Maryland 2026-2027 Game Season Outlook – Wildlife Management Areas & Dates

If you’re planning a fall deer opener, eyeing a late-winter goose trip, or just trying to figure out whether quail is open where you hunt, this guide pulls the big stuff into one beginner-friendly place. Below, you’ll find verified 2026-2027 dates, popular species, permit notes, deer regions, waterfowl zones, and public-land planning tips for Maryland. For side-by-side comparisons with nearby states later on, you can also browse other state-by-state season guides.

Maryland Hunting Season Overview 2026-2027

Here’s the short version: Maryland’s 2026-2027 framework is very friendly to hunters who like variety. Archery for white-tailed deer opens in mid-September, black bear returns in late October through a lottery system, spring gobbler action runs from April 19 to May 24, and waterfowl dates again split between Eastern and Western duck zones. One thing I always tell first-timers: this state looks compact on a map, but regulations can change fast from western mountains to tidal marsh. A Garrett County deer plan and a Dorchester County sika plan are practically different adventures.

The latest official updates worth noting are the release of the 2026-2027 state guide, posted bear lottery dates for 2026, the posted junior deer weekend on November 14-15, 2026, primitive deer days on February 1-3, 2027, and youth/veteran/military waterfowl days on November 7, 2026 and February 6, 2027. That means early planners can already map travel, buy the right stamps, and avoid the classic “wait… I needed a sika stamp too?” mistake.

Quick Look: Key Species Dates at a Glance

All Big Game: Archery, Muzzleloader & Firearms 🦌

Maryland’s big-game scene revolves around white-tailed deer, sika deer, and black bear. No statewide elk framework appears in the 2026-2027 guide, so don’t waste time searching for an elk opener that isn’t there.

Deer Dates and Regions

White-tailed deer

• Archery: Sept. 11-Oct. 21; Oct. 25-Nov. 27; Dec. 14-18; Jan. 3-7; Jan. 8-10 in Region A only; Jan. 11-31
• Muzzleloader: Oct. 22-24; Dec. 19-Jan. 2
• Firearms: Nov. 28-Dec. 12; Jan. 8-10 in Region B only

Antlerless white-tailed deer

Sika deer

• Archery: Sept. 11-Oct. 21; Oct. 25-Nov. 27; Dec. 14-18; Jan. 3-7; Jan. 11-31
• Muzzleloader: Oct. 22-24; Dec. 19-Jan. 2
• Antlerless-only muzzleloader in Region B: Oct. 26-31
• Firearms: Nov. 28-Dec. 12; Jan. 8-10

Tag, stamp, and zone notes

• Region A covers Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington County.
• Region B covers the rest of the state, including the suburban deer zone.
• A Sika Deer Stamp is required for sika pursuit.
• A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp may be used for an extra antlered white-tail, but not for sika, and not during the Oct. 22-24 muzzleloader segment.
• Junior Deer Hunt Days: Nov. 14-15, 2026
• Primitive Deer Hunt Days: Feb. 1-3, 2027
• Sunday opportunities are available, but county rules and public-land hours vary a lot.

If you’re new to this, here’s the practical takeaway: western mountain hunters need to pay close attention to Region A antlerless limits, while Eastern Shore hunters should double-check sika rules before packing gear and assuming a standard deer stamp covers everything. It doesn’t.

Black bear

Bear permit details

• 2026 lottery application window: July 15-Aug. 31
• Drawing date: Sept. 3, 2026
• Application fee: $15
• Successful applicants may designate up to two sub-permittees.

Turkey Season 🦃

Maryland gives turkey hunters a nice spread: a western fall option, a short winter opportunity, and the more popular spring gobbler stretch.

Turkey dates

• Junior Hunt Days:
  • April 17, 2027 statewide
  • Sunday, April 18, 2027 in certain counties
• Spring: April 19-May 24, 2027 statewide
  • Bag: 1 bearded bird per day, 2 bearded birds for the spring total
• Fall: Oct. 31-Nov. 8, 2026
  • Area: Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties only
• Winter: Jan. 21-23, 2027 statewide
  • Fall + winter combined bag: 1 turkey of either sex

Useful beginner notes

• Only bearded birds are legal in the spring portion.
• Spring shooting hours run sunrise minus 30 minutes to noon through May 10, then extend to sunset from May 11-24.
• Sunday turkey access exists in certain counties only, and some public parcels have shorter hours.
• Baiting rules are strict, and dogs/organized drives are not allowed.

Furbearers Season 🦊

This is where Maryland gets a little technical, especially with trapping groups and county restrictions.

• Coyote (hunting): Year-round
• Coyote trapping, Eastern Region: Oct. 31, 2026-Feb. 15, 2027
• Coyote trapping, Western Region: Nov. 14, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027
• Fox, Charles & Dorchester: Year-round
• Fox, County Group 1: Nov. 14, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027
• Fox, County Group 2: Oct. 31, 2026-Feb. 15, 2027
• Beaver trapping: Dec. 15, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027 in most areas; Dec. 1, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027 in Garrett/Allegany grouping
• Long-tailed weasel trapping: Oct. 31, 2026-Feb. 1, 2027
• Fisher trapping: Oct. 31, 2026-Feb. 1, 2027
• Muskrat & mink trapping:
  • Group A: Nov. 14, 2026-Feb. 15, 2027
  • Group B: Jan. 1-Mar. 15, 2027
  • Group C: Dec. 15, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
• River otter trapping:
  • Group 1: Dec. 15, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
  • Group 2: Dec. 15, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
  • Group 3: Dec. 1, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
• Raccoon & opossum chasing only: Aug. 1-Oct. 14, 2026 and Mar. 16-July 31, 2027
• Raccoon & opossum hunting: Oct. 15, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
• Raccoon, skunk & opossum trapping, Eastern: Nov. 14, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
• Raccoon, skunk & opossum trapping, Western: Oct. 31, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
• Skunk hunting: Oct. 31, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027

Important rules: a furbearer permit is required, written permission is required on private land, hunters must carry ID, and some trap types are restricted by county. Night pursuit is allowed for coyotes year-round, fox during legal dates, and raccoon/opossum on foot with artificial light and/or dogs.

Upland Birds Season

If you’ve never tried upland bird trips in this state, western covers feel different from the farm-country edges farther east. Quail is the one that trips people up most, since public-land restrictions east of the Susquehanna close doors many folks assume are open.

Upland Animals Season

Other Small Game Season

Migratory Birds Season

Here’s the part most people screenshot and save on their phone.

• Mourning dove: Sept. 1-Oct. 17; Oct. 24-Nov. 27; Dec. 19-Jan. 9
• September teal: Sept. 17-26, 2026
• Rails (sora, Virginia, clapper, king): Sept. 1-Nov. 20, 2026
• Woodcock: Oct. 24-Nov. 27, 2026 and Jan. 11-27, 2027
• Common snipe: Sept. 26, 2026-Jan. 28, 2027

Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers & Geese Season 🦆

Other Waterfowls Season

• Brant: Dec. 28, 2026-Jan. 30, 2027
• Coots: follow duck dates; 15 daily in addition to the duck limit
• Sea ducks: taken during regular duck dates, with a 4-bird limit, including no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders, and only 1 eider hen
• Harlequin ducks: no open framework
• Swans: no open framework
• Youth, Veteran & Military Waterfowl Days: Nov. 7, 2026 and Feb. 6, 2027

More Game Dates Worth Saving

• Junior Deer Hunt Days: Nov. 14-15, 2026
• Primitive Deer Hunt Days: Feb. 1-3, 2027
• Black bear: Oct. 26-31, 2026
• Coyote: year-round
• Groundhog: year-round
• Raccoon/opossum chase only: Aug. 1-Oct. 14, 2026 and Mar. 16-July 31, 2027

Game Units & Public Access 🗺️

For deer, the big split is Region A versus Region B. Region A is basically the mountain side: Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington. Region B covers the rest, including suburban counties and the Shore. Waterfowl uses Eastern and Western duck zones, and that matters a lot for opener timing.

Public access is strongest through WMAs, state forests, Chesapeake Forest lands, and selected public tracts with Sunday rules that can differ from private property. My honest advice? Before locking in a trip, check the parcel itself, not just the county. Maryland is one of those states where the fine print actually matters.

License Details 🎟️

Core licenses

Add-ons and stamps

• Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp: $15
• Federal Duck Stamp: $25
• Resident Archery Stamp: $6
• Nonresident Archery Stamp: $25
• Resident Muzzleloader Stamp: $6
• Nonresident Muzzleloader Stamp: $25
• Resident Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp: $10
• Nonresident Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp: $25
• Resident Sika Deer Stamp: $10
• Nonresident Sika Deer Stamp: $200
• Individual Furbearer Permit: $5
• Group Furbearer Permit: $50
• Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit: $5
• Stationary Blind/Blind Site License: $20
• Black Bear Lottery Application: $15

Nice Maryland-specific perk: resident juniors under 16 can qualify for a one-time free annual license plus archery, sika, and muzzleloader stamps after completing hunter education.

FAQ

Do I need a separate tag for sika deer?

Yes. You need a Sika Deer Stamp in addition to your base privileges.

Can I use the same bonus antlered stamp for sika?

No. Bonus antlered privileges apply to white-tailed deer, not sika.

Is Sunday access statewide?

Not fully. Sunday opportunities vary by species, county, and whether you’re on private or designated public land.

Are there public places to go if I don’t have private access?

Yes. WMAs, state forests, Chesapeake Forest lands, and selected public parcels offer access, but some require a free public hunting permit.

Is night hunting allowed?

Yes, but only for certain species. Coyotes may be pursued day and night year-round. Fox may be taken at night during legal dates, and raccoon/opossum can be pursued after dark on foot with light and/or dogs.

Do I need written permission on private land?

Absolutely. Maryland requires written permission to hunt or trap on private property.

Prepare for Your Maryland Hunt

If you want the smartest possible plan for Maryland in 2026-2027, match your trip to the region instead of starting with the species alone. Western counties call for close attention to Region A deer limits and the bear lottery. Down on the Shore, the real game-changer is often whether you’re after white-tails or sika, because that extra stamp, the marsh setup, and local access can reshape the whole trip. Waterfowlers should nail down their exact duck zone before opening day, and turkey hunters should double-check Sunday rules if they’re counting on a weekend outing. In other words, the difference between a smooth trip and a frustrating one in this state usually isn’t skill alone; it’s knowing the local framework before your boots hit the ground.

Official dates in this article were checked against the Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping and the Maryland Hunting Zone Map Viewer.