Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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Strider Wildlife Management Area

White-tailed Buck, photo by Matthew Doged

Located adjacent to Seneca Creek State Park on Clopper Road near Gaithersburg, Strider WMA is part of an expansive greenway in Montgomery County that stretches from Damascus to the Potomac River. The 267 acre tract of mixed hardwoods and Virginia pine was dedicated to wildlife conservation in 1949.

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Management

Strider WMA is managed by the Wildlife and Heritage Service. The mission of the Wildlife and Heritage Service is to conserve and enhance diverse wildlife populations and associated habitats while providing for public enjoyment of the State’s wildlife resources through hunting and other wildlife-dependent recreation. Strider WMA contains limited trails available for use by hikers and hunters that are not regularly maintained and are often rough and muddy. This area provides habitat for upland and forest wildlife species including white-tailed deer, turkeys, squirrels, and songbirds. Vehicle access is via parking areas on Clopper Road and Waring Station Road.

Regulations for All Users

Unless otherwise posted or with a permit issued by the Service it is UNLAWFUL to:

  • Operate or possess a vehicle on roads, trails, or waterways not open to general traffic.
  • Bait or feed wildlife.
  • Use or construct permanent blinds or tree stands. All portable blinds or stands must be removed at the end of the day.
  • Ignite, cause to be ignited, or maintain a fire.
  • Camp
  • Remove, disturb, damage, or destroy any mineral, plant, rock, tree, or nongame animal.
  • Have dogs off leash from April 15 through August 15.
  • Use dogs to chase fox and raccoons.
  • Release any animal or plant.
  • Conduct commercial activities.
  • Place a cache for the purpose of geocaching.
  • Operate, possess, or use combustibles, explosives, or fireworks.
  • Dig for relics and treasures, remove prehistoric or historic artifacts, or use a metal detector without a permit from the Office of Archeology.
  • Deposit litter or refuse including, but not limited to, animal carcasses, appliances, brush, debris, furniture, garbage, hazardous material, tires, waste paper, yard waste, or other litter.
  • Vandalize real property including any blind, building, crop, equipment, gate, habitat, plant, road, sign, trail, vehicle, vessel, or other public property.
  • Graze cattle, goats, horses, sheep, or other domestic animals.
  • Place decoys prior to 1 hour before legal shooting hours, leave decoys overnight, or remove decoys later than 1 hour after legal shooting hours.
  • Target shoot.

Hunting

Public hunting on Strider WMA is permitted during legal hunting seasons with restrictions (see below). A free permit is required and available from the DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service Gwynnbrook Wildlife Office or online. Hunting is available for all seasons that allow archery usage in accordance with current hunting laws and regulations established by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.​

  • Hunting access is restricted to seasonal permit holders from September 1st through February 28th and during the Spring Turkey Season.
  • Hunting is permitted Monday through Saturday. No hunting is allowed on Sundays.
  • Strider WMA is split into two sections, Strider 1 (south of Clopper Road) and Strider 2 (north of Clopper Road). From September 1st through January 31st there are 6 reservations available per day at Strider 1 and 4 reservations per day at Strider 2.
  • During Spring Turkey Season, hunters must sign in at the parking area. Three hunters will be allowed to sign in at a time at Strider 1 and two hunters will be allowed to sign in at Strider 2.
  • Permitted hunting devices include archery equipment only.
  • Trapping is not allowed.
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Non-Hunting Users

From September through January and during the Spring Turkey Season, non-hunting users may access the property on Sundays only. No permit or reservation is needed. Outside these timeframes, Strider WMA is open Sunday through Saturday for the following activities:

  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Biking on established trails
  • Bird Watching
  • Nature Photography
  • Dogs must be leashed from April 15 through August 15

Maryland map depicting approximate location on Strider WMADirections

From the Capital Beltway, take I-270 north toward Frederick then take Exit 10 (Clopper Road). The entrance to the Strider Wildlife Management Area is about 4 miles from the exit on Clopper Road. For additional information, contact the Gwynnbrook Wildlife Office at 410-356-9272.

Photo by Matthew Doged

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This area is a part of Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources public land system and is managed by the Wildlife and Heritage Service. The primary mission of the WMA system is to conserve and enhance wildlife populations and their respective habitats as well as to provide public recreational use of the State’s wildlife resources.

Eighty-five percent of the funding for Maryland's state wildlife programs comes from hunting license fees and a federal excise tax on sport hunting devices and ammunition. The federal aid funds are derived from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (or Pittman-Robertson) Fund, which sportsmen and women have been contributing to since 1937. Each state receives a share of the funds, which is administered by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; these funds are used for wildlife conservation and hunter education programs, including the management of the WMA system.

Other sources of funds for land acquisition include Program Open Space Funding for Maryland's State and local parks and conservation areas, provided through The Department of Natural Resources' Program Open Space. Established in 1969, Program Open Space symbolizes Maryland's long-term commitment to conserving natural resources while providing exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities.​

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