Thursday, February 20, 2014

2013-14 Maryland Deer Harvest

Maryland hunters harvested 95,863 deer during the archery, muzzleloader and firearm seasons combined (September 6, 2013 through January 31, 2014).

The 2013-2014 statewide harvest includes:

30,998 antlered and 62,164 antlerless white-tailed deer
1,116 antlered and 1,585 antlerless sika deer

Region A (Garrett, Allegany and western Washington counties) hunters reported 9,176 deer (5,186 antlered and 3,990 antlerless).

Frederick County led the harvest totals this year with 8,040 deer, followed by Washington County with 6,376 and Baltimore County at 6,336. Carroll and Montgomery counties rounded out the top five with 5,915 and 5,889 deer, respectively.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Eagle Festival

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Eagle Festival
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, MD
March 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge eagle festival includes several free bus tours to see active eagles' nests.
Pre-registration is NOT required.

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Popes Creek Coastal Wetlands Acquisition

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) was recently awarded a $1 million National Coastal Wetlands Conservation grant to acquire land in Charles County, Maryland.

The property along Popes Creek includes 92 acres of upland forest, 128 acres of wetlands, open water, and beach front.

Popes Creek is a conservation focus area, having been identified by MD DNR as both a Targeted Ecological Area and a Natural Heritage Area. It lies within the Zekiah Swamp area, which is a protection priority for the USFWS Chesapeake Bay Program, MD DNR, and Charles County.

The property will be held and managed by Charles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Plans for the site include the creation of a biking/walking trail along an abandoned railway bed.

Funding for the project was included in $16.5 million in grants which will go to support 21 critical coastal wetland projects in 12 states and Puerto Rico under the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants Program.

The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act.

Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program funds originate from the Sport Fish Restoration Act revenue which is generated via an excise tax on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels.

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service