Md. Code Regs. 08.03.03.07

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 08.03.03.07 - White-Tailed Deer

A. The following lands are owned or controlled by the Department in Region A as defined in Regulation .06A of this chapter:

(1) Billmeyer-Belle Grove; WMA;

(2) Cunningham Swamp WMA;

(3) Dan's Mountain WMA;

(4) Deep Creek Lake State Park (designated areas only);

(5) Green Ridge State Forest;

(6) Indian Springs WMA;

(7) McCoole Fishery Management Area;

(8) Mount Nebo WMA;

(9) Potomac-Garrett State Forest;

(10) Prather's Neck WMA;

(11) Rocky Gap State Park (designated areas only);

(12) Sang Run State Park (designated areas only);

(13) Savage River State Forest;

(14) Sideling Hill WMA;

(15) Warrior Mountain WMA;

(16) Woodmont;

(17) Youghiogheny Reservoir CWMA; and

(18) Youghiogheny Scenic Wild River.

B. The Suburban Deer Management Zone is defined as the area that encompasses Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties.

	Season Dates, Subject to Regulation .01D of This Chapter	Season Bag Limits
C. Antlered.
(1) Archery Season.
(a) Region A as Defined in Regulation .06A of This Chapter.
	January 10, 2025 - January 12, 2025 February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2025 - February 4, 2025 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation) January 9, 2026 - January 11, 2026 February 2, 2026 - February 4, 2026 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation)	1 antlered
(b) Statewide.
	September 6, 2024 - October 16, 2024 October 20, 2024 (Sunday counties only) October 21, 2024 - November 29, 2024 December 16, 2024 - December 20, 2024 January 5, 2025 (Sunday counties only) January 6, 2025 - January 9, 2025 January 13, 2025 - January 31, 2025 February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2025 - February 4, 2025 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation) September 5, 2025 - October 15, 2025 October 19, 2025 (Sunday counties only) October 20, 2025 - November 28, 2025 December 15, 2025 - December 19, 2025 January 4, 2026 (Sunday counties only) January 5, 2026 - January 8, 2026 January 12, 2026 - January 31, 2026 February 2, 2026 - February 4, 2026 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation)
(2) Muzzleloader Season.
	October 17, 2024 - October 19, 2024 December 21, 2024 - January 4, 2025 February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2025 - February 4, 2025 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation) October 16, 2025 - October 18, 2025 December 20, 2025 - January 3, 2026 February 2, 2026 - February 4, 2026 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation)	1 antlered, except during the October segment in Region A as defined in Regulation .06A of this chapter. A total of 1 deer, antlered or antlerless may be taken.
(3) Firearms Season.
(a) Region B as Defined in Regulation .06A of This Chapter.		1 antlered
	January 10, 2025 - January 11, 2025 January 12, 2025 (Sunday counties only) January 9, 2026 - January 10, 2026 January 11, 2026 (Sunday counties only)
(b) Statewide.
	November 30, 2024 - December 14, 2024 November 29, 2025 - December 13, 2025
(4) All Seasons Combined.
(a) No more than one antlered white-tailed deer having fewer than three antler points 1 inch or longer on each antler present may be taken per license year. Hunters that possess, or are eligible to possess, a Resident or Nonresident Junior Hunting License are exempt from this requirement. Hunters that are 16 years old or younger and possess an Apprentice Hunting License are exempt from this requirement. (b) One additional Bonus antlered white-tailed deer may be taken in Region B, as defined in Regulation .06A of this chapter, per license year for all seasons combined subject to §§G-H of this regulation.		No more than 2 antlered deer may be taken per license year with any combination of bow, muzzleloader, and firearms bag limits.

D. Antlerless.

(1) Region A as Defined in Regulation .06A of This Chapter.
(a) Archery Season.
	September 6, 2024 - October 16, 2024 October 20, 2024 - November 29, 2024 December 16, 2024 - December 20, 2024 January 5, 2025 - January 31, 2025 February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2025 - February 4, 2025 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation) September 5, 2025 - October 15, 2025 October 19, 2025 - November 28, 2025 December 15, 2025 - December 19, 2025 January 4, 2026 - January 31, 2026 February 2, 2026 - February 4, 2026 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation)	Up to 3 antlerless. See §D(1)(d) of this regulation.
(b) Muzzleloader Season.
	October 17, 2024 - October 19, 2024 December 28, 2024 - January 4, 2025 February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2025 - February 4, 2025 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation) October 16, 2025 - October 18, 2025 December 27, 2025 - January 3, 2026 February 2, 2026 - February 4, 2026 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation)	Up to 3 antlerless. §D(1)(d) of this regulation. During the October segment, a total of 1 deer, antlered or antlerless, may be taken.
(c) Firearms Season.
	December 7, 2024 - December 14, 2024 December 6, 2025 - December 13, 2025	Up to 2 antlerless. See §D(1)(d) of this regulation.
(d) All Seasons Combined.
		No more than 2 antlerless deer may be taken in Region A, as defined in Regulation .06A of this chapter, per license year during September - January with any combination of bow, muzzleloader, and firearms bag limits. One additional antlerless deer may be taken during the February dates. No more than 1 antlerless deer total may be taken during the February dates and no more than 1 antlerless deer may be harvested per day in any season.
(2) Region B as Defined in Regulation .06A of This Chapter.
(a) Archery Season.
	September 6, 2024 - October 16, 2024 October 20, 2024 (Sunday counties only) October 21, 2024 - November 29, 2024 December 16, 2024 - December 20, 2024 January 5, 2025 (Sunday counties only) January 6, 2025 - January 9, 2025 January 13, 2025 - January 31, 2025 February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2025 - February 4, 2025 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation) September 5, 2025 - October 15, 2025 October 19, 2025 (Sunday counties only) October 20, 2025 - November 28, 2025 December 15, 2025 - December 19, 2025 January 4, 2026 (Sunday counties only) January 5, 2026 - January 8, 2026 January 12, 2026 - January 31, 2026 February 2, 2026 - February 4, 2026 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation)	15 antlerless (Unlimited antlerless in the Suburban Deer Management Zone as defined in §B of this regulation)
(b) Muzzleloader Season.
	October 17, 2024 - October 19, 2024 October 21, 2024 - October 26, 2024 December 21, 2024 - January 4, 2025 February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2025 - February 4, 2025 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation) October 16, 2025 - October 18, 2025 October 20, 2025 - October 25, 2025 December 20, 2025 - January 3, 2026 February 2, 2026 - February 4, 2026 (use of primitive weapons only, subject to §F of this regulation)	10 antlerless
(c) Firearms Season.
	November 30, 2024 - December 14, 2024 January 10, 2025 - January 11, 2025	10 antlerless
	January 12, 2025 (Sunday counties only) November 29, 2025 - December 13, 2025 January 9, 2026 - January 10, 2026 January 11, 2026 (Sunday counties only)

E. Junior Deer Hunt.

(1) Region A as Defined in Regulation .06A of This Chapter.
Antlered or Antlerless.	November 16, 2024 - November 17, 2024 November 15, 2025 - November 16, 2025	1 deer
(2) Region B as Defined in Regulation .06A of This Chapter.
Antlered or Antlerless.	November 16, 2024 November 17, 2024 (Sunday counties only) November 15, 2025 November 16, 2025 (Sunday counties only)	3 deer Not more than 1 antlered

F. Use of Primitive Weapons During February Dates.

(1) A hunter may only use a primitive weapon as defined in COMAR 08.03.01.01B(29) and in accordance with COMAR 08.03.04.05I.

(2) Hunters may not harvest more than one antlered deer per day within the prescribed bag limit.

(3) A deer taken with a primitive weapon shall count towards the respective bow or muzzleloader season's bag limits, except in Region A, as defined in Regulation .06A of this chapter, in which one additional antlerless deer may be taken.

G. A hunter may only harvest one antlered deer per license year, including the Bonus antlered deer, that has antlers with fewer than three antler points 1 inch or longer on each antler. Hunters that possess, or are eligible to possess, a Resident or Nonresident Junior Hunting License are exempt from this requirement. Hunters that are 16 years old or younger and possess an Apprentice Hunting License are exempt from this requirement.

H. Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp.

(1) Before taking a Bonus antlered white-tailed deer, hunters shall first purchase a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp.

(2) Persons exempt from needing a hunting license under Natural Resources Article, § 10-301(c), Annotated Code of Maryland, do not need to purchase a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp.

(3) One Bonus antlered white-tailed deer may be taken per license year, for all seasons combined. The Bonus antlered white-tailed deer may not be taken on the same day that another antlered deer is taken under the prescribed bag limit.

(4) In accordance with the defined regions in Regulation .06A of this chapter, the Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp may be used in Region A, provided that prior to the use of the Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp:

(a) No more than two antlered deer were taken Statewide and no more than one antlered deer was taken in Region A; and

(b) Any previously harvested antlered deer in Region A was taken in a different weapon season than the Bonus deer.

(5) The Bonus antlered white-tailed deer may be taken in any weapon season except the October muzzleloader season.

Md. Code Regs. 08.03.03.07

Regulations .07 adopted as an emergency provision effective September 15, 1998 (25:21 Md. R. 1570); adopted permanently effective December 28, 1998 (25:26 Md. R. 1919)
Regulation .07 amended effective July 26, 1999 (26:15 Md. R. 1147); August 21, 2000 (27:16 Md. R. 1521); September 3, 2001 (28:17 Md. R. 1555)
Regulation .07 amended as an emergency provision effective September 14, 1999 (26:21 Md. R. 1625); emergency status expired March 11, 2000
Regulation .07 repealed and new Regulation .07 adopted effective September 2, 2002 (29:17 Md. R. 1379)
Regulation .07 amended effective July 17, 2006 (33:14 Md. R. 1162)
Regulation .07C amended as an emergency provision effective October 31, 2002 (29:23 Md. R. 1806); emergency status expired November 2, 2002
Regulation .07 repealed and new Regulation .07 adopted effective August 30, 2004 (31:17 Md. R. 1311)
Regulation .07 repealed and new Regulation .07 adopted effective July 17, 2008 (35:14 Md. R. 1245)
Regulation .07A amended effective August 15, 2005 (32:16 Md. R. 1391)
Regulation .07C amended as an emergency provision effective October 31, 2002 (29:23 Md. R. 1806); emergency status expired November 2, 2002
Regulation .07B, C amended effective October 3, 2011 (38:20 Md. R. 1201)
Regulation .07 amended as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2013 (40:21 Md. R. 1771); amended permanently effective November 25, 2013 (40:23 Md. R. 1932)
Regulation .07 repealed and new Regulation .07 adopted effective August 18, 2014 (41:16 Md. R. 944)
Regulation .07 amended effective 42:17 Md. R. 1110, eff.8/31/2015; adopted effective 43:16 Md. R. 899, eff. 8/15/2016; amended effective 45:16 Md. R. 774, eff. 8/13/2018; amended effective 47:16 Md. R. 737, eff. 8/10/2020; amended effective 49:16 Md. R.758, eff. 8/8/2022; adopted effective 51:20 Md. R. 898, eff. 10/14/2024.