Full Breakdown
Maryland's 2025 Firearms Deer Season Harvest
12/24/2025, 11:50:37 AM
Overview of the Harvest
During the two-week firearms deer season from November 29 to December 13, 2025, Maryland hunters reported harvesting a total of 27,620 deer. This figure represents a 10.4% decrease from the previous year's total of 30,833 deer and is 3% lower than the five-year average of 28,467 deer. The decline in harvest numbers can be attributed to various factors, including weather conditions, natural food availability, diseases, and overall deer population dynamics.
Breakdown of the Harvest
The 2025 harvest included 10,938 antlered deer, which is a 6.6% decrease from 11,709 in 2024. The antlerless deer harvest saw a more significant drop, falling 12.8% from 19,124 last year to 16,682 this year. Notably, sika deer accounted for 499 antlered and 607 antlerless deer, with the total sika harvest remaining unchanged from the previous year at 1,106 deer.
The harvest also included over 3,080 deer taken on the two Sundays during the season, which constituted just over 11% of the total harvest. The opening weekend alone saw 2,085 deer harvested.
Regional Harvest Data
The deer management regions in Maryland reported varying results. In Region A, which includes Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington counties, hunters harvested 2,308 antlered and 1,671 antlerless deer, marking decreases of 12.3% and 20.7%, respectively. In Region B, which encompasses the remainder of the state, hunters reported taking 8,630 antlered deer (down 4.9%) and 15,011 antlerless deer (down 11.8%).
Official Statements & Responses
Karina Stonesifer, Director of the Wildlife and Heritage Service, expressed hope that Maryland's deer hunters found success during the state's most popular deer hunting season. She emphasized that firearms deer hunting not only provides families with fresh venison but also plays a crucial role in deer management and wildlife conservation across Maryland.
Criticism & Opposition
The decline in deer harvest has raised concerns among some stakeholders regarding the impact of environmental factors such as weather and food availability on deer movement. Additionally, the presence of diseases like epizootic hemorrhagic disease in certain counties during the summer and fall of 2025 has been cited as a contributing factor to the reduced harvest numbers.
What's Next
Looking ahead, Maryland's muzzleloader deer hunting season opened on December 20, 2025, and will run through January 3, 2026. The modern firearm deer season will reopen on January 9, 2026, in Region B. Hunters are reminded to comply with regulations, including antler-point restrictions and registration procedures, as outlined in the 2025-2026 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer stated, “We hope Maryland’s deer hunters found success during Maryland’s most popular deer hunting season.” — Karina Stonesifer, Director of Wildlife and Heritage Service
- “The tradition of firearms deer hunting provides many families with fresh venison and greatly contributes to deer management and wildlife conservation across the state.” — Karina Stonesifer, Director of Wildlife and Heritage Service
