Frederick County Shotgun Deer Hunting Zone has Changed

Effective immediately, the shotgun-only deer hunting area in Frederick County has been rezoned. The change was made at the request of Frederick County officials in cooperation with the Maryland Farm Bureau to incorporate the city and surrounding suburbs, and to give deer hunters the option to use rifles in the rural sections of the county.

The previous shotgun-only zone was primarily located south of Interstate 70 and did not include the city of Frederick or surrounding area. The new zone is now centered around the city, and the more rural portions of the county south of Interstate 70 are no longer in the shotgun-only deer hunting zone.

When designing the new zone, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources gave careful consideration to maintaining the longstanding safety record held by hunters in Frederick County and across the state.

Hunters may use shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders or archery equipment in the zone during the deer firearm seasons. DNR reminds hunters that breech-loading rifles for deer hunting are prohibited in the shotgun-only deer hunting zone in Frederick County.

The updated zone will be in place for the upcoming deer firearm seasons, including the 2015 Junior Deer Hunt Days. The new zone map supersedes the information printed in the 2015-2016 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping. A map of the new zone and other deer hunting regulations are available online.