DNR Selects Final Hunting And Trapping Regulation Proposals!

Annapolis, Md. (March 27, 2012) — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Service has completed an important step toward finalizing the hunting and trapping season and bag limit regulation proposals for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. The proposed hunting regulation changes, which included extensive public input, were recently endorsed by the Maryland Wildlife Advisory Commission (WAC).

“We are very pleased with the level of thoughtful input we received during all aspects of the public comment period,” said Associate Director for Game Management at DNR, Pete Jayne..“It’s always productive for us to hear from so many passionate supporters of Maryland’s rich wildlife resources. While most comments were from hunters and trappers, we also heard from a diverse group of non-hunters, hikers, bikers, farmers and landowners. We received over 1,000 comments during nearly two months of public participation and this input led us to make several changes in the proposals.”

http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Comments/Hunt_Proposal.asp

03-26-2012: ALERT! Hunting License Fee Increase Bill Defeated!

On Monday, March 26, Maryland's House of Representatives voted 69-62 to kill HB1419. There will be no increase in Hunting License fees this year.

March 17, 2012 - The Bachman Valley Branch and the Maryland State Chapter presented a crossbow to a young man who recently went through the hunter's safety course.

Last year, Cheri Winter, Bachman Valley Branch Vice President had a friend whose son (11 years old) had recently completed Maryland's Hunter's Safety Course and wanted to hunt deer so she invited him and his son to hunt on her QDM property. The hunt went well even though no deer were harvested. Cheri had to go out of town so she lent her crossbow to her friend, Tom and his son Malcolm to use while she was gone as she had already taught them how to use it. While she was out of the state, she received two texts that Malcolm had taken his first doe and then a second doe and was hooked on crossbows. Tom then asked Cheri to be on the lookout for a used crossbow for Malcolm. Barry Harden, Bachman Valley Branch President had a brand new crossbow and decided to give the crossbow to Malcolm. We invited Malcolm and his dad, Tom to attend our 2012 Annual REACH Banquet where we would surprise Malcolm with the crossbow. E.W. Grimes, Director of the Maryland State Chapter, Barry Harden, President of the Bachman Valley Branch and Cheri Winter, Vice President of the Bachman Valley Branch presented Malcolm with his very own crossbow at the REACH Banquet and Malcolm was thrilled to receive it. The Bachman Valley Branch and the Maryland State Chapter take every opportunity to encourage youth to get into and stay into hunting and we congratuate Tom for his efforts to teach Malcolm ethics and safety about hunting. We thank Cheri for being a great mentor and always extending a helping hand to fellow hunters and youth!

March 17, 2012 - Bachman Valley Branch REACH Sportsman's Banquet

The Bachman Valley Branch & Maryland State Chapter of QDMA held our Annual REACH Sportsman Banquet and had a decent turnout even with the banquet being held on St. Patrick's Day and the beautiful weather. Dale Gertz was our featured speaker and brought his NEW Maryland State Record Pope & Young Buck!
Thanks to all who attended and stay tuned for our next year's banquet. We are making changes and will keep you posted!

March 3, 2012 - Frostburg State University QDMA Branch Educational Event

Frostburg State University QDMA Branch hosted their first educational event March 3^rd; The Hands-on Whitetail Deer Workshop Event was conducted in the Gunther building on campus and was open to the public. Guest Speaker was Brian Eyler Maryland’s Deer Project Leader,  Cheri Winter Maryland State Chapter QDMA Secretary and EW Grimes President/ Director Maryland State Chapter.

EW opened the event with a seminar What is QDM and MD QDMA Data Collecting in Maryland.

  Brian Eyler Seminar expanded how harvest data was collected and used by the State to made management decisions and history of Deer management in Maryland. Brian answered many question from students and public attendees.

Cheri, demonstrated her lessons learned from QDMA Deer Steward Classes and her 4 years of collecting fetus date for the State Chapter’s Maryland Fetus Study. ( pictured)

 EW explained the How and Why to Aged Whitetail Jawbones, Jesse Voigt (pictured) President of the FSU Branch Removing Jaw bone from a doe harvested from a QDM Managed Hunt.

The Hands-on Workshop was a huge success with Branch Members, Students, and others attending. FSU Branch and students are now looking into collecting data from road-killed deer from the western area of Maryland. FSU is not far from the CWD area in Maryland this data collecting would be helpful to Maryland’s Deer Project.

2012 ANNUAL SPORTSMAN'S BANQUET

The Bachman Valley Branch will be holding their Annual Sportsman's REACH Banquet on March 17, 2012 at the VFW Post 467 in Westminster, Maryland!

Our featured Guest Speaker will be Dale Gertz with his Maryland No#1 Pope & Young Buck harvested in 2011 with a score of 208-7/8!
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!

Tickets will be available soon! Check on www.marylandqdma.com for availability!

QDM REALLY WORKS!

If you have any doubts about QDM and if it works, this is a prime example that it does. The Chester River QDMA Co-op on the Eastern Shores of Maryland has 22,000 acres that are under the QDM principles. This year a 194-3/8 inch buck was harvested by Brian Sears during the early muzzleloader season. They have been managing their doe population and letting the young bucks walk and this is the results. Healthier deer, less crop damage and larger bucks! Any questions?

Maryland State Chapter QDMA presents Award of Appreciation to Barbara Joyce

Barbara Joyce has tirelessly organized outdoor events for many years and recently retired. The Maryland State Chapter QDMA presented her with an award of appreciation for her dedication and hard work over the past many years. We truly appreciate all Barbara has done for women and youth outdoor sporting events. She will be missed. Without people like Barbara promoting and organizing these events, a lot of people would have never gotten into outdoor activities.
Thank you Barbara!

HUNTER'S CHALLENGE 3D SHOOT, AUGUST 21, 2011

We have changed our 3D Shoot Date and Location. We are now having the 3D Shoot at Mayberry Archers, 2555 Mayberry Road, Westminster, Maryland 21158 on Sunday, August 21, 2011. Please make your plans to attend.

June 18, 2011 - Maryland State Chapter QDMA at Junior Hunter's Field Day hosted by the DNR

E.W. Grimes and Cheri Winter had a display and E.W. presented a QDMA seminar for the event. There were lots of Junior Hunters present and they all had a wonderful time! Great to see all the youth and their parents interested in the outdoors and hunting!