Maryland 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Maryland's 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Nov 28-Dec 12, 2026.
Archery deer season runs Sep 11-Oct 21, 2026, plus 4 more segments through Jan 31, 2027.
Duck season opens between October 3, 2026 and October 10, 2026 depending on zone; the last zone closes January 30, 2027.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Maryland DNR.
- firearm deer
- Nov 28-Dec 12, 2026
- archery deer
- Sep 11-Oct 21, 2026, plus 4 more segments through Jan 31, 2027
- duck
- opens Oct 3-10, 2026 by zone
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Key seasons by species
How to read Maryland's seasons
Region A and Region B change the deer rules
Maryland splits deer hunting between its western Region A and the rest of the state in Region B, with different dates and bag limits. The region you hunt matters as much as the weapon season below.
Verify region boundaries, antlerless allowances, and Sunday-hunting rules with the official Maryland DNR source.
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.
New 2026-27
federal openings
in Maryland
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened or expanded hunting and fishing access at 1 station in Maryland. The final rule took effect August 31, 2026.
Deer
39 listed rowsSika Deer
Archery
Zone: Statewide where found
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlerless, Region B)
Zone: Region B (remainder of state)
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlerless, Region A)
Zone: Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County)
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlered)
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Junior Hunt Days
Zone: Statewide
Sika Deer
Firearms
Zone: Statewide where found
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (Antlered)
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (Antlerless, Region B)
Zone: Region B (remainder of state)
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (Antlerless, Region A)
Zone: Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County)
Sika Deer
Archery
Zone: Statewide where found
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlerless, Region A)
Zone: Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County)
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlered)
Zone: Statewide
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sika DeerArchery · Statewide where found | Closed | |
| Sika DeerMuzzleloader · Statewide where found | Closed | |
| Sika DeerMuzzleloader (Antlerless Only, Region B) · Region B | Closed | |
| Sika DeerMuzzleloader · Statewide where found | Upcoming | |
| Sika DeerArchery · Statewide where found | Upcoming | |
| Sika DeerFirearms · Statewide where found | Upcoming | |
| Sika DeerArchery · Statewide where found | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlerless, Region B) · Region B (remainder of state) | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlered) · Statewide | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlerless, Region A) · Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County) | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader (Antlerless, Region A) · Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County) | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader (Antlered) · Statewide | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader (Antlerless, Region B) · Region B (remainder of state) | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader (Antlerless, Region B) · Region B (remainder of state) | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlerless, Region B) · Region B (remainder of state) | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader (Antlerless, Region B) · Region B (remainder of state) | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader (Antlered) · Statewide | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader (Antlerless, Region A) · Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County) | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlerless, Region B) · Region B (remainder of state) | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlered) · Statewide | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlerless, Region A) · Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County) | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerFirearms (Antlerless, Region B) · Region B (remainder of state) | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlered) · Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County)Archery also open 1/8-1/10 in Region A only | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerFirearms (Antlered) · Region B (remainder of state)Firearms open 1/8-1/10 in Region B only | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlerless, Region B) · Region B (remainder of state) | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery (Antlered) · Statewide | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerPrimitive Hunt Days · StatewideHunters may only use long bows, recurve bows or flintlock and sidelock percussion muzzleloading rifles or handguns during these days. | Upcoming |
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Fall Season
Fall season hunting area includes Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties only. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties only
Wild Turkey
Winter Season
Winter season open statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Season Junior Hunt Days
Junior Hunt Season open statewide on Saturday 4/17/2027 in all counties and Sunday 4/18/2027 in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Season
Daily shooting hours 4/19-5/10: one-half hour before sunrise to noon. Daily shooting hours 5/11-5/24: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Bear
Black Bear
General
Permit required. 2026 bear hunting season open for six days (October 26-31, 2026). Not a quota hunt; hunters not required to check in each evening. Only one black bear may be harvested by a permittee/sub-permittee hunting team. Sub-permittees may hunt regardless of whether permittee is actively hunting. Permittees and sub-permittees not required to maintain visual contact while hunting.
Zone: Zone 1 (Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Washington counties) and Zone 2 (Frederick, Washington counties)
Waterfowl
23 listed rowsLight Goose
General
Zone: Statewide
Waterfowl
Youth, Veteran & Military Hunt Days
Zone: Statewide
Ducks
General
Zone: Eastern Zone (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Baltimore, Howard, Prince Georg…
Canada Goose
Late Resident Season
Zone: Late Resident Western Maryland Zone (Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Washington, parts of Carroll)
Canada Goose
Late Resident Season
Zone: Late Resident Southern Maryland Zone (Montgomery, parts of Prince George's, Charles)
Ducks
General
Zone: Western Zone (remainder of state not in Eastern Zone)
Canada Goose
Migratory Atlantic Population
Zone: Atlantic Population Hunt Zone (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, parts of Carroll,…
Light Goose
General
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose
Migratory Atlantic Population
Zone: Atlantic Population Hunt Zone (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, parts of Carroll,…
Canada Goose
Late Resident Season
Zone: Late Resident Southern Maryland Zone (Montgomery, parts of Prince George's, Charles)
Canada Goose
Late Resident Season
Zone: Late Resident Western Maryland Zone (Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Washington, parts of Carroll)
Ducks
General
Zone: Eastern Zone (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Baltimore, Howard, Prince Georg…
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| BrantGeneral · Statewide | Upcoming | |
| Canada GooseEarly Resident Season · Western Hunt Zone (Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Washington, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Charles) | Closed | |
| Canada GooseEarly Resident Season · Eastern Hunt Zone (Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Charles) | Closed | |
| Canada GooseLate Resident Season · Late Resident Southern Maryland Zone (Montgomery, parts of Prince George's, Charles) | Upcoming | |
| DucksGeneral · Western Zone (remainder of state not in Eastern Zone) | Closed | |
| DucksGeneral · Eastern Zone (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Baltimore, Howard, Prince Georg… | Closed | |
| DucksGeneral · Western Zone (remainder of state not in Eastern Zone) | Upcoming | |
| Light GooseConservation Order Season · Statewide | dates not listed | Closed |
| Light GooseGeneral · Eastern Region2/8-3/10 in Eastern Region only | Upcoming | |
| TealSeptember Season · September Teal Hunt Zone (Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Charles) | Closed | |
| WaterfowlYouth, Veteran & Military Hunt Days · Statewide | Upcoming |
Dove
Mourning Dove
General
Zone: Statewide
Mourning Dove
General
Zone: Statewide
Mourning Dove
General
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasant
General
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Quail
Northern Bobwhite Quail
General
Allegany and Garrett counties closed. DNR lands east of Susquehanna River closed. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Open areas (private lands east of Susquehanna River and all lands west of Susquehanna River, excluding Garrett and Allegany Counties)
Northern Bobwhite Quail
General (western counties & eastern DNR lands)
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Closed season for quail in western counties (Allegany, Garrett) and eastern DNR lands.
Zone: Western counties and eastern DNR lands
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
General
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Rabbit
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
General
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Squirrel
Gray Squirrel / Fox Squirrel
General
Delmarva Fox Squirrel is closed season. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide (Delmarva Fox Squirrel - closed season)
Furbearer
19 listed rowsFisher
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Fox
Hunting & Trapping (County Group 2)
Zone: County Group 2 (Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's, Washington)
Long-tailed Weasel
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon & Opossum
Hunting
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon, Skunk & Opossum
Trapping (Western Region)
Zone: Western Region
Skunk
Hunting
Zone: Statewide
Fox
Hunting & Trapping (County Group 1)
Zone: County Group 1 (Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester)
Muskrat & Mink
Trapping (County Group A)
Zone: County Group A (Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Washington)
Raccoon, Skunk & Opossum
Trapping (Eastern Region)
Zone: Eastern Region
Beaver
Trapping (Group 2)
Zone: Garrett and Allegany counties
River Otter
Trapping (County Group 3)
Zone: County Group 3 (Allegany and Garrett counties)
Beaver
Trapping (Group 1)
Zone: All counties except Garrett and Allegany
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| FoxHunting & Trapping · Charles & Dorchester Counties | dates not listed | Closed |
| Muskrat & MinkTrapping (County Group C) · County Group C (Baltimore, Cecil, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Worcester) | Upcoming | |
| Muskrat & MinkTrapping (County Group B) · County Group B (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico) | Upcoming | |
| Raccoon & OpossumChasing Only · Statewide | Closed | |
| Raccoon & OpossumChasing Only · Statewide | Upcoming | |
| River OtterTrapping (County Group 2) · County Group 2 (Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Washington) | Upcoming | |
| River OtterTrapping (County Group 1) · County Group 1 (all counties except Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Washington) | Upcoming |
Migratory Birds
Common Snipe
General
Zone: Statewide
Rails
General
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
General
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
General
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Coyote
Trapping (Western Region)
Zone: Western Region (west of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River)
Coyote
Trapping (Eastern Region)
Zone: Eastern Region (east of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River)
Coyote
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round hunting. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Other
Crow
General
Wednesday through Saturday only.
Zone: Statewide
Groundhog
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round.
Zone: Statewide
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Maryland Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Maryland?
Archery deer season runs Sep 11-Oct 21, 2026, plus 4 more segments through Jan 31, 2027. Firearm deer season runs Nov 28-Dec 12, 2026. Dates can differ by zone and permit; confirm with Maryland DNR.
When is Maryland's firearm deer season?
Firearm deer season runs Nov 28-Dec 12, 2026. Check zone and permit details with Maryland DNR before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Maryland?
Spring turkey season runs Apr 19-May 24, 2027. Youth and other special hunts, where listed, open earlier.
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.
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