Maryland hunting
Public hunting land in Maryland
Caliber maps 75 public hunting areas in Maryland, with Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
Maryland · 75 areas
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 67,089 acres
Fishing Bay Wma
State wildlife area · 29,319 acres
Patuxent Research Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 25,661 acres
Deal Island Wma
State wildlife area · 13,465 acres
Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife area · 11,292 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 75 by distance from you.
- 70
- State wildlife areas
- 5
- National wildlife refuges
Maryland hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service
- Phone
- 410-260-8540
- Resident license
- $35 — Resident Regular Hunting License (ages 16-64); valid to July 31
- Nonresident license
- $160 — Nonresident Regular Hunting License (16-64); valid to July 31; stamps extra
- Hunter education
- First-time hunters need a Certificate of Competency in Firearms and Hunting Safety (limited pre-1977 exemptions).
- Good to know
- On popular WMAs, lotteries and reservations are used; check the Guide to Hunting and Trapping for each area.
Fees and rules as published by Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in Maryland
The 12 biggest of 75 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 67,089 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Fishing Bay Wma | State wildlife area | 29,319 | Not recorded: check with the agency |
| Patuxent Research Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 25,661 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Deal Island Wma | State wildlife area | 13,465 | Not recorded: check with the agency |
| Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 11,292 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Dans Mountain Wma | State wildlife area | 9,847 | Not recorded: check with the agency |
| Martin National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 8,331 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Indian Springs Wma | State wildlife area | 6,479 | Not recorded: check with the agency |
| Warrior Mountain Wma | State wildlife area | 4,945 | Not recorded: check with the agency |
| Fairmount Wma | State wildlife area | 4,938 | Not recorded: check with the agency |
| Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 4,188 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Millington Wma | State wildlife area | 3,759 | Not recorded: check with the agency |
State wildlife areas · 70
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National wildlife refuges · 5
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
Maryland hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in Maryland?
Caliber lists 75 public hunting areas in Maryland: 70 state wildlife areas, 5 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in Maryland?
As published by Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $35 — Resident Regular Hunting License (ages 16-64); valid to July 31; nonresident, $160 — Nonresident Regular Hunting License (16-64); valid to July 31; stamps extra. Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Maryland?
First-time hunters need a Certificate of Competency in Firearms and Hunting Safety (limited pre-1977 exemptions). Check Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in Maryland?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find Maryland hunting land near you
All 75 Maryland areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service and the managing agency before you hunt.
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Guides & directories
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- Shooting range directory
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