GET READY FOR DEER FIREARMS SEASON

Bruce Wilds with a massive 2006 buck he harvested with compound bow.
Photo Courtesy of Bruce Wilds

Deer hunters are getting ready for their time of year when Maryland’s deer firearms season begins. Just around the corner from the Thanksgiving holiday, Southern Maryland slug-gunners and smokepolers will be readying their gear in anticipation of opening day, November 27, 2006. It’s an exciting time of year for hunters with hopes of bagging a nice deer and some tasty, nutritious venison. Many hunters will have their “knees in the trees” as they use either portable climbers or fixed stands. In either case, safety is the paramount concern. Wearing fluorescent orange is more than just a law and requirement during deer firearms season, it saves lives.

Deer Firearms Time
Maryland’s 2006 deer firearms season opens on November 25 and continues through December 9. The total bag limit for this season is 2 antlered and 10 antlerless deer. After the first antlered deer is harvested, 2 antlerless deer must be taken before a second antlered deer can be taken. A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp is required to take a second antlered deer.

Sunday Hunting
During the 2006 deer firearms season Sunday hunting will be permitted in the following counties on November 26; Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Talbot, and Washington counties. This hunting day is permitted on private land only.

Fluorescent Orange Required
Wearing fluorescent orange (hunter orange) is required during the deer firearms season. This color is used because it is not a color found in nature. In addition to it being the law, hunters should wear it for their own protection and the safety of other people whenever hunters are about their sport. Per DNR regulations, fluorescent orange must be worn by all people “who hunt any wildlife or, accompany, aid or assist a hunter in a field, wooded area, marsh, or on the water. Whenever hunting, both hunters and those accompanying them must wear either, cap of solid daylight fluorescent orange color (worn on the head at all times), A vest or jacket containing back and front panels of at least 250 square inches of solid fluorescent orange color (worn as outer garment at all times), or an outer garment of camouflage fluorescent orange worn above the waist which contains at least 50% fluorescent orange color.” Bowhunters hunting during the Deer Firearms or Deer Muzzleloader Seasons are required to wear fluorescent orange. DNR regulations further note that, “The following persons are exempt from the requirement of wearing fluorescent orange (but are still encouraged to wear it when hunting): Property owners who hunt any wildlife on their own property with or without a hunting license; A person who hunts deer with a bow during the season restricted to hunting with a bow; A person who hunts or accompanies, aids or assists another person hunting the following species: brant, coot, ducks, geese, mergansers, rails, snipe, furbearing mammals, crow, dove or wild turkey; A person who hunts game birds or mammals during open season using falcons, hawks or owls.”

Who to Call
The toll-free phone number for Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) information line is 1-877-620-8DNR (8367). Out of State callers should use 410-260-8DNR (8367). The website hyperlinks are, http://www.dnr.maryland.gov and http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/index.asp . This second hyperlink includes the bag limits, season dates, and deer harvest registration procedures. Another source of information is The Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland 2006-2007, which is provided when a hunting license is purchased. It has detailed information about all Maryland’s hunting seasons.

Registering Harvested Deer
Deer hunters who harvest a deer need to register their deer by calling 1-888-800-0121 or by visiting www.gamecheck.dnr.state.md.us. Successful hunters must immediately attach a completed Field Tag on the deer’s head and record the harvest on their Maryland Big Game Harvest Record portion of their hunting license, before moving the deer from place of harvest. Both forms must be completed in ink. Hunters