Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Dorchester County recently received approval to acquire 758 acres for $2.235 million.
     
The funding was among nearly $6.5 million in expenditures from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to conserve 3,274 acres for five national wildlife refuges through fee title land acquisitions and easement acquisitions.

The Migratory Bird Conservation Fund receives money through the sale of Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps (Duck Stamps), which help provide habitat for wildlife and increased opportunities for refuge visitors who enjoy hunting, birdwatching, photography and other activities.

For every dollar spent on federal Duck Stamps, 98 cents goes toward the acquisition or lease of habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1934, the Federal Duck Stamp Program and Migratory Bird Conservation Fund have provided more than $800 million to acquire more than 5.7 million acres for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

2013 Maryland Spring Turkey Season

Maryland hunters reported harvesting a total of 3,344 wild turkeys during the 2013 spring turkey season. The 2013 turkey harvest exceeds the previous record harvest of 3,136 set in 2005.

This year’s harvest was 7 percent above the 2012 harvest of 3,132, and well above the 10-year average of 2,925. High turkey populations coupled with good weather likely contributed to the record-setting harvest, according to Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Also, Harford, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Frederick counties have experienced considerable increases in wild turkey populations.

The top five counties for turkey harvests were Garrett County (386), Washington (309), Charles (270), Allegany (269), and Dorchester (245).

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources