Deer Regulations

DNR’s long-term goals for deer are to ensure the present and future well-being of deer and their habitat; maintain deer populations at levels necessary to ensure compatibility with human land uses and natural communities; encourage and promote the recreational use and enjoyment of the deer resource; inform and educate Maryland citizens about deer biology, management options and the impacts that deer have on landscapes and people. Both native white-tailed deer and exotic sika deer populations are managed through hunting.

NEW for 2008-2009

• Junior Hunt Day has its own bag limit;

• Length of the Antlered or Antlerless segment of the Region A  Firearms Season has been increased to 2 days for private land only. 

• Only 2 antlerless deer may be taken on Region A public lands for Bow, Firearms, and Muzzleloader Seasons combined;

• Crossbows may be used for the entire Bow Season in the Region B Suburban Deer Archery Zone;

• Washington and Harford Counties have added Sunday hunting for certain dates on private lands.

Hunting Hours
One half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.

Licensing and Stamp Requirements
A Regular Hunting License, Junior Hunting License, any senior hunting license or Nonresident Hunting License is required to hunt deer with a firearm.  In addition to a hunting license, bow deer hunters must purchase a Bow Stamp and muzzleloader deer hunters must purchase a Muzzleloader Stamp. Bow deer hunters must purchase a Muzzleloader Stamp in order to hunt deer with a bow during muzzleloader season. Hunters entitled to hunt without a license do not need to purchase Bow, Muzzleloader, or Bonus Antlered Deer Stamps. Hunters with a Senior Lifetime Consolidated License do not need to purchase Bow or Muzzleloader Stamps but must purchase Bonus Antlered Deer Stamps to take bonus antlered deer. Hunters not required to have a license must obtain a Maryland Big Game Harvest Record from a Maryland Sport License Agent at no charge. See Licenses, Stamps & Permits for descriptions, prices and availability of licenses, stamps, and permits.

Bonus Antlered Deer Stamps
A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp is required by all license holders to take a second antlered deer in Region B during a given season (bow, muzzleloader, or firearms). For example, a deer hunter must purchase a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp before attempting to take a second antlered deer with a firearm in Region B. An individual who purchases a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp but does not use it during a particular season may use that stamp during any subsequent season (muzzleloader, firearm, or bow season) in that hunting license year. Bonus Stamps are not required to take antlerless deer. Region B hunters are reminded that two antlerless deer must be taken (in a given season) before a second antlered deer can be taken during that season.

Daily Limit
In all counties, there is no restriction that applies to the number of deer that may be taken per day within the season bag limits unless otherwise specified.

Legal Hunting Devices
See Firearms, Bow and Falconry Regulations.

Electronic Deer Calls
Recorded or electrically amplified calls or sounds are prohibited for the purpose of deer hunting.  This would include calls or sounds imitating common deer vocalizations or noises such as grunts, snorts, bleats, and antler rattling.  Non-electronic deer calls are permitted for deer hunting.

Deer Tagging and Checking Requirements
Before moving a harvested deer a hunter must:

Fill out a Field Tag and attach it to the animal
AND
Fill out a Big Game Harvest Record block.

Then, the hunter has 24 hours to check in their game using the Internet check-in website (http://www.gamecheck.dnr.state.md.us)
or the Maryland Big Game Registration Phone Line (1-888-800-0121)
and a confirmation number will be issued.

The Confirmation Number must be recorded on the Big Game Harvest Record.

See Tagging & Checking System Requirements for complete instructions.

Dogs
Dogs cannot be used to hunt deer except trained tracking dogs may be used to find dead, wounded or injured deer. The dog handler must maintain physical control of the tracking dog at all times and only the hunter and dog handler may carry a firearm or bow while tracking the deer. Prior to tracking the deer, the hunter must notify by telephone the Natural Resources Police. The hunter may dispatch the deer only during legal shooting hours and by means legal for the current hunting season. 

Deer in Water
Deer may not be hunted while they are swimming or taking refuge in water.

Fallow Deer
Fallow deer may be taken in place of white-tailed deer during each of the seasons. Fallow deer have escaped from captivity and are found in a few isolated areas in Maryland.

Sika Deer
Sika deer season dates are the same as white-tailed deer season dates with two exceptions. Sika deer may not be hunted with a muzzleloader during the October 20 - 25 segment of the white-tailed deer early muzzleloader season. In addition, sika deer may not be hunted with a firearm during the January 9 - 10 firearm season. Sika deer bag limits are independent of the white-tailed deer bag limits. Sika deer may be hunted only in Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties.

Sika Deer Season Dates & Bag Limits

Baiting Deer
Baiting deer is legal, except on state-owned or state-controlled properties.

Antlered Deer Definition
An antlered white-tailed deer is a deer with two or more points to one antler, or a deer with one antler three or more inches long, measuring from the top of the skull as the deer is in life.

An antlered sika deer is a sika deer with at least one antler visible above the hairline.

Deer Seasons & Bag Limits
Maryland has two “Deer Management Regions.” See Deer Management Region Map. Independent deer bag limits have been established for each region. The number of deer that a hunter can take in one region will not affect the hunter’s bag limit in the other region.

Region A Deer Seasons & Bag Limits

Region B Deer Seasons & Bag Limits

Sunday Hunting
A person may hunt deer on Sunday, November 2, 2008 and Sunday, November 30, 2008 on private land in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties.

A person may hunt deer on Sundays October 12, October 19, October 26, November 2, November 9, and November 30, 2008 in Dorchester, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties on private land only. 

Deer Harvested With a Bow During Muzzleloader or Firearms Season
Deer harvested with a bow during the antlerless-only second split of the early muzzleloader season in Region B must count towards the bow bag limit.  Deer harvested with a bow during the first-split either-sex early muzzleloader or late muzzleloader season must count towards the muzzleloader season bag limit.  Hunters must have a Muzzleloader Stamp to hunt deer with a bow during the first-split either-sex early muzzleloader or late muzzleloader season.  Deer harvested with a bow during the 2-week firearms or 2-day late firearms season must count towards the firearms bag limit. 

Chronic Wasting Disease
A person may bring only the following parts of a dead deer, elk, or moose (cervid) into Maryland from an area indicated as positive for chronic wasting disease in free ranging or captive cervids:

• Meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached;

• Meat without backbone;

• Cleaned hide with no head attached;

• Skull plate cleaned of all meat and brain tissue;

• Antlers with no meat or soft tissue attached;

• Upper canine teeth, also know as buglers, whistlers, or ivories; and

• Finished taxidermy mount or tanned hide. 

The Department will maintain a list of CWD positive states and contact numbers to call to confirm the containment areas in those states that are subject to these restrictions.  The list is available on the DNR website ( http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/cwdinformation.asp) or by calling 410-260-8540.

Any person who imports or possesses a cervid carcass or part of a cervid that was tested for chronic wasting disease in another state or province and is notified that the cervid tested positive, must report the test results to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources within 24 hours of receiving such notification- by telephone at 301-842-0332; or by FAX 301-842-1026; or by email to beyler@dnr.state.md.us.