Deer Archery Hunting Season Opens September 15 in Maryland
September 9, 2008
Annapolis — Maryland’s annual deer archery hunting season opens September 15, 2008 and continues through January 31, 2009.
“Archery hunters continue to be an integral part of our comprehensive deer management strategy,” says Wildlife and Heritage Service Deer Project Leader Brian Eyler.
Last season a total of 22,064 deer (8,342 antlered bucks, 11,700 does, 2,022 button bucks) were taken with archery equipment, up from 21,991 in the 2006-2007 season.
Maryland’s deer hunting regulations vary in the two deer management regions. In Region A (Garrett and Allegany Counties) the white-tailed deer archery bag limit is two deer, one antlered and one antlerless. Additionally, no more than two antlerless deer may be taken on public lands in Region A with any combination of bow, muzzleloader and firearm bag limits, excluding the Junior Hunt Day.
In most of Deer Management Region B (Maryland’s 21 other counties), archers may take two antlered and ten antlerless white-tailed deer. However, a second antlered deer may not be harvested until two antlerless deer have been taken. Archers in the Suburban Deer Archery Zone (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties) may take an unlimited number of antlerless deer.
The sika deer archery season opens September 15, 2008 and runs through January 31, 2009 in Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties. The sika deer bag limit is one antlered and one antlerless sika deer. An antlered sika deer is a deer with at least one antler visible above the hairline.
Crossbow deer hunting will be permitted statewide from Oct. 1 through Oct.15, 2008 and from Jan. 15 to Jan. 31, 2009. Any deer taken with a crossbow will count toward the hunter’s appropriate regional bow bag limit. Crossbows are also legal for all hunters during the firearm and muzzleloader seasons. In the Region B Suburban Deer Archery Zone (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties), bowhunters may use a crossbow for the entire bow season.
Successful Maryland deer hunters must register their deer either by calling 1-888-800-0121 or online at www.gamecheck.dnr.state.md.us
. Hunters must immediately place a “field tag” on the deer’s head and complete the Maryland Big Game Harvest Record. When registering each deer, hunters will receive a confirmation number that must also be recorded on the hunter’s Big Game Harvest Record.
Deer taken with a straight limb bow, recurve bow or compound bow should be registered as taken with a vertical bow. Deer taken with a crossbow should be recorded as taken with a crossbow. These records enable DNR biologists to continue to monitor any influence of crossbows on Maryland’s deer management program.
A limited number of Sundays will be open to bow hunting during the 2008-2009 hunting season. Bow hunting opportunities on Sundays vary by county. For a complete listing of Sunday bow hunting opportunities, please refer to the 2008-2009 Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
Complete bag limits, season dates, deer registration procedures and bow hunting regulations are also online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide. The 2008-2009 Guide to Hunting & Trapping, issued with each hunting license, also contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons.
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Effective September 1, Feeding Deer Will Be Illegal in Virginia
August 28, 2008
Richmond, VA — Effective September 1, it will be illegal to feed deer statewide in Virginia. The prohibition runs through the first Saturday in January (January 3, 2009). The regulation designating the prohibition went into effect in 2006.
This regulation does NOT restrict the planting of crops such as corn and soybeans, wildlife food plots, and backyard or schoolyard habitats. It is intended to curb the artificial feeding of deer that leads to negative consequences.
Problems with feeding deer include: unnaturally increasing population numbers that damage natural habitats; disease transmission, including tuberculosis as well as many deer diseases; and human-deer conflicts such as deer/vehicle collisions and inappropriate semi-taming of wildlife.
In addition, feeding deer has many law enforcement implications. Deer hunting over bait is illegal in Virginia. Prior to the deer feeding prohibition, distinguishing between who was feeding deer and who was hunting over bait often caused law enforcement problems for the Department.
Deer Feeding was Booming Along with the Population
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) Deer Project Coordinators Matt Knox and Nelson Lafon noted when the regulation first took effect that for more than twenty years the practice of feeding deer had expanded across the eastern United States among both deer hunters and the non-hunting general public. The most common reason for feeding deer is to improve their nutrition and to supplement the habitat’s ability to support more deer; in other words, to increase the carrying capacity for deer.
According to Knox, many people feed deer because they believe it will keep them from starving, but this is not a legitimate reason to feed deer in Virginia. In Virginia, deer die-offs due to winter starvation have been almost nonexistent and according to Lafon, “We do not need more deer in Virginia. In fact, we need fewer deer in many parts of the state.”
Nelson Lafon completed a revision of the Department’s Deer Management Plan in June 2007. Based on his research, it appears that the citizens of the Commonwealth would like to see deer populations reduced over most of the state. Lafon noted that Virginia’s deer herds could be described as overabundant from a human tolerance perspective and stated that feeding deer only makes this overabundance problem worse.
Is Your Bird Feeder Attracting Deer?
Supplemental feeding artificially concentrates deer on the landscape, leading to over-browsed vegetation, especially in and around feeding sites. Over-browsing destroys habitat needed by other species, including songbirds.
It is not unheard of for deer to take advantage of bird feeders and begin to eat spilled birdseed. Individuals who inadvertently are feeding deer through their bird feeders may be requested by VDGIF conservation police officers to temporarily remove feeders until the deer disperse.
Deer Are Wild Animals
In their natural state, deer are wild animals that have a fear of humans because we have preyed upon deer for thousands of years. However, when deer are fed by people, they lose this fear, becoming less wild and often semi-domesticated.
Fed deer are often emboldened to seek human foods, leading them into conflict with people. Despite their gentle appearance, they can become lethally dangerous during mating season capable of goring and slashing with their sharp hooves and antlers. There are numerous cases across the country of individuals injured, and in some cases even killed, by deer they treated as pets.
People often treat the deer they feed as if they own them, even going so far as to name individual deer. Not only does this association diminish the “wildness” of “wildlife”, it also leads to a mistaken notion regarding ownership of wildlife. Deer and other wildlife are owned by citizens of the Commonwealth and are managed by the Department as a public resource.
Deer Feeding Congregates Animals, Increasing the Spread of Disease
The increase in deer feeding that has taken place in Virginia over the past decade now represents one of Virginia’s biggest wildlife disease risk factors. According to VDGIF Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Sleeman, deer feeding sets the stage for maintaining and facilitating the spread of disease.
According to Dr. Sleeman, diseases are a big issue in deer management today across the United States. Feeding deer invariably leads to the prolonged crowding of animals in a small area, resulting in more direct animal to animal contact and contamination of feeding sites. Deer feeding has been implicated as a major risk factor and contributor in the three most important deer diseases in North America today. These include tuberculosis, brucellosis, and chronic wasting disease (CWD). Fortunately, none of these diseases have been found in deer in Virginia, although CWD is present in West Virginia, less than 5 miles from Frederick County, Virginia.
Please Don’t Feed Deer
It is clear that the negative consequences of feeding deer outweigh the benefits. If you are not feeding deer, you should not start. If you are currently feeding deer, you should now stop. Feeding deer is against the law between September 1 and the first Saturday in January. If anyone sees or suspects someone of illegally feeding deer during this time period, or observes any wildlife violations, please report it to the Department’s Wildlife Crime Line at 1-800-237-5712.
To learn more about Virginia wildlife regulations visit the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website at www.dgif.virginia.gov.
It is the mission of the VDGIF to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth; to provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating and related outdoor recreation and to work diligently to safeguard the rights of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game as provided for in the Constitution of Virginia; to promote safety for persons and property in connection with boating, hunting and fishing; to provide educational outreach programs and materials that foster an awareness of and appreciation for Virginia’s fish and wildlife resources, their habitats, and hunting, fishing, and boating opportunities.
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Qualification Shoots Scheduled For Managed Hunts
August 2, 2008
ANNAPOLIS – More than 50 shooter qualification sessions have been scheduled at 14 local sportsmen’s clubs, shooting ranges and other locations across the state to provide hunters the opportunity to demonstrate shooting proficiency so they may participate in various managed deer hunts across the state.
“The Department of Natural Resources established a standardized shooting certification requirement for selected managed hunting programs conducted by local, state and federal agencies,” said DNR’s Assistant Deer Project Leader, George Timko. “The system allows a hunter to satisfy the shooting proficiency requirements of these agencies by qualifying one time at a single location each year.”
Many of the organizations that host these events charge a minimal fee to cover expenses. DNR will continue to update the online Maryland Shooter Qualification Sessions Calendar as additional events are scheduled. For more information visit www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/shoot_qual_cal.asp.
The shooter qualification sessions currently scheduled are as follows:
Allegany County - www.cresaptownsportsmanclub.com
Brant Road in Cresaptown
Sat., Aug. 2 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Sun., Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Contact: Rick Atkinson at 301-729-8237 or secretary [at] cresaptownsportsmanclub [dot] com.
Cresapstown Sportsmans Club
Anne Arundel Fish & Game Conservation Association
1730 Margaret Road in Annapolis
Fri., Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contact: David Alianti at 410-507-4051 or visit www.geocities.com/yosemite/trails/6484/events.html#shotterqualifications
Glenbrook Rifle Association
8170 Waterford Rd. in Glen Burnie
Sun., Aug. 17 from10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact: Mike Murphy at 410 - 760-7669; Charles Niemeyer at 410-255-6469; or Phil Bozek at 410-437-4806 or philldeer [at] aol [dot] com.
Meade Natural Heritage Association
Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge (North Tract) Hunting Control Station on Bald Eagle Drive
Firearm Qualification Dates (all at Range # 8):
Sun., Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Note: Eye and ear protection are required to qualify at this location.
Bow Qualifications (all at the Hunter Contact Station)
Sat. & Sun. in Aug. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wed. in Aug. from 6 p.m. to dark
Tues. & Thurs. from September 1 to Oct. 19 from 6 p.m. to dark and Sat. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Note: Different qualification sticker cards for Bow and Crossbows will be issued. Patuxent Research Refuge is not hosting the special crossbow seasons. All crossbow users hunting on Refuge property must have a permit from DNR to hunt wildlife with a crossbow.
Contact: Call 301-317-3825 or after Sept. 1 call 301-317-3819.
NWTF Central Maryland Chapter at Meyer Station Range - www.meyerstation.org
1600 Meyer Station Rd. in Odenton
Sat., Aug. 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 7 from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: Buz Meyer at 301-642-4033 or buzmeyer [at] aol [dot] com or jfdsr [at] netzero [dot] net.
Stoney Creek Fishing & Hunting Club
9090 Fort Smallwood Rd. in Pasadena
Sat. & Sun., Aug. 9 & 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat. & Sun., Aug. 30 & 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat. & Sun., Sept. 27 & 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contact: Rich Brooks at 410-859-0259 or captianrich911 [at] aol [dot] com or George Molby at 410-437-4999 or InjunMoe [at] comcast [dot] net.
Baltimore County
Notchcliff Army National Guard Range
10901 Notchcliff Rd. in Glen Arm
Sun., Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
Note: All hunters must arrive by 10am. State Park hunt applicants have priority at this event.
Contact: 410-592-2897 or 410-398-1246.
Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc. - http://www.associatedgunclubs.org
11518 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville
Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment
Sat. & Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment
Contact: Skip Wine at 410-461-8532.
Charles County
Izaak Walton League Southern Maryland Chapter
4200 Gardiner Rd. in Waldorf
Sun., Sept. 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Danny Estevez at 301-659-0055.
Myrtle Grove WMA Range
5625 Myrtle Grove Rd. in La Plata
Shotgun And Muzzleloader Qualifications Only (All firearms must be in a case):
Sat., Aug.16 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Fri., Sept. 19 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Contact: 301-743-5161.
Howard County
Dayton Rod & Gun Club
5082 Greenbridge Rd. in Dayton
Archery Qualifications Only:
Wed., Aug. 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thur., Aug. 14 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 3 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 13 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 14 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Contact: Frank Hall at 410-789-8764 or datonrodgun [at] aol [dot] com.
Montgomery County
Izaak Walton League Wildlife Achievement Chapter - www.damascusiwla.org
26430 Mullinix Mill Rd. in Damascus
Shotgun And Muzzleloader Qualifications Only:
Sun., Sept. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon
Contact: Jesse Lim at 301-540-0860 or alphashooter [at] usa [dot] com
Washington County
Fort Frederick Range
11100 Fort Frederick Rd. in Big Pool
Sun., Nov. 9 at 10 a.m.
(Note: All hunters must arrive by 10am. State Park hunt applicants have priority at this event.)
Contact: 301-842-2155.
McClellan Gun Club
5241 Red Hill Road in Keedysville
Sun., Sept. 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Contact: Pierce Alexander at 301-733-8416 or for directions call 301-432-8857.
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2008 N.H. Deer Hunting Seasons Set
June 27, 2008
CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire’s deer hunting seasons have been established for this fall, and the outlook is generally good in spite of the challenging winter of 2007-2008. The impact of the cold, snowy winter on parts of the deer herd in New Hampshire suggests that 2008 may not be a record-setting season like last year. New Hampshire’s 2007 hunter harvest of 13,559 deer was the second highest since record keeping began in 1922 — exceeded only by a harvest of 14,204 in 1967 — according to Kent Gustafson, Deer Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
“In a lot of the state, we should still see a good season in 2008. Last winter had the least impact on southern New Hampshire and the western part of the state as far north as Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) D2,” said Gustafson. “Other parts of the state, especially the more northern areas, were harder hit, and we’ve taken steps to help the herd recover from the effects of a winter that was more severe than usual.” Fish and Game reduces the impact of a hard winter by making adjustments in the number of hunting days for taking any deer (either-sex days).
For full details of the upcoming New Hampshire deer season, listed by WMU, visit www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_deer.htm.
General New Hampshire deer season dates (with the exception of WMU A) for 2008 are:Â Archery:Â September 15 - December 15; Muzzleloader: November 1 - November 11; and Regular Firearms:Â November 12 - December 7.
Measures continue to be in place in WMU A to try to increase the number of older-age bucks in the population and harvest. As was the case last year in WMU A, both the regular firearm and archery seasons will end one week early, and the muzzleloader season is shortened by two days at the beginning of the season. In addition, a 2-point antler restriction applies in WMU A for all seasons (except youth weekend). Under this restriction, a buck must have at least 2 points (1 inch or longer) on one side to be legal.
In southeastern New Hampshire (WMUs L and M), however, deer populations are at or above the objectives set out in Fish and Game’s Big Game Management Plan. These units continue to provide hunters with generous antlerless hunting opportunities during all deer seasons. In WMU M, 6,000 antlerless-only permits (500 more than in 2007) will be available for the 2008 season to help control deer numbers in this highly developed part of the state.
![Successful Youth Deer Hunt: "This is Patrick Higginbottom from Weare, NH. This was his first kill on Oct. 27 on Youth Weekend. He is so proud! This is a 120 lb. 6 pointer. Patrick was dedicated enough to hunt in the rain! Boy did it pay off!!!" --Greg Higginbottom](http://www.outdoorcentral.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/20080627003.jpg "Successful Youth Deer Hunt: \\"This is Patrick Higginbottom from Weare, NH. This was his first kill on Oct. 27 on Youth Weekend. He is so proud! This is a 120 lb. 6 pointer. Patrick was dedicated enough to hunt in the rain! Boy did it pay off!!!\\" --Greg Higginbottom")
New Hampshire’s youth deer weekend will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 25 - 26, 2008. The youth deer hunt weekend is a special chance for young hunters (age 15 and younger) to hunt under the guidance of a licensed hunter over age 18. A change this year is that non-resident youth hunters may participate, only if New Hampshire youth can hunt during special youth deer hunts in their state. Currently, Vermont is the only adjoining state without reciprocity. Maine offers reciprocity for New Hampshire youth, and Massachusetts has no youth hunt, so its residents are not affected by the new regulation. Last year’s youth deer hunt resulted in a statewide harvest of 642 deer.Â
Information about hunting in New Hampshire, including seasons for other species, can be found at www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/hunting.htm. Additional details on New Hampshire’s hunting seasons will be published in the 2008-2009 N.H. Hunting Digest, which will be available in mid-August.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.
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Lowcountry deer management workshop offered May 31
May 19, 2008
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the Salkahatchie Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association will be conducting a one-day Deer Management Workshop on Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webb Wildlife Center in Garnett.
The workshop will feature seminars, presentations and field demonstrations given by wildlife biologists, foresters and agricultural specialists. Presentations and field demonstrations during the day will cover topics including: soil testing, food plot management, tree and shrub plantings, enhancing native vegetation, timber management, harvest strategies and herd management. Guest speakers will include Charles Ruth, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Project Supervisor; Dave Guynn, Professor of Wildlife and Forestry, Clemson University; Marion Barnes, Clemson Extension Agent; and Jay Cantrell, DNR Wildlife Biologist and Webb Center Manager.
Hunters, landowners and others interested in managing deer are invited to attend. Lunch will be provided for all participants. The workshop will be limited to 30 participants to ensure a quality experience and opportunities for discussion. The cost is: $15/person. Anyone interested in attending must pre-register by no later than May 28.
For additional information about the Deer Management Workshop and to register for the event, contact Jay Cantrell or April Graves at DNR’s Webb Wildlife Center, (803) 625-3569 or cantrellj [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov or gravesa [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
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