Overview
Known For
Built on a reputation for waterfowl hunting because of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, hunters flock here because that reputation is deserved. But bowhunters appreciate the trophy-class whitetails found there too.
Terrain
From rolling hills to pastures and fertile farmland, Maryland’s terrain is diverse. In addition to the marshes and waterways that feed the Chesapeake Bay and the falls on the Potomac River, Maryland is one part an Allegheny Mountains state, another part a coastal community, and another part dense forestland.
Maryland Hunting Seasons
| Season | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Bear
Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties only.
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Oct 23, 2023 | Oct 28, 2023 |
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Coyote
Coyotes may be hunted year-round in all counties, day and night. No Limit |
Jan 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlered Archery Part 1
Statewide.
|
Sep 8, 2023 | Oct 18, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Archery Region A – 1
|
Sep 8, 2023 | Oct 18, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Archery Region B – 1
|
Sep 8, 2023 | Oct 18, 2023 |
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Sika Deer – Archery – 1
An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Sep 8, 2023 | Oct 18, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlered Muzzleloader Part 1
Statewide.
|
Oct 19, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Muzzleloader Region A – 1
DNR public lands and all other lands
|
Oct 19, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Muzzleloader Region B – 1
|
Oct 19, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
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Sika Deer – Muzzleloader – Antlered or Antlerless – 1
An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Oct 19, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Antlered Archery Part 2
Statewide.
|
Oct 22, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Archery Region A – 2
|
Oct 22, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Archery Region B – 2
|
Oct 22, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Sika Deer – Archery – 2
An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Oct 22, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Antlerless Muzzleloader Region B – 2
|
Oct 23, 2023 | Oct 28, 2023 |
|
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Sika Deer – Muzzleloader – Antlerless Only
Region B Only An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Oct 23, 2023 | Oct 28, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlered Firearm Part 1
Statewide.
|
Nov 25, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Firearm Region B – 1
|
Nov 25, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
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Sika Deer – Firearm – 1
An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Nov 25, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Antlerless Firearm Region A – 1
DNR and all other lands |
Dec 2, 2023 | Dec 2, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Antlerless Firearm Region A – 3
All other lands.
|
Dec 8, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Firearm Region A – 2
DNR public lands.
|
Dec 9, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlered Archery Part 3
Statewide.
|
Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 15, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Archery Region A – 3
|
Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 15, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Archery Region B – 3
|
Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 15, 2023 |
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Sika Deer – Archery – 3
An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 15, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Antlered Muzzleloader Part 2
Statewide.
|
Dec 16, 2023 | Dec 30, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Antlerless Muzzleloader Region B – 3
|
Dec 16, 2023 | Dec 30, 2023 |
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Sika Deer – Muzzleloader – Antlered or Antlerless – 2
An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Dec 16, 2023 | Dec 30, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Antlerless Muzzleloader Region A – 3
All other lands.
|
Dec 28, 2023 | Dec 30, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Muzzleloader Region A – 2
DNR public lands.
|
Dec 30, 2023 | Dec 30, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlered Archery Part 4
Statewide.
|
Dec 31, 2023 | Jan 4, 2024 |
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Deer – Antlerless Archery Region A – 4
|
Dec 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
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Sika Deer – Archery – 4
An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Dec 31, 2023 | Jan 4, 2024 |
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Deer – Antlerless Archery Region B – 4
|
Jan 1, 2024 | Jan 4, 2024 |
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Deer – Antlered Archery Part 6
Region A. |
Jan 5, 2024 | Jan 7, 2024 |
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Deer – Antlered Firearm Part 2
Region B.
|
Jan 5, 2024 | Jan 7, 2024 |
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Deer – Antlerless Firearm Region B – 2
|
Jan 5, 2024 | Jan 7, 2024 |
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Sika Deer – Firearm – 2
An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Jan 5, 2024 | Jan 7, 2024 |
|
|
Deer – Antlered Archery Part 5
Statewide. |
Jan 8, 2024 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
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Deer – Antlerless Archery Region B – 5
|
Jan 8, 2024 | Jan 31, 2024 |
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Sika Deer – Archery – 5
An annual Sika Deer Stamp is required to hunt sika deer during any of the deer hunting seasons. |
Jan 8, 2024 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
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Mourning Dove – 1
Statewide daily bag limit of 15.
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Oct 14, 2023 |
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Mourning Dove – 2
Statewide daily bag limit of 15.
|
Oct 20, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Mourning Dove – 3
Statewide daily bag limit of 15.
|
Dec 16, 2023 | Jan 10, 2024 |
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Duck – Early Teal
Daily bag limit of 6.
|
Sep 16, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
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Duck – Western Zone – 1
Regular duck season. See regulations for more details.
|
Sep 30, 2023 | Oct 14, 2023 |
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Duck – Eastern Zone – 1
Regular duck season. See regulations for more details.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
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Duck – Eastern Zone – 2
Regular duck season & Black Duck Season. See regulations for more details. |
Nov 11, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Duck – Western Zone – 2
Regular duck and black duck season. See regulations for more details. |
Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Duck – Eastern Zone – 3
Regular duck and black duck season. See regulations for more details. |
Dec 15, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
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Duck – Western Zone Part 3
Regular duck and black duck season. See regulations for more details. |
Dec 15, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
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Fox – Red & Gray – 1
Charles and Dorchester counties. No limit.
|
Aug 1, 2023 | Jul 31, 2024 |
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Fox – Red & Gray – 3
Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, and Washington counties. No limit.
|
Nov 1, 2023 | Feb 1, 2024 |
|
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Fox – Red & Gray – 2
Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen, Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. No limit.
|
Nov 15, 2023 | Feb 15, 2024 |
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Goose – Eastern Zone – Resident (Early)
Canada goose.
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 15, 2023 |
|
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Goose – Western Zone – Resident (Early)
Canada goose.
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 25, 2023 |
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Goose – Light Goose – 1
Daily bag limit of 25.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Goose – Resident (Late) 1
Canada goose.
|
Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
|
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Goose – Migratory Atlantic Population – 1
Canada goose.
|
Nov 21, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Goose – Conservation Order – 1
Light goose no limit.
|
Nov 27, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
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Goose – Resident (Late) 2
Canada goose.
|
Dec 11, 2023 | Mar 5, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Light Goose – 2
Daily bag limit of 25.
|
Dec 11, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
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Goose – Migratory Atlantic Population – 2
Canada goose.
|
Dec 15, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Conservation Order – 2
Light goose no limit.
|
Feb 1, 2024 | Feb 2, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Light Goose – 3
Daily bag limit of 25.
|
Feb 3, 2024 | Feb 3, 2024 |
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Goose – Conservation Order – 3
Light goose no limit.
|
Feb 5, 2024 | Apr 15, 2024 |
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Ruffed Grouse
Statewide.
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
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Pheasant
Statewide.
|
Nov 4, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
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Quail
Daily bag limit of 6. Private lands east of the Susquehanna River and all lands west of the Susquehanna River, excluding Garrett and Allegany Counties |
Nov 4, 2023 | Feb 15, 2024 |
|
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Cottontail Rabbit
Statewide.
|
Nov 4, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
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Turkey – Fall
Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties only.
|
Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 5, 2023 |
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Turkey – Winter
Statewide.
|
Jan 18, 2024 | Jan 20, 2024 |
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Turkey – Spring Youth
Statewide; Sunday 04/13 – Only select counties. |
Apr 13, 2024 | Apr 14, 2024 |
|
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Turkey – Spring
Statewide.
|
Apr 18, 2024 | May 23, 2024 |
Maryland Licenses, Permits and Regulations
Maryland hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every Maryland hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Maryland hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of wildlife management areas, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Maryland.
Wildlife Management Areas
All of Maryland’s wildlife management areas (WMAs) offer exceptional hunting opportunities, including public land access for hunting. In fact, in western Maryland alone there are over 120,000 acres devoted to wildlife management. Click below to view Maryland’s wildlife management areas in more detail through an interactive map.
Hunting Layers
MD Private Lands
Over 2,100,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Maryland. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
MD Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 850,000 acres in Maryland to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.
MD Deer Mgmt Zones
Maryland Deer Management Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
The #1 GPS Hunting App
- 975 million acres of public land
- 10,668 unique hunting units
- 421 map overlays and counting
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