A few weeks ago, the Department of Natural Resources announced that it proposes to hold a special deer hunt for qualified junior hunters this fall. The one-day hunt would be Nov. 18, but it would be one day that wildlife managers expect could be memorable for adults and youths who participate.
It also could be, Wildlife Division head Joshua Sandt said recently, something of a new beginning for the hunting community.
"We have a lot fewer junior hunters now than we had 10, 20, 30 years ago," Sandt said. "We want to look at this as a chance to give proper guidance in the field to those hunters under the age of 16 -- but we also think it can be a quality experience, one they will remember all their lives."
Under the proposed setup, junior hunters would have to be certified through the state's hunter safety program and be accompanied by a licensed, non-hunting adult over the age of 21.
"We also want to look at special junior hunter days for squirrel, rabbit and other game," Sandt said. "We also are looking at some similar programs for women who might want to become involved."
While the junior hunter day for deer is the most notable new proposal among the 1995-1996 seasons and regulations that will be presented at public meetings late next month, several other changes are being proposed:
* Upland game seasons would open a week earlier than normal, on Nov. 7. The move is being made to allow quail, pheasant and (eastern zone) rabbit hunters extra time in the field before the modern firearms deer season opens on Nov. 25.
* Pheasant season would be opened in Garrett County for the first time in many years. This, however, is not a boon to hunters because the pheasant population there is virtually non-existent despite DNR's trap-and-transplant efforts to repopulate the area. Released pheasants now would be legal game there.
* The boundary of the western zone for rabbit seasons would be moved eastward to include all of Allegany County.
* With an early muzzleloader season proposed for Oct. 19-21, bow hunters would be required to wear blaze orange on those days but still would be allowed to hunt with a bow.
* The start of the late muzzleloader season for deer would be pushed back one week (Dec. 23-Jan. 6) to allow the deer to settle back into patterns after the modern firearms season closes Dec. 9.
Public meetings on the proposed 1995-1996 seasons will be held at 7 p.m. on the following dates:
March 20: Baltimore Pike Fire Hall near Cumberland.
March 21: Timber Grove Elementary School, Owings Mills.
March 22: Easton High School, Easton.
March 23: National Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel.