Hunting News

Opening weekend reports harvest of 13,514 deer

Opening weekend reports harvest of 13,514 deer

By Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Hunters reported harvesting 13,514 deer on the opening weekend of Maryland’s 2017 firearm season, the state’s most popular hunting season.

The total includes 6,242 antlered and 7,272 antlerless deer, with sika deer comprising 201 of the antlered and 188 of the antlerless totals. The two-week deer firearm season runs through Dec. 9.

Frederick County once again led the Sunday harvest with 342 deer taken. The harvest was nearly the same as last year’s official total of 13,571 deer for the same period.

“Excellent weather conditions and the ability to hunt Sunday in much of the state contributed to the healthy harvest the opening weekend,” according to Paul Peditto, Wildlife and Heritage Service director.

Hunters in Region A – mainly western Maryland – reported harvesting 1,401 deer for the weekend, up significantly from last year’s harvest of 1,111. In Region B, the antlered deer harvest decreased from 5,074 last year to 4,841 this year and the antlerless harvest decreased from 7,386 to 7,272.

Deer hunters harvested 3,389 deer (1,369 antlered, 2,020 antlerless) Nov. 26. Hunting is permitted on select Sundays in 20 counties and has become increasingly popular with hunters across the state.

Junior hunters also took advantage of good November hunting weather and reported taking 2,462 deer during the Junior Deer Hunt Days.  The harvest was nearly identical to last year’s official harvest of 2,444. These young hunters registered 1,500 antlered and 962 antlerless deer.

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