Youll also need a hunting license, which you can obtain from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Scott opted to hunt across the street from the property while Stephen made his way up the beaten tote road roughly a quarter of a mile to his stand. More specifically, bowhunting.". Blake Lassiter's "Opening-Day Dandy" was a nice 170-inch-plus buck taken on Sept. 13 with a muzzleloader. I hate that the chase is over, but I enjoyed all two days of it. He is my biggest Missouri whitetail and my second-biggest bow kill. It was cold and crisp, so he suspected it might be a good afternoon. sika deer have been spotted in the United States in locations such as Texas, Virginia, and Marylands Eastern Shore. The buck had a home range of about 40 acres, which he stuck to pretty tightly, and Rodes had him on camera regularly. Quality Guide Services Available By Bob McNally | Published Oct 18, 2021 5:56 PM EDT Hunting Mark Drury's biggest buck ever was green-scored at 216 inches. There is no definitive answer when it comes to the best deer hunting in Maryland. "I usually try to go farther away from people, but since other people have been walking farther into woods, I decided to go the opposite direction and hunt close," he said. Everytime we go out, we can get our hopes up that the deer crunching the leaves behind the stand we're in is one we have only seen in our dreams until now. Thats why they grow so big.. "Hunting with a trad bow is all about the satisfaction of the challenge," he says. Maryland: Bowhunter Shoots "Spike" on Opening Day! - Big Deer Only on publicly owned or state-controlled land can a deer be baited. However, he had never laid eyes on this bruiser buck until the day he shot it. John A. Breen. Marylands Dorchester County has the states highest concentration of wild animals. Stealth presentations for up-close encounters with bass hiding in cover. While we reserve the right to remove or modify comments at our sole discretion, the Sportsman's Guide does not bear any responsibility for user comments. The departments website notes that deer populations in these counties are also the most dense, meaning there are more deer per square mile than anywhere else in the state. The Deer Project utilizes broad-based deer management techniques to meet their diverse goals, which are: to ensure the present and future well-being of deer and their habitat; It leads the category by nearly 5 inches. And a few little bucks were on her, too. Ive been using WordPress on a variety of websites for about a year and am anxious about switching to another platform. Of Marylands six record-book categories for whitetails there are typical and non-typical classes for bucks taken with firearm, bow and muzzleloader three are topped by Eastern Shore bucks. Instead of heading deep into the woods, he hunted a more-open area near the edge of a field and high-traffic road. "Hard work pays offnever give up," Jackson says. It was a nice deer then, but blossomed into a giant 5 1/2-year-old this year. A few deer were feeding in the field and ran for cover as Kevin slowly approached the same wooden platform he'd hunted from since he was 18 years old. The fossil deposits from the Miocene Epoch can be seen along the banks of the Chesapeake Bay. Deer are a favorite big game animal. (Photo courtesy of Max Mongrello). With a 31-inch spread, many who see this deer will claim it's the biggest deer they've ever seen. The hunt started with several bucks walking through, ranging from in age from 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old. The harvest was a 17% decrease from last year's official harvest of 19,616 deer for the same period. Bittick told his friend to get ready for a shot on the 9-pointer and turned to look at the smoke coming off his ThermaCell to gauge the wind direction. Method: Muzzleloader. All of our efforts must go toward maintaining habitats that are safe for these animals to live in, as well as ensuring the environment is protected. The big 9-pointer began pursuing one of them. Around 4:30 p.m., a 3-point buck and three does walked into the open. for can not be found. Once within range I stopped him with a grunt call.". This was the biggest deer of my life, and I've put in so much hard work over many years managing properties. Brandon Butler. Here's a look at big bucks tagged during the 2022 deer-hunting season, as told in our weekly Regional Rut Update reports this season. Perhaps the page you Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. Two bucksa small 8-pointer and the big 9answered by bursting from a small patch of woods on the backside of a pond. It was his buck. After they moved through, two nice 3-year-old bucks, a full-velvet 8-pointer and a full-velvet 10-pointer all filed past. I shot him on a 25-acre parcel that I lease from a friend of mine. The Story Behind the World-Record Whitetail Deer - Field & Stream Bass Crash Course: Technique tweaks to maximize distance and accuracy. What a great feeling to put my hands on him, with my son there. I told him I wasn't worried about film. The buck showed up on camera just once in the summer. Deer are plentiful, and people who enjoy watching wildlife will find many opportunities to see them roaming free in forests and parks all over the country. Very few deer hunters have harvested a wild, free-ranging whitetail wearing an ear tag, but that's exactly what Mississippi deer hunter Justin Develle did on Oct. 22. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The Eastern Shore encompasses nine counties wedged between Chesapeake Bay and Delaware. Through the thick cloud of smoke that followed my shot, I saw the buck lurch into the woods and crash to the ground. Baltimore hunter bags his biggest buck yet on last day of bow season Avoid backlashes by making simple adjustments to your reel and matching your lures to your rod's power and action. The buck took another five steps, dropped down into a creek bed and disappeared completely. Gatlin decided that if he saw the buck, he would take advantage of the encounter. This region is relatively sparsely populated, primarily flat, and heavily farmed, or covered with marsh woodlands. The predators in this category include bobcats, wolves, and coyotes. Most states have yearly hunting seasons that help keep deer populations in check. I don't want to say it was easy, but it feels extremely good to get the job done early after hours in the field filming, running cameras, checking weather apps, watching movement and game-planning. And knowing that I can pass this way of life on to my kids and family means the world to me." On the afternoon of Nov. 12, Edmonds heard a lot of ATV activity on a neighboring property and feared it was going to ruin her hunt. Then, right before dark, four other bucks appeared about 150 yards through the timber. Amanda Baker harvested this 10-point buck on the opening morning of Pennsylvania's rifle season on a family-owned property in Elk County, Pa. I drew back and let it fly. The buck ran out of sight. The biggest buck entered so far was a 195-2/8" behemoth shot in Drew County, Arkansas. Hunting in general is something that I think about every day. We watched him walk by us only six yards away.". Add mild winters and the absence of predators, and its easy to understand why the area is fast becoming a deer-hunting Mecca. Date: Nov. 5, 2022. He put up some trail cameras and started getting photos regularly. In 2020, it started growing a drop tine. Paul Sears first gained permission to access an Oklahoma property for coyote and varmint hunting. Within 10 minutes, the first buck passed through, trailed by Barrera's now target buck. At 6:30, with about a half hour left of light, Garries hadn't seen any deer, so he decided he should try grunting. Top 10 Big Buck Stories from the 2021 Deer Season Maryland Trophy Deer Records. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the majority of the states deer population is found in the western counties, with Garrett and Allegany counties being home to the most deer. "As luck would have it, he came out and walked straight across the field to that scrape. I was going hunting.". These areas offer a variety of terrain and vegetation that deer thrive in, making them ideal for hunting. The green score is 147 4/8 inches. Right before I got ready to release the arrow he looked up and busted me! The buck ran about 60 yards, stopped, wobbled, and fell. There are many great places to hunt in Maryland, but some stand out above the rest. However, the C and D Canal Conservation Area in New Castle County to the north had the highest deer harvest of any public Delaware wildlife area. After running off trespassers who were fishing ponds they weren't supposed to, he settled into his hunting spot located next to the ponds, which were in a cattle field full of native grasses. For more information, visit bucks-bears-stags.com. Hundred of Realtree exclusive tasty wild game recipes. The temperature was around 85 degrees and the wind was out of the southeast at about 5 to 10 mph. Maryland: Bowhunter Shoots "Spike" on Opening Day! Maryland: 217,000. He weighed in on the hunt: With about 10 minutes of light left, they spotted a big deer walking across the field. "He came out following a group of four or five does. The Biggest B&C Record Whitetail Deer from Every State He says the local scene went dead when temperatures peaked near 80 degrees last week. "This deer is something I have dreamed of since I was introduced to hunting around the age of 4," Rotarius says. So he knew the deer he first got photos of a few years ago was a special animal. The younger deer pushed the 9-pointer to within 40 yards of their treestand. Best Deer Hunting States in the Northeast - Game & Fish For two solid weeks, Jessica Edmonds had a laser focus on this buck and hunted it every day, even though almost all her trail-cam photos of it were taken at night. This year, Develle finally crossed paths with it. The Best Time To Hunt Deer In Maryland - PrecisionOutdoors "I hunt with my two best friends at one of their family farms," Develle says. Saturday, Sept. 18, brought hot weather, but the perfect wind for the spot he wanted to sit. "I am still on cloud nine with this buck," Sears said. "I got permission to hunt on these 80 acres of land the past year," Jackson says. On the morning of Nov. 7, RJ Booth finally laid eyes on a buck he had previously only seen in nighttime trail-cam photos during the early part of the season. After he got off of her, I shot him, but he went right back to chasing the doe. Due to the good conditions, he fully expected to see lots of movement. This was when Wayne really got a grasp of the actual size of this beautiful whitetail. Eventually, the buck walked to within 15 yards. Both does seemed anxious, however, and with the wind and ATV noises, Jessica feared her hunt was going to be a bust. Winchester's new Big Bore ammo, available in 10 mm, .44 Mag., .357 Mag., and .45 Colt, is specifically designed for big bears in bear country. "He ran maybe 50, 60 yards." "Brandon Butler. Studs are second-place stands. "I double-lunged him," said Barrera. On Nov. 17, after lunch, he climbed into an elevated blind along the edge of a cut cotton field. "I am a very lucky person, and this is what hunting is all about," he said. The massive Maine monarch made it 50 yards before going down.Dustin Prievo. As the sun started to set, the winds died down and some nearby cows started bellowing. Jordan DuHammell Buck: 223-Inch Maryland Monster Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. With an estimated whitetail population of about a quarter million deer, this sleeper state should impress once again in 2015. Here's What You Need to Know, 7 Things to Ponder Before Buying a Fishing Kayak, Awesome Start to Minnesota Turkey Hunting, Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection. On Nov. 24, after hunting the buck for seven straight days, Gatlin got his opportunity. This blog post couldnt be written any better! requested was moved or deleted. Brandon Butler. You can also call the DNR headquarters for more information at 410-260-8540. So, to have him now taking my children outdoors, it really means the world to me.". Hunting in the Chestertown, Maryland, area is popular, and it is considered one of the best in the East. "I love it when a plan comes together:" Thomas Allen may have missed a day-starting coffee and chill time, but his planning before a recent turkey hunt in Minnesota had him ready when gobblers showed up earlier than expected, and just before an April winter storm blew in. Weapon of Harvest: Mathews V3. Boone and Crockett State Big Game Records Once she made her intentionsor lack thereofclear, the buck gave up and slowly made his way toward Hayden. These are the times when deer are most active, and youre likely to see them moving about in search of food. While states like Kentucky, Maryland, Montana and Nebraska were first out of the gate, Missouri came on strong when its archery deer season opened in mid-September. Sika deer were introduced to North America by Japan as a small brown animal. The mature buck slowly made his way upthe dry creek bed in the timber until stepping out into a small clearing. The does then turned their attention to the surrounding timber, and Edmonds got her first glance at the buck she had been after. The day brought warm, windy conditions. Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe this site needs far more attention. The deer weighed in at 200 pounds with a mighty 20-point rack with a 31-inch spread. "I spotted him coming down the draw with some other bucks I recognized from trail camera photos," Schwach said. Then, at about 3:20 p.m., a double-drop-tine buck walked right down the same trail as the does had earlier in the afternoon. Cedar Point WMA has habitats in a variety of habitats, ranging from a tidal mudflat to mature forests. ", For Gatlin, it is his best Tennessee buck, his first 10-point and first piebald. Kevin Miller's 194-inch typical state record was shot near an alfalfa field in this region a little over a decade ago, and many other great whitetails have been harvested there as well. He said there was no one in the hunting group that had history with this deer either. Jackson decided to give the deer some time, but as he walked back to his truck, he noticed a white object just off the trail. | ", Plunkett's buck came out into an open bean field in pursuit of a hot doe. Boone and Crockett Club. "I thought I had missed my chance. About a half-hour before sunset, he decided to rattle. Early action consisted of two small bucks passing through the area. "I knew it was a big-bodied deer," he says. Sears drew back, settled the pin and took the broadside shot. Typical: 194 inches Non-Typical: 248 7/8 inches New York Taken in 1939, Roosevelt Luckey's Alleghany County typical is the 30th largest of all time. The buck had his eyes set on a doe, and before long they began running around the opposite side of Stephens stand. After several mild winters and good mast crops, the herd is in good shape as fall approaches. "I couldn't believe it," Blanford said. 9. Moore and Baker chose to hunt the buck in the evening and said it was a very active evening in which they saw more than 20 does, 6 bucks and a flock of turkeys. In mid-November, Alan Hunt encountered a buck in-person for the first time since previously only seeing him on a single trail-cam image in 2018. He fell to a well-placed arrow from a compound bow. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. Since then, several big whitetails have fallen, including these three bucks taken by Philip Blanford, Alex Bittick and Clint Schwach. At first, I thought it was a white barrel at the bottom of this hollow he was in. Join Thomas Allen and son Tommy on an Iowa turkey hunt that resulted in big toms for both hunters. At 7:05 a.m., he watched the buck enter one of his food plots about 90 yards away from his stand and start chasing a doe. Ball arrived at the farm soon after daylight and spotted a buck chasing a doe in a river bottom. From last year to this year, he put on a lot of mass and just got bigger overall.". Tres Jackson tagged a great Arkansas buck earlier this month that he didn't even know existed until he laid eyes on it from his blind. "There are no sights, and I have to get in closer. "It was a very big surprise," Blanford said. Around 5:45 p.m., an 8-point walked into range. A Hunter's Story: My First Shot - Maryland Hayden started grunting. The buck is a tall 10-pointer with a broken G4 on its left antler. Josh Honeycutt. Now she works in the outdoor industry as the Hunt/Fish Community Manager for Sawyer. Insects in small animals can sound unearthly loud bugling noises that echo through the woods. It was a big whitetail doe and two smaller whitetails. "I had hunted in a different spot that morning, and it was miserable cold and raining," he says. After exploring a few of the articles on your blog, I seriously like your way of blogging. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. His friend Ashley sat with him that evening to video the hunt and possibly shoot a doe if the opportunity arose. It is the biggest buck I have killed to date, and to get it with the bow makes it more special. Give a Gift The buck ran off into a thick patch of brush. Dustin Prievo. His preparation had paid off. "Fishing is competitive. Before long, they arrived and joined Jessica in tracking the buck. Maryland's deer population includes 207,000 . The Eastern Shore encompasses nine counties wedged between Chesapeake Bay and Delaware. When he turned back around, to his surprise, Split G3 stood 50 yards away. Around 3:45 p.m., Barrera was in his stand, and before he could nock an arrow, a couple of does came walking in, and passed through the area. The buck then moved into a second food plot where a cellular trail camera sent him a close-up image of the buck. BIG DEER TV Helps Maryland Bowhunter Shoot Biggest Buck His restraint paid off, as the deer grew even bigger this spring and summer. These lands, which are controlled by county, state and federal agencies, range in size from the 77-acre Welch Point property in Cecil County to the 28,518-acre Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area in Dorchester County. Alexis Moore of Brockway, Pa., harvested this mature 8-point late last week. You can unsubscribe at any time. But hes tryiong none the less. Another pair of does showed up around 30 minutes later. Deer in Maryland This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Practicing Deer Management Deer Hunting Season 2022 Forecast: A State-by-State Guide Thats good for all of us.. "We do everything together. Thats a winning combination anywhere.. The Biggest Bucks of the 2021 Deer Season - Field & Stream Then, two more. Restore Clarity And Brightness: Get Your Steiner Binoculars Recoated! Schraders website is www.schradershunting.com, or call 410-778-1895. Memories I won't ever forget.. Schrader said hes had antler restrictions in place on the farms he owns and leases for 19 years. During the combined Archery, Muzzleloader, and Firearms seasons in Region A, hunters may harvest only two antlerless deer. Then, in October, he moved back into the area and was there until the end. After three years and 20-plus coyotes in the bag, he finally received the green light to hunt whitetails, and this season he tagged a monster 5 1/2-year-old, 174 5/8-inch buck there. 3. He leases land west of Cassopolis, Mich., in Cass County. This state allows two buck antlerless harvests, but only with a liberal harvest limit. Overpopulation of deer in Maryland has become a serious problem, particularly in areas that are suburban. What an awesome animal.". The buck stuck around, and Blanford started planning, putting together a solid tactical approach and waiting anxiously for opening day. "I sweated the entire walk through the chest-high soybeans and continued to sweat in the stand until the sun got behind a tree," Bittick said. "We are very blessed to have family and friends who open their property up to these boys," Wallace says. One such place is Patuxent River State Park, which offers over 3,000 acres of forest to explore. This is the Maryland state record for a non-typical buck, which was killed with a muzzleloader. Needless to say, the big deer left in a hurry. predators are critical to the survival of ecosystems, and we must protect them in order to do so. 2020 Bow Bucks: Archers share photos of their trophy deer from this With a little planning and patience, youre sure to have a successful deer hunting trip in Maryland. As the deer-hunting craze spread like wildfire across the Shore over the past decade, hunter attitudes have changed from an interest in just bagging any buck to bagging only big bucks. The buck immediately approached her stand and stopped at 40 yards, offering a clean, broadside shot. I am going to send this information to him. Hi Mike: I shot this deer in Calvert County, Maryland one evening last October. A true giant anywhere, but even more so for the Volunteer State. Mark Drury Arrows a Monster 216-Inch Iowa Whitetail As he got within 20 yards, I saw the ear tag and knew it was game on.". Some people in Maryland were upset when the sika deer arrived in the state in the early 1900s. Hunting is something we live for down here. Then he started wobbling and going in a circle, and I knew I got him. One that's smoked first. To be eligible, you must be at least 21 years old. He went hard-horned on Aug. 26 last year, which Rodes thought was interestingly early. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. One that's smoked first. He reappeared a few moments later and continued toward Jackson. Please don't spam. Dustin Prievo. I dropped down and slipped back to my blind to grab my gun.". Another record that's held on for a very long time, the Buck Ashe buck was taken in Monroe County, Georgia, 60 years ago. However, he hadn't laid his eyes on the buck this year. In that time, hes tagged four nice Kansas bucks, with the most recent being a main-frame 9-pointer with two additional scoreable points. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? We're all wearing orange. Rudden stopped the buck at 25 yards and sent a perfect shot into his chest. While states like Kentucky, Maryland, Montana and Nebraska were first out of the gate, Missouri came on strong when its archery deer season opened in mid-September. Rudden gave the buck an hour before climbing down and finding it roughly 60 yards away. Only a year has passed since the 31-year-old Marine killed the largest nontypical whitetail ever taken by a hunter, and public demand for details hasn't waned. I thought it was the raccoons because they had run out behind me. Max Mongrello is a 25-year-old Southerner working to make his way in the Midwestern whitetail world. Hunter Safety & Education Requirement . Vexilar FL-Series Flashers/Fish Finders: Which one is for me? To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. The following morning, Rudden was on stand as day broke. Deer in Maryland Deer Management The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Project is responsible for managing native white-tailed deer and exotic sika deer. Wayne and his brothers joined together over the deer, shared some hugs and backslaps, took a few photos and proceeded to drag the deer up to the trucks. Mongrello says does have largely transitioned back to food over the last few days. Hunt aimed, settled the crosshairs and pulled the trigger. Through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the Eastern Shore was heralded as the goose hunting capital of the world, drawing waterfowlers from all over North America. "I almost didn't think it was real. Everything happened quickly after that, and the buck came in fast despite seeming tired and winded. Maryland Bowhunter Bags Biggest Buck Of His Life On The Last Day Of The Hunting is also simple, as long as you have a valid hunting license and a firearm. "I 10-ringed Split G3, but the 9-pointer dropped on [hearing] my shot, and my buddy shot just over his back. Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. John Annett This is the heaviest whitetail deer ever killed. While Maryland DNR officials and local hunters have long known about the fantastic deer hunting on the Eastern Shore, only recently has word begun to spread to the outside world. Sorry! It's an unbelievably rewarding thing to be a part of.". When this giant buck stepped out, Ewen was still messing with his rifle. With about 15 minutes of legal light left, he saw the big buck milling on the field edge. The deer began to walk away and Wayne prayed for him to change directions. 01:00 Tyler Rodes, a forester with the National Wild Turkey Federation, killed his largest bow buck to date on Friday, Oct. 14 in Caldwell County, Mo. My elbows, knees and belly were soaked by the time Id crawled 30 yards out into the soggy, winter-wheat field to the crest of a small rise that allowed me to look downhill to the woods edge. 2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. He saw a nice 8-pointer in the morning that he'd hoped would show back up in the evening.