Bear Hunters' Guide to Hunting Black Bears in Maryland

Black Bear Check-in Procedures

Pursuant to regulation, successful bear hunters are required to transport their bear to an official bear checking station by 8:00 PM on the day of the kill. However, if a hunter kills a bear and is unable to get it to an official checking station by 8:00 PM on the day of the kill, the hunter must contact the Wildlife and Heritage Service prior to the 8:00 PM deadline by calling 301-334-4255. The hunter will then have 24 hours to report to a designated bear checking station with the bear carcass. Please refer to Black Bear Hunting Regulations for a complete list of regulations pertaining to the Bear Check-in procedures.

Three bear checking stations will be in operation during the bear-hunting season:

In Garrett County, the Mt. Nebo Wildlife Management Area work complex, located at 1728 Kings Run Road, Oakland (at the intersection of Rt. 219), will serve as a bear checking station and will be open throughout the entire bear hunting season.
In Allegany County, the Billmeyer Wildlife Management Area work complex, located at 11701 Mountain Road, Flintstone located between exits #62 and #64 off I-68, will serve as a bear checking station and will be open throughout the entire bear hunting season.
The Albert Powell Fish Hatchery, located at 20901 Fish Hatchery Rd, Hagerstown, MD (near the intersection of I-70 and MD State Route 66), will serve as a bear checking station and will be open on a limited basis (see below).
Special Conditions for the Albert Powell Fish Hatchery bear checking station:
- The checking station located at the Albert Powell Fish Hatchery will be manned Monday - Wednesday of the bear hunting season.
- For the remainder of the season (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) hunters harvesting a bear in either Washington or Frederick counties may take the bear to the Allegany County checking station or call the Mt Nebo Wildlife Office at 301-334-4255 for arrangements with wildlife personnel to meet you and check your bear.

At the bear checking stations, wildlife staff will be on hand to examine bears and collect a variety of biological data used to manage the state’s bear population. Data collection at the checking station will include a DNA sample and the extraction of a premolar tooth that will later be analyzed to determine the bear’s age. Hunters will be asked to identify the site of the kill on a map and will receive an official black bear possession tag that will be affixed to each bear as proof of legal harvest.

Directions to the Garrett County (Mount Nebo Wildlife Management Area) Bear Check-in Station:
From I-68 at Keyser’s Ridge (exit #14A), take Route 219 South toward Oakland. Travel approximately 23 miles. Mount Nebo is approximately three miles north of Oakland along Route 219. The bear check-in station will be located at the Mount Nebo office complex, situated at the intersection of Route 219.

Directions to the Allegany County (Billmeyer Wildlife Management Area) Bear Check-in Station:
From I-68, take the Fifteen Mile Creek Road exit (#62). Follow Fifteen Mile Creek Road/US-40 East for approximately 2.5 miles. Turn right onto Mountain Road. Travel approximately 0.3 miles to the check-in station at the Billmeyer Wildlife Management Area work center.

Directions to the Washington/Frederick County (Albert Powell Fish Hatchery) Bear Check-in Station: From I-70 take exit #35 to State Route 66 North and take the first left onto Fish Hatchery Road. Enter the fish hatchery compound and follow the signs to the bear checking area.