First Segment of Season Starts October 20 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that the first segment of Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season runs from Oct. 20-22 statewide. Hunters in Region B — the state’s central, southern, and eastern regions — can also use muzzleloaders from Oct. 24-29 for antlerless deer only. The popular season typically coincides Read the Rest…
Step Up to Serve, Engage in Maryland Traditions Governor Larry Hogan proclaimed Sept. 11 a day of service and remembrance across the state of Maryland in memory of those lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The proclamation is part of an initiative that Governor Hogan, the Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism, and Read the Rest…
Artists Can Submit Original Work by November 3, 2022 Artists are invited to submit their original works for Maryland’s annual Migratory Game Bird Stamp contest, sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This popular competition combining artistic skill with knowledge of Maryland’s wildlife is open until November 3, 2022.
Mourning Dove, Early Canada Goose Seasons Now Open The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the state’s 2022-2023 migratory game bird hunting seasons. Bag limits, season dates, and shooting hours can be found in the Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
Permit Applications for Somerset County Wildlife Management Areas Now Available The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the annual schedule and process for waterfowl hunting at the Deal Island and Fairmount Wildlife Management Area impoundments. The current program is being managed to reduce crowding and maintain the quality of waterfowl hunting opportunities during Read the Rest…
Online Lottery, Virtual Appointments to Secure Hunting Locations The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is again offering an online-only process for Maryland hunters to apply for a 2022-2023 waterfowl blind site license. From now through July 26 at 11:59 p.m., hunters may enter the annual lottery for the opening days of blind site licensing through the department’s Compass licensing Read the Rest…
Hunters Bag 4,208 Turkeys; Five Counties Set Records Maryland hunters harvested 4,208 wild turkeys during the spring 2022 regular and junior turkey seasons, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported. This year’s harvest was 8% higher than the 2021 harvest and just 2% below the record harvest of 4,303 set in 2020.
Junior Hunt Starts April 16; All Hunters Begin April 18 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces that the statewide spring turkey season will kick off April 16 with Junior Turkey Hunt Day. All hunters can try to bag a bird during the regular statewide spring turkey season, April 18 through May 23.
Frederick County Leads State in Harvest Totals The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported that deer hunters harvested 70,845 deer during the combined archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons, from Sept. 10, 2021 through Feb. 3, 2022. The statewide harvest included 27,947 antlered and 39,498 antlerless white-tailed deer, plus 1,541 antlered and 1,859 antlerless sika deer. The harvest Read the Rest…
Public Input Essential to Our Mission Our department recognizes and values the contributions of both anglers and hunters – especially when it comes to responsibly managing our natural resources. We also recognize the value in ensuring that these and other important outdoor recreation traditions continue long into Maryland’s future. With support from the Recreational Boating Read the Rest…
Hunters Take Advantage of Cold Weather Opportunity The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters reported taking 67 wild turkeys during the 2022 winter turkey season, which was open statewide Jan. 20-22. This year’s harvest was 24% lower than the 2021 winter total of 89 turkeys. St. Mary’s, Baltimore, and Caroline counties reported the highest Read the Rest…
Final Opportunity for Deer Hunters for the 2021-22 Season The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the state’s Primitive Deer Hunt will be open Feb. 1-3 statewide. Hunters with a valid hunting license, or those exempt from the hunting license requirement, may use primitive bows or muzzleloaders to hunt sika and white-tailed deer during these days. Primitive hunting Read the Rest…
Hunters Get One More Chance to Bag a Bird The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the opening of the winter turkey season, which runs statewide from Jan. 20-22 for hunters who did not harvest a turkey during the 2021 fall season. Hunting hours are from one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. The bag Read the Rest…
Harvest 16% Lower, Population Remains Healthy The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 26,569 deer during the two-week firearms season from Nov. 27 through Dec. 11. The harvest was 16% lower than last year’s official count of 31,649.
Second Half of Split Season Now Open The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters the muzzleloader deer hunting season reopened Dec. 18 and will run through Jan. 1, 2022. This is the second half of Maryland’s split deer muzzleloader season; the first half was held in October. Hunters may use muzzleloading firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed Read the Rest…
Depiction of Snow Geese Wins Annual Contest Towson resident Jim Taylor won this year’s 48th annual Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest held by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Judges chose Taylor’s depiction of snow geese flying over a cornfield to be featured on the stamps hunters purchase to hunt all migratory game birds Read the Rest…
Split Season Ends Jan.1, Resumes Jan. 13 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that Maryland’s Atlantic Population Canada goose hunting season opens Friday, Dec. 17. The season contains two segments, Dec. 17 through Jan. 1, 2022, and again from Jan. 13 through Jan. 31, 2022.
Make Maryland’s Outdoors Part of Your Gatherings As we enter the final two months of the year, our thoughts turn to the holiday season and gatherings with family and friends. To supplement those traditional dishes we often serve, I am pleased to share with you the Maryland Department of Natural Resources online cookbook Wild Maryland. Read the Rest…
Weather and Abundant Food Prove Challenging for Hunters Hunters harvested 54 black bears during Maryland’s 18th annual black bear hunt. Official results have been compiled and reported by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources following the five-day hunt held Oct. 25-29 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. Abundant natural food in the mountains of Western Maryland Read the Rest…
Opportunity for Youngsters to Learn Traditions of Deer Hunting The Maryland Department of Natural Resources encourages experienced deer hunters to take advantage of the upcoming Junior Deer Hunting Days to introduce youth to this time-honored cultural and sporting tradition. The Junior Deer Hunt is open on private and designated public land in all counties on November 13. Read the Rest…
Recipes Feature Foods Fished, Foraged, and Hunted For anyone who likes their food on the wild side, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has published a new online cookbook. Wild Maryland includes recipes submitted by Maryland residents and featuring the state’s waterfowl, seafood, deer, and other wild game that can be hunted, trapped, or caught. Read the Rest…
First Opportunity November 6 Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel are once again afforded the opportunity to experience the thrill of waterfowl hunting on two special hunt days: Nov. 6, 2021 and Feb. 5, 2022.
Permits, Reservations Taken for Deep Creek, Broadford Lake Sites The Maryland Department of Natural Resources presents an annual Canada goose hunting opportunity on Deep Creek Lake and waterfowl hunting at Broadford Lake in Garrett County in November. These hunts are done by permit and reservation only on November 22, 23, and 24, 2021. Permits can Read the Rest…
Popular Season is Great Way to Enjoy Maryland’s Outdoors The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that the first segment of Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season runs from Oct. 21-23 statewide. Hunters in Region B — the state’s central, southern, and eastern regions — can also use muzzleloaders from Oct. 25-30 for antlerless deer only. The popular season Read the Rest…
Maryland’s Outdoors Preparing a Cool Transition to Fall One of Maryland’s favorite summer pastimes is visiting the Maryland State Fair. Now in its 140th year, DNR was pleased to participate again this year and showcase the many ways we work to preserve, protect, and enhance our state’s natural resources. It was also a great Read the Rest…
October Deadlines for Online Applications The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be offering two opportunities for hunters to pheasant hunt throughout Maryland. The department invites all junior license holders, apprentice license holders, and lapsed hunters to apply to participate in this year’s stocked pheasant hunts and/or apply for the mentored pheasant hunt event. The stocked pheasant Read the Rest…
Mourning Dove, Early Canada Goose Seasons Now Open The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the state’s 2021-2022 migratory game bird hunting seasons. Bag limits, season dates, and shooting hours can be found in the 2021-2022 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
State Forest Facility to be Closed Four Weekdays to Allow Work All three shooting ranges at Elk Neck State Forest — rifle, pistol, and shotgun- – will be closed to the public on Monday, Sept. 13, and Tuesday, Sept 14 and again on Monday, Sept. 27, and Tuesday, Sept 28 to allow a contractor to Read the Rest…
Proficiency Tests Necessary to Participate in Lottery for Hunts The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has released the 2021-2022 Shooter Qualification Schedule, which includes 20 qualification sessions at 10 locations across the state. Additional events are available upon reservation.
Three Garrett County men were convicted of multiple counts of deer poaching and had their hunting privileges suspended following charges filed by the Maryland Natural Resources Police for the illegal killing of an albino deer in fall 2020.
Online Lottery, Virtual Appointments To License Blind Sites The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now offering an online-only process for Maryland hunters to apply for a 2021-2022 waterfowl blind site license. From now through July 26 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 Read the Rest…
Application Deadline Aug. 31; Drawing Sept. 3 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting applications for the 2021 black bear hunt lottery. Successful applicants will receive a permit valid for the five-day hunting season which will take place Oct. 25-29 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. The department will issue 950 hunting permits this year.
Applications Must Be Submitted or Postmarked by May 31 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting offshore waterfowl blind and shoreline license applications for riparian (waterfront) properties. Anyone who owns such property, or someone granted permission by the owner, may license their shoreline to establish offshore stationary blind sites for hunting waterfowl, and/or Read the Rest…
May in Maryland – Time for Boats, Birds, and Cicadas! Spring weather means boating season — and I am among the thousands of Marylanders eager to get out on the water. Heavy traffic is expected again on our waterways as outdoor recreation continues to increase. Keep an eye out for our boater safety reminders this Read the Rest…
Junior Hunt Precedes Full Season in April and May The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that the statewide spring turkey season will kick off April 17 with Junior Turkey Hunt Day. All hunters can try to bag a bird during the regular statewide spring turkey season, April 19-May 24.
Frederick County Leads State in Harvest Totals The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported that deer hunters harvested 81,729 deer during the combined archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons, from Sept. 11, 2020 through Feb. 3, 2021. The statewide harvest included 29,242 antlered and 49,033 antlerless white-tailed deer, plus 1,500 antlered and 1,954 antlerless sika deer. The harvest Read the Rest…
DNR Soliciting Comment Now through Feb. 26 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has posted the proposed 2021-2022 Migratory Game Bird Seasons for public review and comment through Feb. 26.
Opportunity for Hunters to Bag a Bird This Season The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the opening of the winter turkey season, which runs statewide from January 21-23 for hunters who did not harvest a turkey during the 2020 fall season.
Shooting Facilities Reopen Jan. 7 after One Month of Work The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the reopening of the Elk Neck State Forest rifle and shotgun ranges starting Jan. 7, after completing substantial upgrades and repairs at the complex.
Last Opportunity of the Season for Most Firearms Hunters The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the January firearm deer hunting season opens Jan. 8, 2021, in Deer Management Region B, which includes all of the state except the westernmost counties. Hunters with a valid hunting license may use firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed Read the Rest…
Charges Filed During Two-Week Deer Firearms Season Maryland Natural Resources Police charged several individuals throughout the state for illegal hunting practices during the two-week deer firearm season, Nov. 28- Dec. 12.
Hunters Harvest Over 31,000 Deer during the Two-Week Season The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 31,571 deer during the two-week firearms season from Nov. 28 – Dec. 12. The harvest was 16% higher than last year’s official count of 27,121. Hunters enjoyed good weather compared to the 2019 season, which was Read the Rest…
Hen and Drake Redhead to Adorn 2021-2022 Hunting Stamps The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce Scott Calpino has won the 47th Annual Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest with his lifelike rendering of a hen and a drake redhead, complete with a beautiful reflection in the water
Following an extensive investigation, Maryland Natural Resources Police charged three men with illegally hunting multiple deer in Garrett County. In November and December, Natural Resources Police investigated reports of deer illegally killed near the Blakeslee community. On December 3, officers learned of an additional incident where an antlerless albino deer was illegally hunted, and received Read the Rest…
Season Runs Through Jan. 2 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the muzzleloader deer hunting season will reopen Dec. 19 and run through Jan. 2, 2021. This is the second half of Maryland’s split deer muzzleloader season; the first half was held in October. Hunters may use muzzleloading firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed Read the Rest…
Excellent Weather Contributed to Strong Harvest The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters reported 11,054 deer taken on the opening weekend of the 2020 Maryland firearm season, Nov. 28-29. The harvest was 19% higher than last year’s official first weekend harvest of 9,272 deer. The harvest total included 4,932 antlered and 5,799 antlerless Read the Rest…
COMPASS Portal Expands Outreach The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces its online COMPASS portal is now available in Spanish. The new COMPASS portal will provide Spanish speakers access to the department’s catalog of recreational licenses, permits and stamps, and other products and services. A button at the top of each page within COMPASS allows Read the Rest…
Archery Totals See Increase; Muzzeloaders Offset by Weather The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that hunters harvested 19,571 deer during the early portion of the archery and muzzleloader seasons. The harvest was a 7% decrease from last year’s official harvest of 21,098 deer for the same period.
State Forest Facility Begins Temporary Closure Dec. 7 The rifle and shotgun ranges at Elk Neck State Forest will be closed to the public beginning Dec. 7 for critical maintenance projects. The closure, announced by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, is scheduled for 60 calendar days.