12/28/2006  --  ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland’s Firearm Deer Season reopens on Jan 5 – 6, 2007 in Deer Management Region B. The firearm season is closed in Deer Management Region A (Allegany and Garrett counties). The sika deer firearm season is also closed. This Friday and Saturday deer season provides additional opportunities for landowners to manage deer numbers through deer hunting. Hunters also use this opportunity to restock the freezer with venison for the family dinner table.

The bag limit for the 2-day firearm deer hunt is a continuation of the Region B Total Firearm White-tailed Deer Season Bag Limit. A total of 2 antlered deer and 10 antlerless deer may be taken during the entire Region B firearm season (Youth Day, 2-week season, 2 day January season). Two antlerless deer must be taken before a second antlered deer is pursued.

During last year’s 2-day firearm season 3,241 deer were taken in 21 Maryland counties. Antlerless deer comprised 81% of the 2-day hunt. The top 10 Maryland counties for last seasons 2 day January firearm season were as follows: Washington (360); Frederick (294); Worcester (247); Carroll (224); Baltimore (205); Montgomery (203); Kent (162); Queen Anne’s (153); Wicomico (149); Cecil (139).

Deer hunting provides for the management of deer numbers across Maryland and Maryland citizens support hunting. A 2003 survey of Maryland citizens by Responsive Management, a survey firm specializing in natural resources, found that 78% of Marylanders approve of hunting and 85% agree that hunting and fishing are part of scientific management for healthy wildlife and fish populations.

Successful Maryland deer hunters register their deer by calling 1-888-800-0121 or through the internet www.gamecheck.dnr.state.md.us Hunters must immediately attach a completed Field Tag on the deer’s head and record the harvest on their Maryland Big Game Harvest Record portion of their hunting license before moving the deer from place of harvest. Both forms must be completed in ink. Successful deer hunters must register the deer within 24 hours of harvest. Hunters will receive a confirmation number to be recorded on the Big Game Harvest Record. Detailed instructions for this process is located on pages 28 – 29 of the 2006-2007 Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland.

New and improved “Field Tags” and “Butcher/Taxidermy Tags” are located between pages 28 and 29 of the 2006-2007 Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland. This season’s tags provide an improved writing surface material and a more tear resistant hole. DNR made these changes in response to suggestions from the Maryland hunting public. Unused “Field Tags” and “Butcher/Taxidermy Tags” from last season are still valid for tagging deer and turkey during the coming hunting seasons.

For more information about Maryland’s deer hunting regulations, consult DNR’s “Hunting and Trapping In Maryland 2006-2007”. This publication is issued when a hunter purchases a 2006-2007 hunting license. The publication may be found on DNR’s website at www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide.