Header: Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland 2008-2009
  Laws & Regulations

Licenses, Stamps & Permits

General Hunting Regulations

Firearms, Bow and Falconry Regulations

Hunter Education Requirement

Trapper Education Requirement

Harvest Information Program (HIP)

Hunting on Private Property

Fluorescent Orange

Interference with Hunters

Junior Hunting in Maryland

  Deer Hunting

Deer Regulations

Deer Management Regions & Zones

  Region A

  Region B

  Sika Deer

Trophy Deer Contest

Voluntary Quality Deer Management

White-tailed Deer Aging

  Big Game Check-in

Checking Instructions

Pre-Check-In Form

Private-Public Land
Code Maps

Field Tag

Butcher/Taxidermy Tag

Junior Hunter Certificate Agents

  Managed Hunts

Managed Hunts

DNR Managed Hunt Permit

Managed Hunts in Southern Maryland

Shooter Qualification Card Program

Shooter Qualification Schedule

  WMA's in Maryland

Maps & Information

Mission & Goals

  Public Lands

Public Hunting Lands

State Parks

State Forests

Other Public Hunting Lands

Bowhunting at Liberty Prettyboy & Loch Raven Reservoirs

  Useful Links

Dog Training

Sunrise-Sunset Charts (leaves DNR site)

Maryland Weather (leaves DNR site)

Tides Online

DNR Service Centers

Natural Resources Police

Definitions of Terms

DNR Press Releases

National Hunting & Fishing Day

Maryland Archery in the Schools Program

Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry


What's New for 2008-2009?
 

Sassafras N.R.M.A. Goose Lottery 2008 - 2009 - Applications Due by Oct. 1, 2008

Tuckahoe State Park Goose Hunt Lottery 2008-2009 - Applications Due by Oct. 1, 2008

Wye Island N.R.M.A. Goose Hunt Lottery
Applications Due by Oct. 24, 2008

Archery Hunting For Deer At Loch Raven Reservoir To Begin Sept. 15 - Hunters Can Register Online

Maryland Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons 2008-2009
Notice of Closure for Maintenance
Bespitch Boat Ramp at Fishing Bay WMA
Late Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Finalized
2008-2009 Public Dove Fields
2008 Maryland Black Bear Hunting Season
October 20-25, 2008 - Lottery Closed Sept. 1
Maryland to Celebrate National Hunting & Fishing Day
All Seasons & Bag Limits - Listed Alphabetically by Species
Annapolis Licensing and Registration Service Center Has Moved
New Sunday Hunting Opportunities on Private Lands
Permit Now Required to Release Captive-raised Mallards
Crossbows Now Legal for Hunting Wild Turkey
Hunting Season for Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Extended
New Bag & Possession Limit for Fishers
New Bag & Possession Limit for River Otters
Separate Bag Limit for Junior Deer Hunt Day
Fluorescent Orange Requirement Expanded
New Hunting Areas Open

 

Maryland State Governor Martin O'Malley

MD DNR Sec. John Griffin

DNR WHS's Director Paul Peditto with his dog Puck

Message from Maryland State Governor Martin O'Malley
Message from John Griffin, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources
Message from Paul Peditto, Director, Wildlife & Heritage Service

Archery Hunting For Deer At Loch Raven Reservoir
To Begin Sept. 15 - Hunters Can Register Online

A 1,600-acre designated section of the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed will be open for archery hunting of white-tailed deer from September 15, 2008 through January 31, 2009. Archery hunters wanting to access Loch Raven Reservoir must obtain and complete a Loch Raven Reservoir Deer Bow Hunting Permit 2008-2009 form. The permit, rules and regulations, a map of the Loch Raven Reservoir bow hunting area boundaries and parking locations are available online at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/lnp.asp and at the Gwynnbrook Wildlife and Heritage Service Managed Hunt Permit Office located at 3740 Gwynnbrook Avenue in Owings Mills, Md. The Managed Hunt Permit Office operates Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

2008 Maryland Black Bear Hunting Season

October 20-25, 2008 - Lottery Closed Sept. 1

Bear Hunter's Guide to Hunting Black Bears in Maryland

Have you ever wondered about hunting Maryland’s largest land animal, the black bear? Western Maryland is home to a thriving population of black bears offering hunters a unique chance to hunt this game animal throughout Garrett and Allegany counties. The black bear is challenging to hunt - a master of their environment. They roam vast areas; often traveling several miles a day moving through their surroundings with an incomparable caution, paying attention to every detail of their surroundings. For a hunter to take a wild black bear is a true achievement. It is possible, though, for you to rise to the challenge and be one of Maryland’s successful bear hunters, even if you are new to bear hunting. For hunters new to bear hunting, DNR has put together an informational ‘Bear Hunter’s Guide to Hunting Black Bears in Maryland.’ The booklet includes key information to get you started in bear hunting - an overview of Maryland’s prior bear hunts, bear-hunting regulations, tips on planning a bear hunt including necessary equipment, bear-hunting techniques, how to care for your bear after the harvest - and a lot more.

Voluntary Quality Deer Management
A Concept Worth Considering

In an effort to improve the quality of the deer herd they pursue, many hunters are voluntarily adopting a strategy called Quality Deer Management (QDM). QDM is a philosophy and management practice designed to help create a healthy deer herd that is allowed to develop toward its natural potential.

Order Your Hunting or Fishing License Online!

Go to.....www.wildlifelicense.com/md/, Or, Call Toll-Free 1-800-918-2870

Please Report Bobcat & Fisher Sightings

A study is currently underway through the Wildlife and Fisheries Program at Frostburg State University in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The study’s undertaking is to determine the distribution and abundance of bobcats and fishers in Maryland. We need your help in locating these animals.

Catch A Poacher 24 Hour Hotline 1-800-635-6124

Clip-a-Tip & Help DNR Catch a Poacher


Download the Complete Guide to Hunting and Trapping in Maryland
(Adobe Acrobat file 2MB) - To get the free Acrobat Reader go to www.adobe.com

 

This publication is intended as a guide only. For State laws and regulations, see the Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and the Code of Maryland Regulations, Title 08, Subtitle 03.  Maryland laws and regulations can be found at the following websites:
Laws:
http://mlis.state.md.us/cgi-win/web_statutes.exe
Regulations:
http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/ and click on COMAR


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If you have any questions please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Email us here with questions, comments, and suggestions.

© Copyright 1995-2008 Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
For reproduction and digital permissions

Game Birds

All Seasons & Bag Limits

Brant

Canada Goose
(September Seasons)

Canada Goose
(Regular Resident)

Canada Goose (Migratory)

Clapper & King Rails

Coots

Ducks and Mergansers

Light Geese
(Snow geese, Ross's geese)

Mourning Dove

Pheasant

Quail

Ruffed Grouse

Sea Ducks

Snipe

Sora & Virginia Rails

Teal (September)

Wild Turkey

Woodcock

Game Mammals

All Seasons & Bag Limits

Beaver

Black Bear

Bobcat

Coyote

Deer (White-tailed)
Region A - Region B

Deer (Sika)

Delmarva Fox Squirrel

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

Fisher

Fox

Mink

Muskrat

Nutria

Opossum

Otter

Rabbit

Raccoon

Skunk

Snowshoe Hare

Squirrel

Weasel (Long - Tailed)

Access For All

Crossbow Permit

Hunt from a Vehicle Permit

Accessible Hunting Areas

Hunter Alerts

Bobcat & Fisher Sightings
Black Bear Encounters

Reporting Bird Bands

Responsible Hunters

Chronic Wasting Disease

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

Safety Tips

Firearms Safety Tips

Crossbow Safety Tips

Tree Stand Safety Tips

Boating Safety Tips

Hunting From a Boat

Hospitals with Emergency Rooms

Game Management

The Game Program

Maryland's Wildlife Advisory Commission

Wildlife Program Funding

Deer Management in Maryland