Managed Deer Hunting Programs on Public Lands

DNR has implemented managed deer hunting programs in certain areas to more effectively manage white-tailed deer and reduce habitat damage.

Special seasons have been established for these hunting programs in an effort to achieve the desired reductions. The following areas will conduct managed hunting programs during the 2008-2009 hunting season, with a limited number of hunters chosen by lottery. A DNR Managed Hunt Permit is required.

Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area (Cecil) 410-356-9272
between 7:30am – 11:30am or 410-398-1246. Limit of 170 hunters.

Gunpowder Falls State Park- Sweet Air Area (Baltimore and Harford) 410-356-9272
between 7:30am – 11:30am or 410-592-2897. Limit of 65 hunters.

Fort Frederick State Park (Washington) 301-842-2155.
Limit of 50 hunters.

Seneca Creek State Park (Montgomery) 301-924-2127
Limit of 80 hunters

Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area (Baltimore) 410-461-5005
Limit of 100 hunters.

Hunters participating in the Fair Hill, Gunpowder Falls, Seneca Creek and Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area hunts will be allowed to harvest four antlerless deer, which will not count toward the hunter’s regular deer firearms season bag limit for the applicable region (Region B).  In addition, approximately 1 out of 10 hunters will be allowed to harvest an antlered deer in lieu of one of the four antlerless deer.  Those hunters will be chosen by a drawing on the morning of the hunt.

Hunters participating in the Fort Frederick State Park hunt will be allowed to harvest two antlerless deer, which will not count toward the hunter’s regular deer firearms season bag limit.

Shotguns with slugs are the only legal weapons and must conform to requirements set forth for statewide deer hunting. The use of scopes is permitted and encouraged.

All selected applicants must demonstrate proficiency with the weapon to be used during the hunt. A standardized hunter certification has been established for the above hunts, as well as selected managed hunting programs conducted by other local, state and federal agencies See Shooter Qualification Card Program. This system allows a hunter to satisfy the proficiency testing requirement by qualifying at a single site, even if selected for more than one managed hunting program. Additional information regarding these proficiency testing requirements will be made available to successful applicants.

Special qualification sessions have been scheduled for this purpose as follows:

Fair Hill/Gunpowder Falls/Soldiers Delight NEA Hunting Programs:
December 14, 2008, Notchcliff Army National Guard Range, Baltimore County.
(Note: All hunters must arrive by 10am.)

Fort Frederick Hunting Program:
November 9, 2008- 10am, Fort Frederick Range, Washington County.
(Note: All hunters must arrive by 10am.)

To Apply for These Lotteries:

• Submit Managed Hunt Application Form. A DNR Managed Hunt Permit is not required to apply for lotteries.

• Note that application deadlines and addresses may be different for each hunt.

• Maryland hunting license number is required to participate in the lotteries.

• Select your preferred hunting dates by numbering the date blocks (with #1 being your first choice).

• Only one application per hunter will be accepted. Group applications (up to 3) will be accepted. Group applications must be stapled together.

• If you are selected in any of these lotteries, you must have a DNR Managed Hunt Permit to participate in the hunt. The DNR Managed Hunt Permit replaced the variety of fees charged on a tract-by-tract basis in the past.

 Also See Southern Maryland Managed Hunts