The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is highlighting upcoming and ongoing small game hunting seasons, including those for squirrels, rabbits, and fall turkey, with some species featuring extended periods and liberal bag limits amid healthy populations statewide.
“Although many hunters turn their attention to deer during this time of year, small game hunting should not be overlooked,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer said. “It’s a great way to introduce new hunters to the sport and develop woodsmanship skills that will help in all types of hunting.”
Squirrel season began September 6, 2025, with a daily bag limit of six gray, red, or eastern fox squirrels. The Delmarva fox squirrel remains protected and excluded from the season to support its recovery. Hunters can pursue squirrels through February 28, 2026. Scouting areas with mast-producing trees like oaks and hickories increases success rates, as these provide key food sources for the animals.
Rabbit season opens November 1, 2025, with a daily bag limit of four eastern cottontail rabbits, continuing until February 28, 2026. Productive spots include brushy field edges, weedy areas, and hedgerows, where rabbits seek cover and forage.
In Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties, the fall turkey season runs from November 1 to November 9, 2025, with a bag limit of one turkey per hunter. Turkey numbers are stable in western Maryland, though below-average reproduction in recent years could result in smaller flocks this season.
Bobwhite quail hunting is closed on public lands east of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay to protect populations.
Full regulations, including check-in requirements and public land details, appear in the Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping. The 2025-2026 hunting seasons calendar confirms these dates and notes Sunday hunting opportunities for small game in select counties, including Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s in Southern Maryland.
Licenses and stamps are available through the updated MD Outdoors online system and free mobile app, which feature streamlined navigation and renewal processes. Purchases can also occur at licensing agents or by calling 866-344-8889.
In Southern Maryland, encompassing Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties, small game hunting draws on abundant local populations and accessible public lands. Gray squirrels thrive in the region’s mixed hardwood forests, with recent surveys indicating stable numbers despite urban development pressures. Eastern cottontail rabbits are common in agricultural edges and overgrown fields, supporting the generous bag limits. While fall turkey hunting is limited to western counties, Southern Maryland hunters can target wild turkeys during the spring season, which in 2025 yielded 4,851 harvests statewide. The 2025 wild turkey observation survey reported 4,512 sightings, down from 7,930 in 2024, attributed to variable weather and habitat conditions, though populations remain viable for managed hunting.
Public hunting opportunities in Southern Maryland include several wildlife management areas managed by the Department of Natural Resources. Cedar Point Wildlife Management Area in Charles County spans 1,916 acres of tidal marshes, forests, and fields, ideal for squirrel and rabbit pursuits with its oak-hickory stands and brushy habitats. Parkers Creek Wildlife Management Area in Calvert County covers 1,810 acres, featuring wooded trails and mast-producing trees that attract squirrels; it allows small game hunting during open seasons. Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management Area, also in Charles County, offers 4,500 acres with diverse cover for rabbits along field edges. Popes Creek Wildlife Management Area in Charles County provides 240 acres focused on waterfowl but includes zones for small game. In St. Mary’s County, sites like St. Mary’s River State Park and the 600-acre Salem Tract allow small game hunting with reservations for certain activities. Calvert County’s Flag Ponds Nature Park and Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm permit limited hunting with daily reservations, emphasizing safety in shared-use areas.
Hunters in these areas must follow general rules: small game seasons align with statewide dates, but local restrictions apply, such as no Sunday hunting in some county parks. Check-in for harvested turkeys involves online or phone reporting within 24 hours, even outside the fall season. Firearms for small game include shotguns (plug limited to three shells), rifles (.22 caliber or smaller for squirrels), and archery equipment.
Effective techniques for Southern Maryland’s terrain include still-hunting for squirrels by sitting near nut trees at dawn or dusk, listening for rustling or bark stripping. For rabbits, walking hedgerows with a dog or in pairs flushes them from cover; use No. 6 shot for clean harvests. Late-season success improves on warmer days after rain, when animals become more active. Bowhunters may opt for judo points or blunts for small game to prevent arrow loss in underbrush.
Small game hunting contributes to wildlife management in Maryland, where proceeds from licenses fund habitat conservation. Since the 1970s, efforts have restored species like wild turkeys, introduced to Southern Maryland in the 1990s, leading to sustainable populations today. The Delmarva fox squirrel, once endangered, has recovered through protections, with sightings in St. Mary’s County wetlands. Quail closures stem from habitat loss, prompting restoration projects in agricultural areas.
Hunters should prioritize safety, wearing blaze orange during overlapping seasons and verifying land permissions. The MD Outdoors app includes maps for public areas, aiding navigation in Southern Maryland’s rural landscapes. With abundant resources, these seasons provide educational entry points for new participants, fostering skills applicable to larger game pursuits.
