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Preliminary results show that this year Maryland^s firearm deer hunters increased the two-week firearm harvest by five percent over last year. Firearm hunters bagged 42,850 deer compared with 40,706 deer taken last year^s firearm season. "The increase in this year^s preliminary firearms harvest is a result of a combination of factors, including the increasing size of the deer population, the recent liberalization of bag limits, and the quality of the effort of Maryland hunters," said Paul Peditto, Deer Project manager for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Division. The leading ten counties are: Allegany (4,492); Washington (3,990); Garrett (3,529); Frederick (3,279); Dorchester (3,156); Carroll (2,709); Kent (2,030); Worcester (1,894); Queen Anne^s (1,696); and Wicomico (1,693). Since hunters may register deer at check stations in adjoining counties, final harvest by county is likely to change. During this two week Firearm Deer Season, Maryland deer hunters spent about 69,400 days hunting white-tailed deer and approximately 7,300 days hunting sika deer. Maryland hunters reflect national trends, ranking deer population control, recreation and food as the three primary reasons for deer hunting. Deer hunting remains the primary method of deer management in Maryland and across the nation. Maryland^s muzzleloader deer hunting season reopens on Dec. 16 and continues through Dec. 30. For complete information regarding Maryland deer hunting seasons and hunting regulations, consult the DNR publication Hunting & Trapping in Maryland 2000-2001. The DNR publication Guide to Public Hunting Lands in Maryland 2000-2001 provides information about public land hunting opportunities. Both publications are available at all DNR Service Centers and are issued to hunters when they purchase a 2000-2001 Maryland hunting license. Hunting information can also be obtained via the DNR website at: www.dnr.state.md.us The following is a table breaking down preliminary harvest numbers by county. County 2000-2001 1999-2000 Difference % Change Allegany 4492 3676 816 22.20 Anne Arundel 652 803 -151 -18.80 Baltimore 1609 1316 293 22.26 Calvert 1062 1312 -250 -19.05 Caroline 1043 1092 -49 -4.49 Carroll 2709 2312 397 17.17 Cecil 1349 1325 24 1.81 Charles 1309 1451 -142 -9.79 Dorchester 3156 2897 259 8.94 Frederick 3279 3431 -152 -4.43 Garrett 3539 2805 724 25.81 Harford 1277 1199 78 6.51 Howard 746 656 90 13.72 Kent 2030 2181 -151 -6.92 Montgomery 1199 1192 7 0.59 Prince George^s 273 430 -157 -36.51 Queen Anne^s 1696 1516 180 11.87 St. Mary^s 1191 1454 -263 -18.09 Somerset 1346 1243 103 8.29 Talbot 1326 1210 116 9.59 Washington 3990 3575 415 11.61 Wicomico 1693 1680 13 0.77 Worcester 1894 1950 -56 -2.87 Totals 42,850 40,706 2,144 5.27

Uploaded: 12/19/2000