news
The late segment of Maryland^s Muzzleloader Deer Season will open on Dec. 16 and continue through Dec. 30. An estimated 32,000 white-tailed deer muzzleloader hunters and 4,400 sika deer muzzleloader hunters will spend about 143,000 days afield.
"New deer management regulations, established in 1998, are clearly providing hunters with additional recreational opportunities, as well as improving our ability to manage the State^s deer population," said Mike Slattery, director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Division. "These regulations encourage antlerless deer harvest in sections of Maryland with high or rapidly growing deer numbers. During the two years these new regulations have been in effect, the average antlerless deer harvest in these sections of Maryland increased by 34 percent over the average total antlerless harvest for the two years prior to the new regulations."
Muzzleloader hunters bagged 6,105 white-tailed deer and 117 sika deer during the 1999 two week muzzleloader season. The ten leading muzzleloader counties for 1999 were: Garrett (667); Frederick (651); Allegany (631); Washington (542); Baltimore (348); Charles (277); Montgomery (259); Kent (258); Queen Anne^s (256); Carroll (255).
Telescopic sights and sabots are permissible for muzzleloader deer hunting statewide. Muzzleloader rifles must be at least .40 caliber and be loaded with not less than 60 grains of black powder or an equivalent amount of Pyrodex.
Muzzleloader hunters are reminded that only one deer may be taken per day in Deer Management Region A. In all other Deer Management Regions, there is no restriction that applies to the number of deer that may be taken per day within the season bag limits.
For additional information regarding regional bag limits and Maryland^s deer hunting regulations, consult the DNR publication Hunting and Trapping in Maryland 2000-2001. For details about hunting on Maryland^s more than one quarter million acres of public lands consult the Guide to Public Hunting Lands in Maryland. These publications are available for all DNR Sport License Agents and DNR Regional Service Centers and are issued to all hunters when they purchase a 2000-2001 Maryland hunting license. Both publications may also be found via the DNR website at:
Uploaded: 12/4/2000
Uploaded: 12/4/2000