Upland Bird Hunting in Maryland: Regulations, Fees, and More

From the Appalachian Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, hunters can chase grouse, quail, rails, and different small recreation within the Previous Line State.

In case you’ve ever had the pleasure of driving throughout Maryland, you’ve probably seen the wide range of habitat varieties discovered all through the state. Within the west, dense hardwood forests cowl the foothills of the Appalachians and are interspersed with farmlands and rural communities. Within the east, tall pine forests edge the brackish waters that feed into the Atlantic Ocean, spanning 7,700 miles of shoreline. It’s straightforward to think about simply how a lot chicken searching Maryland can provide.

Though most chicken hunters in Maryland pursue waterfowl, the state nonetheless offers alternatives for upland chicken searching. Nonetheless, populations of ruffed grouse, pheasant, and bobwhite quail have drastically declined over the previous a number of many years. That stated, conservation organizations and the Maryland Division of Pure Assets (DNR) have made appreciable efforts to revive wild chicken populations—particularly bobwhite quail.

Earlier than we dive into upland chicken searching laws in Maryland, I’d first like to spotlight the work being finished by the DNR and Quail Without end to assist bolster bobwhite populations within the state.

Bobwhite Quail Restoration Efforts in Maryland

In June, the Maryland Quail Without end Chesapeake Bay Chapter donated $50,000 for bobwhite quail conservation on public lands. These funds have been matched by $150,000 in Pittman–Robertson funds.

“To this point, the chapter’s dedication has paved the best way for the profitable conversion of a formidable 271 acres, with an extra 196 acres set to be planted within the following 12 months,” stated Allison Menefee, the Quail Without end (QF) state coordinator for Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, in a QF weblog publish.

“We’re preventing to reverse the decline, and our members are about conservation first,” stated John Brader, president of the Chesapeake Bay QF chapter, in the identical article. “This challenge is an ideal instance of that mission in motion. Along with the Maryland DNR, we’re constructing habitat that advantages quail and numerous different species.”

Related work on one other piece of public land noticed an current quail inhabitants quadruple post-treatment. “Many landowners that haven’t seen quail not too long ago could really feel the necessity to launch pen-raised quail, or they assume habitat restoration shall be a waste of time,” stated Bob Lengthy, wild turkey and upland recreation chicken challenge supervisor for the Maryland DNR. “However in some instances, there are nonetheless just a few birds current on the panorama which are simply ready for the chance to benefit from the newly created habitat.”

In response to the DNR, Maryland’s quail inhabitants has declined by greater than 90 p.c for the reason that Nineteen Fifties because of elevated predation and adjustments in farming practices. Nonetheless, land managers are utilizing quite a lot of remedies to assist deliver bobwhite again. Practices like thinning forests, planting native grasses and forbs, making use of prescribed fireplace, and eradicating invasive weeds assist create early successional habitat, which quail must survive and efficiently reproduce.

My household is from Maryland’s Jap Shore. My mother has by no means heard a bobwhite there, and my 91-year-old grandfather has by no means informed me tales of listening to their calls throughout the fields close to his rural dwelling. However perhaps, if nice conservation work like this continues, I’ll hear them name throughout the Jap Shore earlier than I’m 91 myself.

Maryland Upland Hen And Small Recreation Season Dates And Limits

These dates have been final up to date on July 29, 2025 and should not replicate any adjustments since that date. For probably the most up-to-date info go to the Maryland DNR web site.

Bobwhite Quail In Maryland

As beforehand talked about, bobwhite quail populations in Maryland are low. Nonetheless, they do exist, and might often be present in open lands and not too long ago cut-over locations. 

Whilst you can not hunt quail in Garrett or Allegany Counties or on DNR lands east of the Susquehanna River, you possibly can hunt them nearly all over the place else. In these locations, the bobwhite season runs from November 1, 2025 via January 15, 2026. Hunters can shoot six quail a day and should possess 12.

Ruffed Grouse Searching In Maryland

Like bobwhite, ruffed grouse populations are additionally declining in Maryland. The reasoning behind this inhabitants development has been extensively studied by the Appalachian Cooperative Grouse Analysis Venture, or ACGRP. You possibly can learn extra in regards to the ACGRP in biologist Gary Norman’s article, “What’s Limiting Jap Ruffed Grouse Populations?”

You can even learn the ACGRP’s closing report on Appalachian ruffed grouse right here.

In Maryland, hunters can shoot as much as two grouse a day from October 4 via December 3, 2025. Grouse are mostly present in western Maryland, particularly in Garrett and Allegany Counties. “Decrease densities of grouse exist in Washington and western Frederick Counties, which is the easternmost extent of their vary in Maryland,” in accordance with the DNR.

American Woodcock Searching in Maryland

In Maryland, woodcock will be discovered statewide. Maryland tends to be only a stopover web site for migrating woodcock, nevertheless, some birds are identified to overwinter on the Jap Shore. 

Like elsewhere of their vary, woodcock lack entry to early successional habitat in Maryland. “Due to this, a number of areas in Maryland resembling Millington Wildlife Administration Space and Mt. Nebo Wildlife Administration Space have been managed to supply extra younger forest,” states the DNR web site.

Maryland has two woodcock seasons. The primary one begins October 25, 2025  and closes on November 28, 2025. The second opens on January 12, 2026 and ends January 28, 2026. Hunters can shoot as much as three birds a day and possess as much as six. Capturing hours are one-half hour earlier than dawn to sundown. 

Ring-necked Pheasant

Persevering with the development of declining upland chicken populations in Maryland is the ring-necked pheasant. Right this moment, pheasants exist in Carroll, Baltimore, Frederick, and Washington Counties, though their numbers are very low. 

The inhabitants decline started within the Nineteen Seventies “due primarily to a sequence of abnormally extreme winters, moist springs, and the discount of fallow ‘soil financial institution’ acreage” in accordance with the College of Maryland Extension. “Throughout typical years, fall pheasant populations common about eight or extra pheasants per 100 acres in main vary.”

Hen hunters can pursue pheasant from November 1, 2025 via February 28, 2026. As much as two birds could also be taken per day, they usually could also be both roosters or hens. Moreover, this 12 months, the DNR is providing stocked pheasant hunts for brand new, lapsed, and youth hunters. These hunts will happen on public lands on November 22 and 23, 2025. For extra details about these hunts, click on right here.

Rabbit and Squirrel Searching In Maryland

Snowshoe hares are thought-about to be extirpated from Maryland. Nonetheless, the state’s searching laws nonetheless state that together with the Delmarva fox squirrel (whose season is closed statewide), snowshoes might not be hunted. If you’re fortunate sufficient to identify a snowshoe in Maryland, don’t shoot it.

Hunters can hunt cottontails from November 1, 2025 via February 28, 2026. As much as 4 rabbits could also be killed per day and eight will be in your possession.

Grey squirrels, fox squirrels, and pine squirrels will be hunted from September 6, 2025 via Feb. 28, 2026. The bag restrict for squirrels is six and the possession restrict is 12.

Maryland Upland Hen And Small Recreation Searching License Charges

These charges have been final up to date on July 29, 2025 and should not replicate any adjustments since that date. For probably the most up-to-date info go to the Maryland DNR web site.

Maryland Blaze Orange Necessities

Small recreation hunters are required to put on blaze orange or pink whereas searching in Maryland. A solid-colored hat and a vest or outer garment with back and front panels with not less than 250 inches of stable blaze orange or pink have to be worn always. Alternatively, blaze camo clothes that’s not less than 50 p.c fluorescent orange or pink above the waist could also be worn as an alternative of the solid-colored vest or different outer garment.

The DNR’s searching laws state that “besides as famous within the exemptions under, a daylight fluorescent colour outer garment or hat have to be worn by all individuals who hunt any wildlife or accompany, help or help a hunter in a subject, marsh, wooded space or on the water. Even those that are exempt from this requirement are inspired to put on fluorescent colour clothes when searching.” To view the total listing of exemptions, view web page 14 of the DNR’s regulation booklet.

Venture Upland all the time recommends that hunters put on blaze orange within the subject, no matter whether or not state laws require it or not.

Maryland Canine Coaching Rules

Maryland requires canine homeowners and handlers coaching retrievers to own a retriever canine coaching allow. The allow is $5 and expires on July 31 of the 12 months after it was bought. 

Allow holders could shoot captive-reared birds which were banded and launched by hand whereas coaching canine. Moreover, allow holders can prepare their canine on woodcock, grouse, pheasant, quail, and hare at any time. That stated, there are penalties in case your canine destroys the eggs or nests of any birds. Moreover, wild birds could solely be taken throughout their authorized searching seasons.

When you have pen-raised birds for greater than 72 hours or use a call-back pen, you will need to receive a recreation husbandry allow along with the retriever coaching allow. Name-back pens might not be used on state owned or managed lands. 

Apply for permits and skim extra details about canine coaching laws in Maryland right here.

Small Recreation Searching on Sundays in Maryland

Hunters can legally hunt cottontails, squirrels, ruffed grouse, pheasants, and bobwhite quail on Sundays throughout their common season dates with some restrictions. To view the total listing of county-specific restrictions and designated public lands, please see web page 52 of the DNR’s searching laws booklet.

Equally, aside from coyotes, it’s unlawful to hunt something apart from deer on the primary day of deer firearms season. Remember to test the deer firearm season dates earlier than heading out into the sphere.

Maryland Conservation Organizations

Chesapeake Bay Quail Without end

Pheasants Without end – Carroll County

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Mid-Atlantic Chapter

Delta Waterfowl (has a number of Maryland chapters)

Geese Limitless – Maryland

The Nature Conservancy Maryland/D.C.