The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the start of the archery season for white-tailed and sika deer beginning September 6, which will continue until January 31, 2025. The season promises extensive opportunities for both novice and seasoned hunters to engage in the sport across various regions of the state.
Karina Stonesifer, Director of the Wildlife and Heritage Service, highlighted the anticipation surrounding the season. “Archery season is always exciting because it signifies the changing of the seasons, enabling hunters to really get on the ground (or in the stand) and take advantage of our abundant hunting opportunities,” she said. Stonesifer emphasized the season as a fresh start that invites hunters to reconnect with nature and potentially secure food for their families.
This year’s regulations include specific days designated for using traditional archery methods. During the Primitive Deer Hunt Days, scheduled for February 1 and February 3-4, 2025, hunters are allowed to use only vertical longbows and vertical recurve bows. Detailed information regarding these days, including regional dates and closures, can be found in the 2024-2025 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
The bag limits for the deer season are clearly defined: two white-tailed bucks statewide, with the possibility of one additional bonus buck in Region B—encompassing central, southern, and eastern Maryland—upon the purchase of a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp. Region A, which includes Western Maryland, permits up to two antlerless deer during the archery season. The bag limits increase substantially in Region B to 15 antlerless deer, and in the Suburban Deer Management Zone, the limit is unlimited.
Moreover, hunters targeting sika deer must obtain a specific sika hunting stamp in addition to the archery stamp, available through the department’s online licensing system or other official outlets.
New adjustments have been made for the 2024-25 season concerning non-resident hunters, who can now purchase the sika hunting stamp for $200. The sika deer archery season, which is open in every county, allows a bag limit of three deer, with no more than one being antlered.
The Department of Natural Resources also reminds hunters that multiple Sundays have been made available for archery hunting in most counties, including some public lands. An antler-point restriction remains in effect, allowing the harvest of one antlered white-tailed deer that does not meet the three-point minimum requirement per antler. All additional antlered deer must adhere to this restriction, though exemptions apply to licensed junior hunters and apprentice license holders aged 16 or under.
Safety remains a priority, with the department recommending the use of a full-body safety harness and a prusik knot for climbers to ensure safety from the ground up.
Community engagement through deer donation remains encouraged, with state tax credits available to those who contribute their deer to food banks. This initiative supports local and state programs aimed at providing for those in need.
Hunters are required to report their harvest correctly, aiding state biologists in gathering data on deer population and hunting trends, crucial for future wildlife management and conservation efforts.
