DNR Maryland Hunters Harvest 76,687 Deer for 2022-2023 Season

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Statewide Harvest Increased 8% from Previous Year

Photo of four antlerless deer in a field

Photo by Mary Pat Bozel, submitted to the 2021 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.


The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported that deer hunters harvested 76,687 deer during the combined archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons, from Sept. 9, 2022 through Feb. 3, 2023.

The statewide harvest included 29,682 antlered and 42,872 antlerless white-tailed deer, and 1,908 antlered and 2,225 antlerless sika deer. The harvest was 8% higher than the 2021-2022 total of 70,845 deer. The increased harvest is credited to more participation by hunters and favorable weather.

“Maryland hunters enjoyed another successful deer season,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. “Deer hunters play a valuable role in managing the state’s deer population.”

Hunters harvested 6,806 deer on Sundays, comprising 9% of the total harvest. Hunting deer on Sunday is only permitted during certain weeks in 20 of Maryland’s 23 counties.

The harvest in deer management Region A (Western Maryland) increased 21%, from 7,929 deer last year to 9,552 this year. Hunters in the western counties reported 5,762 antlered and 3,790 antlerless deer.

Hunters in Region B — the remainder of the state — harvested 67,135 deer, up 7% from 62,916 deer harvested last year. A total of 25,828 antlered and 41,307 antlerless deer were reported in this region.

An outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) on the lower Eastern Shore, primarily in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties, caused a decrease in the harvest there this year. EHD occurs annually in Maryland deer and does not have long-lasting effects for the deer population, nor is it harmful to humans.

Frederick County had the highest reported harvest again this year, with 6,935 deer reported. Carroll County followed with 5,785 deer, and Garrett County was third with 4,989. Baltimore and Washington counties rounded out the top five with 4,846 and 4,600 deer, respectively.

Maryland Reported Antlered and Antlerless Deer Harvest
for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Hunting Seasons
Antlered
Antlerless
Total
County
2021-22
2022-23
% Change
2021-22
2022-23
% Change
2021-22
2022-23
% Change
Allegany
1,837​

1,925

4.8
1,177​

1,474

25.2
3,014​

3,399

12.8
Anne Arundel
755​

800

6.0
1,082​

1,083

0.1
1,837​

1,883

2.5
Baltimore
1,680​

1,856

10.5
2,821​

2,990

6.0
4,501​

4,846

7.7
Calvert
551​

599

8.7
787​

879

11.7
1,338​

1,478

10.5
Caroline
whitetail
908​

933

2.8
1,576​

1,967

24.8
2,484​

2,900

16.7
sika
0​

0

*
0​

1

*
0​

1

*
Carroll
2,058​

2,351

14.2
3,013​

3,434

14.0
5,071​

5,785

14.1
Cecil
1,197​

1,230

2.8
1,996​

2,122

6.3
3,193​

3,352

5.0
Charles
873​

1,136

30.1
1,082​

1,439

33.0
1,955​

2,575

31.7
Dorchester
whitetail
732​

749

2.3
1,235​

1,318

6.7
1,967​

2,067

5.1
sika
1,350​

1,701

26.0
1,703​

2,017

18.4
3.053​

3,718

21.8
Frederick
2,674​

2,892

8.2
3,414​

4,043

18.4
6,088​

6,935

13.9
Garrett
2,443​

3,113

27.4
1,480​

1,876

26.8
3,923​

4,989

27.2
Harford
1,139​

1,233

8.3
2,023​

2,160

6.8
3,162​

3,393

7.3
Howard
775​

748

-3.5
1,244​

1,361

9.4
2,019​

2,109

4.5
Kent
1,077​

1,044

-3.1
1,954​

2,090

7.0
3,031​

3,134

3.4
Montgomery
1,280​

1,262

-1.4
2,026​

2,171

7.2
3,306​

3,433

3.8
Prince George’s
702​

715

1.9
928​

932

0.4
1,630​

1,647

1.0
Queen Anne’s
1,074​

1,083

0.8
1,884​

1,999

6.1
2,958​

3,082

4.2
St. Mary’s
657​

860

30.9
820​

1,130

37.8
1,477​

1,990

34.7
Somerset
whitetail
734​
592​
-19.3​
1,337​
1,213​
-9.3​
2,071​
1,805​
-12.8​
sika
17​
25​
*​
8​
12​
*​
25​
37​
*​
Talbot
694​
722​
4.0​
1,363​
1,284​
-58​
2,057​
2,006​
-2.5​
Washington
1,889​
2,221​
17.6​
2,010​
2,379​
18.4​
3,899​
4,600​
18.0​
Wicomico
whitetail
1,046​
778​
-25.6​
1,991​
1,664​
-16.4​
3,037​
2,442​
-19.6​
sika
140​
142​
1.4​
112​
147​
31.3​
252​
289​
14.7​
Worcester
whitetail
1,172​
840​
-28.3​
2,255​
1,864​
-17.3​
3,427​
2,704​
-21.1​
sika
34​
40​
*​
36​
48​
*​
70​
88​
*​
Total
29,488
31,590
7.1
41,357
45,097
9.0
70,845
76,687
8.2
*Small sample size
 
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