WASHINGTON COUNTY - Hunting could be open to the public by the end of this bow season on about 211 acres of land just south of the Four Locks area in western Washington County, a state wildlife official said.
Jim Mullan, western region wildlife manager for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said state officials are considering several ways to use the land, which is known as The Neck by local residents.
Hunting would control the deer population and prevent the animals from eating rare plant species on the property, he said.
If everything goes as planned, a hunting provision would be in place by the time bow season ends Jan. 31, 2008, he said. The number of hunters would be limited.
"Once the parking lot has 10 vehicles, we'll ask people to (hunt) somewhere else," he said.
The state acquired the land from a private owner earlier this year to establish a wildlife management area, Mullan said. In addition to deer, people would be permitted to hunt waterfowl, turkeys, rabbits and squirrels.
