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Maryland

Hunting

Hunting

Turkey Seasons & Limits

Junior Turkey Hunt Days and Bag Limits 2024

Dates

Area

Bag Limit

April 13

Statewide

1 bearded turkey per day

Sunday, April 14

in certain counties, see chart

The Junior Turkey Hunting Days are for hunters age 16 or younger only. To hunt during these days:

  • Junior hunters must have a Hunting License or be exempt from the license requirement (see Who May Hunt Without a License, Hunting Licenses).
  • Junior turkey hunters must be accompanied in the field by an individual who:
    • Is 21 years old or older;
    • Possesses a valid Maryland hunting license (an Apprentice Hunting License does not meet this requirement) or is exempt from hunting license requirements; and
    • Is unarmed.
  • Only bearded turkeys may be harvested in the Junior Turkey Hunting Days and Spring Season.
  • Turkeys taken by junior hunters during these days count toward the entire Spring Season bag limit.
  • The Junior Turkey Hunting Days bag limit is one bearded turkey per day.
  • Daily shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset for Junior Turkey Hunting Days. See the Sunday hunting chart for Sunday hours within certain counties.
  • Hunting Devices for the Junior Turkey Hunting Days are only shotguns (loaded with #4 shot or smaller), crossbows, vertical bows or air guns that shoot arrows or bolts.
  • It is illegal to hunt turkeys with the aid of bait or to place bait for turkeys during any turkey season.
  • Dogs and organized drives may not be used.

Spring Turkey Season and Bag Limits 2024

Dates

Area

Bag Limit

April 18–May 23
(includes Sundays in certain counties, see chart)

Statewide

1 bearded turkey per day,
2 bearded turkeys per season

  • Only bearded turkeys may be harvested in the Spring Season.
  • The Spring Season bag limit is one bearded turkey per day and two bearded turkeys for the season.
  • Spring Turkey Season daily shooting hours for April 18 through May 9 are one-half hour before sunrise to noon. See the Sunday hunting chart for Sunday hours within certain counties.
  • Spring Turkey Season daily shooting hours for May 10 through May 23 are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. See the Sunday hunting chart for Sunday hours within certain counties.
  • Hunting Devices for Spring Turkey Season are only shotguns (loaded with #4 shot or smaller), crossbows, vertical bows or air guns that shoot arrows or bolts.
  • It is illegal to hunt turkeys with the aid of bait or to place bait for turkeys during any turkey season.
  • Dogs and organized drives may not be used.

Fall Turkey Season and Bag Limits 2023

Dates

Area

Bag Limit

Oct. 28–Nov. 5 (includes Sundays in hunt area counties, see chart)

Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties

Fall and Winter Seasons have a combined bag limit of 1 turkey of either sex

  • The combined bag limit for the 2023 Fall and 2024 Winter Seasons is one turkey of either sex.
  • Fall Turkey Season daily shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.
  • Hunting Devices for Fall Turkey Season are only airguns (that shoot arrows, bolts or bullets), crossbows, handguns, shotguns (loaded with #4 shot or smaller or a solid, single projectile), rifles or vertical bows.
  • It is illegal to hunt turkeys with the aid of bait or to place bait for turkeys during any turkey season. However, during the fall season only, it is not considered to be hunting with the aid of bait if a hunter and any turkey that a hunter shoots at are at least 150 yards from any bait legally placed for other species (e.g. corn placed to attract deer).
  • Be aware: Fall turkey hunters are encouraged to wear daylight fluorescent color clothing especially when other hunting seasons are open at the same time.

Winter Turkey Season and Bag Limits 2024

Dates

Area

Bag Limit

Jan. 18–20

Statewide

Fall and Winter Seasons have a combined bag limit of 1 turkey of either sex

  • The combined bag limit for the 2024 Winter and 2023 Fall Seasons is one turkey of either sex.
  • Winter Turkey Season daily shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.
  • Hunting Devices for Winter Turkey Season are only shotguns (loaded with #4 shot or smaller), crossbows, vertical bows, or air guns that shoot arrows or bolts.
  • It is illegal to hunt turkeys with the aid of bait or to place bait for turkeys during any turkey season.

Sunday Turkey Hunting 2023–2024

Sunday hunting is permitted on April 14 (Junior Hunt Day) and all Sundays during any open turkey season with these restrictions, in these counties and locations.

County

Location

Shooting Hours

Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Kent, Queen Anne’s

Private lands only

Shooting hours are the same as Monday through Saturday

Dorchester

Private and public lands

Shooting hours are the same as Monday through Saturday

Allegany, Cecil, Garrett, St. Mary’s, and Washington

Private and designated public lands*

Shooting hours are the same as Monday through Saturday

Talbot

Private lands only

Legal shooting hours on Sundays are from ½ hour before sunrise until 10:30 am

Somerset

Private lands and public land leased to a hunt club only

Legal shooting hours on Sundays are from ½ hour before sunrise until 10:30 am

Wicomico and Worcester

Private and designated public lands*

Legal shooting hours on Sundays are from ½ hour before sunrise until 10:30 am

* Designated public lands open to Sunday hunting in Allegany (Billmeyer-Belle Grove WMA, Dan’s Mountain WMA, Green Ridge SF, McCoole FMA, Sideling Hill WMA, Warrior Mountain WMA), Cecil (Earlville WMA, Grove Farm WMA, Old Bohemia WMA), Garrett (Cunningham Swamp WMA, Garrett SF, Mt. Nebo WMA, Potomac SF, Savage River SF), St. Mary’s (Salem SF, Saint Inigoes SF), Washington (Indian Springs WMA, Prather’s Neck WMA), Wicomico (Ellis Bay WMA, Chesapeake Forest Lands, Johnson WMA, Nanticoke WMA, Wetipquin WMA), and Worcester (Chesapeake Forest Lands, E. A. Vaughn WMA, Hickory Pt. Wildlands, Isle of Wight WMA, Pocomoke SF, Pocomoke River WMA)