The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported a significant increase in deer harvest during the opening weekend of the 2023 Maryland firearm season, which took place on November 25-26. Hunters across the state successfully harvested 10,864 deer, marking a 7% increase compared to the 10,159 deer harvested during the same period last year.
This year’s harvest was notably diverse, comprising 5,617 antlered and 4,880 white-tailed deer and 193 antlered and 174 antlerless sika deer. The firearm season, a crucial period for deer hunting in Maryland, is scheduled to continue through December 9, providing ample opportunities for hunters to participate.
Karina Stonesifer, the Director of Wildlife and Heritage Service, emphasized the impact of cooler temperatures on the successful opening weekend. “Firearms season remains our most popular deer season and is vital to managing the state’s healthy deer population,” Stonesifer noted. She encouraged hunters to continue participating in the season and highlighted the opportunity it presents for mentoring new hunters.
A significant portion of the harvest occurred on the Sunday of the opening weekend, with 2,293 deer, or over 20% of the total weekend harvest, despite Sunday hunting not being permitted in all counties. This demonstrates the enthusiasm and commitment of Maryland hunters to the sport and wildlife management.
The harvest data also revealed regional variations in hunting success. In Region A, which includes Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington counties, there was a 16% increase in the harvest of antlered deer, totaling 1,323. Meanwhile, in Region B, which covers the remainder of the state, hunters harvested 4,487 antlered and 5,054 antlerless deer. The antlered harvest in this region saw a 9% increase, while the antlerless harvest rose by 4% compared to last year.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources also highlighted the success of junior hunters during the Junior Deer Hunt Days held on November 11-12. Junior hunters registered a harvest of 2,225 deer, an 8% increase from the 2,063 deer harvested in the previous year. This included 1,531 antlered and 694 antlerless deer, showcasing young hunters’ involvement and growing interest in deer hunting and wildlife conservation.
The increase in deer harvest this season is a testament to the effective management of deer populations in Maryland and the active participation of hunters in wildlife conservation efforts. As the firearm season continues, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources anticipates continued engagement from the hunting community, contributing to the sustainable management of the state’s deer populations.
Unofficial results by county are as follows:
County Junior Hunt,
Nov. 11-12, 2023Opening Weekend Firearm Season,
Nov. 25-26, 2023 Saturday Sunday Weekend
Total Antlered Antlerless Junior
TotalAntlered Antlerless Total Antlered Antlerless Total Allegany 150 29 179 333 0 333 87 0 87 420 Anne Arundel 11 2 13 72 68 140 15 19 34 174 Baltimore 30 11 41 177 213 390 * * * 390 Calvert 16 10 26 57 94 151 14 17 31 182 Caroline 32 39 71 146 222 368 29 58 87 455 Carroll 121 63 184 467 467 934 122 137 259 1,193 Cecil 40 24 64 138 165 303 34 40 74 377 Charles 43 20 63 119 131 250 35 32 67 317 Dorchester whitetail 39 17 56 124 136 260 22 44 66 326 sika 18 14 32 114 92 206 46 62 108 314 Frederick 195 82 277 553 462 1015 123 152 275 1,290 Garrett 276 92 368 544 0 544 179 0 179 723 Harford 22 15 37 128 172 300 30 49 79 379 Howard 12 10 22 70 95 165 * * * 165 Kent 50 26 76 189 216 405 50 81 131 536 Montgomery 44 30 74 132 139 271 23 26 49 320 Prince George’s 7 8 15 66 65 131 * * * 131 Queen Anne’s 45 17 62 163 242 405 39 60 99 504 Somerset whitetail 35 19 54 99 117 216 44 50 94 310 sika 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 3 St. Mary’s 27 22 49 82 110 192 13 36 49 241 Talbot 28 20 48 107 157 264 33 36 69 333 Washington 143 52 195 420 195 615 123 58 181 796 Wicomico whitetail 81 34 115 131 173 304 49 86 135 439 sika 3 0 3 19 12 31 7 4 11 42 Worcester whitetail 63 38 101 175 192 367 61 68 129 496 sika 0 0 0 4 4 8 0 0 0 8 Total 1,531 694 2,225 4,632 3,939 8,571 1,178 1,115 2,293 10,864 *Sunday hunting not permitted.
