The 2006-07 Maryland and Virginia deer hunting seasons are underway these next two months and there is plenty for hunters to be excited about. Both states offer plenty of opportunities to harvest deer and in both locales the rut has coincided with available season dates for both shotgun and muzzleloader firearms. Whitetail deer are among the most pursued big game animals in North America and they provide some tasty options once the venison is prepared. Habitat is a prime factor for deer herd health and both the Commonwealth and Freestate offer some of the best in that regard. Weather changes including the infamous Nor’easters that wail through the Maryland-Virginia Tidewater in late fall and early winter can increase deer movement further. So, climb safely into your favorite treestand or hunting spot and enjoy some of the best deer hunting opportunities on the Eastern seaboard.

     Virginia has several different firearms seasons with regional locations which allow shotgun, muzzleloader, rifle or a combination of these hunting options. There are also urban archery hunting areas which are designed to help solve the growing number of deer herds in more developed areas. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) provide detailed and specific location information for the Commonwealth’s deer hunting seasons at their website, http://www.dgif.state.va.us/. Once there, navigate the website hyperlinks to deer hunting seasons at, http://www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/regulations/deer.asp . The DGIF website provides information on specific firearms ordnances by county or municipal locations at, http://www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/regulations/localordinances.asp. This information is also provided in print in the Hunting & Trapping in Virginia Regulations and Information booklet that is provided when a hunting license is purchased. The main office of Virginia’s DGIF can be contacted by phone at (804) 367-1000. 

     Maryland deer seasons in November and December include a two week firearms season which allows for shotgun or rifle, depending on the firearms permitted in the county of hunting. There is also a late muzzleloader season in Maryland which gives blackpowder deer hunters another opportunity with these popular firearms.  Deer archery continues between and after the firearms seasons and includes the entire month of January. For information about Maryland’s 2006-07 deer hunting seasons, visit their websites at, http://www.dnr.maryland.gov or  http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/index.asp. The Maryland DNR can be reached by phone at 1-877-620-8DNR (8367) or out of State: at 410-260-8DNR (8367). 

     Wearing or displaying blaze orange is a mandatory requirement during any of the Virginia deer firearms seasons, In Maryland, wearing or displaying fluorescent orange is required during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons. For additional safety, consider taking some blaze orange material with you to tie around a harvested deer when moving it from your hunting location. 

     Maryland has a program which coordinates the donation of deer for processing and distribution to those in need called, “Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry” (FHFH). To donate funds to cover the cost of processing deer and distributing venison in Maryland, send you tax deductible check to, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, 216 N. Cleveland Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740. The FHFH Program in Maryland can be reached by phone at, (301) 739-3000. Their website is; www.fhfh.org . Once at the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry homepage, select Maryland, for that State’s local programs. Virginia’s Hunters for the Hungry Program (HFH) provides hunters, landowners, hunt clubs and others the opportunity to donate harvested deer for processing and distribution throughout the state. To donate funds in support of this great program, make a check out to Hunters for the Hungry and mail it to Hunters for the Hungry, P.O. Box 304, Big Island, Virginia 24526.  HFH can be reached by phone at 1-800-352-4868 or via e-mail at, hunt4hungry@cs.com . The hyperlink for information about HFH which includes the statewide Virginia locations where donated deer can be dropped off is at; http://www.h4hungry.org/  To find out more about Hunters for the Hungry, see the November-December/2006 Tidewater & Timber at, http://www.chesapeakestyle.com/tidewater/tidewater.html

© 2006 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved