The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Services (WHS) today announced the opening of acreage to archery hunting at Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area (SDNEA) beginning Saturday, November 11.

"Our team of ecologists concluded that deer are severely impacting the scientific work to recover several rare, threatened and endangered plant communities on SDNEA," said WHS Director Paul Peditto. "We cannot ignore the impact deer are having on this unique, environmentally sensitive area and must take action to mitigate further loss of the protected plant species."

Over the last several months DNR has gathered public input on a hunt proposal to reduce the size of the deer herd on SDNEA, culminating in a public information meeting held August 9 at New Town High School, Owings Mills, Maryland.

"Public feedback clearly guided us in our decision making deliberations for this site," explained Peditto. "To that end, we adjusted our original proposal to accommodate the consensus results of the decision-making process."

The final proposal was modified to reduce the total hunting season for both areas; requires mandatory sign-in posting of safety zone boundaries near all adjacent residences; and a posted buffer along the popular SDNEA hiking trail.

The archery season for the both sections of SDNEA will be November 11, 2006 - January 31, 2007. The number of hunters is limited to no more than 20 hunters per day in Area 1 and 15 hunters per day in Area 2. Hunters must register at Patapsco State Park Headquarters in Ellicott City, Maryland, where they will receive hunt area maps, the rules and regulations for hunting SDNEA and a parking permit that must be displayed when parking in designated parking areas. Hunters must comply with the deer bag limit for Region B. Hunters must possess a current Maryland Hunting License, Bow Stamp and DNR Managed Hunt Permit while hunting SDNEA.

Hunter registration will begin Monday, September 11. For more information about the hunt contact:
Patapsco Valley State Park Headquarters
8020 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 461-5005

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The Old Man and the Hound
Jack drove his old jeep down the dirt road carefully. Since no one lived along this road anymore but old Tom, the highway department seldom serviced it. He guessed it didn't really matter much as old Tom didn't drive much anymore. Perhaps once a month when his retirement check came in. Then he would come into town driving that old rickety truck and cash his check, buy some groceries and collect his mail.