CWD Found in Maryland Deer

In February, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received laboratory confirmation that a second white-tailed deer harvested in Maryland tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD).

The adult female deer was harvested in Allegany County in December 2013 during firearm season. The first confirmed case of CWD in Maryland was reported in February 2011, also from Allegany County.

This is the second positive sample out of nearly 7,500 deer tested in Maryland since 1999. Since 2010, sampling efforts have been focused on Allegany and western Washington counties due to the presence of CWD in nearby West Virginia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Over 20 U.S. states and Canadian provinces have documented cases of chronic wasting disease, a fatal disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, moose.

The disease appears to be passed between animals via saliva, feces or urine, according to DNR.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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

2013 Maryland Deer Season

Maryland's firearm deer season opens Saturday, November 30 and runs through December 14, 2013. During the two week season, hunters who possess a valid hunting license or are exempt from the Maryland hunting license requirements may use firearms to hunt white-tailed and sika deer.

Maryland deer hunting regulations can be found on the DNR website. The 2013-14 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping also contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons.

Deer hunters are encouraged to donate any extra deer they may harvest to the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program. The deer are processed at participating butchers and processors free of charge and the venison is then given to local food banks.

For more information, contact the Wildlife & Heritage Service at 410-260-8540.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Maryland 2012-13 Deer Season

During Maryland's bow, muzzleloader and firearm seasons combined (September 7, 2012 through January 31, 2013), hunters harvested 87,541 deer.

According to MD DNR, biologists attribute the 11 percent decline compared to last year’s total to multiple factors, including reduced hunter participation, an abundant acorn crop, and a lower deer population in some areas.

Maryland's 2012-2013 deer harvest includes:

29,366 antlered white-tailed deer

55,763 antlerless white-tailed deer

1,127 antlered  sika deer

1,285 antlerless sika deer

Frederick County led the harvest totals this year with 7,634 deer, followed by Baltimore County with 5,991 and Washington County at 5,762. Montgomery County and Carroll County completed the top five counties with 5,598 and 5,579 deer, respectively.

source: MD DNR

2011-12 Maryland Deer Season Statistics

Maryland deer hunters enjoyed the fourth highest harvest on record during the 2011-2012 hunting season. In Maryland, hunters harvested a total of 98,029 deer during the state's bow, muzzleloader and firearm seasons.

The total is just below last year’s harvest of 98,663 deer. The antlered harvest increased 3 percent, while the antlerless harvest declined by the same percentage. In Maryland, 2,657 sika deer were harvested statewide; a 4 percent decrease from last year’s total for this species.

In Deer Management Region A (Garrett, Allegany, and western Washington counties) hunters reported taking 10,358 deer this year, up 11 percent from 2010-11.
The reported harvest in the remainder of the State, Region B, declined 2 percent to 87,671 deer this year.

Frederick County once again led the harvest totals for the State with 8,378 deer, followed by Baltimore County with 6,804 and Washington County with 6,753 deer.

Sunday deer hunting contributed to deer harvests in Maryland. The Junior Deer Hunt, traditionally held on a Saturday, included the following Sunday in 20 of 23 counties for the first time this year. Sunday hunting accounted for a total of 6,278 deer, 6 percent of the 2011-12 harvest.

source: MD DNR

Maryland 2010 Deer Season

Maryland deer hunters endured less than favorable weather conditions for the two-week deer firearm season and harvested an estimated 40,694 deer. The total included 13,605 antlered deer and 27,089 antlerless deer. Included in the totals were 516 antlered and 565 antlerless sika deer.Overall, the harvest was down 9 percent decrease from last year’s harvest.

Region A deer hunters (Garrett, Allegany and western Washington counties) reported 4,422 deer for the two-week season, a decline of 8 percent from last year’s harvest of 4,809 deer. The antlered harvest decreased an estimated 4 percent from 2,620 deer last year to 2,528 deer this year, while the antlerless harvest decreased 14 percent from 2,189 deer to 1,894 deer.

Maryland’s two-week late muzzleloader season opens Saturday, December 18 and closes on January 1, 2011.

source: MD DNR