Where do I buy a Maryland hunting license?

Maryland hunting licenses and tags are sold by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) through its official licensing site. Buy direct from the agency rather than a reseller, and complete hunter education first if your birth year requires it.

When is Maryland hunting season?

Seasons differ by species, weapon and zone, and the Maryland season dates change every year. Our Maryland deer guide summarizes the 2025-26 deer season structure; for every other species, check the current Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations before you plan a hunt.

What can you hunt in Maryland?

Besides white-tailed deer, sika deer, our species guides single out Maryland for canada goose. Each species guide explains tags, seasons and tactics.

Where is public hunting land in Maryland?

Good starting points include Green Ridge State Forest, Savage River State Forest, Fairmount Wildlife Management Area. Confirm access rules, closures and special regulations with the managing agency before you go.

Hunting · State by State

Maryland Hunting Guide

What to hunt in Maryland, what it costs, the laws that matter and where the public land is — with the official Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) links.

A long archery season, generous antlerless bag limits, and a unique Eastern Shore sika deer hunt make Maryland worth a look for regional whitetail hunters.

Maryland splits into two very different hunting experiences: the wooded, hilly terrain of western Maryland and the Piedmont, and the flat farmland and tidal marsh of the Eastern Shore, where whitetails share habitat with sika deer in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.

Agency: Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Region: Northeast
Deer rank: #29 of 50
Species guides: 2

Maryland hunting license and tag costs

Deer license and tag prices as last reviewed. Other species' permits are listed in the agency fee schedule.

License / tag	Price
Resident regular hunting license (16-64)	$24.50
Resident junior hunting license	$10.50
Nonresident hunting license	approx. $150-$180 depending on license type
Deer stamps (archery/firearms/muzzleloader)	additional stamps required per season, roughly $30-$50 combined for nonresidents

Maryland hunting laws to know

Rules that catch hunters out most often. Not a substitute for the regulations book.

Topic	Rule
Blaze orange	At least 500 square inches of blaze orange on the head, chest, and back is required for all hunters during modern firearms deer season.
Baiting	Baiting deer is illegal in most of Maryland, though limited exceptions exist for hunting over agricultural crops and food plots; always check current regional rules.
Crossbows	Legal for all hunters during archery deer season, no special permit required.
Sunday hunting	Allowed on private land in most counties with landowner permission during deer season; some counties still restrict Sunday hunting on public land.
Legal firearms	Shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain rifles are legal depending on region; some central Maryland counties restrict to shotgun and muzzleloader only for safety reasons.
Tagging/reporting	Deer must be checked in through the Maryland online deer check-in system the same day as harvest.
CWD carcass transport	Carcass import restrictions apply from CWD-positive states and within Maryland's CWD Management Area in Allegany and Washington counties; only deboned meat and cleaned parts may be transported out.
Hunter education	Required for anyone born after Dec. 31, 1959, before a hunting license can be purchased.

Maryland deer season structure (2025-26)

Exact dates and regional bag limits shift slightly each year; always check the current Maryland Hunting Seasons Calendar before you hunt.

Season	Weapon	Typical window
Archery	Bow / crossbow	Sept. 5 – Oct. 15, resuming Oct. 19 – late Nov., and again into January
Muzzleloader (early)	Muzzleloader	Mid-to-late October
Firearms	Rifle / shotgun / muzzleloader per region	Late Nov. – early Dec., roughly two weeks
Muzzleloader (late)	Muzzleloader	Mid-to-late December
Late archery	Bow / crossbow	Late Dec. – early Jan.
Sika deer season	Bow, firearms, muzzleloader per segment	Runs concurrently with whitetail seasons on the Eastern Shore

What you can hunt in Maryland

Deer — White-tailed deer, Sika deer
Good · ranked #29 of 50 for deer.
Canada Goose
Historic Atlantic Flyway goose hunting over agricultural fields
Access: Over-the-counter license plus federal duck stamp

Public hunting land in Maryland

Maryland's public hunting is concentrated in western Maryland state forests and Eastern Shore Wildlife Management Areas, with additional smaller WMAs scattered statewide.

Green Ridge State Forest
State forest · Western MD (Allegany County)
Nearly 50,000 acres of rugged mountain terrain, Maryland's largest contiguous public tract.
Official page
Savage River State Forest
State forest · Western MD (Garrett County)
Maryland's largest state forest at over 54,000 acres, remote and lightly pressured.
Fairmount Wildlife Management Area
WMA · Eastern Shore (Somerset County)
Tidal marsh and woodland habitat with both whitetail and sika deer opportunity.
Chesapeake Forest Lands
State forest/WMA complex · Eastern Shore (multiple counties)
Large managed timberland tracts spread across the lower Eastern Shore, good for both species.
Pocomoke State Forest
State forest · Eastern Shore (Worcester County)
Mixed pine-hardwood forest bordering marsh habitat, known for solid sika deer hunting.
Potomac-Garrett State Forest
State forest · Western MD (Garrett County)
High-elevation mountain terrain near Deep Creek Lake with good deer densities.

Official Maryland links

Last reviewed 2026-09.

Nearby state hunting guides

Questions

Frequently asked

Where do I buy a Maryland hunting license?: Maryland hunting licenses and tags are sold by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) through its official licensing site. Buy direct from the agency rather than a reseller, and complete hunter education first if your birth year requires it.
When is Maryland hunting season?: Seasons differ by species, weapon and zone, and the Maryland season dates change every year. Our Maryland deer guide summarizes the 2025-26 deer season structure; for every other species, check the current Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations before you plan a hunt.
What can you hunt in Maryland?: Besides white-tailed deer, sika deer, our species guides single out Maryland for canada goose. Each species guide explains tags, seasons and tactics.
Where is public hunting land in Maryland?: Good starting points include Green Ridge State Forest, Savage River State Forest, Fairmount Wildlife Management Area. Confirm access rules, closures and special regulations with the managing agency before you go.