryland hunters reported taking 31,390 deer during the popular two-week deer firearm season. Despite mild weather across the state, rain on key hunting days resulted in an eight percent decline in harvest compared to last season. More than 3,200 deer were taken on the Sunday hunting days.

"Scattered rain across the state on opening weekend, combined with warm weather throughout the season, made for challenging hunting conditions this year," Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. "With Sunday hunting available in most counties, hunters had more opportunities to adapt to these conditions and achieve the harvest necessary to meet our deer management objectives."

During the firearm season, hunters reported taking 20,041 antlerless white-tailed deer—nearly double the antlered white-tailed deer taken (11,349). Focusing harvest on antlerless deer remains a fundamental component in the effort to manage Maryland's population.

The harvest of sika deer declined with hunters reporting 390 antlered and 581 antlerless deer, compared to 471 antlered and 670 antlerless in 2014. The bag limit for antlerless sika deer was increased in 2014 in response to rising agricultural damage complaints in the region. Hunters have responded favorably by harvesting more antlerless sika deer to help stabilize the population and reduce it to more acceptable levels in problem areas.

Region A hunters reported taking 3,965 white-tailed deer during the season, down slightly from last year's harvest of 4,128. The region's harvest was comprised of 2,643 antlered and 1,322 antlerless deer.

The Region B harvest decreased eight percent from last year's to 27,425 deer. The region total included 8,706 antlered and 18,719 antlerless deer.

Junior hunters reported taking 2,537 deer during the November junior deer hunt weekend, slightly above last year's harvest. Junior hunters registered 1,575 antlered and 962 antlerless deer in 2015.

Hunting dates, regulations and deer registration procedures are located in the 2015-2016 Guide to Hunting and Trapping. Additional information may be found on the Hunting in Maryland webpage.
Preliminary Deer Harvest Totals for the 2015  junior deer hunt weekend (Nov. 14-15) and firearm season (Nov.28 – Dec. 12) shown by county in the table below.

Junior Hunt   Two-Week Firearm County Antlered Antlerless Total   Antlered Antlerless Total Allegany 92 67 159 1,081 494 1,575 Anne Arundel 21 9 30 219 495 714 Baltimore 14 10 24 388 861 1,249 Calvert 19 6 25 169 337 506 Caroline 43 41 84 305 844 1,149 Carroll 102 51 153 713 1,384 2,097 Cecil 45 26 71 378 766 1,144 Charles 60 36 96 361 675 1,036 Dorchester whitetail 74 39 113   363 828 1,191 sika 19 10 29  364 539 903 Frederick 133 78 211 1,117 1,919 3,036 Garrett 233 90 323 1,123 608 1,731 Harford 38 21 59 268 709 977 Howard 19 7 26 180 364 544 Kent 66 31 97 360 811 1,171 Montgomery 46 27 73 376 830 1,206 Prince George's 17 16 33 247 468 715 Queen Anne's 67 56 123 420 1,009 1,429 Somerset whitetail 61 75 136   354 914 1,268 sika 0 0 0   0 5 5 St. Mary's 29 21 50 262 546 808 Talbot 51 26 77 318 930 1,248 Washington 143 82 225 1,078 1,172 2,250 Wicomico whitetail 100 56 156   382 989 1,371 sika 1 0 1   21 29 50 Worcester whitetail 82 80 162  497 1,507 2,004 sika 0 1 1   5 8 13 Total 1,575 962 2,537   11,349 20,041 31,390        Source: The Outdoor Wire