Migratory Game Birds

Hunting for migratory game birds (coot, dove, rails, snipe, waterfowl, and woodcock) is regulated by the federal government under the authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Each year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) establishes hunting season guidelines for migratory game birds after reviewing data on population trends, reproductive success, and harvests. Guidelines include maximum number of hunting days, maximum bag limit, and the earliest and latest dates the season can start and end. States are allowed to select season dates and bag limits from within these guidelines. State selections can be more restrictive than the federal guidelines. Guidelines for late seasons, such as regular duck and goose seasons, are available in August and become final in early September. Comments are sought from the public on the proposed waterfowl seasons in public information meetings that are held in late August. Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons (for example, dove and resident Canada geese) are listed on the next page. Season dates and bag limits listed here are conditional on USFWS approval in late August.

Maryland Migratory Game Bird 2009-2010 Hunting Seasons Flier

Webless Migratory Game Birds Seasons & Bag Limits

Early Resident Canada Goose and Teal Seasons & Bag Limits

Late Waterfowl Seasons & Bag Limits

Hunting Hours

Hunting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset, except for (1) mourning dove during the first season segment, when shooting hours are from noon to sunset; (2) teal during the September teal season, when shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset; and (3) resident Canada geese during the September seasons and light geese (snow and Ross’s geese) during the Conservation Order Season, when shooting hours are from 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 a Nonresident (full term or short term) Hunting License is required to hunt migratory game birds in Maryland. All migratory game bird hunters, including those who are exempt from the hunting license requirement, must purchase a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp. In addition, all waterfowl and coot hunters over the age of 15, including those who are exempt from the hunting license requirement, must purchase a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. See Licenses, Stamps & Permits for other requirements, descriptions, prices, and availability of licenses, stamps, and permits.

Unlawful Methods

Migratory game birds may not be taken with traps, snares, nets, crossbows, rifles, pistols, swivel guns, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explosives or stupefying substances. Migratory game birds may not be taken with a shotgun capable of holding more than 3 shells (except resident Canada geese during the Sept. season and light geese when prescribed in annual hunting regulations) unless it is plugged with a one piece filler which is incapable of removal without disassembling the shotgun. Shotguns larger than 10 gauge may not be used to hunt migratory game birds.

Nontoxic Shot and Unlawful Shot

Non-toxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl, coots, rails, and snipe. Hunters may not use or possess nontoxic shot larger than size number T (0.20 inches in diameter). Hunters may not use or possess shotshells loaded with a material other than steel, bismuth, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix, or other shot determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be non-toxic (see www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/issues/nontoxic_shot/nontoxic.htm).

Hunters may not use or possess shotgun slugs, sabots, or pumpkin balls while hunting waterfowl, coots, rails, and snipe.

Daily Bag Limit

You may take, in any one day, only the bag limit prescribed for each species.

Field Possession Limit

You may possess no more than one daily bag limit while in the field or returning from the field to your vehicle, hunting camp, or home.

Possession Limit

The maximum number of migratory game birds of a single species or combination of species permitted to be possessed by any one person.

Wanton Waste

No person shall kill or cripple any migratory game bird without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird, and retain it in his/her actual custody.

Possession of Live Birds

Wounded birds reduced to possession shall immediately be killed and included in your daily bag limit.

Dressing

The head or one fully-feathered wing must remain attached to all birds while being transported from the field to home or a processor. It is unlawful to completely field dress or breast-out any migratory game bird (except dove) before transporting the birds from the field.

Tagging

If you are giving, putting or leaving migratory game birds at any place or in the possession of another person, you must tag each bird with the following information: (a) hunter’s signature, (b) hunter’s address, (c) total number and species of birds killed, and (d) dates the birds were killed. Tagging is required even if someone else is transporting the bird for you or the bird has been left for cleaning, storage (including temporary storage), shipment or taxidermy services.

Shipment

Tagged migratory game birds may not be shipped unless the package is marked on the outside with the following information: (a) name and address of the person sending the bird, (b) name and address of the person to whom the bird is being sent, and (c) number of birds, by species, contained in the package.

It is Unlawful To:

• Hunt migratory game birds with the aid of bait (placing feed such as corn, wheat, salt or other feed that constitutes a lure or enticement). An area is considered by law to be baited for 10 days after removal of the bait. It is not necessary for you to know that an area is baited to be in violation. Doves may not be hunted over any area that has been seeded by broadcasting, unless the seed has either germinated, been plowed or disced under or removed. Hunting is permitted only after 10 days following the complete removal of all grain or other feed. However, doves may be hunted in areas where seed-producing plants such as corn, sunflowers, wheat, and other small grains are manipulated (mowed, knocked down, burned) to attract doves for hunting purposes. In this instance, the 10-day rule does not apply.
• Sell taxidermy-mounted waterfowl for use as decoys.
• Possess either a rifle or pistol at any time while hunting waterfowl and coots.
• Use common reed (Phragmites australis) in any manner for the construction of hunting blinds on lands owned or controlled by DNR.
• Construct, or cause to be constructed, permanent hunting blinds or tree stands, and to leave waterfowl decoys set overnight on lands owned or controlled by DNR, except with written permission from DNR.
• Hunt migratory game birds after sunset except resident Canada geese during the September seasons and light geese during the Conservation Order Season, when shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
• Hunt wild migratory game birds on Sunday.
• Hunt any animal other than deer on the opening day of Deer Firearms Season except sea ducks in the Sea Duck Zone.
• Hunt from a sink box (low floating device with depression that conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water).
• Hunt from or with the aid or use of a car or any other motor-driven land conveyance or any aircraft.
• Hunt from or by means of any motorboat or sailboat unless the motor has been completely shut off and /or the sail furled and the boat’s progress has ceased.
• Use recordings of migratory game bird calls and sounds or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls except while hunting light geese when regulations allow the use of electronic calls.
• Drive, rally or chase birds with any motorized conveyance or any sailboat to put the birds in the range of hunters.
• Use or have the aid of live decoys. Waterfowl hunting is not permitted on areas within which captive waterfowl are or have been confined in a closed structure and constitute a visible lure. All live, tame or captive ducks and geese must be removed for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to hunting. They must be confined in an enclosure that substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such birds from the sight of wild migratory waterfowl.

Offshore Duck Blind Laws

For current laws and regulations visit the DNR website at http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/waterfowl.asp.

Sea Duck and Offshore Waterfowl Hunting Zones

Obtain maps and descriptions of Sea Duck and Offshore Waterfowl Hunting Zones from DNR Wildlife & Heritage Service offices or visit our website at http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/waterfowl.asp. Nonresidents must be accompanied by a Maryland resident while hunting in designated waters.

Releasing Captive-Raised Mallards

Captive-raised mallard ducks may not be released to the wild except under the authority of a Regulated Shooting Area Permit, Retriever Training Permit, or a special Field Trial Permit issued by DNR. See below for information on Regulated Shooting Areas.

Regulated Shooting Area Requirements

A Regulated Shooting Area (RSA) is a tract of land on which the licensee may release and shoot captive-raised mallard ducks and other game birds. Requirements, regulations and application forms to apply for a Regulated Shooting Area Permit may be viewed online at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/rsapermit.asp.

Those persons hunting free-flying, captive-raised mallard ducks or wild waterfowl on a state-licensed RSA need to possess a Maryland hunting license, the printed receipt from the purchase of a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp, and a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (if over the age of 15). Those persons shooting only flighted (tower-released) mallard ducks on a state-licensed RSA need to possess either a RSA hunting license (see Licenses, Stamps & Permits) or a Maryland hunting license and the printed receipt from the purchase of a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp.

At all times during possession, transportation, and storage until the raw carcasses are finally processed immediately prior to cooking, smoking, or canning, the toe-clipped foot of captive raised mallard ducks taken on RSAs must remain attached to each carcass; except that, the RSA permittee may remove the toe-clipped foot of captive raised mallard ducks when the number of the RSA permit has first been legibly stamped in ink on the back of each carcass or breast and on the container in which the carcass or breast is stored. When properly marked, such carcasses and breasts may be given to, or acquired from, any person and possessed and transported in any number at any time or place.

Hunting License Reciprocity for Light Geese

Persons possessing a valid Delaware resident hunting license may hunt light geese in Maryland without purchasing a Maryland hunting license. In addition to a valid Delaware resident hunting license, these hunters must possess a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, a printed receipt from the purchase of a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp, and comply with Maryland’s hunter safety requirements.

Persons possessing a valid Maryland resident hunting license may hunt light geese in Delaware without purchasing a Delaware hunting license. Contact the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (302-739-5297 or www.dnrec.state.de.us) for specific requirements.