Hunting and Trapping Information

​Hunting is permitted throughout the forest except were posted with safety zone signs. The 19,000 acres of Potomac-Garrett State Forest surround two State Park areas (Herrington Manor and Swallow Falls) where hunting is prohibited. The forest boundaries are marked with yellow paint on trees - a yellow bar as you enter the forest and a yellow dot as you exit the forest. Hunting on or crossing private land within or near the State Forest requires the written permission of the landowner. Parking is permitted along roadways, providing that traffic is not blocked.

Several access roads are opened every fall to accommodate hunters. These gated roads are opened prior to squirrel season in September and remain open through January 31. Seasonal open roads can be used by all hunters and allow for vehicular traffic. Due to the nature of these roads, the use of four­wheel drive is recommended.

Hunter Safety Classes, required for the purchase of a license, are taught periodically through the Department of Natural Resources. These classes are usually offered in the county at one of the local State Parks.

Trapping is permitted both on land and in the water. A permit can be issued for trapping on Potomac­Garrett State Forest at the Regional DNR Wildlife Office Mount Nebo WMA in Oakland. Trappers are required to obtain a certificate of trapper education from the Department of Natural Resources. Trapper education courses are held statewide. Refer to the current Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland for complete regulations. A valid hunting license is required when applying for a trapping permit, along with a letter from the state forest headquarters.

Please refer to the Map of Potomac-Garrett State Forest​ for designated hunting/trapping areas.

Disabled Accessible

Potomac-Garrett State Forest offers over 4 miles of accessible hunting areas. For additional accessible amenities in Maryland State Forests, visit the Access For All section of this website​.

REMINDER: when hunting, both hunters and companions must wear:

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• a cap of solid daylight fluorescent orange or daylight fluorescent pink color always worn as an outer garment on the head.
• a vest or jacket containing back and front panels of at least 250 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink color worn as an outer garment at all times; or
• an outer garment of camouflage daylight fluorescent orange or
daylight fluorescent pink worn above the waist which contains at least 50 percent daylight fluorescent color. Persons required to wear fluorescent color clothing that hunt from a ground blind that has four sides, a top and is placed four feet or less above the ground must display, on or within 25 feet of the blind, a cap of solid daylight fluorescent orange or daylight fluorescent pink color or a panel, band, strip or garment containing at least 250 square inches ( approximately 16 inches by 16 inches) of solid daylight fluorescent orange or daylight fluorescent pink color.

 

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