Annual Doe Harvest Concludes

The Doe Harvest is a hunting contest held every January since 2018, coinciding with the late firearms season. From Jan. 9-11, hunters in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties were invited by farmers to hunt white-tailed and sika deer near agricultural fields. For every deer harvested, hunters were entered for a chance to win a $1,000 prize.

Steve Hurley, chairman of the Doe Harvest Challenge Committee, said the event helps farmers manage deer populations on their land.

“They would tell us, ‘Oh, you got permits, you need to shoot more,’” Hurley said. “Our job is to grow grain, produce and livestock. We don’t have time to go out and shoot deer on permit.”

This year, 357 deer were harvested. Thirty of those deer were donated to the Maryland Food Bank. Hurley said the contest is a significant help to farmers, as deer cause millions of dollars in crop damage statewide.

Mike Knauer, president of the Dorchester Farm Bureau, said the damage on his farm can be substantial.

“Seven years ago, before I got a crop damage permit, they were destroying anywhere from 10 to 15 acres of corn,” Knauer said. “That’s $600 in input costs, plus the revenue you lose on that acreage. It’s a big deal.”

In Dorchester County, sika deer have caused ongoing issues for many farmers. Knauer expressed particular concern about the species, saying the sika deer population is migrating more heavily into Somerset and Wicomico counties.

“So if we don’t slow the migration from Dorchester, the problem is going to grow down there,” Knauer said.

The prize drawing will take place tonight, with 16 hunters set to receive winnings.

While this year’s Doe Harvest saw fewer participants than in previous years due to rain, organizers say it still made a positive impact on the farming community, helping protect crops one deer at a time.