Legal shooting hours
One half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset, with county and land-specific Sunday exceptions.
Agency source agency
MARYLAND RUT AND SEASON DATA
When is the rut in Maryland?
Maryland has published rut timing at statewide precision. The source method is Statewide agency breeding statement; no county or regional timing table was published in the checked agency material.. Examples: Maryland statewide: Nov 1 to Nov 14. Source: the agency publication linked on this page.
agency
Published rut units
PARTIAL: Maryland DNR publishes statewide breeding timing but no county or regional peak dataset was found.
| Unit | Peak window | Method | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland statewide | Nov 1 to Nov 14 | breeding_observed | Agency source | Verify with your state agency |
Whitetail presence
White-tailed deer can be found in every county in Maryland.
Presence source agency
2026-27 deer seasons
| Season | Zone or scope | Dates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | statewide with breaks; see notes | Sep 11, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Muzzleloader | statewide with breaks | Oct 22, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Firearms | region_b | Jan 8, 2027 to Jan 10, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Primitive Deer Hunt Days | statewide | Feb 1, 2027 to Feb 3, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Junior Deer Hunt Days | statewide, Sunday availability is county and land specific | Nov 14, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | Agency guide |
Legal light, bag limits, and calls
Bag limits
Antlered maximum: 2. Two antlered white-tailed deer total for all seasons combined, no more than one in any weapon season; a third may be taken only in Region B as a bonus antlered deer under official requirements. Region A and Region B have separate antlerless limits.
Bag-limit source agency
Electronic deer calls
Recorded or electrically amplified calls or sounds are prohibited for deer hunting.
Call-rule source law
Official guide links
Questions about Maryland
When is the rut in Maryland?
Maryland has published rut timing at statewide precision. The source method is Statewide agency breeding statement; no county or regional timing table was published in the checked agency material.. Examples: Maryland statewide: Nov 1 to Nov 14. Source: the agency publication linked on this page.
What are the 2026-27 deer seasons in Maryland?
The table above lists the season rows present in Hockline's local data. Verify rows marked for agency confirmation.
Are electronic deer calls legal in Maryland?
Recorded or electrically amplified calls or sounds are prohibited for deer hunting.