herald-mail.com

When many people hear the phrase “hunting season,” the first animal they think of is deer.

Deer hunting is the most popular form of hunting in this area, and Washington County is a hot spot for it.

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 8,587 deer were harvested in the county in 2009, the most of any county in the state.

But there are plenty of other hunting opportunities that residents can take advantage of in the area, from game birds to small mammals to larger mammals.

Here is a list of some of the hunting seasons and bag limits for 2011-12, according to the Maryland DNR:

Whitetailed Deer, bow season

Region A (roughly west of St. Paul’s Church near Clear Spring)

• Dates: Sept. 15-Oct. 19; Oct. 23-Nov. 25; Dec. 12-16; Jan. 2-31, 2012.
• Limits: One antlered, one antlerless.

Region B (roughly east of St. Paul’s Church near Clear Spring)

• Dates: Sept. 15-Oct. 19, Oct. 23-Nov. 25, Dec. 12-16; Jan. 2-5, 2012; Jan. 9-31, 2012.
• Limits: Two antlered, 10 antlerless.

Whitetailed deer, firearm season

Region A

• Dates: Nov. 26-Dec. 9 (antlered only); Dec. 10 (antlered or antlerless).
• Limits: One antlered, one antlerless.

Region B

• Dates: Nov. 26-Dec. 10; Jan. 6-7, 2012.
• Limits: Two antlered, 10 antlerless.

Whitetailed deer, muzzleloader season

Region A

• Dates: Oct. 20-22; Dec. 17-31 (antlered only except Dec. 31).
• Limits: One antlered, one antlerless.

Region B

• Dates: Oct. 20-22; Oct. 24-29 (antlerless only); Dec. 17-31.
• Limits: Two antlered, 10 antlerless.

Early Resident Canada Goose

• Dates: Sept. 1-24.
• Limits: Eight per day; possession limit of 16.

Mourning Dove

• Dates: Sept. 1-Oct. 8; Nov. 12-25; Dec. 21, 2011-Jan. 7-2012.
• Limits: 15 per day; possession limit of 30.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

• Dates: Nov, 5, 2011-Feb. 29-2012.
• Limits: Four per day; possession limit of eight.

Quail

• Dates: Nov. 5, 2011-Jan. 14, 2012.
• Limits: Six per day; possession limit of 12.

Black Bear
 

(Allegany and Garrett counties only; special permit required)

• Dates: Oct. 24-29.
• Limits: One per season; no more than one per permitted hunting team.

Wild Turkey

• Dates: Oct. 29-Nov. 5
• Limits: One per season.

Squirrel, gray or eastern fox

• Dates: Sept. 3, 2011-Feb. 29, 2012
• Limits: Six per day; possession limit of 12.

Squirrel, red or piney

• Dates: Sept. 3, 2011-Feb. 29, 2012
• Limits: No limit.

Ruffed grouse

• Dates: Oct. 1, 2011-Jan. 31-2012
• Limits: Two per day; possession limit of four.

Fox, red and gray

• Dates: Nov. 1, 2011-Jan. 19, 2012
• Limits: No limit.

Beaver

• Dates: Dec. 15, 2011-March 15, 2012
• Limits: No limit.

Coyote, nighttime hours

• Dates: Oct. 15, 2011-March 15, 2012
• Limits: No limit.

Coyotes may be hunted year round during daylight hours (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset) with no bag limit.

• For a complete list of season dates and bag limits, visit the Maryland DNR website at www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide.