Hunters killed nearly 3,500 deer in Montgomery County during Maryland’s 2024-2025 hunting season, marking a 3% increase over the number that were killed in the 2022-2023 season, the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said Friday in a statement.
The increase is part of a 15.9% increase in the number of deer killed across the state during this year’s archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons that ran from Sept. 6 to Feb. 4, the statement said.
According to the department, 1,379 antlered deer were killed in the county during the 2024-2025 season. That’s 63 more than during the 2022-2023 season, marking a 4.8% increase.
In the county, 2,085 antlerless deer were harvested, a 1.9% increase from the prior hunting season, in which 2,046 antlerless deer were harvested.
In total, Maryland deer hunters killed 84,201 deer from September to February. The harvest was 15.9% higher than 2023-2024, and 10.4% higher than the five-year average of 76,272, according to the statement.
Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer said in the statement that snowfall and cooler temperatures made for successful hunts later in the season, noting the Maryland deer population remains healthy.
The Maryland DNR is responsible for the conservation and management of the state’s white-tailed deer population. Regulated hunting is the most effective tool for maintaining deer populations at appropriate levels, according to the department’s website. The department website says its goal is to ensure the well-being of the deer while maintaining populations compatible with human activity and land use.
According to the website, humans are the only remaining effective deer predator in Maryland. Other predators such as black bears, coyotes, and bobcats do eat white-tailed deer, but focus on fawns for a short period in the spring and don’t significantly alter deer populations. Humans, including Native Americans in Maryland, have hunted deer for thousands of years, according to the DNR.
Hunting regulations that encourage hunting antlerless deer — female deer and young male deer without antlers — help lower deer reproduction, according to the DNR website.
Montgomery Parks also conducts managed deer hunts throughout its 59 parks through archery and firearms hunting programs, or park police sharpshooting operations, according to the Montgomery Parks website.
Archery and firearms-managed hunts are conducted by pre-screened, qualified hunters and are overseen by Montgomery Parks professional staff, according to the website.
According to Montgomery Parks, archery-managed deer hunting occurs in 31 parks from September to January and only minimally impact the public’s use of the parks. When firearms-managed hunting occurs, the nine parks it takes place in are closed to the public for 24 hours. Park police-based sharpshooting operations occurs in 19 parks, which are closed during the operations.
Venison obtained through the management program is used by the participants or donated to charities, according to the website.
“With few natural predators, deer populations flourish and can lead to deer-automobile accidents, excessive damage to the environment, destruction of private landscapes and agriculture, and concerns over disease,” the website explained.
According to Montgomery Parks, deer vehicle collisions pose a serious safety hazard for drivers. Motorists can reduce the chances of a collision with a deer by driving within the speed limit and reducing speeds at night and in rain, snow or fog. Drivers should also be cautious during seasons of high deer activity – October through January during the breeding season and May and June when female deer are giving birth and raising fawns.
Deer can also pose threats to home and farm landscapes and for crops and gardens. Montgomery County residents can report deer-related problems by calling the Natural Resources Stewardship Section at 301-962-1344.
