Deer Regulations

What's New

Frederick County has added Sunday hunting for certain dates on private lands.
See Region B.

Hunting Hours

One half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.

Licensing and Stamp Requirements

A Regular Hunting License, Junior Hunting License, any senior hunting license or Nonresident Hunting License is required to hunt deer with a firearm. In addition to a hunting license, bow deer hunters must purchase a Bow Stamp and muzzleloader deer hunters must purchase a Muzzleloader Stamp. Bow deer hunters must purchase a Muzzleloader Stamp in order to hunt deer with a bow during muzzleloader season. Hunters entitled to hunt without a license do not need to purchase Bow, Muzzleloader, or Bonus Antlered Deer Stamps. Hunters with a Senior Lifetime Consolidated License do not need to purchase Bow or Muzzleloader Stamps but must purchase Bonus Antlered Deer Stamps to take bonus antlered deer. Hunters not required to have a license must obtain a Maryland Big Game Harvest Record from a Maryland Sport License agent at no charge. Licenses, Stamps & Permits for descriptions, prices and availability of licenses, stamps, and permits.

Bonus Antlered Deer Stamps

A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp is required by all license holders to take a second antlered deer in Region B during a given season (bow, muzzleloader, or firearms). For example, a deer hunter must purchase a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp before attempting to take a second antlered deer with a firearm in Region B. An individual who purchases a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp but does not use it during a particular season may use that stamp during any subsequent season (muzzleloader, firearm, or bow season) in that hunting license year. Bonus Stamps are not required to take antlerless deer. Region B hunters are reminded that two antlerless deer must be taken (in a given season) before a second antlered deer can be taken during that season.

Daily Limit

In all counties, there is no restriction that applies to the number of deer that may be taken per day within the season bag limits unless otherwise specified.

Legal Hunting Devices

See Firearms, Bow, & Falconry Regulations.

Electronic Deer Calls

Recorded or electrically amplified calls or sounds are prohibited for the purpose of deer hunting. This would include calls or sounds imitating common deer vocalizations or noises such as grunts, snorts, bleats, and antler rattling. Non-electronic deer calls are permitted for deer hunting.

Deer Tagging and Checking Requirements

Before moving a harvested deer a hunter must:
Fill out a Field Tag and attach it to the animal
AND
Fill out a Big Game Harvest Record block.

Then, the hunter has 24 hours to check in their game using the Internet check-in website (http://www.gamecheck.dnr.state.md.us) or the Maryland Big Game Registration Phone Line (1-888-800-0121) and a confirmation number will be issued.

The Confirmation Number must be recorded on the Big Game Harvest Record.

Click here for complete instructions for deer and turkey tagging and checking.

Dogs

Dogs cannot be used to hunt deer except trained tracking dogs may be used to find dead, wounded or injured deer. The dog handler must maintain physical control of the tracking dog at all times and only the hunter and dog handler may carry a firearm or bow while tracking the deer. Prior to tracking the deer, the hunter must notify by telephone the Natural Resources Police. The hunter may dispatch the deer only during legal shooting hours and by means legal for the current hunting season.

Deer in Water

Deer may not be hunted while they are swimming or taking refuge in water.

Fallow Deer

Fallow deer may be taken in place of white-tailed deer during each of the seasons. Fallow deer have escaped from captivity and are found in a few isolated areas in Maryland.

Sika Deer

Sika deer season dates are the same as white-tailed deer season dates with two exceptions. Sika deer may not be hunted with a muzzleloader during the October 26 - 31 segment of the white-tailed deer early muzzleloader season. In addition, sika deer may not be hunted with a firearm during the January 8 - 9 firearm season. Sika deer bag limits are independent of the white-tailed deer bag limits. Sika deer may be hunted only in Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties.

Baiting Deer

Baiting deer is legal, except on state-owned or state-controlled properties.

Antlered Deer Definition

An antlered white-tailed deer is a deer with two or more points to one antler, or a deer with one antler three or more inches long, measuring from the top of the skull as the deer is in life.

An antlered sika deer is a sika deer with at least one antler visible above the hairline.

Deer Seasons & Bag Limits

Maryland has two “Deer Management Regions.” See Deer Management Region Map. Independent deer bag limits have been established for each region. The number of deer that a hunter can take in one region will not affect the hunter’s bag limit in the other region.

Region A Deer Seasons & Bag Limits

Region B Deer Seasons & Bag Limits

Sunday Hunting

A person may hunt deer on Sunday, November 1, 2009 and Sunday, November 29, 2009 on private land in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties.

A person may hunt deer on Sundays October 11, October 18, October 25, November 1, November 8, and November 29, 2009 in Dorchester, Frederick, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties on private land only.

Deer Harvested with a Bow
During Muzzleloader or Firearms Season

Deer harvested with a bow during the antlerless-only second split of the early muzzleloader season in Region B must count towards the bow bag limit. Deer harvested with a bow during the first-split either-sex early muzzleloader or late muzzleloader season must count towards the muzzleloader season bag limit. Hunters must have a Muzzleloader Stamp to hunt deer with a bow during the first-split either-sex early muzzleloader or late muzzleloader season. Deer harvested with a bow during the 2-week firearms or 2-day late firearms season must count towards the firearms bag limit.

Regulations Relating to Chronic Wasting Disease