“The basic permit for $28 will allow antlerless-only for the Deer Management Zone specified,” he explained. “The bonus buck permit will cost $28 and will be valid in any zone where the hunter has purchased a basic permit.

“For example, if I buy a basic muzzleloader permit for zones 10 and 41 because I have permission to hunt on farms in each zone, I only have to buy one bonus muzzleloader buck permit. I can use it in either zone. The season limit remains one buck, so if I shoot a buck in zone 10, I’m done buck hunting during muzzleloader.

“This proposal may be modified before it is adopted. Some hunters in southern New Jersey do not like this idea, since the buck tag for the permit seasons may also be used as a second buck tag in the six-day firearm buck season. It’s the only season where a hunter can take two bucks. If he uses the permit buck tag during the six-day firearm season, he cannot harvest a buck in that permit season.

“Right now he gets a buck tag for the permit season for free. Under this proposal, he would have to expend $56 dollars to get one (price of the basic permit and a buck permit).”

Keep in mind that all of these potential changes are just that: potential. They may or may not be accepted; modifications are also possible.

Check the agency’s Web site, www.njfishandwildlife.com, as well as local dispatches, for the latest information.

Maryland-Delaware
In Maryland, stability seems to be the order. Harvest figures from the state’s two-week firearm season were nearly identical to that of the prior year.

“The antlered deer harvest has remained relatively constant over the last five years, a strong indicator that the deer population has stabilized or declined in rural areas of the state,” said Doug Hotton, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Project Leader.

“Regulated hunting remains the most effective deer population-management tool available to the modern wildlife manager. Our data continues to support that theory.”

Having instituted several significant deer-management changes a couple of years ago, wildlife managers in Delaware will continue to monitor their effect. Like Maryland, deer harvests in Delaware have remained relatively consistent for several years. In January of this year, the division hosted a seminar on quality deer management.

Special Seasons
Special seasons such as early muzzleloader hunts, crossbow hunts, and youth hunts are becoming more prevalent in resource agencies’ management schemes. Early muzzleloader hunts have been greeted with good acceptance, in general, throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

“Our early muzzleloader season is very popular,” said New Jersey’s Herrighty. “More deer come in to check stations on the opening day of the early muzzleloader season than on opening day of six-day firearms season the following week, in many areas.”

Similar situations are found in both Maryland and Delaware. Delaware’s wildlife biologist Ken Reynolds said that an early season was started two years ago, and was greeting with enthusiasm by the state’s hunters. He said Delaware hunters like early seasons of any kind.

Top muzzleloader counties in Maryland last year (considering both early and late muzzleloader seasons) were Washington, Frederick, Baltimore, Charles, Garrett, Harford, Worcester, Carroll, Montgomery, and Kent.

In New Jersey, there has been a consideration of including crossbows in the mix. Reaction has been cool, at best.

“The Fish and Game Council has begun investigating crossbows,” reported Herrighty. “Initial interest to allow crossbows in archery seasons met with stiff opposition. The Council will not adopt any change for at least two years and is interested in crossbow opportunities for youth and senior citizens in archery seasons.”

Delaware allows two crossbow hunts. Disabled hunters, with the proper permit, are allowed to use crossbows during any of the state’s archery seasons. Crossbows are also permitted during part of the November gun season and during gun seasons in December and January.

Maryland administers both early and late crossbow hunts: The first happens in October, the latter in January. Doug Hotton noted such seasons have gone well. “The basic permit for $28 will allow antlerless-only for the Deer Management Zone specified,” he explained. “The bonus buck permit will cost $28 and will be valid in any zone where the hunter has purchased a basic permit.

“For example, if I buy a basic muzzleloader permit for zones 10 and 41 because I have permission to hunt on farms in each zone, I only have to buy one bonus muzzleloader buck permit. I can use it in either zone. The season limit remains one buck, so if I shoot a buck in zone 10, I’m done buck hunting during muzzleloader.

“This proposal may be modified before it is adopted. Some hunters in southern New Jersey do not like this idea, since the buck tag for the permit seasons may also be used as a second buck tag in the six-day firearm buck season. It’s the only season where a hunter can take two bucks. If he uses the permit buck tag during the six-day firearm season, he cannot harvest a buck in that permit season.

“Right now he gets a buck tag for the permit season for free. Under this proposal, he would have to expend $56 dollars to get one (price of the basic permit and a buck permit).”

Keep in mind that all of these potential changes are just that: potential. They may or may not be accepted; modifications are also possible.

Check the agency’s Web site, www.njfishandwildlife.com, as well as local dispatches, for the latest information.

Maryland-Delaware
In Maryland, stability seems to be the order. Harvest figures from the state’s two-week firearm season were nearly identical to that of the prior year.

“The antlered deer harvest has remained relatively constant over the last five years, a strong indicator that the deer population has stabilized or declined in rural areas of the state,” said Doug Hotton, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Project Leader.

“Regulated hunting remains the most effective deer population-management tool available to the modern wildlife manager. Our data continues to support that theory.”

Having instituted several significant deer-management changes a couple of years ago, wildlife managers in Delaware will continue to monitor their effect. Like Maryland, deer harvests in Delaware have remained relatively consistent for several years. In January of this year, the division hosted a seminar on quality deer management.

Special Seasons
Special seasons such as early muzzleloader hunts, crossbow hunts, and youth hunts are becoming more prevalent in resource agencies’ management schemes. Early muzzleloader hunts have been greeted with good acceptance, in general, throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

“Our early muzzleloader season is very popular,” said New Jersey’s Herrighty. “More deer come in to check stations on the opening day of the early muzzleloader season than on opening day of six-day firearms season the following week, in many areas.”

Similar situations are found in both Maryland and Delaware. Delaware’s wildlife biologist Ken Reynolds said that an early season was started two years ago, and was greeting with enthusiasm by the state’s hunters. He said Delaware hunters like early seasons of any kind.

Top muzzleloader counties in Maryland last year (considering both early and late muzzleloader seasons) were Washington, Frederick, Baltimore, Charles, Garrett, Harford, Worcester, Carroll, Montgomery, and Kent.

In New Jersey, there has been a consideration of including crossbows in the mix. Reaction has been cool, at best.

“The Fish and Game Council has begun investigating crossbows,” reported Herrighty. “Initial interest to allow crossbows in archery seasons met with stiff opposition. The Council will not adopt any change for at least two years and is interested in crossbow opportunities for youth and senior citizens in archery seasons.”

Delaware allows two crossbow hunts. Disabled hunters, with the proper permit, are allowed to use crossbows during any of the state’s archery seasons. Crossbows are also permitted during part of the November gun season and during gun seasons in December and January.

Maryland administers both early and late crossbow hunts: The first happens in October, the latter in January. Doug Hotton noted such seasons have gone well.