Maryland Waterfowl Hunting Blind Site Lottery Opens July 15

Licensing process offers chance to secure hunting locations for a season

Photo courtesy of Jake McPherson, Ducks Unlimited

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is again offering an online process for Maryland hunters to apply for a 2024-2025 waterfowl blind site license. From July 15 through July 29 at 11:59 p.m., hunters and riparian landowners may enter the annual lottery for the opening days of blind site licensing.

Hunters and riparian landowners with a DNRid can register to be entered into a random lottery for a county of their choice. Anyone can register for a DNRid through the department’s online licensing portal.

Lottery entrants will be sent a link to a virtual meeting platform (Microsoft Teams) where a department representative will guide them through the blind site licensing process.

There is no charge to enter the lottery. Hunters must be Maryland residents and must have purchased either a 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 Maryland hunting license prior to their appointment to license offshore waterfowl hunting blind sites. Landowners are exempt from the hunting license requirement but will need to produce proof of property ownership. 

Additional information and important instructions are available on the department’s website. Winners of the lottery will be posted on the department’s website and will be notified by email with the time, date, and virtual meeting link for the meeting. These virtual meetings will begin August 6 and continue during normal business hours. In some counties, appointments will take place on multiple business days.

After the opening days, blind site licensing for all counties will occur by appointment only. Customers may begin making appointments online on August 14 for virtual meetings that will begin August 19. Customers who schedule an appointment will receive an email that includes a virtual meeting link to communicate with DNR staff at the appropriate date and time.