Rainy weather that spread across the state may have dampened the opening day firearms deer harvest in some areas of the state, but overall the harvest was up two percent over last year. The final two-week official Firearm Deer Season totals are expected to top last year's harvest of 42,337 deer. Preliminary counts show 16,522 deer on opening day this year, compared to 16,181 deer taken in 1999's initial tally. Since hunters may check deer in counties adjacent to where the deer was taken, further evaluation will change final county numbers. Maryland's firearm deer hunters take 57 percent of all deer harvested in Maryland.
Private landowners rely on deer hunting to manage deer numbers on their lands.
Eighty-six percent of deer bagged in Maryland come from private property. The Maryland Firearm Deer Season continues through Dec. 9. 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.