Maryland 2025-26 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Maryland's listed 2025-26 firearm deer season runs Nov 29, 2025-Jan 11, 2026.
Archery Sika Deer opens Sep 5, 2025 and closes Jan 31, 2026.
Spring Junior Hunt Days Wild Turkey opens Apr 11, 2026 and closes Apr 12, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Maryland DNR.
- firearm deer
- Nov 29, 2025-Jan 11, 2026
- archery deer
- Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
- spring turkey
- Apr 11-12, 2026
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Key seasons by species
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Maryland DNR before hunting.
Proposed 2026-27
federal openings
in Maryland
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing hunting and fishing access changes at 1 station in Maryland. Public comment closes June 26, 2026.
Deer
28 listed rowsSika Deer
Archery
Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season runs 9/5-10/15, 10/19-11/28, 12/15-12/19, 1/4-1/8, 1/12-1/31. Sika deer may be hunted statewide where found.
Zone: Statewide
Sika Deer
Muzzleloader
Oct 16, 2025-Jan 3, 2026
Season runs 10/16-10/18, 12/20-1/3.
Zone: Statewide
Sika Deer
Muzzleloader
Oct 20-25, 2025
Zone: Antlerless Only, Region B
Sika Deer
Muzzleloader (Antlerless Only)
Oct 20-25, 2025
Antlerless only muzzleloader season in Region B.
Zone: Region B
Sika Deer
Regular Firearm
Nov 29, 2025-Jan 11, 2026
Season runs 11/29-12/13, 1/9-1/11.
Zone: Statewide
Sika Deer
Firearms
Nov 29, 2025-Jan 11, 2026
Season segments: 11/29-12/13 and 1/9-1/11.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season runs 9/5-10/15, 10/19-11/28, 12/15-12/19, 1/4-1/31. Region A includes Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington counties.
Zone: Antlerless, Region A
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season runs 9/5-10/15, 10/19-11/28, 12/15-12/19, 1/4-1/8, 1/12-1/31. Region B includes most of eastern Maryland.
Zone: Antlerless, Region B
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlerless)
Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Multiple date segments: 9/5-10/15, 10/19-11/28, 12/15-12/19, 1/4-1/8, 1/12-1/31. Region A includes Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington County.
Zone: Region A
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlered)
Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Multiple date segments: 9/5-10/15, 10/19-11/28, 12/15-12/19, 1/4-1/8, 1/12-1/31. Archery also open 1/9-1/11 in Region A only. Sunday hunting restrictions apply by county.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlerless)
Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Multiple date segments: 9/5-10/15, 10/19-11/28, 12/15-12/19, 1/4-1/8, 1/12-1/31. Region B includes most of Maryland east of Region A.
Zone: Region B
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season runs 9/5-10/15, 10/19-11/28, 12/15-12/19, 1/4-1/8, 1/12-1/31. Archery also open 1/9-1/11 in Region A only.
Zone: Antlered, Statewide
Show 16 more deer rows
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader (Antlerless)
Oct 16, 2025-Jan 3, 2026
Season segments: 10/16-10/18 and 12/27-1/3. Region A includes Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington County.
Zone: Region A
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Oct 16, 2025-Jan 3, 2026
Season runs 10/16-10/18, 10/20-10/25, 12/20-1/3.
Zone: Antlerless, Region B
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Oct 16, 2025-Jan 3, 2026
Season runs 10/16-10/18, 12/27-1/3.
Zone: Antlerless, Region A
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader (Antlerless)
Oct 16, 2025-Jan 3, 2026
Season segments: 10/16-10/18, 10/20-10/25, and 12/20-1/3. Region B includes most of Maryland east of Region A.
Zone: Region B
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader (Antlered)
Oct 16, 2025-Jan 3, 2026
Season segments: 10/16-10/18 and 12/20-1/3. Sunday hunting restrictions apply by county.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Oct 16, 2025-Jan 3, 2026
Season runs 10/16-10/18, 12/20-1/3.
Zone: Antlered, Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Junior Hunt Days
Nov 15-16, 2025
Junior Deer Hunt Days.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Youth
Nov 15-16, 2025
Junior Deer Hunt Days
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Nov 29, 2025-Jan 11, 2026
Season runs 11/29-12/13, 1/9-1/11.
Zone: Antlerless, Region B
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Nov 29-Dec 13, 2025
Firearms also open 1/9-1/11 in Region B only.
Zone: Antlered, Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (Antlered)
Nov 29-Dec 13, 2025
Firearms also open 1/9-1/11 in Region B only. Sunday hunting restrictions apply by county.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (Antlerless)
Nov 29, 2025-Jan 11, 2026
Season segments: 11/29-12/13 and 1/9-1/11. Region B includes most of Maryland east of Region A.
Zone: Region B
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (Antlerless)
Dec 6-13, 2025
Region A includes Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington County.
Zone: Region A
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Dec 6-13, 2025
Zone: Antlerless, Region A
White-tailed Deer
Primitive/Special
Feb 2-4, 2026
Primitive Deer Hunt Days. Hunters may only use long bows, recurve bows or flintlock and sidelock percussion muzzleloading rifles or handguns.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Primitive (Antlerless)
Feb 2-4, 2026
Primitive Deer Hunt Days. Hunters may only use long bows, recurve bows or flintlock and sidelock percussion muzzleloading rifles or handguns.
Zone: Statewide
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Fall Season
Nov 1-9, 2025
Fall season restricted to Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties.
Zone: Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties only
Wild Turkey
Fall Season
Nov 1-9, 2025
Fall Season hunting area includes Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties only.
Zone: Allegany, Garrett, Washington counties only
Wild Turkey
Winter Season
Jan 22-24, 2026
Winter Season open statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Junior Hunt Days
Apr 11-12, 2026
Junior Hunt Day Saturday April 11 open statewide. Sunday April 12 open in certain counties only.
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Youth/Junior Spring
Apr 11-12, 2026
Junior Turkey Hunt Days. Open statewide on Saturday April 11, 2026; Sunday April 12 in certain counties only.
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Season
Apr 18-May 23, 2026
Spring Season open statewide. Shooting hours 4/18-5/9: half hour before sunrise to noon. Shooting hours 5/10-5/23: half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Bear
Black Bear
General
Oct 20-25, 2025
Permit required. Zone 1: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Washington counties. Zone 2: Frederick and Washington counties.
Zone: Bear Hunt Zones 1 and 2
Black Bear
Firearm
Oct 20-25, 2025
Two bear hunt zones. Zone 1: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Washington counties. Zone 2: Frederick and Washington counties. Permit required.
Zone: Bear Hunt Zones 1 and 2
Waterfowl
18 listed rowsBrant
General
Dec 29, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Brant
Regular Season
Dec 29, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose
Early Resident Season
Sep 1-15, 2025
Western Hunt Zone includes Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Washington, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Charles counties.
Zone: Western Hunt Zone
Canada Goose
Early Resident Season
Sep 1-15, 2025
Eastern Hunt Zone includes Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Charles counties.
Zone: Eastern Hunt Zone
Canada Goose
Late Resident Season
Nov 22, 2025-Mar 7, 2026
Southern MD: 11/22-11/28 (5/day), 12/15-12/18 (5/day), 12/19-1/3 (1/day), 1/5-1/13 (5/day), 1/14-1/31 (1/day), 2/2-3/7 (5/day). Western MD: 11/22-11/28 (5/day), 12/15-3/7 (5/day).
Zone: Late Resident (Southern and Western Maryland)
Canada Goose
Late Resident Season
Nov 22, 2025-Mar 7, 2026
Southern MD Zone: 11/22-11/28 (5/day), 12/15-12/18 (5/day), 12/19-1/3 (1/day), 1/5-1/13 (5/day), 1/14-1/31 (1/day), 2/2-3/7 (5/day). Western MD Zone: 11/22-11/28 (5/day), 12/15-3/7 (5/day). Dates vary by sub-zone.
Zone: Late Resident Season (Southern and Western MD)
Canada Goose
Migratory Atlantic Population
Dec 19, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season segments: 12/19-1/3 and 1/14-1/31. Zone includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties and portions of Carroll, Prince George's, and Charles Counties.
Zone: Migratory Atlantic Population Hunt Zone
Canada Goose
Migratory Atlantic Population
Dec 19, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season runs 12/19-1/3 and 1/14-1/31. Zone includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, parts of Carroll, Prince George's, and Charles counties.
Zone: Migratory Atlantic Population Zone
Ducks
General
Oct 4, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season segments: 10/4-10/18, 11/22-11/28, 12/16-1/31. Western Zone is that portion of the state not included in the Eastern Zone.
Zone: Western Zone
Ducks
Regular Season
Oct 4, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season runs 10/4-10/18, 11/22-11/28, 12/16-1/31.
Zone: Western Zone
Ducks
General
Oct 11, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season segments: 10/11-10/18, 11/15-11/28, 12/16-1/31. Eastern Zone includes Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, Saint Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester counties and portions of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George's, and Montgomery counties.
Zone: Eastern Zone
Ducks
Regular Season
Oct 11, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season runs 10/11-10/18, 11/15-11/28, 12/16-1/31.
Zone: Eastern Zone
Show 6 more waterfowl rows
Light Goose
Regular Season
Oct 1, 2025-Feb 7, 2026
Season runs 10/1-11/28 and 12/15-1/31, ending 2/7.
Zone: Statewide
Light Goose
General
Oct 1, 2025-Feb 7, 2026
Season segments: 10/1-11/28 and 12/15-1/31, ending 2/7.
Zone: Statewide
Light Goose
Conservation Order Season
Dec 1, 2025-Apr 15, 2026
Season runs 12/1-12/13, 2/2-2/6, 2/9-4/15. Zone includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, parts of Carroll, Prince George's, and Charles counties.
Zone: Light Goose Conservation Season Zone
Teal
September Season
Sep 18-27, 2025
Zone includes Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Charles counties.
Zone: September Teal Hunt Zone
Waterfowl
Youth, Veteran & Military Hunt Days
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 7, 2026
Youth, Veteran, and Military Hunt Days on 11/1 and 2/7.
Zone: Statewide
Waterfowl
Youth/Veteran/Military Hunt Days
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 7, 2026
Specific dates: 11/1 and 2/7.
Zone: Statewide
Dove
Mourning Dove
Regular Season
Sep 1, 2025-Jan 9, 2026
Season runs 9/1-10/18, 10/25-11/28, 12/20-1/9.
Zone: Statewide
Mourning Dove
General
Sep 1, 2025-Jan 9, 2026
Season segments: 9/1-10/18, 10/25-11/28, 12/20-1/9.
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Pheasant
General
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties with restrictions.
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Regular Season
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Quail
Quail
Closed Season
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Closed season year-round in western counties and eastern DNR lands.
Zone: Western counties and eastern DNR lands
Quail
Regular Season
Nov 1, 2025-Jan 15, 2026
Allegany and Garrett counties closed. DNR lands east of Susquehanna River closed. Western counties and eastern DNR lands: Closed Season. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide (see notes)
Quail
General
Nov 1, 2025-Jan 15, 2026
Allegany and Garrett counties closed. DNR lands east of Susquehanna closed. Private lands east of Susquehanna and all lands west (excl. Garrett and Allegany) open. Sunday hunting in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide (excluding Allegany and Garrett counties and DNR lands east of Susquehanna)
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
Regular Season
Oct 4-Dec 31, 2025
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Ruffed Grouse
General
Oct 4-Dec 31, 2025
Sunday hunting open in certain counties with restrictions.
Zone: Statewide
Rabbit
Rabbit
General
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties with restrictions.
Zone: Statewide
Rabbit
Regular Season
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Squirrel
Squirrel
General
Sep 6, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
Closed season for Delmarva Fox Squirrel. Sunday hunting open in certain counties with restrictions.
Zone: Statewide
Squirrel
Regular Season
Sep 6, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
Closed season for Delmarva Fox Squirrel. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Furbearer
27 listed rowsBeaver
Trapping
Dec 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Beaver Trapping 1: All counties except Garrett and Allegany.
Zone: All counties except Garrett and Allegany
Beaver
Trapping
Dec 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Beaver Trapping 2: Garrett and Allegany counties only.
Zone: Garrett and Allegany counties
Beaver
Trapping
Dec 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Beaver Trapping 1: all counties except Garrett and Allegany.
Zone: All counties except Garrett and Allegany (Trapping 1)
Beaver
Trapping
Dec 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Beaver Trapping 2: Garrett and Allegany counties only.
Zone: Garrett and Allegany counties (Trapping 2)
Fisher
Hunting
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 1, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Fisher
General
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 1, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties with restrictions.
Zone: Statewide
Fox
Hunting and Trapping
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round hunting. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Charles and Dorchester Counties
Fox
Hunting and Trapping
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 15, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: County Group 2 (Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's, Washington)
Fox
Hunting and Trapping
Nov 15, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: County Group 1 (Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester)
Long-tailed Weasel
Trapping
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 1, 2026
Western Region: west of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River.
Zone: Western Region
Long-tailed Weasel
Trapping
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 1, 2026
Western Region trapping season.
Zone: Western Region (west of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River)
Long-tailed Weasel
Trapping
Nov 15, 2025-Feb 15, 2026
Eastern Region trapping season.
Zone: Eastern Region (east of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River)
Show 15 more furbearer rows
Long-tailed Weasel
Trapping
Nov 15, 2025-Feb 15, 2026
Eastern Region: east of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River.
Zone: Eastern Region
Muskrat and Mink
Trapping
Nov 15, 2025-Feb 15, 2026
Zone: County Group A (Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Washington)
Muskrat and Mink
Trapping
Dec 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Zone: County Group C (Baltimore, Cecil, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Worcester)
Muskrat and Mink
Trapping
Jan 1-Mar 15, 2026
Zone: County Group B (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico)
Raccoon and Opossum
Chasing Only
Aug 1, 2025-Jul 31, 2026
Chasing only (no harvest). Season runs 8/1-10/14 and 3/16-7/31.
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon and Opossum
Hunting
Oct 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon, Skunk, and Opossum
Trapping
Nov 1, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Zone: Western Region (west of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River)
Raccoon, Skunk, and Opossum
Trapping
Nov 1, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Western Region: west of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River.
Zone: Western Region
Raccoon, Skunk, and Opossum
Trapping
Nov 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Eastern Region: east of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River.
Zone: Eastern Region
Raccoon, Skunk, and Opossum
Trapping
Nov 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Zone: Eastern Region (east of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River)
River Otter
Trapping
Dec 1, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Zone: County Group 3 (Allegany and Garrett)
River Otter
Trapping
Dec 1, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Zone: County Group 3 (Allegany, Garrett)
River Otter
Trapping
Dec 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Zone: County Group 2 (Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Washington)
River Otter
Trapping
Dec 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Zone: County Group 1 (all counties except Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Washington)
Skunk
Hunting
Nov 1, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Migratory Birds
Common Snipe
Regular Season
Sep 27, 2025-Jan 29, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Rails
Regular Season
Sep 1-Nov 20, 2025
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
Regular Season
Oct 25, 2025-Jan 28, 2026
Season runs 10/25-11/28 and 1/12-1/28.
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Coyote
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Trapping
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 15, 2026
Zone: Western Region (west of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River)
Coyote
Trapping
Nov 15, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
Zone: Eastern Region (east of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River)
Other
Common Snipe
General
Sep 27, 2025-Jan 29, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Crow
General
Aug 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Hunting permitted Wednesday through Saturday only during the season.
Zone: Statewide
Crow
Regular Season
Aug 15, 2025-Mar 15, 2026
Wednesday through Saturday only.
Zone: Statewide
Groundhog
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round.
Zone: Statewide
Groundhog
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round season.
Zone: Statewide
Rails
General
Sep 1-Nov 20, 2025
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
General
Oct 25, 2025-Jan 28, 2026
Season segments: 10/25-11/28 and 1/12-1/28.
Zone: Statewide
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Maryland Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Maryland?
September 5, 2025 is the first listed deer opener for Maryland; it is archery sika deer Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026.
When is Maryland's firearm deer season?
Nov 29, 2025-Jan 11, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Maryland. Check zone and permit details with Maryland DNR before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Maryland?
April 11, 2026 is the first listed spring turkey opener for Maryland; the listed window is Apr 11-12, 2026.
Do I need a license to hunt in Maryland?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Maryland hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Maryland DNR.