Deer Management Program Announced for 2018-2019

The Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks has announced its fall/winter schedule for managing the deer population through bow and shotgun managed hunts. This effort helps maintain a stable, balanced white-tailed deer population in our parks where deer browsing has been shown to reduce biodiversity.

Since the program began in 1998, there has been an observable improvement in habitat quality and vegetation abundance in many of the parks where managed hunting and sharpshooting has taken place. The managed hunt program gives specially screened and selected hunters daytime access to various parks. This year’s managed hunts will include a combination of bow and shotgun and will take place from dawn until noon. Each park will be closed for all other uses during this time. Sharpshooting is now being limited statewide by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to February and March. A sharpshooting schedule will come out closer to the time.

The managed deer hunting schedule for 2018-2019:

• Alpha Ridge Park (Bow & Shotgun): January 10; February 20

• Blandair Regional Park (Bow): October 18, November 1

• David Force Park (Bow & Shotgun): October 4, 17 & 31

• Gorman Area (Middle Patuxent River and Kings Contrivance)

(Bow & Shotgun): October 10 & 24; November 14; January 23; February 7

• High Ridge Park (Shotgun): October 9; November 13 & 20

• Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (Bow & Shotgun): October 2, 16 & 30; November 12; January 8 & 22; February 6 & 19

• Schooley Mill Park (Shotgun): November 19; January 9; February 21

• West Friendship Park (Shotgun): October 25; January 24

• Wincopin Trail Area of Savage Park (Bow Hunting): October 11 & 23