DNR Deer Harvest up 16% during Maryland Firearms Season

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Hunters Harvest Over 31,000 Deer during the Two-Week Season​

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 31,571 deer during the two-week firearms season from Nov. 28 – Dec. 12. The harvest was 16% higher than last year’s official count of 27,121. Hunters enjoyed good weather compared to the 2019 season, which was hampered by rain, wind, and fog on key days.


“The two week firearm season remains one of our most popular deer seasons, and fortunately hunters enjoyed great hunting weather for most of it this year,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said.

Hunters reported taking 11,623 antlered deer during the two-week season, up 13% from last year’s official total of 10,258. The antlerless harvest increased 18% from 16,863 last year to 19,948 this year. Sika deer represented 460 of the total antlered harvest and 556 of the total antlerless harvest.

More than 4,000 deer were taken on the two Sundays during the season, representing 13% of the total harvest. Deer hunting on Sunday is currently permitted on select Sundays in 20 of 23 counties.

Hunters in Region A — Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington counties — reported taking 2,530 antlered and 1,547 antlerless deer (up 16% and 40%, respectively). In the remainder of the state, hunters reported taking 9,093 antlered and 18,401 antlerless deer (up 13% and 17%, respectively)

Maryland Reported Harvest for the Two-Week Firearm Season ​

	Antlered	Antlerless	Total
County	2019	2020	% Change	2019	2020	% Change	2019	2020	% Change
Allegany	735	901	22.6	348	572	64.4	1,083	1473	36
Anne Arundel	182	138	-24.2	327	316	-3.4	509	454	-10.8
Baltimore	393	438	11.5	738	899	21.8	1,131	1,337	18.2
Calvert	164	157	-4.3	284	358	26.1	448	515	15
Caroline
whitetail	312	388	24.4	839	975	16.2	1,151	1,363	18.4
sika	0	0	*	0	2	*	0	2	*
Carroll	745	885	18.8	1,337	1,589	18.8	2,082	2,474	18.8
Cecil
whitetail	399	395	-1	915	922	0.8	1,314	1,317	0.2
sika	1	0	*	0	0	*	1	0	i
Charles	370	351	-5.1	579	600	3.6	949	951	0.2
Dorchester
whitetail	305	352	15.4	542	712	31.4	847	1,064	25.6
sika	356	406	14	465	501	7.7	821	907	10.5
Frederick	1,017	1,226	20.6	1,521	1,902	25	2,538	3,128	23.2
Garrett	1,134	1,291	13.8	650	804	23.7	1,784	2,095	17.5
Harford	273	310	13.6	617	709	14.9	890	1,019	14.5
Howard	160	197	23.1	315	366	16.2	475	563	18.5
Kent	350	388	10.9	817	990	21.2	1,167	1,378	18.1
Montgomery	280	342	22.1	485	587	21	765	929	21.4
Prince George’s	227	224	-1.3	363	302	-16.8	590	526	-10.8
Queen Anne’s	381	380	-0.3	851	1,079	26.8	1,232	1,459	18.4
St. Mary’s	250	229	-8.4	400	419	4.8	650	648	-0.3
Somerset
whitetail	256	326	23.4	773	859	11.1	1,029	1,175	14.2
sika	2	1	*	4	3	*	6	4	*
Talbot	246	253	2.8	730	756	3.6	976	1,009	3.4
Washington	805	955	18.6	736	1,037	40.9	1,541	1,992	29.3
Wicomico
whitetail	393	471	19.8	941	1,152	22.4	1,334	1,623	21.7
sika	28	53	*	38	42	*	66	95	*
Worcester
whitetail	492	576	17.1	1,248	1,487	19.2	1,740	2,063	18.6
sika	2	0	*	0	8	*	2	8	*
Total	10,258	11,623	13.3	16,863	19,948	18.3	27,121	31,571	16.4
*Small sample size​