Bowhunters are a big part of each state's total harvest figures every year; thus, they play a vital role in deer management. Photo by Ron Sinfelt

Bowhunting's continued rise in popularity parallels an increase in hunting opportunities. Throughout the Mid-Atlantic region options of many sorts abound. Whether it's the rugged mountains of western Maryland, pine forests of coastal Delaware, or chances found between these two topographical extremes, there is a lot to look forward to as bowhunters prepare for the soon-to-be-here season.

In terms of best bowhunting opportunities, it all depends on how you define best. For some it's the chance to be afield when the weather is still mild, with the objective being one of putting venison in the freezer. Areas with more dense deer populations, where sound deer management calls for the trimming of antlerless deer numbers, would be the ticket for such a hunter.

Though late-season hunts tend to be thought of as the best time to bag a trophy buck, big-racked deer are taken early in the season as well. Here the archer has the advantage of hunting deer that have not been pressured for several months. During the first weeks of the season, the bowhunter will often find undisturbed deer, ones following predictable movements influenced by bedding and feeding locations.

So with the array of bowhunting options near at hand, here is a primer for the upcoming fall, including a look at the recent bowhunting picture in the three-state region, as well as some top public land picks.

PAST HARVESTS
The success of most any hunt is often dependent on the level of planning, preparation and scouting a hunter does before the season ever opens. For the bowhunter, this means summertime shooting sessions to achieve and maintain peak shooting form. A check of equipment is in order, to be sure everything is present and in good working condition.

It also pays to review the harvest history for the past year or so. Harvest statistics show trends. Keep in mind, too, that other factors come into play. Areas with lots of public land often exhibit higher harvest rates, due to the amount of deer habitat and hence hunting opportunity. Counties and deer management zones differ in size, so all other things being equal, a bigger area would be expected to produce more deer.

It's important to consider these factors when reviewing past harvest numbers. White-tailed deer are well distributed throughout the region. Just because a county or deer management area does not put out big numbers of deer does not necessarily mean it is a poor place to hunt. For the trophy hunter, the opposite might be true. He or she might want to explore bowhunting options in such a place, as factors limiting harvest rates may have more to do with minimal opportunities than deer numbers. This is sometimes the case in suburban areas. Lower harvests often equate mean older age-class deer, i.e., bigger bucks. Knocking on doors, presenting oneself as a proper and ethical bowhunter, could open doors to chances at exceptional bucks.

MARYLAND
Deer hunting, in general, is accepted by knowledgeable folks as the most effective means of managing whitetail populations. Recent years have seen liberalization of seasons and bag limits, with bowhunters often benefiting from the added opportunities. Harvest rates have been higher of late, too, as seen in last year's Maryland deer seasons.

During the 2004-05 combined seasons, Free State sportsmen bagged a total of 93,868 deer, a 7.6 percent increase over the prior year. The antlerless harvest of 59,229 was record setting. The antlerless take was 9.5 percent higher than the previous record (set in 2002) and represents a 19.6 percent over the 2003-04 hunts. Conversely, fewer antlered deer were taken, represented by a decrease of 8.1 percent compared to the prior year's buck take. These numbers include sika deer as well as whitetails.