The plan uses the misleading adjective plentiful to describe the deer population at settlement. Deer were not abundant at settlement based on best available publications. For example, in a review paper by Knox (Knox, W.M. 1997. Historical changes in the abundance and distribution of deer in Virginia. pp 27-36. In: McShea, W.J., H.B. Underwood, and J.H. Rappole (eds.). The Science of Overabundance: Deer Ecology and Population Management. Smithsonian Books, Smithsonian Institution. Washington and London.), the white-tailed deer population prior to English arrival in 1607 was about 8.0 - 10.9 deer/square mile in neighboring and physiographically similar Virginia. Other papers provide lower estimates.  The plan should accurately reflect that the deer population at settlement was NOT plentiful, include a reference(s), and provide a deer density range based on best available literature. Knowing the natural deer density range is key to understanding the severity of the high levels of deer density beginning in the 1980s. For example, some natural areas in suburban landscapes in the piedmont of Maryland have deer densities exceeding 80 deer/square mile, or 8 times higher than before settlement; i.e., 8 times higher than the degree of herbivory that species were adapted to under natural pre-settlement conditions. And these unnaturally high levels have been in place for decades resulting in significant, long-term, adverse ecological impacts. Even if the current level of public hunting pressure stabilizes or increases, unnaturally high deer densities will continue based on population trend data presented in the plan. Consequently, public hunting will need to be supplemented by additional deer reduction tactics, such as periodic sharpshooter harvests, to reduce ecological damage and the loss of both common and rare species in natural areas. The plan recognizes this need on page 54 in the last objective of the Damage Goal; i.e., ... develop more effective management strategies to minimize deer damage. We support this component of the plan and recommend that it be given high priority. Respectfully submitted on behalf of Soldiers Delight Conservation, Inc. Laura Van Scoyoc, President

Please allow Sunday hunting statewide and reduce the 150 yard rule to 50 or 75 yards for archery only. This will allow hunters in urban areas to get in pockets of woods where urban deer congregate and significantly reduce the herd. – B.T.

Landowners are not properly monitored to insure they report their kills. They have nearly wiped out the population in some parts of Somerset co. I have found many that were shot and not harvested. Crop damage permits should be strictly limited and not used at night or 365 days a year. The current plans do not protect the hunters and result in fewer hunters and a loss of revenue all around. – K.R.

forests as much as they live all year round in the suburban neighborhoods. The current overpopulated deer herds spread disease, cause automobile accidents, cause damage to expensive home landscape shrubs and vegetable gardens. They are beyond being a nuisance. They are dangerous. We need more effective means of thinning out these herds and in neighborhoods where they reside. Give venison to food charities. - L. J.

I read the draft plan and agree with most of it. It is consistent with previous plans. Two points:-Please consider limiting deer management operations (even at the County level) to does only. By removing bucks, these operations aren't appreciably flattening the population curve, but they are reducing the recruitment and retention of hunters. A buck is what drives many people to hunt. Since Montgomery Parks started sharpshooting in the park adjacent to my property, I am seeing far fewer bucks. Fellow local hunters said the same thing. My trail cameras confirm the buck to doe ratio is terrible. I get one buck picture for every 500 doe pictures. It used to be 1/20 or 1/30 just a few years ago.-Lastly, DNR has to do a better job on the legislative front. Fostering relationships with our lawmakers is important. My state senator is adamantly against all forms of hunting. He would outlaw it if he could. Please try and reach out to them and educate them. – J. W.

No response needed for my comment. I am in full support of the plan. Excellent. Thanks for all the work to keep Maryland hunting opportunities well worth it. – R. McK.

I​ strongly feel that public land should have different bag limitations. The number of deer at all 4 of the public spots I hunt have drastically declined over the past 2 decades. All of these spots have also received much more pressure as private land privileges are on the decline. Add the fact that crossbows are legal for anyone all season, extended gun seasons, and increased coyotes = no more deer. – P.B.

Yes to Sunday hunting region b. antler size 6 points or more and should be wider than their ears. Oppose unlimited doe season. 1 buck per weapon. no bonus tag. – J. M.

I would like to voice my strong support for much more rigorous deer management. As a homeowner, gardener, and wildlife supporter, there are far too many deer coming through private property and in the Open Spaces in Columbia. They destroy our gardens, spread disease, and decimate the woodlands. Please, please, please, do something about this. – K.R.

I support the plan as outlined. It is very fair and balanced, even with the tip of the cap to the ridiculous non-lethal options to manage the deer herd. I would like to see the Department to make a more concerted, coordinated effort to standardize both the archery safety zone and Sunday hunting. I understand this is a legislative hurdle, but the county-by-county haphazard approach to these two issues is extremely frustrating for the average hunter. Please push the legislature for a 50-yard safety zone for archery (with an elevated position required for the 50-100 yard range if needed) and open every Sunday to hunting, at least on private property. I think the fears from various communities over sharing space with hunters are completely unfounded, which the facts back up, but those fears are held nonetheless. As someone who has very little access to private land, this would still limit me in my ability to utilize public lands, but maintaining high public support for hunting is also a worthy goal. I wish there were some way for the Department to somehow line up landowners with problem deer with hunters who meet certain requirements (i.e. have passed a shooter qualification, haven't received a citation, etc.) or work with MNCPPC to expand public hunting opportunities on their properties. Hunting access is clearly the biggest issue in the middle of the state, especially when the herd remains at persistently high (unacceptably high to many folk) levels. – J. H.

I live in southern Washington County, MD up the mountain on the west side of Rt 67. I am also a Master Naturalist & Frederick County Nature Educator at Catoctin Creek Nature Center. I have witnessed the devastation to our forest floor. There are no tree saplings, herbaceous perennials or native shrubs. There are, however invasives the deer don't touch-for instance: barberry, oriental bittersweet, stilt grass, honeysuckle, basket grass & much more....I counted 15 does one evening this spring driving up the mountain & everyone had twins. The owner of the property behind me has 60 acres & he can't make a dent in their population. In my small cul-de-sac 2 of my neighbors got Lyme Disease. The population in my humble opinion is much too large if the forest cannot regenerate its self. Please consider measures to secure the long term progress of these mountains and all the creatures that try to live here.That may include help for the owners of large properties that can't cull the deer at the rate needed. Thank you for your consideration, - D. S.

All seems great. Concern over enforcement feasibility of WMA access as it is largely impossible in parks already. In lieu of WMA pass perhaps a conservation tax of .1% could be applied across the state like Missouri. – S.C.

My impression is that there are far, far too many deer in Baltimore County. And that this overpopulation of deer has significant negative consequences for the environment and for the Bay. Every effort to reduce the population should be encouraged. Perhaps even year round open seasons. – W.C.

Please allow STATEWIDE Sunday deer hunting on private property. I live in Howard and can't hunt deer on my own property on Sundays. It's ridiculous. Stop pandering to the horse community. Safety is the #1 priority and that's why it should be allowed on private land. - Brian

Hi I am a serious hunter and in woods pretty much every day! I manage my propertys and only harvest older bucks and does! I run cameras all year round to keep track of my deer on property. I've noticed since we started this call in check in station the population went down! People are not calling in their game like they should be and their shooting younger bucks and checking them in as does! This is wrong and you cannot get an accurate number of deer harvest with this system! We need to go back to physically checking them in at your sporting store! Also I believe that we should make a size restriction on bucks! Too many young bucks are being killed! Needs to be outside spread of pass ears or something! Please consider what I’m suggesting to help keep our deer population and heard healthy! Thanks! – B. S.

I'd love to get into hunting in the state of Maryland however it's very confusing with all of the different dates times firearms limitations Arial limitations and all of those things. I understand that there is a huge difficulty with balancing firearms on the public with not scaring people; however, it is just so incredibly complicated that it makes it very frightening to attempt to get into. For example I live in Frederick and apparently if you're on the wrong side of this one Creek then you can't use a shotgun but if you're on the other side of the creek then you can. And I have zero sense of direction. I had to use Google maps to get out of a five-acre patch of woods in my neighborhood yesterday. – C.S.

Overall the DNR does a good job and run some great programs staff has always been very helpful and courteous. I suggest somehow making the dates, bag limits and the rules easier to understand or presented clearer, in its current form it might deter new hunters from getting started. Thank you for letting me participate. – N.B.

In this day and time with Covid and people not working. There is more need recreational hunting to supply red meat. Because of cost and beef available no need for sharp shooter as we are told about farm practice that they were In the area before people moving in complaining about farm practices. The deer were before the farms. Farmer should let neighbors hunt their farm for deer control and not charge a lot on money. There used to be hunters education in schools. There still should be. We have drug education in schools and there is no difference - they both can kill you and they should learn how to use and not use guns and hunting just as school do drugs. Some states allow students to miss school for the first week of deer season if they and their parents should to take advantage of that – D.W.

I hunt mostly in Allegany county I personally like the two-buck limit. I would however like one of the bucks to be at least 6 points or better. And I would like to see you be able to harvest a doe in each season (3 does total). I hunt private and public equally. There is too many does on both the big woods are over browsed. Baiting is pulling the deer from public and private I believe the money from baiting is dictating conservation. I can afford to bait but choose not to I personally know people who spend 100's to 1000's of dollars to do this that is crazy. Thanks for your time – A. L.

So in short what changes are proposed for the next 14yrs? I briefed through the DMP and couldn't find any real proposed changes to what the state is currently doing? I might have missed it since it is a large article? It appears that the majority of hunters and landowners alike are in favor of raising deer population and attempting to allow bucks to grow to some sort of maturity. If this is the general consensus why not propose a smaller bag limit and a larger antler restriction for all bucks or at least the second buck. It should be an antler restriction that will actually have some impact, not what the state is trying to do now. I understand that not everyone is trying to trophy hunt. The majority is also hunting for meat but the new age hunters are getting involved and if the state continues with its same regulations I’m afraid that the kids getting involved now will quickly lose attraction to hunting in Maryland especially in the Region A. – S. H.

I realize this is a management plan for whitetails but please do something about all the nonresidents hunting sika deer. Need a lottery or a 2-sika season limit. Blackwater needs to do something as well but I do understand its federal land so DNR is not in control of that. Maryland offers a lot of quantity hunting. What MD hunters need is quality hunting. – B.W.

I hunt in region A and have the last 18 years, and I feel like I definitely seen a change in the population. When I started hunting I feel like the population was a lot higher in this area. Now the population seems to be higher in the suburban areas, I see more deer driving to place I hunt then I do while hunting some days. As far as releasing predators if that is in the talks I don't see the point. I feel like the bear and coyote population is on the rise. My trail cameras anymore catch more predators then deer. With that being said you are going to start seeing the predators more in the suburban areas since it seems like the deer are moving in that area. With this predators are soon to follow putting pets and people in danger so releasing more predators into the wildlife is a danger in itself. As far as sterilization goes that's a waste of time and money. I have always said it would probably help if you put a 8 ft. chain-link fence along the interstate where ever possible to help keep deer off the interstate.  And build the natural bridges in those areas like they have in the south. I also like to see for non youths you should only be able to harvest does and 6 points and higher. Making it illegal to harvest button bucks and young bucks. – E.D.

Simplify regulations: 2 female, 2 male deer per season, Bow, muzzle loader, rifle, and primitive combined..total 4 Deer hunters choice of how. Region A. no more than one per day. Consolidated price available Reduced price for Senior citizens Disabled no fee – M.D.

I think region A should get more doe tags. Or go back to the old bag limits. - H.S.