Maryland Hunters Harvest 30,833 Deer during Two-Week Firearms Season
Harvest increased nearly 9% compared to last year’s total
Photo by Ranger Elena Gilroy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland hunters reported harvesting 30,833 deer during the two-week firearm season from Nov. 30 through Dec. 14. The firearms season harvest was almost 9% higher than last year’s official count of 28,312 deer.
“The two week firearm season continues to be our most popular deer season,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer said. “We’d like to thank all those who participated in the management of Maryland’s deer population this firearms season and congratulate those hunters who were successful in putting venison in their freezers.”
Hunters reported taking 11,709 antlered deer during the two-week season, a 2.7% decrease compared to last year’s official total of 12,028. The antlerless harvest increased 17% from 16,284 last year to 19,124 this year. Sika deer represented 540 of the total antlered harvest and 566 of the total antlerless harvest. The Sika deer harvest was up 1.4% overall.
More than 4,062 deer were taken on the two Sundays during the season, representing just over 13% of the total harvest. Deer hunting is currently permitted on select Sundays in 20 of 23 counties.
Hunters in Region A — Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington counties — reported taking 2,632 antlered and 2,106 antlerless deer (up 2.5% and 48%, respectively). The antlerless harvest increase was attributed to a recent regulation change that added 5 – 6 days to the antlerless firearm season in Region A. The added days provide more opportunity for hunters in the region to harvest deer, which assists the department with deer population management.
In the remainder of the state (Region B), hunters reported taking 9,077 antlered and 17,018 antlerless deer. The antlered harvest decreased 4% while the antlerless harvest increased 14.5%.
Modern firearm deer season opens again on January 10, 2025, in deer management region B. Maryland’s muzzleloader deer hunting season will reopen Dec. 21 and run through Jan. 4.
Maryland reported harvest for the two-week firearm season is below:
Antlered
Antlerless
Total
County
2023
2024
% Change
2023
2024
% Change
2023
2024
% Change
Allegany
856
864
0.9
486
707
45.5
1,342
1,571
17.1
Anne Arundel
202
181
-10.4
225
308
36.9
427
489
14.5
Baltimore
444
464
4.5
733
844
15.1
1,177
1,308
11.1
Calvert
186
156
-16.1
304
375
23.4
490
531
8.4
Caroline
whitetail
398
348
-12.6
848
1,101
29.8
1,246
1,449
16.3
sika
0
1
*
0
0
*
0
1
*
Carroll
1,064
853
-19.8
1,463
1,491
1.9
2,527
2,344
-7.2
Cecil
407
359
-11.8
718
835
16.3
1,125
1,194
6.1
Charles
360
403
11.9
507
657
29.6
867
1,060
22.3
Dorchester
whitetail
341
280
-17.9
625
625
0.0
966
905
-6.3
sika
431
466
8.1
531
495
-6.8
962
961
-0.1
Frederick
1,220
1,104
-9.5
1,594
1,567
-1.7
2,814
2,671
-5.1
Garrett
1,409
1,452
3.1
808
1,219
50.9
2,217
2,671
20.5
Harford
331
351
6.0
592
796
34.5
923
1,147
24.3
Howard
175
222
26.9
323
328
1.5
498
550
10.4
Kent
466
422
-9.4
779
1,003
28.8
1,245
1,425
14.5
Montgomery
308
365
18.5
452
468
3.5
760
833
9.6
Prince George’s
186
206
10.8
238
298
25.2
424
504
18.9
Queen Anne’s
414
446
7.7
821
1,137
38.5
1,235
1,583
28.2
Somerset
whitetail
301
304
1.0
563
667
18.5
864
971
12.4
sika
8
9
*
5
4
*
13
13
*
St. Mary’s
255
247
-3.1
385
476
23.6
640
723
13.0
Talbot
280
297
6.1
658
820
24.6
938
1,117
19.1
Washington
979
967
-1.2
875
980
12.0
1,854
1,947
5.0
Wicomico
whitetail
437
372
-14.9
805
800
-0.6
1,242
1,172
-5.6
sika
62
64
3.2
53
64
20.8
115
128
11.3
Worcester
whitetail
507
506
-0.2
893
1,056
18.3
1,400
1,562
11.6
sika
1
0
*
0
3
*
1
3
*
Total
12,028
11,709
-2.7
16,284
19,124
17.4
28,312
30,833
8.9
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