Maryland Hunting Season Dates
Recorded hunting windows for Maryland, including historical and unverified entries.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
1 of 8 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
Maryland Hunting Season Calendar
Find all hunting season dates for Maryland including deer, elk, turkey, and waterfowl. Filter by species and hunting method.
Coming Up in Maryland
Seasons opening in the next 60 days
Nov 28 - Dec 12, 2026
Opens in 45 days
Recorded Season Windows
All Maryland hunting seasons organized by species
Deer 6 seasons
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 6, 2025 - Jan 31, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Extended archery | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Nov 28 - Dec 12, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | Garrett County RegionA — private-land antlered white-tailed deer | Upcoming | Actual publisher-linked2026–27 LR7 guide, printed20/PDF22, lists antlered firearms Nov28–Dec12. Printed18/PDF20 places Garrett in RegionA; printed24/PDF26 opens private-land firearms on Sundays Nov29 and Dec6 in Garrett. This is private-land antlered base dates only. Printed19/PDF21 permits legal rifles in Garrett; printed30/PDF32 requires rifles smaller than .30 caliber to develop at least1,200 foot-pounds muzzle energy, while .30 caliber and larger have no minimum muzzle energy requirement. Check current license/permit or exemptions, antler-point/bag limits, ammunition, fluorescent clothing, hours, tagging/reporting, CWD, permission/access and closures; not individual permission. Jan8–10 RegionB extension, antlerless, sika, public-land/managed hunts and other dates are excluded. Government calendar403 remains a source gap; current linked LR7 is used, not older search-listed LR2. | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Nov 29 - Dec 13, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Firearms season | |
| Shotgun | Nov 29 - Dec 13, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Firearms - shotgun zones | |
| Muzzleloader | Oct 18-25, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Early muzzleloader | |
| Muzzleloader | Dec 14-20, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Late muzzleloader | |
Turkey 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Apr 20 - May 25, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Spring season | |
Waterfowl 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Nov 14, 2025 - Jan 31, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Duck season | |
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Maryland Hunting Regulations
License year, species, and agency information
- License Year
- Jul 1, 2025 - Jun 30, 2026
- Available Species
-
- Deer
- Turkey
- Waterfowl
- Hunting Methods
-
- Archery
- Rifle/Firearm
- Shotgun
- Muzzleloader
- Any Legal Method
- Wildlife Agency
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources
This information is for reference only. Always verify regulations with your state wildlife agency before hunting or fishing.
Important Note for Maryland
Only Garrett County RegionA private-land antlered white-tailed deer firearms base dates were reviewed from actual linked2026–27 LR7 guide, including its Nov29 and Dec6 private-land Sundays. No RegionB January extension, antlerless/sika/public/managed or other hunt coverage is verified. Check current license/permits, antler-point/bag, rifle/ammunition, clothing/hours, reporting, CWD, access/permission and closures. Historical rows/license-year metadata remain unverified; government calendar403 is an explicit source gap.
Hunting Method Legend
Maryland Hunting FAQ
Common questions about hunting seasons in Maryland
What are the hunting season dates for Maryland?
Recorded Maryland entries cover Deer, Turkey, Waterfowl. Dates include history and unverified records; the recorded license-year metadata is not current verification. Check row evidence and current agency regulations and your license.
When does deer season start in Maryland?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2025-09-06 to 2026-01-31; 2026-11-28 to 2026-12-12; 2025-11-29 to 2025-12-13; 2025-11-29 to 2025-12-13; 2025-10-18 to 2025-10-25; 2025-12-14 to 2025-12-20. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
Does Maryland require a draw for hunting?
Draw requirements depend on species, GMU or zone, hunt code and license type. Recorded date windows do not establish eligibility. Check the current Maryland agency rules and your actual license.
Which recorded windows include the assessment date 2026-10-14 UTC in Maryland?
The next recorded window is Deer starting Nov 28, 2026. Check its row evidence and current regulations; the record may be unverified.
What should I know about hunting in Maryland?
Only Garrett County RegionA private-land antlered white-tailed deer firearms base dates were reviewed from actual linked2026–27 LR7 guide, including its Nov29 and Dec6 private-land Sundays. No RegionB January extension, antlerless/sika/public/managed or other hunt coverage is verified. Check current license/permits, antler-point/bag, rifle/ammunition, clothing/hours, reporting, CWD, access/permission and closures. Historical rows/license-year metadata remain unverified; government calendar403 is an explicit source gap.
Other States
Compare hunting seasons across states
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