The first segment of Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season will be open Oct. 16-18 statewide. Hunters in Region B — the state’s central, southern, and eastern regions — can also use muzzleloaders from Oct. 20-25 for antlerless deer only.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin its annual fall trout stocking program the first full week in October. The program will bring thousands of hatchery-raised rainbow, brown, and golden rainbow trout to streams and impoundments across the state. This initiative provides recreational fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill levels Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that black bears are beginning a period of increased feeding activity in preparation for winter hibernation. As the leaves change and the weather cools, bears will travel across roads more frequently. They also can become more attracted to human-provided food sources and lose their natural fear of people, which can Read the Rest…
Foresters and rangers around Maryland continue to report muted leaf colors as Maryland’s foliage rapidly changes colors and falls. This week’s rain, while welcome, caused some early changing trees to drop their leaves. Black gum and black walnut are turning early, with yellow and brown colors. In some areas, the rain has slowed the browning Read the Rest…
Walking the sandy shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay can be a tranquil and rewarding experience for lovers of Maryland’s outdoors. Some beachcombers pursue sea glass and shells, while some have been lucky enough to find prehistoric fossils including shark teeth and ancient artifacts such as arrowheads.
Anglers are finding many of our fisheries in a transition from warmer summer to cooler fall temperatures, and fish are feeding aggressively.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently accepting bids for the 2025-2026 trapping season at several Wildlife Management Areas and other public lands. Deadlines for submitting bid packages are in October. The individual with the highest bid for each area will be awarded annual trapping privileges.
Essex staff will be relocated to more frequently used service centers, which will expand operations The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be closing its Essex Licensing and Registration Service Center, located inside the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s building on Eastern Boulevard. The Essex Regional Service Center will be open for appointments through Oct. Read the Rest…
A Pennsylvania man has been charged in connection with a fatal utility task vehicle (UTV) incident that occurred on Deep Creek Lake earlier this year.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will distribute more than $12 million in grant funding from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for state and local projects to enhance outdoor recreation. Funds will be used for acquisition of new park land, renovation of existing facilities, and the development of new amenities Read the Rest…
As we approach the official start of fall on Sept. 22, we’re beginning to see changing foliage colors in Maryland. In western Maryland, foresters are reporting a dry summer season has resulted in red maples and sugar maples turning early, with more browns and yellow instead of oranges and reds. Look for leaf changes along Read the Rest…
The Maryland Natural Resources Police took action related to alleged violations of criminal and natural resource laws from June through August this year. During those months, individuals were charged for violations including fishing without a license, hunting out of season, weapons charges, oyster and crabbing violations, forestry citations, and other crimes.
We will experience some wet weather for a few days, but the forecast looks good for the weekend. Anglers are enjoying good fishing in all areas of Maryland.
Fan Favorite Winner to Be Chosen on Facebook The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has chosen the winners of the annual Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest, with the grand prize going to Christopher Michael for his fun photo of a river otter, titled “Waterways Wanderer.” This year’s contest received more than 1,800 photo submissions. The Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Outdoor Recreation is accepting registrations to attend the 2025 Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit, happening October 28-30 in Baltimore City. The summit will feature outdoor excursions, dynamic speakers and sessions, networking, and social events. Maryland hosted its inaugural Outdoor Recreation Summit last October at Rocky Gap State Park, Read the Rest…
The Maryland Environmental Trust in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of Agriculture, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust are proud to present this year’s Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants program. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025. About $357,000 is available for this year’s grant round. The Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants program awards Read the Rest…
Welcome to the Maryland Fall Foliage Report for 2025. Fall officially begins on Monday, Sept. 22, but we’re expecting to see color changes in the coming weeks. Our weekly reports featuring observations from Department of Natural Resources’ foresters, naturalists, and rangers throughout the state will be posted every Thursday into November.
September is a remarkable month, with one foot dragging along a little summer weather and yet taking another noticeable step into fall. It is the best of both worlds and fishing could hardly be better.
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs The Board of Public Works today approved nearly $4.7 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments and land trusts for new playgrounds, sports fields, pickleball courts, and land conservation in Allegany, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Talbot, and Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) advises hunters that Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) has been confirmed in Maryland and is the likely cause of death for white-tailed deer reported in numerous counties across the state. This year, confirmed or suspected cases of EHD have been documented in counties in central and southern Maryland. The largest Read the Rest…
Teen angler and shore fishing specialist are Maryland’s 24th and 25th Master Anglers The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has recognized Jesse Black of Kingwood, West Virginia, and Canden Michalski of North East for catching 10 different species of fish at trophy size to reach the FishMaryland Master Angler milestone. These awardees bring the total Read the Rest…
Maryland’s September teal-only hunting season will be open from Sept. 18 through Sept. 27 in the September Teal Hunting Zone. Shooting hours are one half-hour before sunrise until sunset, the daily bag limit is six teal (blue or green-winged), and the possession limit is 18 teal, or three times the daily bag limit. Seasons and Read the Rest…
Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay are in the midst of a comeback. During the past 20 years, the oyster population in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay has tripled, according to this year’s stock assessment conducted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Maryland’s success Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now taking applications for Greenspace Equity Program Appraisal Funding Grants, which provide money for independent appraisals for acquisitions that may qualify for an FY 2027 Greenspace Equity Program Grant. The goal of the Greenspace Equity Program is to preserve, create, and improve public greenspaces that enhance the Read the Rest…
Labor Day is now to our stern, but there is still plenty of time to take the kids fishing after school and on the weekends to enjoy the marvelous weather.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has drawn the winning lottery entries for the 2025 Maryland Black Bear Hunt. Lottery entrants were randomly selected and will receive a permit valid for the six-day bear hunting season open from October 20-25, 2025 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. Entrants can check the black bear hunt webpage lottery results section Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has recently identified a new location of Hydrilla verticillata, an invasive aquatic plant, near Arrowhead Cove in Deep Creek Lake. This discovery is a significant concern as hydrilla poses a serious threat to the lake’s ecosystem by outcompeting native plant species and disrupting the natural balance of the environment. Read the Rest…
