Hunting
Trapping
Fuelwood Permits
Off-Road Vehicles
Hunting
Hunting is permitted throughout Potomac-Garrett State Forest except where posted with safety zone signs. The forest boundaries are marked with yellow paint: a yellow bar on trees as you enter the forest and a yellow dot as you exit. Hunting on or crossing private land within or adjacent to the forest requires written permission from the landowner. Parking is permitted along forest roadways provided traffic is not blocked.
The forest surrounds Herrington Manor and Swallow Falls State Parks, where hunting is prohibited.
Several gated roads are opened seasonally to accommodate hunters. These roads open prior to squirrel season in September and remain open through January 31. Four-wheel drive is recommended. Seasonal open roads are available to all hunters and permit vehicular traffic.
Hunters and all companions are required to wear, as an outer garment at all times:
- A cap of solid daylight fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink; and
- A vest or jacket with front and back panels of at least 250 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink; or
- A camouflage daylight fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink garment worn above the waist containing at least 50 percent daylight fluorescent color.
Hunters using a ground blind with four sides, a top, and placed four feet or less above the ground must display within 25 feet of the blind a solid fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink cap, or a panel of at least 250 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink.
Refer to the current
Guide to Hunting and Trapping in Maryland for complete regulations.
Disabled accessible hunting: Potomac-Garrett State Forest offers over 4 miles of accessible hunting areas.
Accessible Hunting Area Map (PDF). For additional accessible amenities across Maryland state forests, visit
Access for All.
Potomac-Garrett State Forest Map (PDF)
Trapping
Trapping is permitted on land and in water throughout the forest. A trapping permit must be obtained from the Regional DNR Wildlife Office at
Mount Nebo Wildlife Management Area in Oakland. A valid hunting license and a letter from the state forest headquarters are required when applying. Trappers must hold a certificate of trapper education from DNR. Trapper education courses are offered statewide.
Refer to the current
Guide to Hunting and Trapping in Maryland for complete regulations.
Fuelwood Permits
Fuelwood collection is permitted on Potomac-Garrett State Forest with a valid fuelwood permit. Permits are $10 per cord, with a maximum of 10 cords per permittee per fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). Wood is for personal use only and may not be sold or used commercially.
One cord equals approximately two ¾-ton pickup loads, three ½-ton pickup loads, or six ¼-ton pickup loads.
Only standing dead trees, fallen trees, or recent timber harvest debris may be collected. Live trees, painted trees, and trees within painted timber sale boundaries may not be cut.
Permits may be purchased at headquarters or submitted by mail. Payment by check made out to MD DNR. Permit fees are non-refundable.
Temporary Fuelwood Permit Form (PDF)
Regulations
- Motorized vehicles are permitted only on designated forest roadways customarily open to vehicle traffic.
- Stumps must be cut no higher than six inches from the ground.
- Only dead trees may be cut. No live trees may be cut, damaged, or destroyed.
- All treetops and debris must be removed from within 50 feet of the road ditchline.
- No painted trees or trees within painted timber sale boundaries may be cut.
- This permit must be in your possession at all times while collecting fuelwood on the forest.
- Fuelwood collected under this permit is for personal home use only and may not be resold.
- All Disabled Hunter Access Areas are closed to fuelwood collection unless otherwise posted.
- Any forest officer may revoke this permit for non-compliance with these conditions.
- The permit fee is non-refundable. Make checks payable to MD DNR.
Off-Road Vehicles
ORVs are permitted only on trail sections blazed green. Permitted areas include Snaggy Mountain Road, Burkholder Road, and Wallman Road. All ORVs must be registered annually with DNR and display a current registration sticker. Registration is available through
MD Outdoors, any
DNR Regional Service Center, or the state forest headquarters.
For statewide ORV trail information and regulations, see
Off-Road Vehicle Trails on Maryland State Forests.
ORV Trails
Snowmobile Trails
Trail maps are also available at the state forest headquarters.
For permit purchases or questions, contact headquarters at 301-707-6539.
