Baywide Total Breaks 100,000 Acres The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports 2017 was the third consecutive record-breaking year for underwater grass abundance in Maryland’s portion of Chesapeake Bay. An annual baywide survey showed 62,356 acres of underwater grasses were mapped in Maryland’s tidal waters, a 5 percent increase from 2016. This is the fifth Read the Rest…
Applications Must Be Submitted by May 31 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting offshore waterfowl blind and shoreline license applications for riparian, or waterfront, property owners. Such landowners, or anyone who has the owner’s permission, may license their shoreline to establish offshore stationary blinds or blind sites for hunting waterfowl. A license Read the Rest…
Seeking the Input of Maryland’s Experts – You I have the privilege of working with a dedicated team of experts in the natural sciences. The staff of every unit at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is committed to constantly refining the management of public resources – fisheries, forests, public lands, waterways and wildlife. But Read the Rest…
Public Comment Accepted Through March 14 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comment on the proposed 2018-2019 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons. The public comment period will close at noon March 14. The seasons will be finalized in early spring after the department reviews public input and obtains approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Maryland Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Shows Increase from 2017 Each winter, aerial survey teams of biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service make visual estimates of ducks, geese and swans along the state’s coast and shoreline. This year, teams counted about 1,023,300 waterfowl, well above the 812,600 birds observed Read the Rest…
A West Virginia man was convicted Tuesday in Allegany County Circuit Court of setting three fires earlier this year that damaged 57 acres in Green Ridge State Forest. Brian Chad Twigg, 20, of Paw Paw, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree malicious burning, a felony. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with Read the Rest…
Reservations Taken for Nov. 20-22 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that it is continuing the Canada goose hunt on Deep Creek Lake and waterfowl hunt at Broadford Lake. Canada goose and waterfowl hunting is by permit and reservation only during select days of the season (Nov. 20-22). Interested hunters can apply for a permit Read the Rest…
Two Dates Offer Introduction to Maryland Tradition The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites young hunters to hone their skills with the help of an experienced adult during two Youth Waterfowl Hunt days: Nov. 4, 2017, and Feb. 10, 2018. Anyone 16 years of age or younger can hunt coots, ducks, geese and mergansers on Read the Rest…
Limited Number of Deal Island, Fairmount Wildlife Management Area Permits Issued by Lottery Hunters can now submit applications for the annual permit-only waterfowl hunting days on Deal Island and Fairmount wildlife management areas, located in Somerset County on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. Permits will be issued through a lottery drawing, with assignments based upon a Read the Rest…
Applications Taken and Lottery Begins Aug. 1 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will soon allow the state’s resident hunters to apply for a 2017-18 waterfowl blind site license. Beginning Aug. 1, applicants will be entered into a lottery for a chance to select their blind sites. Each site license is assigned to a designated Read the Rest…
A Florida man was arrested and charged with a handgun violation Sunday by Maryland Natural Resources Police officers at an event at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. Michael Steven Friend Jr., 32, of Port Saint Lucie, was a vendor at the Repitcon Reptile Show when officers checking for the sale of illegal species noticed he was Read the Rest…
Record Acreage Surpasses Restoration Goal The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported today that underwater grass abundance – a key indicator of improving water clarity and quality – increased for the fourth straight year in the state’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay, reaching a record of 59,277 acres. This represents a 10 percent increase from Read the Rest…
Public Input Submitted for Final Approval After receiving and reviewing public input, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has selected the 2017-2018 migratory game bird hunting seasons. As the last step in the process, these recommendations are now pending final approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Deadline to License Waterfowl Blinds is May 31 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that owners of riparian, or waterfront, property can renew or apply for offshore blind and shoreline licensing by May 31, 2017. Anyone who owns or has an owners’ permission to use riparian property may license their shorelines to establish stationary blinds or blind sites for Read the Rest…
Public Comment Accepted Through March 8 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comment on proposed 2017-2018 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons. The seasons will be finalized in early spring after the department reviews public input and obtains approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The public comment period will close at noon March 8.
Annual Survey Estimates Number of Dabblers, Divers, Ducks & Waterfowl Each winter, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service make visual estimates of the ducks, geese and swans along the state’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast. This year, the teams counted about 812,600 waterfowl, higher Read the Rest…
Anyone up to 16 Years Old Can Participate Young Marylanders can hone their hunting skills with the help of an experienced adult Feb. 11 during the second of two Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days scheduled for the 2016-2017 hunting season. Anyone 16 years of age or younger can hunt ducks, geese, mergansers and coots on public Read the Rest…