Natural Resources News
Deer Harvest up 16% during Maryland Firearms Season
Hunters Harvest Over 31,000 Deer during the Two-Week Season
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 31,571 deer during the two-week firearms season from Nov. 28 – Dec. 12. The harvest was 16% higher than last year’s official count of 27,121. Hunters enjoyed good weather compared to the 2019 season, which was hampered by rain, wind, and fog on key days.
Wolf Den Run State Park Opens Additional 1,375 Acres
Expanded Recreation Includes Off-Road Vehicle Trails
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces that Wolf Den Run State Park has now opened two additional areas, adding 1,375 acres of land and 25 miles of multi-use trails, including off-road vehicle (ORV) use. Read more…
Maryland Fifth-Graders Invited to Submit Arbor Day Posters for 2021
Annual Contest Taking Submissions until Jan. 15, 2021
Lola Lugard of Carroll County won first place honors for the 2020 Arbor Day Poster Contest.
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 2021 is: “Trees Are Terrific…and Forest Products are Too!”
All entries must be delivered to a local Maryland Forest Service office by noon, Jan. 15, 2021. Read more…
Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest Winner Announced
Hen and Drake Redhead to Adorn 2021-2022 Hunting Stamps
Scott Calpino’s rendering of a hen and a drake redhead will adorn Maryland’s 2021-2022 migratory game bird hunting stamps.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce Scott Calpino has won the 47th Annual Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest with his lifelike rendering of a hen and a drake redhead, complete with a beautiful reflection in the water Read more…
Trio Charged with Illegal Deer Hunting in Garrett County
Following an extensive investigation, Maryland Natural Resources Police charged three men with illegally hunting multiple deer in Garrett County.
In November and December, Natural Resources Police investigated reports of deer illegally killed near the Blakeslee community. On December 3, officers learned of an additional incident where an antlerless albino deer was illegally hunted, and received information from concerned citizens. After investigating, police identified three suspects: Jeremy Hoalcraft, 18, of Oakland; David Georg, 29, of Swanton; and Jordan Dawson, 22, of Deer Park. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – Dec. 9
David Shaw shows us some of the rewards that can be found when fishing this time of the year as he caught and released this largemouth bass in the Sassafras River recently Photo by David Shaw
This week concludes our Maryland Fishing Report for 2020 — look for our winter update in early February, and for our weekly reports to resume in March 2021.
Despite colder temperatures there is still plenty of good fishing ahead in the winter months. Many will now shift their focus to freshwater and ocean fishing — with freshwater providing the easiest opportunities and definitely the more comfortable.
Muzzleloader Deer Season Reopens Dec. 19
Season Runs Through Jan. 2
Photo by Brendan Wolf
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the muzzleloader deer hunting season will reopen Dec. 19 and run through Jan. 2, 2021. 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 these dates. Read more…
Deer Hunters Enjoy Successful Firearms Opening Weekend
Excellent Weather Contributed to Strong Harvest
Photo by Ranger Elena Gilroy
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters reported 11,054 deer taken on the opening weekend of the 2020 Maryland firearm season, Nov. 28-29. The harvest was 19% higher than last year’s official first weekend harvest of 9,272 deer.
The harvest total included 4,932 antlered and 5,799 antlerless white-tailed deer, and 163 antlered and 160 antlerless sika deer. The two-week deer firearm season runs through Dec. 12. Read more…
Department Offers Online Licensing Services in Spanish
COMPASS Portal Expands Outreach
Photo by Stephen Badger
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces its online COMPASS portal is now available in Spanish.
The new COMPASS portal will provide Spanish speakers access to the department’s catalog of recreational licenses, permits and stamps, and other products and services.
A button at the top of each page within COMPASS allows visitors to toggle between the “English version” and the “versión en español.” Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – Dec. 2
Chloe Campbell and her dad got to enjoy some fun fishing for yellow perch at Deep Creek Lake recently. Photo by Gary Campbell
With December’s arrival it is getting chillier outside, but there is still plenty of wonderful fishing to be had from offshore of Ocean City to Deep Creek Lake.
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