Photo by Kenny Bahr.

Wildlife managers are achieving the goal of balancing deer populations with both available habitat and social concerns.

But opportunities remain plentiful for hunters who simply want to put some venison on ice.

What follows is a three-state compilation of the latest harvest trends and deer-management information, along with top picks in the way of public lands for the coming fall seasons.

MARYLAND
Maryland deer hunters experienced a season relatively typical of those that have taken place in recent years.

This fall, the outlook is for more of the same.

"Last year provided a buck harvest that was almost stable, which pleased us," reports Doug Hotton, deer project leader for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Division.

"The antlerless harvest declined somewhat, and that didn't please us. In deer management, you sometimes experience an aberration before you return to the trend of increasing antlerless harvests.

"So at this point, it's nothing to get excited about. But it did get our attention, the fact that the antlerless harvest decreased when previously it had been increasing."

During the 2006-07 combined deer seasons, according to DNR statistics, hunters harvested 91,930 white-tailed deer during the bow, firearm and muzzleloader seasons.

That's a 2 percent decline from the 2005-06 season -- in other words, a negligible change.

Statewide, the antlered harvest of 33,114 deer was similar to last year's harvest of 32,837 deer.

The antlerless harvest decreased from 61,215 deer to 58,816.

That relatively stable antlered harvest suggests the deer population in rural counties is stabilizing at current levels.

In Deer Management Region A, comprising Allegany and Garrett counties, the DNR said that revised regulations -- put in place last year to stabilize a too-rapidly declining deer population -- appear to be working.

The antlered harvest increased from 4,922 deer in 2005 to 5,246 in 2006.

Over the two most recent seasons, the antlerless harvest increased from 3,637 deer to 4,013.

Hotton said that he expects a comparable harvest this coming season, as since the regulations will be close to those in place last year.

"The regulations didn't change a whole lot," explained Hotton.

"We are in the second of a two-year cycle of regulations, so we're expecting a very similar harvest.

"The biggest change that did occur will be that of Sunday hunting in three additional counties.

"That measure was recently passed by the Maryland legislature, which is a positive thing as far as deer management is concerned.

"The counties added are lower Eastern Shore counties -- specifically Somerset, Worcester and Wicomico.

"The Sunday hunting opportunities will mirror those already in place in Dorchester County."

Dorchester County's hunting regulations permit hunting this year on the following Sundays: Oct. 14, 21 and 28 and Nov. 4 and 11.

These dates occur during the bow season; the Sunday hunts are allowed on private land only.

These same regulations should apply to the added lower Eastern Shore counties this year. But be sure to consult your current Hunting and Trapping Guide.

"Besides the five bowhunting days, there will be one Sunday for firearms hunters in these counties," said Hotton. "That will be the Sunday following Thanksgiving.

"Again, this is for private land only."

Having abolished its deer check-station program two years ago, Hotton said the call-in Web site reporting system is functioning well.

The deer-management community has faith in the results the new system is furnishing.

"We are in the second year, and it continues to show itself to be a great system," he notes.

"The trend we had been getting before with the check stations -- in regard to trends of buck-to-doe harvests and other trends -- continue to fall into place. So we're really pleased with hunters' response.