Maryland 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Maryland's listed 2026-27 archery deer season runs Sep 11, 2026-Jan 31, 2027.
Spring Season Junior Hunt Days Wild Turkey opens Apr 17, 2027 and closes Apr 18, 2027.
General Light Goose opens Nov 7, 2026 and closes Feb 6, 2027.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Maryland DNR.
- archery deer
- Sep 11, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
- spring turkey
- Apr 17-18, 2027
- waterfowl
- Nov 7, 2026-Feb 6, 2027
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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
15 listed rowsSika Deer
Archery
Multiple segments mirroring white-tailed deer archery. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Statewide where found
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlered)
Multiple segments: 9/11-10/21, 10/25-11/27, 12/14-12/18, 1/3-1/7, 1/11-1/31. Archery also open 1/8-1/10 in Region A only. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlerless, Region B)
Multiple segments: 9/11-10/21, 10/25-11/27, 12/14-12/18, 1/3-1/7, 1/11-1/31. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Region B (remainder of state)
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Antlerless, Region A)
Multiple segments: 9/11-10/21, 10/25-11/27, 12/14-12/18, 1/3-1/31. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County)
Sika Deer
Muzzleloader
Two segments: 10/22-10/24 and 12/19-1/2. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Statewide where found
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader (Antlerless, Region B)
Three segments: 10/22-10/24, 10/26-10/31, and 12/19-1/2. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Region B (remainder of state)
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader (Antlerless, Region A)
Two segments: 10/22-10/24 and 12/26-1/2. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County)
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader (Antlered)
Two segments: 10/22-10/24 and 12/19-1/2. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Statewide
Sika Deer
Muzzleloader (Antlerless Only, Region B)
Antlerless only muzzleloader season in Region B.
Zone: Region B
White-tailed Deer
Junior Hunt Days
Junior Deer Hunt Days. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Statewide
Sika Deer
Firearms
Two segments: 11/28-12/12 and 1/8-1/10. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Statewide where found
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (Antlered)
Firearms open 1/8-1/10 in Region B only. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart.
Zone: Statewide
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed DeerFirearms (Antlerless, Region B) · Region B (remainder of state)Two segments: 11/28-12/12 and 1/8-1/10. Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerFirearms (Antlerless, Region A) · Region A (Allegany, Garrett, western Washington County)Sunday deer hunting applies - see chart. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerPrimitive Hunt Days · StatewideHunters may only use long bows, recurve bows or flintlock and sidelock percussion muzzleloading rifles or handguns. | 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
Two bear hunt zones that are permit specific. Bear hunt zone 1: AL, FR, GA, WA. Bear hunt zone 2: FR, WA.
Zone: Bear Hunt Zones 1 and 2 (Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Washington counties). Permit required.
Black Bear
General
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
Ducks
General
Multiple segments: 10/3-10/17, 11/21-11/27, 12/15-1/30.
Zone: Western Zone (remainder of state not in Eastern Zone)
Ducks
General
Multiple segments: 10/10-10/17, 11/14-11/27, 12/15-1/30.
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…
Light Goose
General
Multiple segments. 2/8-3/10 in Eastern Region only.
Zone: Statewide (Eastern region)
Waterfowl
Youth, Veteran & Military Hunt Days
Two separate youth/veteran/military hunt days: 11/7/2026 and 2/6/2027.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose
Late Resident Season
Season split into Southern and Western regions. Southern: 11/21-11/27 and 12/15-3/10. Western: 11/21-11/27 and 12/15-3/10. Bag limits vary by date and zone.
Zone: Late Resident Southern MD Zone (Montgomery, parts of Prince George's, Charles) and Late Resident Western MD Zone (Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Washington, parts of Carroll)
Canada Goose
Migratory Atlantic Population
Two segments: 11/24-11/27 and 12/15-1/30.
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,…
Brant
General
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose
Early Resident Season
Eastern Hunt Zone early resident Canada goose season.
Zone: 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)
Canada Goose
Early Resident Season
Western Hunt Zone early resident Canada goose season.
Zone: Western Hunt Zone (Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Washington, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Charles)
Light Goose
Conservation Order Season
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Dates to be determined (TBD).
Zone: Statewide
Teal
September Season
Zone: 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)
Dove
Mourning Dove
General
Multiple segments: 9/1-10/17, 10/24-11/27, 12/19-1/9.
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
18 listed rowsRaccoon & Opossum
Chasing Only
Two segments: 8/1-10/14 and 3/16-7/31. Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon & Opossum
Hunting
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Fisher
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Fox
Hunting & Trapping (County Group 2)
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)
Long-tailed Weasel
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon, Skunk & Opossum
Trapping (Western Region)
Zone: Western Region
Skunk
Hunting
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
Zone: Statewide
Fox
Hunting & Trapping (County Group 1)
Sunday hunting open in certain counties.
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)
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| BeaverTrapping (Group 1) · All counties except Garrett and Allegany | Upcoming | |
| FoxHunting & Trapping · Charles & Dorchester CountiesYear-round. Sunday hunting open in certain 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 | |
| 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
Two segments: 10/24-11/27 and 1/11-1/27.
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?
September 11, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Maryland; it is archery sika deer Sep 11, 2026-Jan 31, 2027.
When does spring turkey open in Maryland?
April 17, 2027 is the first listed spring turkey opener for Maryland; the listed window is Apr 17-18, 2027.
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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