ANNAPOLIS — Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season reopens on Saturday, December 16. Maryland’s estimated 60,000 muzzleloader deer hunters enjoy pursuing deer with firearms diverse as the primitive flintlock or the modern inline muzzleloader. Muzzleloader hunters took 7,446 deer (1,788 antlered, 5,658 antlerless) during the 2005 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 two deer—one antlered and one antlerless. On public lands, only antlered deer may be taken from December 16 through December 29 and either sex deer may be taken on December 30, 2006. On all other lands, only antlered deer may be taken from December 16 through December 27 and either sex deer may be taken from December 28 through December 30, 2006.
Region B’s total muzzleloader bag limit is two 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 two-week season (December 16 – December 30).
Sika deer muzzleloader season is from December 16 through December 30 in Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties. The total muzzleloader sika deer bag limit is two deer—one antlered and one antlerless.
Successful Maryland deer hunters register their deer by calling 1-888-800-0121 or through the internet, http://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. Successful deer hunters must register the deer within 24 hours of harvest. 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 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 on 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.
Successful junior deer hunters (age 16 and under) are eligible to receive a junior hunter game certificate from designated junior hunter certificate agents. Local participating businesses can be found on page 52 of the 2006 – 2007 Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland. 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 74,000 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, http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/ . The 2006 – 2007 Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland, issued with each hunting license, contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons.
Source: Md. Department of Natural Resources