Migratory Game Bird Seasons & Limits
Special September Teal Season and Bag Limits 2024 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Sept. 16–30 |
6 teal per day possession limit of 18 |
The September Teal Season is open in these counties:
- Calvert
- Caroline
- Cecil
- Dorchester
- Harford
- Kent
- Queen Anne’s
- St. Mary’s
- Somerset
- Talbot
- Wicomico
- Worcester; and
- that part of Anne Arundel County east of Interstate 895, Interstate 97 and Route 3; and
- that part of Prince George’s County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and
- that part of Charles County east of Route 301.
- The daily bag limit is six teal. The bag limit may include blue-winged and green-winged teal. The possession limit is 18.
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for September Teal Season.
DUCK SEASON DATES AND BAG LIMITS 2024–2025 (Including Coots) |
||
Zones |
DATES |
BAG LIMIT |
EASTERN ZONE |
Oct. 12–Oct. 19 |
see listing below |
EASTERN ZONE |
Nov. 16–Nov. 29 |
2 black ducks |
WESTERN ZONE |
Oct. 5–Oct. 19 |
see listing below |
WESTERN ZONE |
Nov. 23–Nov. 29 |
2 black ducks |
Black ducks may only be taken during the Black Duck Season. |
||
The Eastern Duck Season Zone is open in these counties: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Saint Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester counties; and those portions of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George’s, and Montgomery counties east of a line beginning at I83 at the Pennsylvania state line, following I83 south to the intersection of I83 and I695 (Outer Loop), south following I695 (Outer Loop) to its intersection with I95, south following I95 to its intersection with I495 (Outer Loop), and following I495 (Outer Loop) to the Virginia shore of the Potomac River.
The Western Duck Season Zone open in these counties: Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, Frederick and Washington counties; and: those portions of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George’s, and Montgomery counties west of a line beginning at I83 at the Pennsylvania state line, following I83 south to the intersection of I83 and I695 (Outer Loop), south following I695 (Outer Loop) to its intersection with I95, south following I95 to its intersection with I495 (Outer Loop), and following I495 (Outer Loop) to the Virginia shore of the Potomac River.
To view a Duck Zone Map, please see: (https://maryland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=caf337498c1b4da2b2081f542be6d6bc).
The daily bag limit for the Regular Duck Season in both the Eastern and Western Duck Zones is:
- 6 ducks, no more than:
- 4 mallards (only 2 can be hens)
- 3 wood ducks
- 2 black ducks (Black Duck Season only)
- 2 canvasbacks
- 1 pintail
- 2 redheads
- 1 scaup per day (2 per day from Jan. 9 – Jan. 31)
- 1 fulvous tree duck
- 1 mottled duck
- 4 sea ducks: no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (only 1 eider hen).
- All other species of ducks may be taken up to the six duck limit.
- There is no open season for harlequin ducks.
- The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.
- Shooting hours for all duck and coot seasons are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- In addition to the duck bag limit hunters may take 15 coots per day.
Sea Ducks
(Scoters, Long-tailed Duck and Eiders)
- The Special Sea Duck Season is no longer included as an option for states in the federal framework of regulations for migratory game birds. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has retained the Sea Duck Zone in its entirety and sea ducks can be harvested within that zone, or anywhere else in Maryland, as part of the 6 duck daily bag limit during the regular duck season. The bag limit includes 4 sea ducks with no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (only 1 eider hen). For maps and more information on the Special Sea Duck Zone see: dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/hunt_trap/seaducks.aspx
- In the portions of the Special Sea Duck Zone that do not overlap the Offshore Waterfowl Hunting Zone, hunters may only shoot sea ducks.These ducks will count towards their regular daily duck bag limit. Maps of the zones can be found at: https://maryland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=caf337498c1b4da2b2081f542be6d6bc
- Prominent locations where the Sea Duck Zone does not overlap the Offshore Waterfowl Zone include the Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Bay, and the lower Chester, Choptank, and Little Choptank Rivers.
Youth, Veteran and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days and Bag Limits 2024–2025 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Nov. 2, 2024 and Feb. 8, 2025 |
see listing below |
Statewide Youth, Veteran and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days are open for hunters age 16 or younger, military veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code) of any age and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training).
To hunt during these days:
- Youth hunters, military veterans and active duty military personnel must have a hunting license or be exempt from the license requirement (see Hunting Licenses). Military Veterans and Active Duty Military Personnel must also carry appropriate credentials identifying them as such.
- These hunters must possess the printed validation showing proof of purchase of the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp and Harvest Information Program certification.
- A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp is not required of those under 16 years of age. This stamp is required of those who are at least 16 years old.
- Youth hunters hunting on these days 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;
- Is unarmed;
- Is not participating in other waterfowl seasons that are open on the youth days; and
- May assist with decoys, call waterfowl and retrieve downed birds.
Note: Active military and honorably discharged veterans at least 21 years old may possess hunting weapons and hunt while also providing assistance to eligible youth hunters.
The daily bag limit for each Youth, Veteran and Military Waterfowl Hunting Day is:
- 6 ducks, no more than:
- 4 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks or 3 eiders)
- 4 mallards (only 2 can be hens)
- 3 wood ducks
- 2 black ducks
- 2 canvasbacks
- 1 pintail
- 2 redheads
- 2 scaup
- 1 fulvous tree duck
- 1 mottled duck
- 1 brant
- 2 Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Goose Hunt Zone or
- 5 Canada geese in the Late Resident Goose Hunt Zone
- 15 coots
- 25 light geese
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for Youth, Veteran and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days.
Brant Statewide Season |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Dec. 28–Jan. 31 |
1 per day, possession limit of 3 |
- The daily bag limit is one brant and the possession limit is three.
- Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Early Resident Canada Goose Season and Bag Limits 2024 — Eastern & Western Zones |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
EASTERN ZONE - Sept. 2–14 |
8 per day |
The Eastern Zone season is open in these counties:
- Calvert
- Caroline
- Cecil
- Dorchester
- Harford
- Kent
- Queen Anne’s
- St. Mary’s
- Somerset
- Talbot
- Wicomico
- Worcester; and
- that part of Anne Arundel County east of Interstate 895, Interstate 97 and Route 3; and
- that part of Prince George’s County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and
- that part of Charles County east of Route 301.
The Western Zone season is open in these counties:
- Allegany
- Baltimore
- Carroll
- Frederick
- Garrett
- Howard
- Montgomery
- Washington; and
- that part of Anne Arundel County west of Interstate 895, Interstate 97 and Route 3; and
- that part of Prince George’s County west of Route 3 and Route 301; and
- that part of Charles County west of Route 301.
- The Eastern and Western Zone daily bag limit is eight geese and the possession limit is 24.
- Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset for both zones.
- Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells may be used to take resident Canada geese during these September seasons only.
Migratory Canada Goose (Atlantic Population) Season and Bag Limits 2024–2025 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Dec. 20–Jan. 4 |
2 per day |
The Atlantic Population Hunt Zone includes these counties:
- Anne Arundel
- Baltimore
- Calvert
- Caroline
- Cecil
- Dorchester
- Harford
- Howard
- Kent
- Queen Anne’s
- Somerset
- St. Mary’s
- Talbot
- Wicomico
- Worcester; and
- that portion of Carroll County east of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and east of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line; and
- that portion of Prince George’s County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and
- that portion of Charles County east of Route 301.
- The daily bag limit is two geese (in the Atlantic Population Hunt Zone) and the possession limit is six.
- The bag limit may include Canada geese, cackling geese and white-fronted geese.
- Shooting hours for this season and zone are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Late Resident Canada Goose Season and Bag Limits 2024–2025 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Nov. 23–Nov. 29 |
5 per day |
The Late Resident Goose Hunt Zone includes these counties:
- Allegany
- Frederick
- Garrett
- Montgomery
- Washington; and
- that portion of Carroll County west of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and west of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line; and
- that portion of Prince George’s County west of Route 3 and Route 301; and
- that portion of Charles County west of Route 301.
- The daily bag limit is five geese (in the Late Resident Goose Hunt Zone) and the possession limit is 15.
- The bag limit may include Canada geese, cackling geese and white-fronted geese.
- Shooting hours for this season and zone are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Light Goose Statewide Season and Bag Limits 2024–2025 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Oct. 1–Nov. 29 |
25 per day, no possession limit |
- A Maryland hunting license (or resident Delaware hunting license) is required to hunt light geese in Maryland during the Light Goose Season (see Hunting Licenses, Stamps and Permits, Hunting Licenses).
- The daily bag limit is 25 light geese and there is no possession limit.
- The bag limit may include greater snow geese, lesser snow geese and Ross’s geese.
- Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for the light goose hunting season.
Light Goose Conservation Order Season and Bag Limits 2024–2025 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Dec. 2–Dec. 14 |
no daily bag limit, no possession limit |
The Light Goose Conservation Order Season Zone includes these counties:
- Anne Arundel
- Baltimore
- Calvert
- Caroline
- Cecil
- Dorchester
- Harford
- Howard
- Kent
- Queen Anne’s
- Somerset
- St. Mary’s
- Talbot
- Wicomico
- Worcester; and
- that portion of Carroll County east of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and east of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line; and
- that portion of Prince George’s County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and
- that portion of Charles County east of Route 301.
- The Light Goose Conservation Order Season provides additional hunting opportunities and methods to help reduce light goose over-population.
- A Maryland hunting license (or resident Delaware hunting license) is required to hunt light geese in Maryland during the Light Goose Conservation Order Season (see Hunting Licenses, Stamps and Permits, Hunting Licenses).
- Hunters must possess the printed validation showing proof of purchase of the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp (Hunting Licenses) and Harvest Information Program certification to hunt during the Maryland Light Goose Conservation Order Season.
- A $5 Maryland Snow Goose Conservation Order Hunting Season Permit is required to participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order Season. Hunters must possess the printed validation showing proof of the purchase of this permit while hunting.
- A Federal Duck Stamp is not required when hunting during the Conservation Order Season.
- The Light Goose Conservation Order Season and Zone does not include areas mapped or described as Sea Duck Zone only.
- There is no bag limit or possession limit for the Light Goose Conservation Order Season.
- Hunters may take greater snow geese, lesser snow geese and Ross’s geese.
- Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset during the Light Goose Conservation Order Season.
- Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells and electronic calls of light geese may be used during the Light Goose Conservation Order Season.
Mourning Dove Statewide Season and Bag Limits 2024–2025 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Sept. 2–Oct. 19 |
15 per day |
- The daily bag limit is 15 for doves. The possession limit for doves is 45.
- Shooting hours for the Sept. 2–Oct. 14 dove season segment are 12 noon to sunset. For season dates after Oct. 19 the hours are one-half before sunrise to sunset.
Woodcock Statewide Season and Bag Limits 2024–2025 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Oct. 26–Nov. 29 |
3 per day, possession limit of 9 |
- The daily bag limit is three woodcock and the possession limit is nine.
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for woodcock.
Rail Statewide Season and Bag Limits 2024 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Sept. 2–Nov. 21 |
see listing below |
- Clapper and King Rails: The daily bag limit is 10 (with no more than one king rail). The possession limit is 30 clapper and king rails (with no more than three king rails).
- Sora and Virginia Rails: The daily bag limit is 25 and the possession limit for these rails is 75.
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for rails.
Common Snipe Statewide Season and Bag Limits 2024–2025 |
|
Dates |
Bag Limit |
Sept. 28–Jan. 30 |
8 per day, possession limit of 24 |
- The daily bag limit is eight common snipe and the possession limit is 24.
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for common snipe.
Falconry, Extended Statewide Seasons and Bag Limits 2024–2025 |
In addition to the regular open seasons, the Extended Falconry Season dates are as follows for hunting migratory game birds:
- Mourning Doves: Jan. 11–Jan. 30
- Rails: Nov. 22–Jan. 3
- Woodcock: Oct. 1–Oct. 25, Jan. 30–Mar. 8
- Ducks: Feb. 1–Mar. 8
- Brant: Feb. 1–Mar. 8
- Light Geese: Feb. 22–Mar. 8
Bag limits for each species is three per day, with a possession limit of nine.
- Hunting with birds of prey (here referred to as Falconry) is permitted one half hour before sunrise to sunset, Monday through Saturday. No Sundays are open to hunt migratory birds.
- A valid hunting license, migratory game bird stamps and a Falconry Permit are required to hunt migratory game birds with birds of prey.
- A bird of prey may be used to hunt migratory game birds during any open season.
Migratory Game Bird Hunting Rules and Regulations
(For brant, coots, doves, ducks, geese, rails, snipe and woodcock.)
- Daylight fluorescent color clothing is not required to hunt migratory game birds except woodcock. See Fluorescent Color Clothing Requirements and Exceptions (Hunting Licenses).
- The daily bag limit is the maximum number of migratory game birds of a single species or combination (aggregate) of species permitted to be taken by one person in any one day during the open season.
- The field possession limit is the one daily bag limit that you may possess while in the field or returning from the field to your principle means of land transportation, hunting camp, or personal abode.
- The possession limit is the maximum number of migratory game birds of a single species or combination of species permitted to be possessed by any one person.
- A person may not kill or wound any migratory game bird without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird and include it in the daily bag limit.
- Wounded birds reduced to possession shall immediately be killed and included in your daily bag limit.
- It is unlawful to completely field dress or breast-out any migratory game bird (except dove) before transporting the birds from the field. The head or one fully-feathered wing must remain attached to all birds (except doves) while being transported from the field until they have arrived at your personal abode or a migratory bird processing facility.
- If you are giving, putting or leaving migratory game birds at any place or in the possession of another person, you must tag each bird with the hunter’s signature, address, hunting license number or DNRid number, the total number and species of birds killed and dates the birds were killed. Tagging is required even if someone else is transporting the bird for you or the bird has been left for cleaning, storage (including temporary storage), shipment or taxidermy services.
- To ship tagged migratory game birds the package must be conspicuously marked on the outside with the name and address of the person sending the birds, name and address of the person to whom the birds are being sent and number of birds by species contained in the package.
- It is illegal to take migratory game birds with air guns shooting bullets, drugs, explosives, traps, fish hooks, nets, pistols, poisons, rifles, snares, stupefying substances or swivel guns.
- It is against the law to bait migratory game birds and hunt them by placing a lure or enticement such as salt, corn, wheat, or any other grain or feed.
- An area is considered by law to be baited for 10 days after removal of the bait.
- Migratory game birds may not be hunted over any area where seed has been top sown or broadcast on top of the soil leaving the seed available to feeding birds. Before hunting can occur on areas where seeds or small grains have been top sown or broadcast as a normal agricultural practice, all seed must have either germinated, or the seed must be covered with soil or completely removed by other means at least 10 days before hunting.
- Doves may be hunted in areas where seed producing plants such as corn, sunflowers, wheat and other small grains are manipulated (burned, knocked down, mowed) to attract doves for hunting. In this instance, the 10 day rule does not apply.
- It is unlawful to hunt waterfowl with the use or aid of live birds as decoys; although not limited to, it shall be a violation for any person to take wild waterfowl on an area where tame or captive live ducks, geese or swans (live decoys) are present unless the birds are, and have been for a period of ten (10) consecutive days before hunting, removed from the area or confined within an enclosure which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals the birds from the sight of wild migratory waterfowl.
- Live decoys may include but are not limited to the following:
- Captive-raised and domestic waterfowl that have been released that do not exhibit the natural wariness of man associated with a wild bird.
- Waterfowl that do not leave the area when hands are clapped and/or a shotgun is discharged.
- Wounded waterfowl that have gone un-retrieved.
- Waterfowl whose wings are either pinioned or whose outer primary feathers have been cut or removed to render flight impossible.
- Captive-raised domestic ducks and geese (such as Muscovy ducks, Egyptian geese, etc.) may be considered live decoys if they do not exhibit the natural wariness of man associated with a wild bird.
- Live ducks, geese, or swans that are either tethered or penned at or near a hunting location.
- It is unlawful to sell taxidermy-mounted migratory game birds for use as decoys.
- It is illegal to use common reed (i.e. Phragmites) in any manner for the construction of hunting blinds on lands owned or controlled by the Department of Natural Resources.
- It is against the law to construct, or cause to be constructed, permanent hunting blinds or tree stands and to leave waterfowl decoys set overnight on lands owned or controlled by the Department of Natural Resources, except with written permission from the department.
- It is unlawful to hunt wild migratory game birds on Sunday.
- It is against the law to hunt waterfowl from a sink box (low-floating device with depression that conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water).
- It is unlawful to hunt waterfowl from or with the aid or use of a motor vehicle or any other motor-driven land conveyance or any aircraft.
- It is illegal to hunt waterfowl from or by means of any motorboat or sailboat unless the motor has been completely shut off and /or the sails furled and the boat’s progress has ceased.
- It is against the law to hunt migratory game birds while in possession of any electronic calling device from which bird calls are conveyed or amplified and to use recordings of migratory game bird calls or sounds or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls except while hunting light geese during the Conservation Order Season.
- It is unlawful to drive, rally or chase waterfowl with any motorized conveyance or any sailboat to put the birds in the range of hunters.
- Captive-raised mallard ducks may not be released to the wild except under the authority of a Regulated Shooting Area Permit (see Regulated Shooting Areas Requirements, Hunting Licenses), Retriever Training Permit or a Field Trial Permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources.
Migratory Game Bird Hunting Devices and Regulations
(For brant, coots, doves, ducks, geese, rails, snipe and woodcock.)
- It is unlawful to possess an air gun, rifle or pistol at any time while hunting brant, coots, ducks and geese.
- Only shotguns and some archery equipment may be used to hunt migratory game birds.
- It is illegal to have a loaded air gun or firearm in, on, or leaning against any vehicle. This includes ammunition in the magazine or a muzzleloader ready to fire.
- It is unlawful to hunt with an automatic firearm capable of firing a series of shots with one continuous pull of the trigger.
- It is unlawful to have a loaded crossbow in, on or leaning against a vehicle.
- A cocked crossbow without a bolt or arrow in the firing position is considered to be unloaded.
- It is against the law to shoot on, from or across any public road.
Shotguns
- Only shotguns that are 10-gauge or smaller may be used to hunt migratory game birds.
- Shotguns capable of holding more than three (3) shells must be plugged with a one-piece filler which cannot be removed from the loading end. Shotguns cannot hold more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined with the following exceptions:
- when hunting resident Canada geese during the September Seasons.
- when hunting light geese during the Light Goose Conservation Order Season.
- Muzzleloading shotguns may be used to hunt all migratory game birds.
- It is illegal to take brant, coots, ducks, geese, rails and snipe with lead shot and to possess lead shot while hunting them. This restriction includes muzzleloading shotguns and taking captive-raised mallards on licensed Regulated Shooting Areas.
- Nontoxic shot (as determined by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service) must be used when hunting brant, coots, ducks, geese, rails and snipe. See https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/hunt_trap/waterfowl_nontoxic_shot.aspx for current information on nontoxic shot.
- Nontoxic shot larger than No. T (.20 inches in diameter) may not be used to hunt brant, coots, ducks, geese, rails and snipe.
- Hunters may not use or possess shotgun pumpkin balls, sabots or slugs while hunting brant, coots, ducks, geese, rails and snipe.
- Doves and woodcock may be taken with lead shot.
Archery Equipment
- Vertical bows may be used to hunt migratory game birds.
- Draw locking devices on vertical bows are not permitted when hunting brant, coots, ducks and geese.
- Crossbows may not be used to hunt brant, coots, ducks and geese.
- Crossbows may be used to hunt doves, rails, snipe and woodcock.
- The use of poisoned or explosive tipped arrows or bolts is not permitted.
Air Guns
- Air guns may not be used to hunt migratory birds, except air guns that shoot an arrow or bolt may be used to hunt doves and woodcock.
2024-2025 Hunting Season Dates for Geese and Brant In Maryland |
||
Species |
Open Season |
Daily Bag Limit |
Canada Goose Migratory Atlantic Population |
Dec. 20-Jan. 4 Jan. 15-Feb. 1 |
2 per day |
AP Hunt Zone: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties; that portion of Carroll County east of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97 and east of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line; that portion of Prince Georges County east of Routes 3 and 301, and that portion of Charles County east of Route 301 to the Virginia line. |
||
Canada Goose Late Resident Season |
Nov. 23-29 Dec. 16-Mar.10 |
5 per day |
Late Resident Goose Hunt Zone: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, and Washington Counties; that portion of Carroll County west of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97 and west of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line; that portion of Prince George’s County west of Route 3 and Route 301; and that portion of Charles County west of Route 301 to the Virginia line. |
||
Light Goose |
Oct. 1-Nov. 29 Dec. 16-Jan. 31 Feb. 8 |
25 per day- no possession limit |
Light Goose Conservation Season |
Dec. 2-Dec. 14 Feb. 1-Feb. 7 Feb. 10-Apr. 15 |
no bag limit no possession limit |
Brant |
Dec. 28-Jan. 31 |
1 per day |
2024-2025 Hunting Season Dates for Ducks In Maryland |
||
Species |
Open Season |
Daily Bag Limit |
Ducks Eastern Zone (except Black Duck) |
Oct. 12-19 Nov. 16-29 Dec. 16-Jan. 31 |
See Duck Daily Bag Limit |
Black Duck Eastern Zone |
Nov. 16-29 Dec. 16-Jan. 31 |
2 per day |
Ducks Western Zone (except Black Duck) |
Oct. 5 - Oct.19 Nov. 23-29 Dec. 16-Jan. 31 |
See Duck Daily Bag Limit |
Black Duck Western Zone |
Nov. 23-29 Dec. 16-Jan. 31 |
2 per day |
The Eastern Duck Season Zone is: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Saint Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester counties; and: those portions of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George’s, and Montgomery counties east of a line beginning at I83 at the Pennsylvania state line, following I83 south to the intersection of I83 and I695 (Outer Loop), south following I695 (Outer Loop) to its intersection with I95, south following I95 to its intersection with I495 (Outer Loop), and following I495 (Outer Loop) to the Virginia shore of the Potomac River. The Western Duck Season Zone is: that portion of the state not included in the Eastern Zone. |
||
Duck Daily Bag Limit: 6 ducks (including mergansers) per day which may include no more than: 4 sea ducks (no more than 3 eiders with a maximum of 1 hen eider, 3 long-tailed ducks or 3 scoters), 4 mallards (maximum of 2 hen mallards), 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks (during black duck season), 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, scaup (1 per day, 2 per day from Jan. 9 – Jan. 31), 1 fulvous tree duck, 1 mottled duck and 1 pintail. In addition to the duck bag limit hunters may take 15 coots per day. No Open Season for Harlequin ducks and Swans. |
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Shooting hours for waterfowl listed here are one half hour before sunrise to sunset except Light Geese Conservation Order Season- one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. |
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REPORT YOUR BIRD BANDS ONLINE: WWW.REPORTBAND.GOV
Each year state and federal biologists mark tens of thousands of migratory birds with numbered leg bands. Hunters who report bands recovered from harvested birds receive specific information on when and where the bird was banded while providing important information for migratory bird management. The 1-800 telephone number for reporting bird bands has been discontinued. Hunters who recover a banded migratory bird should now use www.reportband.gov. Anyone reporting a band will need the following information: the band number, hunters name and address and the date and location (nearest town) of the harvest.
