Outdoors

While mild temperatures limited opportunity for much of the first week of the 2011 deer firearms season, it was a decent start overall.

According to Brian Eyler, deer project leader for Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, preliminary numbers (as of Friday) showed a 4 percent increase in the number of deer checked in compared to last year — 15,598 vs. 15,019.

Golf rules limit the number of clubs in your bag to fourteen. I know this not because I hit the links (I've tried it only twice) but because my college roommate informed me of this as he argued that his obsession was a more difficult sport than fishing.

For the first time, the state will suspend the fishing licenses of recreational anglers.

Sixty recreational fishermen slapped with violations — including catching fish during closed seasons, surpassing daily limits and possessing female crabs — face the loss of their right to fish.

Their violations have occurred since April, and all of the anglers were found guilty in court. The Department of Natural Resources is levying administrative penalties in the form of license suspensions from 30 days to one year.

No wonder they call it the “elusive” Diamond Jim.

In the first two months of the 2011 annual Maryland Fishing Challenge, only one tagged rockfish eligible for the cash prize has been caught.

At a Department of Natural Resources event last week, David Huffman of Jersey Shore, Pa. had a shot at $20,000 after landing a specially tagged 22-inch striped bass off Rock Hall on July 20. When he ripped open the sealed envelope, the rock proved to be one of hundreds of Diamond Jim imposters, worth $500. Not chump change, but a far cry from 20 grand.