Hunting Regulations in Maryland
Season dates, bag limits, license fees, and tips — updated 2026-03-05
Always verify current regulations before hunting. Regulations change frequently. Visit the official Maryland Department of Natural Resources website for the most up-to-date rules, emergency closures, and special regulations.
🎫 Hunting License Fees
2025–2026Resident License
Non-Resident License
Senior Discount
Deer tags $18 each; Antlerless Tag $10. Turkey Permit $7. Muzzleloader stamp required for muzzleloader seasons. Federal Duck Stamp and HIP required for migratory birds. Fur Harvester license for trapping. Residents 65+ pay reduced license fees.
🦌 Season Dates & Bag Limits
| Species | Season | Bag Limit | Size Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer - Archery | September 6 – January 31 | 2 deer total (1 antlered) | No antler restrictions statewide | Archery season is longest season in Maryland. Antlerless deer allowed with archery equipment throughout season. Deer tags required ($18 each). |
| White-tailed Deer - Muzzleloader | October 18 – October 25 | 2 deer total (1 antlered) | No statewide antler restrictions | Early muzzleloader Oct 18-25. Late muzzleloader runs in December. Muzzleloader stamp required. Inline muzzleloaders permitted. |
| White-tailed Deer - Firearms | November 29 – December 12 | 2 deer total (1 antlered) | No statewide antler restrictions | General firearms season late Nov–mid Dec. Various county-specific antlerless permit opportunities. Blaze orange required during firearms seasons. |
| Wild Turkey - Spring | April 19 – May 22 | 2 bearded birds (1 per day) | Bearded birds only | Youth turkey weekend the week prior to general opener. Turkey Permit ($7) required. Fall archery turkey season coincides with deer archery. Shotgun and archery legal. |
| Waterfowl - Ducks | October 4 – January 25 | 6 per day (species sub-limits apply) | None | Split seasons typical: early teal, then regular season. Chesapeake Bay zone and inland zone may have different dates. Federal Duck Stamp and HIP required. |
| Dove - Mourning | September 1 – November 14 | 15 per day | None | Three-way split season typical (Sept 1, Sept 20, and Nov dates). HIP certification required. Non-toxic shot required on some WMAs. |
| Small Game - Rabbit & Squirrel | October 3 – February 28 | 4 rabbit / 6 squirrel per day | None | Cottontail rabbit and gray squirrel primary species. Pheasant released at select WMAs. Hunting license required. |
| Black Bear | October 27 – November 2 | 1 per permit | None | Bear hunting in western Maryland (Allegany, Garrett, Washington counties). Lottery permit required. Population management program with limited tags issued annually. |
Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources (dnr.maryland.gov). Last updated: 2026-03-05. Regulations may have changed — always verify with the official agency.
About Hunting in Maryland
Maryland offers surprisingly diverse hunting opportunities for such a mid-Atlantic state, with terrain ranging from the Chesapeake Bay tidal marshes in the east to the Appalachian Mountains of Garrett County in the west. White-tailed deer are found throughout all 23 counties, with the Eastern Shore's agricultural areas producing impressive bucks. The state's deer management program uses antlerless permit systems to maintain healthy herd populations.
The Chesapeake Bay region is synonymous with waterfowl hunting — Maryland sits at the heart of the Atlantic Flyway and hosts world-famous goose and duck hunting on the Eastern Shore. Public hunting areas like Eastern Neck NWR and Blackwater NWR attract thousands of hunters annually. Wild turkey populations continue to grow across the western piedmont and mountain counties, with Garrett and Allegany counties offering some of the best spring gobbler hunting in the state. Black bear hunting is limited to western Maryland under a carefully managed permit system.
Best Times to Hunt in Maryland
🌱 Spring
Turkey season April–May; waterfowl season ending; bear permit application
☀️ Summer
Scouting; dove field setup; archery season preparation
🍂 Fall
Deer archery Sept–Jan; firearms Nov–Dec; waterfowl Oct–Jan; bear Oct–Nov
❄️ Winter
Late waterfowl season on Chesapeake Bay; late archery deer through January
🎯 Expert Hunting Tips for Maryland
- Hunt the Eastern Shore counties (Queen Anne's, Talbot, Dorchester) for big-bodied whitetails in standing corn and soybean fields during the November firearms season.
- For waterfowl, set up along the edges of Blackwater NWR near Cambridge — diving ducks concentrate on the open Chesapeake Bay coves during cold snaps in December.
- Scout the Savage River State Forest in Garrett County for spring turkey; birds work agricultural ridgelines at dawn and return to forest edges by mid-morning.
- Access the C&O Canal National Historical Park WMUs for deer archery hunting — corridor habitat concentrates deer movement between agricultural fields and river bottoms.
🏛️ Official Wildlife Agency
🗺️ Nearby States (Northeast)
Also available: Fishing Regulations in Maryland — season dates, bag limits, size limits, and license info.