The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports that deer harvest was down slightly for the 2023-2024 season, but it is still considered a successful season in terms of managing the deer population and producing venison.
The DNR reported that hunters harvested 72,642 deer during the combined archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons, from Sept. 8, 2023 through Feb. 3, 2024. This number is 5% lower than the 2022-23 total of 76,687 deer.
The numbers included 30,025 antlered and 38,511 antlerless white-tailed deer, and 1,912 antlered and 2,194 antlerless sika deer.
“Maryland hunters enjoyed another successful season and managed to put some venison in their freezers,” said Karina Stonesifer, director of Wildlife and Heritage Service, in a statement. “Deer hunting is essential for managing the state’s deer population and assists with reducing agricultural damage and deer-vehicle collisions.”
Sundays proved a popular day for hunting, with 10% (7,074) of the total deer harvest on that day of the week. In 20 of Maryland’s 24 county-equivalent jurisdictions, hunting deer on Sunday is only allowed during certain weeks.
Deer harvest in Western Maryland (deer management Region A) decreased 4% from 9,552 last year to 9,169 this year, with hunters reporting 5,678 antlered and 3,491antlerless deer harvested.
In Region B, which is the remainder of the state of Maryland, hunters harvested 63, 473 deer. This number is down 6% from 67,135 the previous year. Hunters reported 26,259 antlered and 37,214 antlerless deer harvested in Region B.
Maryland issued 116,422 paid hunting licenses in 2021, which when adjusted for population (1.9 for every 100 people) is the ninth fewest among the states.
