12/12/2005

Late Muzzleloader Deer Season Opens December 17

Annapolis — Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season reopens on Dec 17. Maryland’s estimated 61,000 muzzleloader deer hunters enjoy pursuing deer with firearms diverse as the primitive flintlock or the modern inline muzzleloader. Muzzleloader hunters took 7592 deer during the 2004 late season.

White-tailed deer muzzleloader seasons and bag limits vary by the portion of the state. Deer Management Region A consists of Allegany and Garrett counties. Region B is composed of the remaining counties. Each Region has independent bag limits. The bag limits are a continuation of the Total Muzzleloader Regional bag limits.

Region A’s total muzzleloader bag limit is 2 deer - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless. On public lands, only antlered deer may be taken from Dec 17 through Dec 30 and either sex deer may be taken on Dec 31, 2005. On all other lands, only antlered deer may be taken from Dec 17 through Dec 28 and either sex deer may be taken from Dec 29 through Dec 31, 2005.

Region B’s total muzzleloader bag limit is 2 antlered deer and 10 antlerless deer. Two antlerless deer must be taken before a second antlered deer is pursued. Either sex deer may be taken during the entire 2-week season (Dec 17 – Dec 31).

Sika deer season is from Dec 17 - 31 in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. The total muzzleloader sika deer bag limit is 2 deer, 1 antlered and 1 antlerless.

Successful Maryland deer hunters register their deer by calling 1-888-800-0121 or through the internet www.gamecheck.dnr.state.md.us. Before moving the deer from place of kill, hunters must immediately attach a field tag on the deer’s head and record the harvest on their Maryland Big Game Harvest Record portion of their hunting license. Both forms must be completed in ink. Upon registering the deer, hunters will be given a confirmation number that is recorded on the Big Game Harvest Record. Detailed instructions for this registration process are located on pages 28 – 29 of the 2005 – 2006 Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland.

Successful junior deer hunters (age 16 and under) are eligible to receive a “Junior Hunter Game Certificate” from designated Junior Hunter Game Certification Agents. Just check page 55 of the 2005 – 2006 Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland for the local participating business. Visit the local agent and receive an attractive certificate commemorating the bagging of any deer.

Maryland’s Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Season is one component of DNR’s deer management project. Muzzleloader deer hunting combined with archery and firearm deer hunting seasons provides outdoor recreation for over 80,000 Maryland citizens, manages white-tailed deer and sika deer numbers and contributes over $150 million to the state’s economy.

Complete bag limits, season dates and other deer hunting information can be found at the DNR website www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/. The 2005 – 2006 Guide Hunting & Trapping In Maryland booklet, issued with each hunting license, contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons.

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