Fort Frederick State Park Hunting
Location
The Hunting Area is located within a hilly, wooded section of the park in western Washington County near the Potomac River. The Hunting Area is approximately 250 acres and is divided into three separate areas by the C&O Canal Towpath and CSX rail line. Hunting is by reservation only.
Seasons Open
Fort Frederick State Park is open for deer archery hunting only. Be sure to consult your Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping for season dates and bag limits. Hunting is allowed Monday through Saturday. No hunting is allowed on Sundays.
Hunting Devices Allowed
Only archery equipment is allowed.
Permits
Hunting at Fort Frederick State Park is by reservation only. To reserve a permit hunters must contact the park office at 301-842-2155, Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, at least two (2) weeks before the desired hunting date. Permit is good for a week. Each week is limited to five (5) hunters. Hunting is allowed Monday through Saturday. No hunting is allowed on Sundays.
Reservations may be made after the 1st Monday of August. Hunters must possess a valid Maryland Hunting License and any specialized stamp required to reserve a permit.
Regulations
The Hunting Area is a multi-use area. Hunters must be aware of other park users such as hikers, especially on the trails and be sure of the target and what is beyond.
- A safety zone of at least 50 yards is to be maintained between state park hunting areas, occupied buildings, residences, and developed park areas. A safety zone of at least 100 yards from the edge of Shanktown Road is to be always maintained. In Washington County, archers must be in an elevated position when hunting between 50 and 100 yards of any building or camp occupied by human beings.
- Bows and crossbows may be carried across closed sections of the state park by licensed hunters to get to sections open to hunting. Bows and crossbows must be un-cocked and not have an arrow nocked.
- Bows and crossbows may be carried across C&O Canal National Park property by licensed hunters access areas opened to hunting in Fort Frederick. Bows and crossbows must be un-cocked and not have an arrow nocked.
- Hunters are permitted to access the hunting areas 1 hour before sunrise until 1 hour after sunset. Legal hunting hours apply for actual hunting, 30 minutes before and after sunrise/sunset.
- Hunting boundaries are posted with triangular red and white, “Managed Hunting Area” signs.
- Parking is permitted in designated lots within Fort Frederick State Park only. Parking is not permitted adjacent to the park along Shanktown Road at any time.
- Target practice, baiting, dog training, Sunday hunting, and trapping are not permitted in Fort Frederick State Park.
- Respect the rights of private landowners adjacent to the public hunting area and only cross private property with permission. In Washington County written permission is required from the landowner.
- Hunters tracking or retrieving deer on C&O Canal National Park property must contact the dispatch center at 301-714-2235 and advise that they need to track a deer onto NPS/Federal property that was shot off NPS/Federal property. If no cell service, then contact should be made as soon as possible afterward.
- Use of a tree stand is limited to those of a temporary nature and must be removed at the end of each day. Ground blinds that alter nature in anyway are not permitted.
