Maryland’s Primitive Deer Hunt will be held statewide on February 1 and from February 3-4, giving hunters the opportunity to use traditional hunting equipment during the final days of the 2024-2025 deer hunting season. Participants with a valid hunting license or those exempt from licensing requirements may pursue both antlered and antlerless sika and white-tailed deer during this period.
Primitive hunting devices are strictly defined as long bows, recurve bows, flintlock muzzleloaders, or sidelock percussion muzzleloaders. Prohibited equipment includes compound bows, crossbows, drawlocks, and scopes or other electronic aiming devices, although fiber optic sights are allowed if attached to otherwise legal equipment.
“The Primitive Hunt provides a unique and challenging opportunity for hunters to step back in time and use traditional methods during some of the coldest days of the season,” said Karina Stonesifer, Director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Service.
Hunters are advised to review the corrected Primitive Hunt dates on the DNR website, as the printed 2024-2025 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping contains errors in the season and bag limit tables.
Deer harvested during the Primitive Hunt Days count toward a hunter’s archery or muzzleloader bag limit for the 2024-2025 season. However, an exception applies in Region A—comprising Allegany County, Garrett County, and parts of western Washington County—where hunters may harvest one additional antlerless deer without it affecting their existing bag limits.
The DNR reminds hunters to adhere to safety guidelines and state regulations during the Primitive Deer Hunt. Participants and their companions are required to wear daylight fluorescent orange or pink in one of the following ways: a solid cap, a vest or jacket with at least 250 square inches of back and front fluorescent panels, or an outer garment of camouflage orange or pink with at least 50% fluorescent coloring above the waist. These measures are in place to enhance visibility and safety in the field.
Tree stand safety remains a priority during the season. Hunters are urged to inspect their equipment carefully and to use a full-body safety harness both while climbing and while in the stand. The DNR recommends employing a sliding prusik knot on a safety line secured above the stand to ensure constant tethering to the tree.
Hunters are also encouraged to donate harvested deer through Maryland’s deer donation programs. A state tax credit is available as an incentive for donations, and additional programs may exist at the local level. Hunters should consult their processors for further details.
For more information on the Primitive Hunt and other regulations, hunters are encouraged to consult the DNR website and the Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
