The Maryland Department of Natural Resources opens the archery hunting season for white-tailed and sika deer on Sept. 5, running through Jan. 31, 2026, with interruptions for muzzleloader and firearms periods. Hunters in Region B, which includes Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties, face an antlerless white-tailed deer limit of 15 during archery, while Region A in Western Maryland allows two. A fourth annual Primitive Deer Hunt Days from Feb. 2 to 4, 2026, extends opportunities for those using vertical longbows or recurve bows.
Multiple Sundays are available for archery in most counties, including select public lands, with hunters advised to review the 2025-2026 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping for regional specifics on dates and closures.
“As the weather cools and leaves begin to change color, hunters in Maryland have a great opportunity to get outdoors with archery equipment in hand,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer said. “The archery season is the first chance a deer hunter gets in the 2025-26 season to pursue a deer and be a vital part of deer management in Maryland.”
In Region A, encompassing Allegany, Garrett and parts of Washington counties, the antlerless white-tailed deer archery bag limit stands at two, with no more than two total across all weapon seasons and one per day. An extra antlerless white-tailed deer may be taken during the Primitive Deer Hunt Days. Region B, covering the remainder of the state including Southern Maryland, permits 15 antlerless white-tailed deer in archery, except in the Urban/Suburban Deer Management Zone—Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties—where the archery antlerless limit is unlimited.
The statewide antlered white-tailed deer bag limit is two, with no more than one per weapon season. A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp allows harvesting two antlered deer in the same season or a third if none were taken previously, but Region A restricts to two antlered total and one per season. An antler-point restriction applies: Hunters may take one antlered white-tailed deer yearly without at least three points on one antler, but additional ones must meet the requirement. Junior hunters and apprentice license holders 16 or younger are exempt.
For sika deer, a separate hunting stamp is now required alongside the archery stamp. The sika archery bag limit is three, with no more than one antlered—defined as having at least one antler above the hairline. The season is open statewide, though sika are primarily found on the Eastern Shore in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. Maryland’s sika population, introduced from Asia in the early 1900s, numbered about 19,000 as of 2024, with hunting helping manage their numbers in wetland habitats.
Hunters must report deer taken with long, compound or recurve bows as vertical bow harvests, and crossbows separately, aiding biologists in tracking trends. The department emphasizes safety: Inspect tree stands thoroughly and wear a full-body harness while climbing or in the stand. A prusik knot on a secured line is recommended for tethering from ground level.
New for 2025, the department launched MD Outdoors, an updated online licensing system with a free mobile app offering simplified navigation and renewal. Licenses and stamps are available online, via the app, at agents or by calling 866-344-8889. The system replaces the prior AccessDNR app, which is no longer supported.
Hunters are encouraged to donate deer to food banks, with a state tax credit providing incentives. The credit allows up to $75 per antlerless deer donated, with a yearly cap of $300 for qualified processing expenses when meat goes to nonprofit venison programs. Processors can guide on local options, and the department’s Venison Donation Grant Program funds organizations to cover butchering costs for donations aiding those in need.
Regulated hunting plays a key role in Maryland’s deer management, maintaining populations at sustainable levels amid urbanization. The state’s white-tailed deer herd exceeds 200,000, with overabundance leading to crop damage, vehicle collisions and ecological strain, such as overbrowsing native plants. In 2024-2025, hunters harvested 84,201 deer statewide, a 15.9% increase from the prior year, including 40,366 antlerless to balance sex ratios. This helps prevent issues like Lyme disease spread by deer ticks and supports biodiversity in forests.
In Southern Maryland, Region B’s generous limits reflect higher deer densities, with public lands like Cedar Point Wildlife Management Area in Charles County and Myrtle Grove WMA in Charles and Prince George’s offering archery access. Maryland boasts one of the Mid-Atlantic’s highest hunter success rates—around 50% for deer—and among the most liberal bag limits nationwide, drawing locals to areas near the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay. Procedural steps for participation include obtaining a hunting license, completing a hunter safety course if born after July 1, 1977, and checking in harvests within 24 hours via phone, app or online.
The season’s structure, with breaks from Oct. 16 to 18 for early muzzleloader and Nov. 29 to Dec. 14 for firearms, allows phased management. Sunday hunting expansions since 2019 have added over 6,000 annual harvests, easing pressure on weekdays. For full regulations, consult the guide at local event report.
