American woodcock
Migratory bird huntingStatewide where permitted
Check HIP, shooting hours, bag limits and Sunday restrictions.
THE SEASON ATLAS / MDMaryland
Maryland
hunting seasons.
Explore 2026 & 2027 season sources, publication status, and game species for your next hunt.
MD / UNITED STATES
PLAN WITH THE SEASONS
Your 2026 field calendar.
2026–27 regulations available
The agency has published a 2026–27 guide or season schedule. Only selected dates are transcribed here; check the original regulations and individual public-land rules.
Official 2026 information ↗1 verified date entry
Selected agency dates are indexed below. This is not a complete legal calendar. Unit rules, tags, sex and age restrictions, closures, and special hunts can change which dates apply. Use the source beside each entry.
Maryland game species & hunting information.
These species and groups appear in agency hunting resources. Their presence in the state does not mean every public area offers a hunt. “Native” describes origin, “reintroduced” describes restoration, and “migratory” describes movement; these are not population counts. Origin is left unverified when the reviewed source does not establish it.
Big game
White-tailed deer
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Sika deer
IntroducedMaryland DNR documents introduction from Asia in the early twentieth century; sika-specific hunting rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Black bear
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Wild turkey
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Small game
Eastern cottontail rabbit
Origin not verifiedDelmarva fox squirrels are protected; species identification, Sunday and county rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Gray squirrel
Origin not verifiedDelmarva fox squirrels are protected; species identification, Sunday and county rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Red squirrel
Origin not verifiedDelmarva fox squirrels are protected; species identification, Sunday and county rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Eastern fox squirrel
Origin not verifiedDelmarva fox squirrels are protected; species identification, Sunday and county rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Upland birds
Ruffed grouse
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Pheasant
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Quail
Origin not verifiedClosed in Allegany and Garrett counties and on DNR lands east of the Susquehanna River.
Agency species information ↗Furbearers
Coyote
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Fisher
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Gray fox
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Red fox
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Opossum
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Raccoon
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Skunk
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Other game
Woodchuck
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Crow
Origin not verifiedAgency crow-hunting category; special dates and permitted days apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Migratory birds
Ducks
MigratoryOnly duck species authorized by the agency are included; closed species and species-specific bag limits are excluded. Some populations are resident.
Agency species information ↗Mergansers
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Sea ducks
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Coot
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Canada goose
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Snow goose
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Brant
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Dove
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗American woodcock
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Snipe
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Rails
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Check the details.
Then head for the horizon.
Confirm the unit, season, license, method, bag limit, and current closures with Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Public-land rules may be more restrictive than statewide seasons.