Md. Code Regs. 08.03.03.07

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 12, June 14, 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) Savage River State Forest;

(13) Sideling Hill WMA;

(14) Warrior Mountain WMA;

(15) Wolf Den Run State Park;

(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 COMAR 08.03.03.01D	Season Bag Limits
C. Antlered.
(1) Archery Season.
(a) Region A as defined in COMAR 08.03.03.06A.
	January 6, 2023 - January 8, 2023 February 1, 2023 - February 3, 2023 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation) January 5, 2024 - January 7, 2024 February 1, 2024 - February 3, 2024 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation)	1 antlered
(b) Statewide.
	September 9, 2022 - October 19, 2022 October 23, 2022 (Sunday counties only) October 24, 2022 - November 25, 2022 December 12, 2022 - December 16, 2022 January 1, 2023 (Sunday counties only) January 2, 2023 - January 5, 2023 January 9, 2023 - January 31, 2023 February 1, 2023 - February 3, 2023 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation) September 8, 2023 - October 18, 2023 October 22, 2023 (Sunday counties only) October 23, 2023 - November 24, 2023 December 11, 2023 - December 15, 2023 December 31, 2023 (Sunday counties only) January 1, 2024 - January 4, 2024 January 8, 2024 - January 31, 2024 February 1, 2024 - February 3, 2024 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation)
(2) Muzzleloader Season.
	October 20, 2022 - October 22, 2022 December 17, 2022 - December 31, 2022 February 1, 2023 - February 3, 2023 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation) October 19, 2023 - October 21, 2023 December 16, 2023 - December 30, 2023 February 1, 2024 - February 3, 2024 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation)	1 antlered, except during the October segment in Region A as defined in COMAR 08.03.03.06A, a total of 1 deer, antlered or antlerless may be taken.
(3) Firearms Season.
(a) Region B as Defined in COMAR 08.03.03.06A.		1 antlered
	January 6, 2023 - January 7, 2023 January 8, 2023 (Sunday counties only) January 5, 2024 - January 6, 2024 January 7, 2024 (Sunday counties only)
(b) Statewide.
	November 26, 2022 - December 10, 2022 November 25, 2023 - December 9, 2023
(4) All Seasons Combined.
(a) No more than one antlered white-tailed deer having less than three antler points one 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 of age or younger and possess an Apprentice Hunting License are exempt from this requirement. (b) One additional Bonus antlered whitetailed deer may be taken in Region B, as defined in COMAR 08.03.03.06A, 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 COMAR 08.03.03.06A.
(a) Archery Season.
	September 9, 2022 - October 19, 2022 October 23, 2022 - November 25, 2022 December 12, 2022 - December 16, 2022 January 1, 2023 - January 31, 2023 February 1, 2023 - February 3, 2023 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation) September 8, 2023 - October 18, 2023 October 22, 2023 - November 24, 2023 December 11, 2023 - December 15, 2023 December 31, 2023 - January 31, 2024 February 1, 2024 - February 3, 2024 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation)	1 antlerless
(b) Muzzleloader Season.
(i) Lands Owned or Controlled by the Department as Described in §A of this Regulation.		1 antlerless, except during the October segment, a total of 1 deer, antlered or antlerless, may be taken.
	October 20, 2022 - October 22, 2022 December 31, 2023 February 1, 2023 - February 3, 2023 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation) October 19, 2023 - October 21, 2023 December 30, 2024 February 1, 2024 - February 3, 2024 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation)
(ii) Other Lands.
	October 20, 2022 - October 22, 2022 December 29, 2022 " December 31, 2022 October 19, 2023 - October 21, 2023 December 28, 2023 " December 30, 2023
(c) Firearms Season.
(i) Lands Owned or Controlled by the Department as Described in §A of this Regulation.		1 antlerless
	December 3, 2022 December 10, 2022 December 2, 2023 December 9, 2023
(ii) Other Lands.
	December 3, 2022 December 9, 2022 - December 10, 2022 December 2, 2023 December 8, 2023 - December 9, 2023
(d) All Seasons Combined.
		No more than 2 antlerless deer may be taken in Region A, as defined in COMAR 08.03.03.06A, per license year with any combination of bow, muzzleloader, and firearms bag limits. One additional antlerless deer may be taken in Region A during the February dates.
(2) Region B as Defined in COMAR 08.03.03.06A.
(a) Archery Season.
	September 9, 2022 - October 19, 2022 October 23, 2022 (Sunday counties only) October 24, 2022 - November 25, 2022 December 12, 2022 - December 16, 2022 January 1, 2023 (Sunday counties only) January 2, 2023 - January 5, 2023 January 9, 2023 - January 31, 2023 February 1, 2023 - February 3, 2023 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation) September 8, 2023 - October 18, 2023 October 22, 2023 (Sunday counties only) October 23, 2023 - November 24, 2023 December 11, 2023 - December 15, 2023 December 31, 2023 (Sunday counties only) January 1, 2024 - January 4, 2024 January 8, 2024 - January 31, 2024 February 1, 2024 - February 3, 2024 (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 20, 2022 - October 22, 2022 October 24, 2023 - October 29, 2023 December 17, 2022 - December 31, 2022 February 1, 2023 - February 3, 2023 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation) October 19, 2023 - October 21, 2023 October 23, 2023 - October 28, 2023 December 16, 2023 - December 30, 2023 February 1, 2024 - February 3, 2024 (use of primitive weapons only subject to §F of this regulation)	10 antlerless
(c) Firearms Season.
	November 26, 2022 - December 10, 2022 January 6, 2023 - January 7, 2023 January 8, 2023 (Sunday counties only) November 25, 2023 - December 9, 2023 January 5, 2024 - January 6, 2024 January 7, 2024 (Sunday counties only)	10 antlerless
E. Junior Deer Hunt.
(1) Region A as Defined in COMAR 08.03.03.06A.
Antlered or Antlerless	November 12, 2022 - November 13, 2022 November 11, 2023 - November 12, 2023	1 deer
(2) Region B as Defined in COMAR 08.03.03.06A.
Antlered or Antlerless	November 12, 2022 November 13, 2022 (Sunday counties only) November 11, 2023 November 12, 2023 (Sunday counties only)	3 deer, no more than 1 antlered

F. Use of primitive weapons during the 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 muzzle loader season's bag limits, except in Region A, as defined in Regulation .06A of this chapter, one additional antlerless deer may be taken.

G. A hunter may only harvest one antlered deer per license year, including the Bonus antlered deer, which has antlers with less than three antler points one 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 of age 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 must 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 cannot 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