Firearm hunters bagged 42,850 deer compared with 40,706 deer taken last year's firearm season. 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. 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. The following is a table breaking down preliminary harvest numbers by county.