Department Introduces Online Process for Waterfowl Blind Site Licensing

Online Lottery, Virtual Appointments Replace In-Person Meetings

Photo by Richard Miller

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is introducing a new online-only process for Maryland hunters to apply for a 2020-2021 waterfowl blind site license. The department is using this virtual process to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

From now through July 28 at 11:59 p.m, hunters may enter the lottery for the opening days of blind site licensing through the department’s Compass portal. Hunters can register to be entered into a random lottery for a county of their choice. Landowners who would like to license their property may also enter the same lottery.

There is no charge to enter the lottery. Hunters must be Maryland residents and must have purchased either a 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 Maryland hunting license prior to their appointment to license sites.

Winners of the lottery will be posted on the department’s website and will be notified by email with the time and date for a virtual online meeting. These virtual meetings will begin August 4 and continue during normal business hours. In some counties, appointments may take place on multiple business days.  

Additional information and important instructions are available on the department’s website. Lottery entrants and other interested individuals should check this site often for updates. 

After the opening days, licensing for all counties will occur by appointment only.  Customers may begin making appointments through the department’s website on August 19 for virtual meetings that will begin August 24. Customers who schedule an appointment will receive an email that includes a link to communicate with a department staff person at the appropriate date and time. 

Preview maps of shoreline licensed by waterfront landowners will be available on the department’s website.