Let’s delve into Maryland’s hunting calendar, explore the array of game species, and uncover the top outdoor destinations. Ready to embark on this journey?
Important Resources
Maryland Hunting Season
| Weapon | Season Dates | Antlered Deer | Antlerless Deer (Region A) | Antlerless Deer (Region B) | Sika Deer |
| Archery | Sep 6 – Oct 16 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 3 (no more than 1 antlered) |
| Sunday, Oct 20 – Nov 29 | 1 | 2 | 15 | ||
| Dec 16 – Dec 20 | 1 | 2 | 15 | ||
| Sunday, Jan 5 – Jan 9 | 1 | 2 | 15 | ||
| Jan 10 – Sunday, Jan 12 (Region A only) | 1 | 2 | 15 | ||
| Jan 13 – Jan 31 | 1 | 2 | 15 | ||
| Muzzleloader | Oct 17 – Oct 19 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |
| Oct 21 – Oct 26 (Region B only) | – | – | 10 | Antlerless Only | |
| Dec 21 – Jan 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 3 (no more than 1 antlered) | |
| Firearm | Nov 30 – Dec 14 | 1 | 2 | 10 | |
| Jan 10 – Jan 11 (Region B only) | 1 | – | 10 | ||
| Jan 12 (Sunday) | 1 | – | 10 | ||
| Primitive | Feb 1, 3 – 4 | 1 | 1 | See notes | 1 |
| Junior Hunt | 16-Nov | 1 | – | – | – |
| Nov 17 (Sunday) | 1 | – | – | – |
Bag Restrictions:
Firearm Season:
- One antlered deer per firearm season statewide for sustainable management.
Region B Special Condition:
- Region B hunters may take a third antlered deer under specific conditions.
Region A:
- Harvest one antlerless deer per weapon season for sustainable hunting.
Junior Hunters in Region A:
- Allowed one antlered and one antlerless deer.
Region B Bag Limits (Archery, Muzzleloader, Firearms):
- 15 antlerless deer (combined) with unlimited in Suburban Deer Management Zone.
- 10 antlered deer for both muzzleloader and firearms.
Junior Hunters in Region B:
- Permitted to take three deer, including one antlered.
Sika Deer Hunting:
- One antlered deer allowed every three seasons.
Junior Sika Deer Hunters:
- Allowed one antlered and one antlerless deer.
Bear
| Black Bear | 2024: Oct 21 – Oct 26 |
| 2025: Oct 20 – Oct 25 |
Turkey
| Season | Open Season |
| Fall | 2024: Nov 2 – Nov 10 |
| 2025: Nov 1 – Nov 9 | |
| Winter | 2025: Jan 23 – Jan 25 |
| 2026: Jan 22 – Jan 24 | |
| Spring , Junior Hunt (Hunters age 16 or younger only) | 2025: Apr 12 – Apr 13 |
| 2026: Apr 11 – Apr 12 | |
| Spring | 2025: Apr 18 – May 23 |
| 2026: Apr 18 – May 23 |
Furbearer
| Species | Method | Open | Location |
| Beaver | Trapping Only | Dec 15 – Mar 15 | All counties except Garrett and Allegany counties |
| Dec 1 – Mar 15 | Garrett and Allegany counties | ||
| Bobcat | CLOSED SEASON | All counties | |
| Coyote | Firearms, Archery, & Airgun Hunting | Aug 1 – Jul 31 | All counties |
| Trapping Only | Nov 1 – Feb 15 | West of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River | |
| Nov 15 – Feb 28 | East of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River | ||
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Firearms, Archery, & Airgun Hunting | Nov 1 – Feb 1 | West of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River |
| Trapping Only | Nov 15 – Feb 15 | East of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River | |
| Fox (Red and Gray) | Trapping, Firearms, Archery, & Airgun Hunting | Nov 1 – Feb 15 | Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, and Washington counties |
| Nov 15 – Feb 28 | Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties | ||
| Aug 1 – Jul 31 | Charles and Dorchester counties | ||
| Fisher | Trapping, Firearms, Archery, & Airgun Hunting | Nov 1 – Feb 1 | All Counties |
| Muskrat and Mink | Trapping Only | Dec 15 – Mar 15 | Baltimore, Cecil, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, and Worcester counties |
| Jan 1 – Mar 15 | Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Montgomery, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, Talbot, and Wicomico counties | ||
| Otter | Trapping Only | Dec 15 – Mar 15 | Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington counties |
| In all other counties (except Allegany and Garrett counties) | |||
| Dec 1 – Mar 15 | Garrett and Allegany counties | ||
| Raccoon and Opossum | Chasing (No Kill) | Aug 1 – Oct 14, Mar 16 – Jul 31 | All counties |
| Firearms, Archery, Airgun & Dog Hunting | Oct 15 – Mar 15 | All counties | |
| Trapping Only | Nov 1 – Mar 15 | West of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River | |
| Nov 15 – Mar 15 | East of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River | ||
| Skunk | Trapping | Nov 1 – Mar 15 | All counties |
| Firearms, Archery, & Airgun Hunting | Nov 1 – Mar 15 | All counties |
Upland birds
Pheasant
| Regular | Nov 2 – Feb 28 | Statewide. A bag limit of 2 per day and possession limit of 4, either sex |
| Falconry | Nov 1 – Feb 28 |
Quail
| Regular | Nov 2 – Jan 15 | There is a bag limit of 6 daily and possession limit of 12 |
| Falconry | Nov 1 – Mar 31 | There is a bag limit of 4 daily and possession limit of 8 |
Grouse
| Regular | Oct 5 – Dec 31 | All counties and there is no limit |
Firearms, Archery, & Airgun Hunting |
Migratory & Waterfowl Period
| Species | Dates |
| Canada Geese (Eastern Zone) | Sep. 2, 2024 – Sep. 14, 2024 |
| Canada Geese (Western Zone) | Sep. 2, 2024 – Sep. 25, 2024 |
| September Teal | Sep. 16, 2024 – Sep. 30, 2024 |
| Ducks (Eastern Zone) | Oct. 12, 2024 – Oct. 19, 2024; Nov. 16, 2024 – Nov. 29, 2024; Dec. 16, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025 |
| Ducks (Western Zone) | Oct. 5, 2024 – Oct. 19, 2024; Nov. 23, 2024 – Nov. 29, 2024; Dec. 16, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025 |
| Black Duck (Eastern Zone) | Nov. 16, 2024 – Nov. 29, 2024; Dec. 16, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025 |
| Black Duck (Western Zone) | Nov. 23, 2024 – Nov. 29, 2024; Dec. 16, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025 |
| Youth, Veteran, and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days | Nov. 2, 2024; Feb. 8, 2025 |
| Atlantic Population Canada Geese | Dec. 20, 2024 – Jan. 4, 2025; Jan. 14, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2025 |
| AF Resident Population Canada Geese | Nov. 23, 2024 – Nov. 29, 2024; Dec. 16, 2024 – Mar. 6, 2025 |
| Atlantic Brant | Dec. 28, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025 |
| Light Geese | Oct. 1, 2024 – Nov. 29, 2024; Dec. 16, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025; Feb. 8, 2025 |
| Light Goose Conservation Order | Dec. 2, 2024 – Dec. 14, 2024; Feb. 1, 2025 – Feb. 7, 2025; Feb. 10, 2025 – Apr. 15, 2025 |
| Mourning Dove | Sep. 2, 2024 – Oct. 19, 2024; Oct. 26, 2024 – Nov. 29, 2024; Dec. 21, 2024 – Jan. 10, 2025 |
| King and Clapper Rail | Sep. 2, 2024 – Nov. 21, 2024 |
| Sora and Virginia Rail | Sep. 2, 2024 – Nov. 21, 2024 |
| Common Snipe | Sep. 28, 2024 – Jan. 30, 2025 |
| Woodcock | Oct. 26, 2024 – Nov. 29, 2024; Jan. 13, 2025 – Jan. 29, 2025 |
Falconry, Extended (Statewide)
| Games | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Limit |
| Eastern Cottontail Rabbit | Nov 1 – Mar 31 (both years) | 4 | 8 |
| Quail | Nov 1 – Mar 31 (both years) | 4 | 8 |
| Pheasant | Nov 1 – Mar 31 (both years) | 2 | 4 |
| Ruffed Grouse | Oct 1 – Mar 31 (both years) | 2 | 4 |
| Squirrel (Gray, Eastern Fox, Red) | Sep 1 – Mar 31 (both years) | 6 | 12 |
Hunting Location
Though Maryland is home to a relatively small amount of public hunting area, it is spread out evenly throughout the state. It’s easy to go on a private outdoor trip.
Wildlife-protected areas.
The Wildlife & Heritage Service manages Maryland’s 64 WMAs. Combined, these lands come to around 128,000 acres. Nineteen of twenty-three counties have WMAs.
State-owned and operated parks
Some of state parks even encourage it. Roughly four thousand acres of territory may be found here. Each state park has its own games, season, and regulations.
MD hunting Calendar PDF Download
License Fees
a
Contacts
Address
Wildlife & Heritage Service Headquarters
580 Taylor Ave.,
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone Number
1-877-620-8DNR (8367) (Within the State)
410-260-8DNR (8367) (From Outside State)
FAQ
How much is Maryland hunting license?
Residence and age determine hunting license prices. Nonresidents fees are $130.00 for 16–64, $65.00 for 65+, and $32.50 for under-16 with written authorization. Residents pay $24.50 for ages 16–64, $10.50 for under-16s with permission, and $5.00 for 65+.
Where can I hunt Duck in Maryland?
Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic coast are prime hunting grounds. Although majority of the Chesapeake’s coastline is privately owned, pursuers do have access to a few great wilderness management areas.
Both Fishing Bay and Taylors Island WMAs allow public waterfowl. See Sea Duck Zones for duck locations at sea. Generally, stay 800 yards from the shore.
What animals can be legally hunted in Maryland?
Deer, turkey, ducks, geese, coyotes, raccoons, foxes, and small game species are common. Antlerless deer seasons manage female deer populations in particular places.
Who can hunt without a license in Maryland?
Hunting licenses are not required for certain residents. This covers locals and nonresidents who hunt on their property and nonresidents who own contiguous farmland in Virginia and Maryland but live in Virginia. Active-duty military members stationed in the state do not require a license if they have official leave orders.
- 2024-2025 Rhode Island Hunting Seasons New Dates & Rules - August 10, 2024
- West Virginia Hunting Seasons 2024 New Dates & Regulations! - August 2, 2024
- 2024 Washington Hunting Season New Dates & Regulation! - July 27, 2024
