I thought, 'If I can get a slug in his rib cage, I'm good. All rights reserved. These items may be obtained from a Department of Natural Resources Service Center, Department of Natural Resources Sport License agen t or online at dnr.maryland.gov/pages/licensing.aspx. It was tagged in Grafton County. Faced with deer densities approaching (and in some cases exceeding) the habitat's capacity, many Maryland landowners and deer hunters have begun to manage the herd. For information about the 1,000-acre From the time the second buck disappeared to the time Billy actually fired, only a few seconds had elapsed. "It didn't have much longer to run. The buck didn't stray too far from the security of the swampy bottom, and based on the sheds he could enter the 2002 season as an 8 1/2-year-old. National Human Trafficking Hotline - 24/7 Confidential. Jay Downes bagged a 173-inch 4x4 with his shotgun. The area is less intensively farmed than are some of the better-known deer counties farther south, but otherwise it has a lot going for it as whitetail habitat. Archery hunters can hunt during any firearms season but must wear adequate fluorescent orange at those times, same as if they were carrying a gun. He's like a little brother to me, and he killed the biggest deer to date at my farm, a 140-class 8-pointer on opening day of (the 2013) shotgun season.". But then he would stand up again, give a quick glimpse around and immediately go back down. Pat Hogan discusses the use of an AR rifle as a whitetail hunting option. Sika deer also rely on mast during fall and winter, thus acorn-producing oaks are an important component of the forest overstory in sika habitat. Some proclaimed the deer would be a new state record. "My wife usually works evenings. For more information, call 410-641-3030. Bagged by an unknown hunter, the biggest nontypical from Washington was taken in Washington County. ', "'Good luck!' So I'm staying!'. If nothing happens, I'll try grunting as a last resort at last light. In order to check in their deer or turkey, hunters must have a DNRid number that is available through the COMPASS portal at compass.dnr.maryland.gov OR any Department of Natural Resources Licensing and Registration Service Center (Addresses & Phone Numbers) OR a Department of Natural Resources Sport License Agent. 150 all-time. Ranking No. With 27 points, this deer is truly a spectacle, and has quite a unique rack, even for a nontypical whitetail. 5 all-time. The creek bottom is kind of a funnel.". Billy hunted both Saturday and Sunday on opening weekend of the 2006 shotgun season without incident. "'I'm not sure. "Since he was behind me, I got a steady rest against the tree and placed the cross hairs toward the back of his rib cage. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) - Updated Information, Frequently Asked Questions about White-tailed Deer, Deer Hunting: An Effective Management Tool, Deer Hunting - A Valuable Deer Management Tool for Private Landowners, Cornell University Community Deer Adviser. Field tags are available in the Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping or a tag can be made by the hunter with the appropriate information (hunter name, DNRid number, county of harvest and date of harvest, or a Confirmation Number with the hunters name when the animal has been checked in).