ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland’s annual Primitive Deer Hunt will take place statewide February 2-4, 2026, providing hunters a three-day opportunity to pursue antlered and antlerless sika and white-tailed deer using only traditional primitive weapons.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the dates for the final segment of the 2025-2026 deer hunting season. Hunters with a valid Maryland hunting license, or those exempt from the license requirement, may participate. Permitted weapons are limited to long bows, recurve bows, flintlock muzzleloaders and sidelock percussion muzzleloaders. Compound bows, crossbows, drawlocks and telescopic or electronic aiming devices are prohibited. Fiber optic sights are allowed on otherwise legal primitive bows and muzzleloaders.
“The final opportunity of the 2025-2026 Maryland deer hunting season provides hunters a chance to pursue deer much like our ancestors did,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer. “The Primitive Deer Hunt challenges hunters to use traditional archery and muzzleloader equipment to harvest a deer during some of the coldest days Maryland has to offer.”
Participants must possess a valid hunting license and either an Archery Stamp or Muzzleloader Stamp unless exempt from licensing requirements. Hunters targeting sika deer need an additional sika hunting stamp. Licenses and stamps can be obtained online through the MD Outdoors licensing website, at licensed agents or by calling DNR Licensing and Registration Services at 866-344-8889. The department advises hunters to review the 2025-2026 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping for complete details on licensing, bag limits, registration and other regulations.
Deer harvested during the Primitive Deer Hunt count toward the hunter’s established 2025-26 archery or muzzleloader bag limit for antlered and antlerless deer. An exception applies in Region A, which includes Allegany County, Garrett County and the western portion of Washington County, where hunters may take one antlerless deer that does not count against their existing archery or muzzleloader bag limits.
Safety regulations require deer hunters and their companions to wear daylight fluorescent orange or daylight fluorescent pink during the hunt. Acceptable options include a solid fluorescent orange or pink cap, a vest or jacket with at least 250 square inches of fluorescent color on front and back panels, or an outer garment above the waist with at least 50 percent daylight fluorescent color in camouflage pattern.
The department emphasizes tree stand safety, urging hunters to inspect stands carefully and wear a full-body safety harness at all times while in, entering or exiting a stand. Officials strongly recommend using a sliding knot, such as a prusik knot, attached to a line secured above the stand to keep the hunter tethered to the tree from the moment they leave the ground.
Hunters are encouraged to donate harvested deer through state or local programs. A state tax credit provides an incentive for donations, and hunters should consult deer processors for available options.
The Primitive Deer Hunt represents the last phase of Maryland’s extended deer season, focusing on traditional methods during winter conditions. The hunt applies uniformly across the state, including areas with sika deer populations in Southern Maryland, where hunters must comply with stamp requirements.
No changes to bag limits or zones were noted beyond the Region A antlerless exception. The department’s emphasis on safety and proper licensing aims to ensure a successful and regulated experience for participants.