Archery Hunt Scheduled
For Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area
ANNAPOLIS - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife and Heritage Services (WHS) today announced the opening of
acreage to archery hunting at Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area
(SDNEA) beginning Saturday, November 11.
"Our team of ecologists concluded that deer are severely impacting the
scientific work to recover several rare, threatened and endangered plant
communities on SDNEA," said WHS Director Paul Peditto. "We cannot ignore
the impact deer are having on this unique, environmentally sensitive area
and must take action to mitigate further loss of the protected plant
species."
Over the last several months DNR has gathered public input on a hunt
proposal to reduce the size of the deer herd on SDNEA, culminating in a
public information meeting held August 9 at New Town High School, Owings
Mills, Maryland.
"Public feedback clearly guided us in our decision making deliberations
for this site, explained Peditto. “To that end, we adjusted our original
proposal to accommodate the consensus results of the decision-making
process.”
The final proposal was modified to reduce the total hunting season for
both areas; requires mandatory sign-in posting of safety zone boundaries
near all adjacent residences; and a posted buffer along the popular SDNEA
hiking trail.
The archery season for the both sections of SDNEA will be November 11,
2006 - January 31, 2007. The number of hunters is limited to no more than
20 hunters per day in Area 1 and 15 hunters per day in Area 2. Hunters
must register at Patapsco State Park Headquarters in Ellicott City,
Maryland, where they will receive hunt area maps, the rules and
regulations for hunting SDNEA and a parking permit that must be displayed
when parking in designated parking areas. Hunters must comply with the
deer bag limit for Region B. Hunters must possess a current Maryland
Hunting License, Bow Stamp and DNR Managed Hunt Permit while hunting SDNEA.
Hunter registration will begin Monday, September 11. For more information
about the hunt contact:
Patapsco Valley State Park Headquarters
8020 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 461-5005