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Writer's pictureOutdoors Maryland

Mapping the Decline in Deer Harvests over the Last Decade

Updated: Mar 30, 2021

Every year, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources publishes their Deer Project Annual Report


Over the last decade, the number of hunters in America declined, and the spread of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer has game wardens and hunters concerned. Both developments have implications for the state conservation budget, which is largely funded by license and tag sales.


Curious to see how these trends have affected Maryland, I compiled the number of white-tailed deer taken in each county every year, calculated the percent change between 2010 and 2020, and mapped the results by county. What I found was a disturbing downward trend. Overall, there was an 18.4% decrease: a difference of 17,608 deer. Deer harvest only increased in 4 counties: Allegany (4.5%), Carroll (6.0%), Cecil (6.92%), and Garrett (0.12%). The largest decreases were in Charles (-46.9%), Prince George's (-43.4%), and St. Mary's (-42.8%).


That less deer are being harvested does not mean deer populations are decreasing. It could be that hunters are taking less deer, or that the counties with large decreases are suburbanizing. Either way, deer management is a concern that must be addressed heading into the next decade.


Click the arrow in the upper left to see the legend. Click on a county to see how many deer were taken every year from 2010 to 2020, as well as the percent change. There is no data for Baltimore City because hunting is not permitted there.




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