MARYLAND - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the return of the two-week firearms hunting season for deer in the state.
DNR says the season opens on Saturday, November 25th and runs through Saturday, December 9th. Sunday hunting is permitted in all of the Eastern Shore Counties, allowing hunters more opportunity to hunt on the weekend and help manage the deer population, according to DNR.
Hunters who wish to pursue sika deer will require a sika hunting stamp according to DNR, a new policy for the 2023-24 hunting season. Sika stamps can be purchased online at this portal, at a licensing agent, or by calling DNR Licensing and Registration Services at 866-344-8889.
DNR also reminds hunters that an antler-point restriction remains in effect, though Marylanders are permitted to bag one antlered white-tailed deer that does not meet the usual three points on one antler. Hunters 16 or under with a license or apprentice license are exempt from this restriction, DNR says.
Deer hunters are required to wear daylight fluorescent orange or pink in one of the following ways: a cap of solid fluorescent daylight orange or pink, a vest or jacket containing back and front panels of at least 250 square inches of fluorescent daylight orange or pink, or an outer garment of camouflage daylight fluorescent orange or pink worn above the waist and containing at least 50 percent daylight fluorescent color.
Though the counties of the Eastern Shore are not included in DNR’s Chronic Wasting Disease Management area, the Department warns hunters against consuming the meat of sick animals as well as the brain, lymph nodes, or spinal column of any deer.
Bag limits for the 2023-24 season and other regulations for deer hunting can be found at this link.
The Department of Natural Resources also encourages hunters to donate their quarry, with a state tax credit offered to hunters for donated deer. Other deer processors may offer local or state programs as well, DNR says.