Natural Resources News
Outside Perspective
This year Maryland commemorates the 200th anniversary of when experts believe that Araminta Ross–later to be known as Harriet Tubman–was born in Dorchester County.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resource is proud to partner with the National Park Service at our Harriet Tubman State Park and Visitor Center, which is also celebrating a milestone fifth anniversary since its opening on Harriet Tubman Day, March 10. Read more…
Youth, Veteran, and Military Waterfowl Hunting Day Held Feb. 5
Special Hunting Opportunity Offered Statewide
Photo by Larry Hindman, Maryland DNR
Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel can experience the thrills of hunting the state’s fields and wetlands during the winter special waterfowl hunting day on Feb. 5. Read more…
Maryland Reports 2022 Winter Turkey Season Harvest
Hunters Take Advantage of Cold Weather Opportunity
Photo by Tony Wheatley, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters reported taking 67 wild turkeys during the 2022 winter turkey season, which was open statewide Jan. 20-22. This year’s harvest was 24% lower than the 2021 winter total of 89 turkeys.
St. Mary’s, Baltimore, and Caroline counties reported the highest harvests respectively, although turkeys were reported from most counties across the state. Adult males, or “toms,” comprised 30% of the harvest with the remainder being females and juveniles. Eighty-one percent were taken with a shotgun, but some hunters harvested their bird with a crossbow or vertical bow. Read more…
Wildlife Professional’s Estate Bequeaths $1.7M to Department
Gift to Support Wildlife Education and Upland Habitat Projects
Marilyn Mause in 2017. photo courtesy Gregory Bartles.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Service recently received a $1.7 million gift from the estate of longtime employee Marilyn Mause specifically for wildlife education and upland habitat projects. Mause, who worked 34 years for the department’s wildlife unit primarily within the state’s central region, passed away in 2018. Read more…
Maryland’s Primitive Deer Hunt Days Run Feb. 1 – 3
Final Opportunity for Deer Hunters for the 2021-22 Season
Photo by Sizhu Liu, submitted to Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the state’s Primitive Deer Hunt will be open Feb. 1-3 statewide. Hunters with a valid hunting license, or those exempt from the hunting license requirement, may use primitive bows or muzzleloaders to hunt sika and white-tailed deer during these days.
Primitive hunting devices are defined as long bows, recurve bows, flintlock, or sidelock percussion muzzleloaders. Hunters may not use compound bows, crossbows, drawlocks, and telescopic or other electronic aiming devices. However, fiber optic sights are permitted on otherwise legal primitive bows or muzzleloaders. Read more…
Natural Resources Police Report — December 2021
A Natural Resources Police Officer on patrol. Maryland DNR file photo.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) cited numerous individuals for hunting and fishing violations throughout the state in December. Read more…
Secretary’s Message – January 2022
Resolve to Accessing Maryland’s Natural World
While it was a rainy start to 2022, I could not let a little rain get in the way of a great tradition. This year I joined Maryland Conservation Corps participants and visitors for a First Day Hike at Tuckahoe State Park, in Caroline County.
I certainly was not alone! About 3,000 hikers took to the trails for First Day Hikes at our state parks over three days, despite the rainy and wet conditions. We are pleased to see so many people continuing to enjoy this growing tradition!
In true Maryland fashion, following a warm and rainy New Year’s weekend, literally overnight, we turned a corner into winter weather! But snow and cold temperatures do not mean you have to stay inside. There are plenty of winter outdoor recreation opportunities on Maryland’s public lands from the mountains to the coast. Visit our website for activities near you, or plan a fun winter weekend getaway to one of these scenic destinations. Of the more than 19 million visitors in our state parks in 2021, 93 percent rated their experience as “excellent” or “above average” which speaks to the quality of our parks and our staff. Read more…
NRP Officer Prevents a Second Suicide in Two Months
He Previously Rescued a Woman Who Had Jumped into a River
Maryland Natural Resources Police Officer First Class Jacob Gerczak
A Maryland Natural Resources Police officer prevented a suicide for the second time in two months.
On Dec. 29 at about 6:30 p.m., Officer First Class Jacob Gerczak was on patrol near the Chesapeake City Bridge when he observed a woman leaning over the safety railing of the bridge. The five-year veteran, who in October had rescued another woman after she jumped into a river, recognized the signs that she might be suicidal and turned his patrol vehicle to approach the woman. Read more…
Maryland’s Winter Turkey Season Opens January 20
Hunters Get One More Chance to Bag a Bird
Photo by Isaac Bonneville
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the opening of the winter turkey season, which runs statewide from Jan. 20-22 for hunters who did not harvest a turkey during the 2021 fall season.
Hunting hours are from one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. The bag limit is one turkey of either sex. Read more…
Marylanders Kick Off 2022 with First Day Hikes
New Year’s Weekend Hikers Brave Rainy Conditions
Hikers at Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area head into the woods on Jan. 1, 2022. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) estimates that about 3,000 visitors took part in First Day Hikes in Maryland State Parks during the three-day period from December 31, 2021 through January 2, 2022.
More than 350 people self-reported that they hiked 1,223 miles in our state parks during the three-day weekend, in addition to 487 people that took part in ranger-led hikes, and 2,135 hikers who enjoyed self-guided options.
Rainy conditions may have dampened some attendance this year, but generally warmer temperatures through most of Maryland still provided plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun on the state’s public lands. Read more…
Maryland Deer Firearms Season Reopens January 7
Final Weekend of State’s Most Popular Hunt
Photo by Lori Bramble
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the January firearm deer hunting season opens Jan. 7, 2022, in Deer Management Region B, which includes all of the state except the westernmost counties. Hunters with a valid hunting license may use firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer during this season.
The season is open Jan. 7-8 in all of Region B. The season is also open through Sunday, Jan. 9 on private and designated public lands in Cecil and St. Mary’s counties, and on private lands only in Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Washington (Zone 1), and Worcester counties. Shooting hours end at 10:30 a.m. in Kent and Montgomery counties. Read more…
First Day Hikes on Maryland Public Lands to Welcome 2022
Ranger-led and Self-guided Hikes Available Across Maryland
Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford and Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio take a First Day Hike at Patapsco Valley State Park on Jan. 1, 2021. Photo by Joe Andrucyk, Maryland State House.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites everyone to take a First Day Hike, Maryland’s annual tradition for a fun, healthy way to welcome the New Year.
The Maryland Park Service will once again make First Day Hikes a weekend-long event, with ranger-led and self-guided opportunities across the state from Dec. 31, 2021 through Jan. 2, 2022. Read more…
Maryland Hunters Take 26,569 Deer in Two-Week Firearms Season
Harvest 16% Lower, Population Remains Healthy
Photo by Olivia Wiley
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 26,569 deer during the two-week firearms season from Nov. 27 through Dec. 11. The harvest was 16% lower than last year’s official count of 31,649. Read more…
Muzzleloader Deer Season Open Through Jan. 1, 2022
Second Half of Split Season Now Open
Photo by Brendan Wolf
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters the muzzleloader deer hunting season reopened Dec. 18 and will run through Jan. 1, 2022. This is the second half of Maryland’s split deer muzzleloader season; the first half was held in October. Hunters may use muzzleloading firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer during this time. Read more…
Winning Artwork Chosen for 2022-2023 Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design
Depiction of Snow Geese Wins Annual Contest
Towson resident Jim Taylor’s illustration will adorn the 2022-23 Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp.
Towson resident Jim Taylor won this year’s 48th annual Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest held by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Judges chose Taylor’s depiction of snow geese flying over a cornfield to be featured on the stamps hunters purchase to hunt all migratory game birds in the state. Read more…
Maryland Announces Winter and Spring Trout Stocking for 2022
Preseason Stocking Begins; Traditional Trout Opener is March 26
Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced plans to stock 300,000 trout in Maryland waters. Preseason trout stocking begins this week.
The annual stocking will be completed in three bursts, preseason from now through February and spring stocking March 14 –25 and April 18 – 29. Updates will be provided for all open locations once stocking is complete. Read more…
Natural Resources Police Report — November 2021
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged numerous individuals in November for conservation law violations including striped bass poaching and illegal deer hunting. Read more…
Secretary’s Message — December 2021
Honoring our Past, Preserving our Future
Employee Appreciation celebration at Harriet Tubman State Park. Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
December is a great time to reflect on the year’s accomplishments, so I decided to dedicate this month’s message to our amazing partners, volunteers, and staff who make our accomplishments possible.
Earlier this year, I was pleased to host Employee Appreciation celebrations at various state park locations throughout the state. This offered us an opportunity to formally honor our team of dedicated staff and celebrate milestone anniversaries in their years of service to the State of Maryland and DNR.
These invaluable employees have provided 10, 20, 30, and even 40 years of service. Their depth of knowledge and dedication helps us excel at our mission and makes our state a better place. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – December 8
As the sun sets on the 2021 striped bass season, this photo sums up the message, “just one more fish, please.” Photo by Travis Long.
This will be our final Maryland Fishing Report for 2021 — look for our midwinter report in January. In the meantime, there are a number of fun adventures anglers and their families can enjoy together the next couple months. All of us at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources wish you peace and happiness over the holidays and in the New Year.
The 2021 Maryland striped bass season comes to a close on Friday, December 10. Anglers in southern Maryland will be able to fish for striped bass in the lower Potomac River until December 31.
Atlantic Population Canada Goose Season Begins Dec. 17
Split Season Ends Jan.1, Resumes Jan. 13
Photo by Larry Hindman, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that Maryland’s Atlantic Population Canada goose hunting season opens Friday, Dec. 17. The season contains two segments, Dec. 17 through Jan. 1, 2022, and again from Jan. 13 through Jan. 31, 2022. Read more…
Water Temperatures Pose Danger to Sea Turtles, Marine Mammals
Marylanders Asked to Report ‘Cold-Stunning’ of Sea Creatures
Maryland Department of Natural Resources and National Aquarium staff returned three sea turtles to the Atlantic Ocean in September 2020, after months of rehabilitating the animals from near-fatal cold-stunning. Maryland DNR photo.
As soon as water temperatures dip in the fall, sea turtles and some marine mammals that frequent the Chesapeake Bay are susceptible to cold-stunning or hypothermia.
The immediate impacts can cause some species to become slow and unresponsive, making them dangerous to themselves and boaters. Read more…
Maryland Announces Opening Weekend Deer Firearm Season Results
Hunters Find Success Despite Windy Conditions
Photo by Duane Tucker
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters reported 10,419 deer taken on the opening weekend of the 2021 Maryland firearm season, Nov. 27-28. The overall harvest was 6% lower than last year’s official opening weekend harvest of 11,123 deer, as windy conditions prevailed.
The harvest total included 4,780 antlered and 5,289 antlerless white-tailed deer, and 168 antlered and 182 antlerless sika deer. The two-week deer firearm season runs through Dec. 11. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – December 1
Gary Budny holds up a beautiful chain pickerel he caught and released at Loch Raven Reservoir. Photo courtesy of Gary Budny
Everywhere in Maryland, colder weather is setting in as we enter December. Some species of fish will begin to hunker down for the winter months while others relish the colder water temperatures. Fishing for blue catfish, trout, and chain pickerel often excels during the winter months, and saltwater fishing for sea bass and tautog provide plenty of action along the coasts.
Board of Public Works Approves $26 Million in Rural Legacy Program Grants
Funding Will Protect 6,000 Acres Statewide
The Board of Public Works today unanimously approved more than $26.2 million in Rural Legacy Program grants for conservation easements in 17 counties. Funding from these grants will permanently protect about 6,000 acres of working farms, forests, open space, shorelines, and wetlands — plus cultural and historical resources — throughout the state.
Additionally, the board approved designation of a new Rural Legacy Area in Charles County, the 64,000-acre Nanjemoy-Mattawoman Forest Rural Legacy Area. Designation will provide the opportunity to protect farmland, forests, natural areas, and historic properties within the Nanjemoy and Mattawoman watersheds. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves Community Parks and Playgrounds Funding
Program Provides $5 Million for Outdoor Recreation Statewide in Fiscal 2022
The Board of Public Works today approved the last of 31 Community Parks and Playground projects for this fiscal year, totaling $5 million in grants for new and upgraded outdoor facilities in communities across Maryland.
Governor Larry Hogan’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget included funding for these projects, through which the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides flexible grants to municipalities to rehabilitate, expand, or improve existing parks, create new parks, or purchase and install playground equipment. Read more…
Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report – Year-End 2021
Divided Season Results in Near Average 2021 Hypoxia
Monitoring of dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia showed a tale of two different halves for the 2021 season. The Bay experienced below average hypoxia — areas with less than 2 mg/l of dissolved oxygen — from May through July, followed by above average hypoxic volumes August through October. When averaged over the full 2021 season, hypoxic volume was slightly below the historical seasonal average, consistent with forecasts made in the spring. Read more…
Maryland Fifth Graders Invited to Submit Arbor Day Posters for 2022
Annual Contest Taking Submissions until January 21, 2022
Luke Etter of Carroll County won first place honors in the 2021 Arbor Day Poster Contest, with a prize of 15 trees to his school for planting.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Forest Conservancy District Boards invite all Maryland fifth graders in private and public schools to participate in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest.
The theme for 2022 is: “Trees Are Terrific…and Maryland Forests Are Too!” Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – November 24
There are many outdoor opportunities to be thankful for in Maryland. Bryant Smith and his children show off a mixed bag of wood ducks and a large northern snakehead.
Marylanders are beginning to hear Old Man Winter knocking on the door this week, with repeated temperatures below 30 degrees in some areas. Water temperatures are declining in all areas, changing the fishing conditions. Dress appropriately and enjoy the exciting fishing opportunities. All of us at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources wish everyone a happy and fulfilling Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends.
Fall Foliage Report – November 24, 2021
The meteorological fall season comes to a close on December 1, and we are beginning to experience consistently cooler temperatures and brisk winds across Maryland. Fall foliage enthusiasts who bundle up and head east will be rewarded with leaves of crimson, amber, and gold adorning the Eastern Shore’s beautiful waterfront landscapes. A few pops of color remain in the central part of our state, and our citizen reporters spotted gorgeous burgundy-red leaves in Frederick and mellower tones of yellow and orange at Seneca Creek State Park. We’d like to thank all of the Marylanders that submitted photos capturing the fall season this year. We were thrilled with the response, and your photos helped us with our foliage forecasting.
Maryland Offers ‘Gift of Trees’ for Holiday Shopping List
Native Tree Planting with Certificate Available for Purchase
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources offers holiday shoppers the opportunity to buy one gift for a loved one, for future generations, and for the environment.. The Gift of Trees is a program where Marylanders purchase native trees — either a single tree or a grove of 10 trees — for planting in honor of a celebration, commemoration, or observation.
A Gift of Trees certificate suitable for framing will be issued and mailed out within a week or two of an order. All trees will be planted in the next growing season – either spring or fall – to promote optimal growth and survival. Orders must be placed by Dec. 17 to ensure certificate delivery in time for Christmas. Holiday discounts are available for early shoppers.
Maryland’s Deer Firearms Hunting Season Set to Open Nov. 27
Another Chance for Hunters to Put Venison in Their Freezers
Photo by Ranger Elena Gilroy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that the two-week firearms hunting season for sika and white-tailed deer opens Saturday, Nov. 27 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 11. Read more…
Fall Foliage Report – November 18, 2021
GO EAST! Western portions of the state have passed peak conditions and even had a little snow. Although there are still patches of fall scenery in the central part of the state, the fall color has shifted east of I-95 in Maryland. Based on our reports, the last of fall’s glory can be seen in bright reds, oranges, and yellows; even driving around the neighborhood can provide some beautiful views. On Maryland’s Eastern Shore there are also plenty of conifers, and the pops of green mixed in with traditional fall colors make for great scenic landscapes in vast open spaces.
Maryland Fishing Report – November 17
Photo by Monty Hawkins
As we move through November there are plenty of excellent fishing opportunities to be had. The western mountain streams and rivers hold trout, smallmouth bass, and muskellunge. The small lakes and ponds that dot Maryland are providing a variety of fish that are feeding aggressively. The striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay are also feeling the urge to build up body stores. In the waters of the Atlantic, fishing for black sea bass does not get any better, with limit catches the norm.
Secretary’s Message: November 2021
Make Maryland’s Outdoors Part of Your Gatherings
Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
As we enter the final two months of the year, our thoughts turn to the holiday season and gatherings with family and friends. To supplement those traditional dishes we often serve, I am pleased to share with you the Maryland Department of Natural Resources online cookbook Wild Maryland. The cookbook includes recipes with ingredients that can be hunted, trapped, caught, or foraged in Maryland’s outdoors – just in time for Maryland’s fall hunting and fishing seasons.
Wild Maryland also showcases our heritage and our way of life, through recipes that can be shared and passed down for generations to come. Feel free to try our recipes or submit one of your own by sending an email to Recipes.DNR@maryland.gov! Read more…
Natural Resources Police Report — October 2021
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) filed charges in October for a variety of conservation law violations including illegal bear hunting, striped bass violations, and deer poaching. Read more…
‘Boatload of Toys’ Underway for 2021 Holiday Season
Natural Resources Police Toy Drive Returns
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police (NRP) is renewing its commitment to helping the state’s children have a joyful holiday season with its annual “Boatload of Toys” drive. In November and December, staff will be collecting donations of new and unopened toys, for local children up to 18 years of age.
Officers and civilian staff manage this program each year as part of the national Marine Toys for Tots program to collect and distribute toys to children in need during the holiday season. After suspending the program last year due to the pandemic, NRP is eager to resume collecting hundreds of gifts to distribute. Read more…
Fall Foliage Report – November 11, 2021
The corn mazes are wrapping up, farmers markets are shifting to their winter offerings, and the trees across Maryland are preparing for their winter break. But there are still opportunities to see fall color, especially in the central and eastern parts of the state. A good way to enjoy the remaining fall days is with a drive along one of Maryland’s Scenic byways. At this point, the Roots and Tides, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad, Chesapeake Country, Religious Freedom, and John Wilkes Booth trails are your best bets for capturing fall’s final curtain call. Colors are still muted compared to previous years but there are plenty of beautiful spots that make it worth the trip.
Maryland Fishing Report – November 10
Lucy Perez went fishing with her dad and holds up her prize, one keeper-sized striped bass. Photo by Nick Perez
Many of Maryland’s fishing opportunities are at their zenith as cool water temperatures have fish feeling the urge to build up body stores for the coming winter months. This is good news for anglers.
Read more…
Maryland Reports Early Deer Hunting Season 2021 Results
Muzzleloader Season Sees Increase; Slow Start for Archery
Photo by Terri Abramovitz
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports that hunters harvested 16,281 deer during the early portion of the archery and muzzleloader seasons. The harvest was a 17% decrease from last year’s official harvest of 19,616 deer for the same period. Read more…
Natural Resources Police Officer Prevents a Suicide in Cecil County River
Five-Year Veteran Dives into Cold Water to Rescue Woman
Officer First Class Jacob Gerczak. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
A Maryland Natural Resources Police Officer rescued a suicidal woman who jumped into the Bohemia River in Cecil County.
Officer First Class Jacob Gerczak was on patrol in the Chesapeake City area at about 5:20 p.m. on October 31 when he observed a woman standing on the end of a pier overlooking the Bohemia River. The five-year veteran officer knew something was suspicious. Moments later, the woman jumped from the pier into the river. Read more…
Fall Foliage Report – November 4, 2021
The fall foliage this year has been a moving target, and we find ourselves entering November with some lackluster conditions. We are generally seeing a pattern from western Garrett County in the past peak stage to lots of green with pockets of color in far eastern Maryland. With the recent wind and rain, we’re seeing an end to prime foliage colors in most of the state mainly because of leaf drop. Generally speaking, fall foliage seekers should go far north where there has been more change and your best bet will be along the Blue Ridge mountain range (Allegany, Washington, and Frederick counties). It’s still a great time to enjoy the cooler weather outside as the leaves fall! We had lots of photo submissions this week from citizen forest watchers across our state so look to see what’s happening on the ground through their lenses.
Controlled Burn Planned for Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Smoke May Be Visible from Nearby Highways
Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Allegany County. Maryland DNR photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will conduct a controlled burn on Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area on a date to be set in December as weather and other conditions allow. Residents or drivers who see smoke in the area southwest of Rawlings should be aware that it may appear to be a forest fire, but is deliberate and controlled and there is no need to report it to authorities.
The fire will create smoke but it will be a controlled flame targeting underbrush and ground cover debris. Access to the wildlife management area at its primitive camping area and at Middle Ridge Road will be limited during the burn, due to potential for low visibility, but will reopen as soon as the burn is completed. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – November 3
Jacob Baczeski went trout fishing with his dad on Deer Creek and proudly holds up a rainbow trout he caught. Photo by Stanley Baczeski
November is upon us and many areas of central, southern, and eastern Maryland have experienced their first frost. The waters are cooling and providing excellent fishing opportunities as many species of fish are feeding aggressively. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources trout program made an all-out effort to stock waters last week, providing exciting fishing. Read more…
Maryland 2021 Black Bear Hunt Harvest Results Released
Weather and Abundant Food Prove Challenging for Hunters
Photo by Bob Geary
Hunters harvested 54 black bears during Maryland’s 18th annual black bear hunt. Official results have been compiled and reported by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources following the five-day hunt held Oct. 25-29 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties.
Abundant natural food in the mountains of Western Maryland slowed bear movements, and warm and sometimes wet weather conditions made hunting difficult. Hunters harvested 34 female and 20 male bears under these less-than-ideal conditions. Read more…
Maryland Sport Fishing Achievement Awards Presented for 2021
Second Annual Awards from Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (center) presents the 2021 Sport Fisheries Achievement Award to Robert Wall, joined by his wife Vicky, at right. Also picture from left are Maryland DNR biologist Letha Grimes and Mary Helen Sprecher, who nominated Wall for the award. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission and Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) presented annual awards for recreational fisheries lifetime achievement to Robert Wall and the late Joseph W. Brooks. The presentations were made in a ceremony held October 20 at Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden in Annapolis.
The Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award was established by the commission to honor individuals who have provided sustained efforts in habitat management, conservation, education, research, or other meaningful contributions that benefit recreational fishing in Maryland. The inaugural 2020 award recipients were the late fishing legend Bernand “Lefty” Kreh, and Baltimore County resident Dr. Kenneth Lewis. Read more…
Maryland’s Junior Deer Hunt Held Second Weekend of November
Opportunity for Youngsters to Learn Traditions of Deer Hunting
Ava H. took a 170-pound, seven-point white-tailed buck during the November 2019 Junior Deer Hunt in Caroline County.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources encourages experienced deer hunters to take advantage of the upcoming Junior Deer Hunting Days to introduce youth to this time-honored cultural and sporting tradition.
The Junior Deer Hunt is open on private and designated public land in all counties on November 13. The is also open on Sunday, November 14 on private land in all counties except Baltimore, Howard, and Prince George’s. Also on November 14, junior hunters in Allegany, Cecil, Garrett, St. Mary’s, and Washington counties, may hunt on designated public lands. Read more…
Fish and Let Live: Catch-Photo-Release Tournaments Support Bass Conservation
Photo taken during tournament showing a fish being measured
Tournament bass fishing began in earnest in the 1960s with the formation of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and other groups. Anglers competed for a limit of black bass to bring to scales, and the winner had the heaviest bag. At the time, tournament fish were kept after weigh-ins, and piles of dead fish were commonplace. Beginning in the early 1970s, however, the focus of bass tournaments shifted to conservation and returning sportfish to the water alive. Read more…
Hollywood Story: Complex Conservation Effort Preserves Valuable Land
Forester Rob Dyke walks the property’s trails.
In late December 2020, the Maryland Forest Service added 905 acres of hardwood forest to the Stoney Demonstration Forest, a state forest in southern Harford County, permanently protecting a significant area of tree canopy and wildlife habitat.
This significant conservation success is the result of a multi-year partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), The Conservation Fund (TCF), Harford Land Trust, and Aberdeen Proving Ground. Read more…
Finding ‘Ben’s 10’: Maryland Archaeology Team Races Elements for Major Harriet Tubman Find
Dr. Julie Schablitsky examines artifacts alongside the archaeology team. Photo by Tim Pratt.
As fog burned off the wetlands at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge one March morning, Dr. Julie Schablitsky trudged deep into the muck. Water inundated the roads, and phragmites grew alongside. Trees succumbing to rising waters—collectively called “ghost forests”—loomed overhead. Read more…
#ProtectOurPonies: First Lady Yumi Hogan Joins Call to Protect Assateague’s Wild Horses
Photo by Alan Wilder
Each year, more than one million visitors cross the Verrazano Bridge to the narrow strip of barrier island that is Assateague, which is divided into Maryland’s Assateague State Park and the federal Assateague Island National Seashore. One of the major attractions here is the freely roaming herd of wild horses. Often referred to as ponies due to their small stature, these horses are actually more closely related to standard breeds and quarter horses. After years of living in the harsh barrier island environment, they have adapted by maintaining shorter, stockier builds that allow them to better navigate the unstable grounds of a marsh. Thick winter coats help protect them from strong ocean winds and the many insects found on the island. Read more…
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