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?

A current spring turkey opener is not listed for Maryland yet. Check Maryland DNR for the latest turkey dates.

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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Maryland Deer Season 2025-26

Maryland deer season dates start with Sep 5, 2025-Jan 31, 2026. The table below keeps every listed deer row together with zones and notes where available.

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.

Archery White-tailed Deer opens Sep 5, 2025 and closes Jan 31, 2026.

The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Maryland DNR.

Last verified: June 15, 2026 · Source: Maryland DNR

Deer

28 listed rows

Sika Deer

Archery

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

Oct 16, 2025-Jan 3, 2026

Season runs 10/16-10/18, 12/20-1/3.

Zone: Statewide

Sika Deer

Muzzleloader

Closed

—

Oct 20-25, 2025

Zone: Antlerless Only, Region B

Sika Deer

Muzzleloader (Antlerless Only)

Closed

—

Oct 20-25, 2025

Antlerless only muzzleloader season in Region B.

Zone: Region B

Sika Deer

Regular Firearm

Closed

—

Nov 29, 2025-Jan 11, 2026

Season runs 11/29-12/13, 1/9-1/11.

Zone: Statewide

Sika Deer

Firearms

Closed

—

Nov 29, 2025-Jan 11, 2026

Season segments: 11/29-12/13 and 1/9-1/11.

Zone: Statewide

White-tailed Deer

Archery

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

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)

Closed

—

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)

Closed

—

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)

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

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)

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

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)

Closed

—

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)

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

Nov 15-16, 2025

Junior Deer Hunt Days.

Zone: Statewide

White-tailed Deer

Youth

Closed

—

Nov 15-16, 2025

Junior Deer Hunt Days

Zone: Statewide

White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

Nov 29-Dec 13, 2025

Firearms also open 1/9-1/11 in Region B only.

Zone: Antlered, Statewide

White-tailed Deer

Firearms (Antlered)

Closed

—

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)

Closed

—

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)

Closed

—

Dec 6-13, 2025

Region A includes Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington County.

Zone: Region A

White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Closed

—

Dec 6-13, 2025

Zone: Antlerless, Region A

White-tailed Deer

Primitive/Special

Closed

—

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)

Closed

—

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