Where does ACDMT work?

ACDMT helps property owners anywhere in suburban Maryland but focuses on the burgeoning deer population in Montgomery, Howard, and Prince George’s Counties.

Who does ACDMT work with?

• Homeowners
• Vacant Landowners
• Forest Managers
• Rental Property Managers
• Farmers
• Golf Courses Managers
• Community Associations
• Garden Clubs
• Houses of Worship
• Municipalities

Is this really free?

ACDMT is 100% funded by our volunteers – we will never ask a property owner to pay for any services or supplies, however, contributions to offset the cost of corn are greatly appreciated.

Who are ACDMT Members?

ACDMT is a group of seasoned bow hunters who volunteer in their community to help control the suburban deer population and provide meals to the hungry by donating deer to local food banks and soup kitchens through the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program. Our ranks include police officers, doctors, scientists, business owners, Federal employees, accountants and retirees. We are parents, grandparents, sons, daughters, and members of local communities. We may be your neighbors, friends or even a relative.

Why do your members do this for free?

Our members are passionate outdoorsmen who care for their community and the biodiversity of our environment. We believe that as the number of deer continue to increase, it is likely that deer-related conflicts will continue to increase. Habitat will degrade and in the long run, the deer will suffer as the population becomes malnourished, unhealthy, and susceptible to disease. A program of deer population reduction can reduce both deer-human conflicts and deer impacts and must be considered as a tool in the long-term reduction of deer-related conflicts.
We also enjoy being able to share venison with those in need through the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry organization. Find out how you can support this great organization at www.FHFH.org

What should I expect when I contact ACDMT?

An ACDMT representative will call or email you to setup a meeting with you, or your representative, at the property to discuss all aspects of the process.

• Deer damage;
• Your management goals;
• Boundaries of your property;
• Treestand & bait locations;
• Parking areas;
• Hunting schedule; and any other concerns.

We will bring a written hunter permission form (which is required by the State of Maryland) that must be signed by the landowner – this form is revocable at the landowner’s discretion. This form also includes a liability release that further protects the landowner for any accidental injury or damage to the hunter. A copy of this form will remain with the hunter anytime they are on your property.
If necessary, the representative will also discuss working with your neighbors to secure permission to track across their properties.

Is allowing a bowhunter onto my property safe for me, my loved ones, neighbors, and pets?

Safety is our #1 goal at ACDMT – No bowhunter has ever harmed a non-hunter in the state of Maryland and no ACDMT member has ever had a hunting injury or accident.
Hunting is inherently a safe activity – it is statistically safer than swimming, fishing, water skiing, bicycling, basketball and baseball. ACDMT employs a number of methods that ensure the safety of property, pets, and people:

• All members must pass an annual shooting proficiency test.
• All members use a raised platform called a treestand which gives a hunter a clear view of anything moving in the vicinity and allows the arrow to travel at a steep downward angle into the ground.
• We only take very close shots (usually under 20yds) so we always know exactly what we are shooting at.
• All members are required to take an annual Safety test.
• Baiting allows us to lure the deer into safe shooting areas.

Is there any landowner liability?

Maryland has instituted a strong framework to encourage landowners to open their property to hunters. Landowners who invite the public onto their property for recreational purposes are generally protected by Maryland’s Recreational Statute.
Per Maryland’s Statute:

• Any person hunting on private property is liable for any damage they cause to private property while hunting.
• A landowner is not be liable for accidental injury or damage to the hunter, whether or not the landowner has given permission to hunt.”

More detailed information on landowner liability can be found in the publication “Landowner Liability and Recreational Access,” which you may download for free from the University of MD, Cooperative Extension Service.

Additionally, ACDMT’s permission form includes language indemnifying landowners from liability.

What does ACDMT do with the deer?

All deer are used and nothing will ever go to waste. ACDMT members will keep a few deer for personal consumption each year, but most are donated directly to needy families or through the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program. Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry raises funds to offset the costs for local butchers to process deer for donation to local food banks. Deer meat provides rare and healthy protein options which are often lacking from food bank donations. In 2013, ACDMT removed 100 deer for local neighborhoods and supplied approximately 5000 pounds of venison to those in need. ACDMT encourages all property owners to donate to the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program.

To learn more about the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry organization check out: http://www.fhfh.org/Home.asp
If a property owner makes a request we are always happy to supply them with some venison as well.

Do landowners need a permit?

No – a property permit is not required. All ACDMT members carry a State hunting license and may only hunt during designated hunting seasons. Each team member is responsible to maintain their individual hunting certifications, permits, and tags. In certain very limited circumstances Maryland landowners or agricultural lessees that are experiencing severe economic loss from deer to commercially grown crops (includes row crops, truck crops, pasture, nursery stock, orchards and certain tree plantings) may be eligible to receive a Deer Management Permit. A Deer Management Permit allows the permittee or their designee to remove deer from the property outside the established deer hunting seasons and/or deer bag limits. These permits are issued by the Wildlife and Heritage Service.

Can I control when the team members are on my property?

ACDMT members are guests on your property and as such are happy to work with your schedule. Remember though, it generally takes many hours of waiting and watching the animal movement on a property for each deer removed – therefore the more time the team members can be on the property and the more flexibility they have to adjust for the weather and the wind conditions, the greater the chance they will have of removing the deer.

What equipment can I expect to see on my property?

• Bait feeder – A bait feeder can be either freestanding or hang from a tree. The bait feeder is filled with corn which is released by a timer at set times throughout the day – the bait allows the team to attract deer to a safe site during legal shooting hours.

• Motion activated camera – The team uses motion activated cameras near the bait feeder to see if deer are visiting the site during legal shooting hours and to check what the age and sex ratios of deer in the area.

• Ladder stand – At some sites, a ladder stand is attached to a tree near the bait feeder. The ladder stand allows team members shoot from an elevated position which is safer and more efficient.

• Portable climbing stand – Similar to a ladder stand, a portable climbing stand attaches to a tree and allows the team member to hunt from an elevated position. Portable climbing stands allow the hunter to move to the tree that provides the best seasonal cover and to adjust for wind and weather conditions.

What happens to a deer when it is shot?

When a deer is shot with an arrow, it reacts to the sound it heard, not the shot itself. Deer react in different ways, some run, while others will just jump and stand there wondering what the sound was that startled it. The shot we take is while the deer is standing broadside to us. Since we are approximately 15-20 feet up in a tree, 90% of the time, the arrow goes completely through the deer and sticks into the ground with-in a few feet of where the deer was standing. The deer does not run off with an arrow sticking out of it. The deer bleeds internally and expires very quickly, usually within a minute or less. There will be very minimal blood. After the deer expires if it is not lying in a conspicuous location, we will continue to hunt if there are still deer in the area. If the deer does expire in a more visible location, we will move it immediately and then continue to hunt.

How many deer will ACDMT remove?

There is no set number that works for every property and we will be working with biologists to bring the herd back down to a healthy population. To date no more than 15 deer have been taken from a single property by our team. We do not want to eradicate the deer in your area. Our goal is to manage the herd to a healthy level that everyone can benefit from, including the deer that remain.

How will I know when a hunter is on my property?

How will I know when a hunter is on my property?”] When we arrive to your property, we will hang a door tag on your front door or on the team member’s vehicle indicating we are there. These door hangers resemble the “Do Not Disturb” signs you find at hotels. This tag will also have a phone number on it if you have any concerns or complaints. Your phone call will be kept confidential. After we complete the hunt on your property, we will remove the door tag. This way you will always know when we are hunting your property.

Why use bait?

Deer in suburban environments will often move at night when they feel safest but it is not legal to hunt – by setting up timed bait stations, ACDMT can ensure deer will change their behavior to feed at the bait during legal shooting hours.

Using corn as bait also allows us to lure the deer to a spot where we can set them up for an accurate shot. Also, deer are calmer when feeding, decreasing the chance they will jump at the sound of the bow string. 90% of the time, deer will run in the direction that they are facing when a sound startles them. By using corn we are controlling the direction that they face so that there is less of a chance that the deer will run out in a road.

Won’t the bait just attract more deer to my property?

No, bait will not attract new deer to an area. Numerous studies have shown that deer are creatures of habit and will range within a two mile radius from where they are born as long as they have food, water, and good cover. Their instinct to stay within their territory is so strong that they have been documented starving to death rather than leaving their home range, even when food was available near by. Males may travel during breeding season (also called the rut) looking for does, but the large herds of females that ACDMT focuses on are residents.

Is bowhunting noisy?

Bowhunting is a silent pursuit – deer are extremely shy and wary animals and will avoid any perceived danger thus team members must be extremely quiet to be able to get close enough to take an ethical shot. Modern archery equipment is very quiet and cannot be heard more than a few yards from where it is used.
Most property owners would not know that an ACDMT member is on their property if they did not see the hang tag on their door alerting them to the fact that a team member is on the property.