My wife has been hinting that she would like to move back to MD. We lived there from 92-96, I lived in Fredneck and she lived in Germantown, we worked in Rockville blah blah and got married in MD in 97 (even though we lived in CT). Now we live in PA, I've gone full circle PA-MD-CT-PA, and our area is getting less and less desirable (in terms of a school district). When I lived in MD I used to hunt at a farm in Damascus, when I lost the farm rights (sold to developers) I tried McKee-Besheers (sp) and was lucky to escape with all my limbs, scary to say the least. Now, I would focus more on the eastern part of the state and I know the real estate market down there is through the roof but where might I find a good area to live, w/ decent schools or good alternatives (private schools) and an area that can be hunted with a bow? What else do I want, I know, but I don't have to move so hunting will be taken into consideration when picking a place to live. In other words where would you move in MD. I can swing up to 500K. Thanks.

Howard County has good public schools, rated among the best in the state, and I would imagine decent places to hunt. The north tract of the Patuxent (within 30 minutes from there) is on its third year of 6 points or better, which should mean nice bucks now, and it has 8,600 acres to hunt, and not too busy, especially during bow and days other than opening shotgun.

Doug, Are you refering to Ft Meade? Don't let me forget to talk to you about this at the cabin.

Yes, Rick. It used to be Fort Meade and they had military training in certain areas that closed them down for hunting. Then it got turned over to the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, and is considered the North Tract. I think a few areas were taken away when it was turned over (areas A, B and C). But there are still 8,600 acres there now to hunt. You have to pay about $40 and pass a proficiency test with each weapon before being allowed to hunt, and have to check in and out when you hunt there. But I think it is much nicer than the South Tract Beltsville Agricultural hunting tract where you have to use speed dial at 5:00 in the morning 9 days before you want to hunt to reserve an area, and are lucky if you are able to get through. Also, the South Tract goes on a lottery for opening gun days, so there's a good chance you won't even be able to hunt...

A lot of the Patapsco State Park hunting areas are in or close to Howard County as well. You have to pay $50 for a permit, shoot a doe first and make reservation though... Good luck with your decision!