Maryland 2022 Winter Hunting Season Primer

2022 Hunting Season Changes & Updates – Maryland:

• Black bear hunting season has expanded from five to six days.
• Ruffed Grouse season will now end on December 31
• Additional Sunday hunting opportunities have been added in Charles, Calvert, Somerset, Talbot, Caroline, Queen Annes and Dorchester counties.
• The Managed Hunt Permit is no longer required for any managed hunts.
• Sea Ducks may still be harvested during the regular duck season as part of the regular daily duck bag limit, however, waterfowl hunters should note that the Special Sea Duck Season has been eliminated.
  • Detailed List of Updates here
    – Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Resources

• dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/hunt_trap/home.aspx
  • Hunting News
  • Game Mammals 
  • Deer
  • Waterfowl
  • Black Bear
  • Eastern Wild Turkey
• Licensing & Registration Portal
• Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping 2022-2023
• eRegulations

Important Dates:

• Antlered White-Tailed Deer Firearms Open Hunting Season
  • Nov 26 – Dec 10
  • Jan 6 – Jan 8; Region B Only
• Antlerless White-Tailed Deer Firearms Open Season
  • Dec 3 – Dec 10
    • Region A; Public Lands Only
  •  Dec 3, Dec 9, Dec 10
    • Region A
  • Nov 26 – Dec 10
    • Region B
  • Jan 6 – Jan 8
    • Region B
• Sika Deer Firearms Open Hunting Season
  • Nov 26 – Dec 10
  • Jan 6 – Jan 8
    

• Quail Open Hunting Season
  • Nov 5 – Jan 15; **Only on Private Land
• Ruffed Grouse Open Hunting Season
  • Oct 1 – Dec 31
• Pheasant Open Hunting Season
  • Nov 5 – Feb 28
• Crow Open Hunting Season
  • Aug 15 – Mar 15
    

• Duck Hunting Season
  • Nov 12 – Nov 25
  • Dec 15 – Jan 31
• Brant Hunting Season
  • Nov 16 – Nov 25
  • Dec 15 – Jan 31
• Canada Goose Hunting Season
  • Dec 17 – Jan 2
  • Jan 13 – Jan 31
• Light Goose Hunting Season
  • Dec 12 – Jan 31
  • Feb 4
• Light Goose Conservation Order Season
  • Nov 28 – Dec 10
  • Feb 1 – Feb 3
  • Feb 6 – Apr 15
• Mourning Dove Hunting Season
  • Oct 22 – Nov 25
  • Dec 15 – Jan 7
• Woodcock Hunting Season
  • Oct 19 – Nov 25
  • Jan 9 – Jan 21
• Rail Hunting Season
  • Sept 1 – Nov 21
• Common Snipe Hunting Season
  • Sept 29 – Jan 31
    

• Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Open Season
  • Nov 5 – Feb 28
• Squirrel (Gray, Eastern Fox, Red, & Piney) Open Season
  • Sept 3 – Feb 28

Big Game:
Deer (White-Tailed & Sika)
[no open season] Elk
[out of season] Black Bear

Small Game:
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, Squirrel (Gray, Eastern Fox, Red, & Piney)
[no open season] Delmarva Fox Squirrel

Upland Game & Migratory Bird:
Ring-Necked Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse, Crow, Duck, Brant, Canada Goose, Mourning Dove, Woodcock, Rail, Common Snipe
[conservation order] Light Goose
[private land only] Quail