Maryland

Chesapeake waterfowl tradition, exotic Sika deer marsh hunting on the Eastern Shore, and upland covers.

Public Access & WMAs

Public Lands to Hunt in Maryland

Official Regulatory Authority

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service (MDNR)

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Service manages over 60 designated Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) encompassing more than 140,000 acres. When combined with over 200,000 acres across western Maryland State Forests (Savage River, Green Ridge, and Potomac-Garrett) and federal national wildlife refuges along the Eastern Shore, Maryland offers remarkably diverse public hunting. From sika deer in the Atlantic salt marshes of Dorchester County to mountain whitetails, black bears, and ruffed grouse along the Allegheny Front, the Old Line State provides exceptional public access.

Allegheny Ridge & Ridge-and-Valley | 100,000+ Acres Combined

Savage River & Green Ridge State Forests

Savage River State Forest (54,000 acres) in Garrett County represents Maryland's largest continuous state forest, featuring rugged northern hardwood plateaus, hemlock ravines, and public hunting for black bear, whitetail deer, and wild turkey. Green Ridge State Forest (49,000 acres) in eastern Allegany County offers remote ridge-and-valley oak-hickory timber, primitive campsites, and abundant deer, turkey, and gray squirrel.

Dorchester County Tidal Marshes | 40,000+ Acres Combined

Fishing Bay & Blackwater Marsh WMAs

Fishing Bay WMA (30,000 acres) and adjacent tidal state lands encompass vast expanses of smooth cordgrass, tidal creeks, and pine hammocks along the Chesapeake Bay. This is the premier public hunting destination in North America for wild sika deer—the elusive "marsh ghost"—as well as whitetail deer and Atlantic Flyway waterfowl.

Lower Eastern Shore Estuary | 17,000+ Acres Combined

Deal Island & Fairmount Wildlife Management Areas

Situated along Tangier Sound in Somerset County. Deal Island WMA (13,000 acres) features a famous 2,800-acre controlled waterfowl impoundment, expansive salt marsh guts, and open bays offering world-class duck and goose shooting, sika deer, and rail hunting.

Allegheny Front Mountain Ridges | 13,000+ Acres Combined

Dan's Mountain & Warrior Mountain WMAs

Dan's Mountain WMA (9,783 acres) in Allegany County rises dramatically along the eastern slope of Dan's Mountain. Warrior Mountain WMA (4,800 acres) provides steep shale barrens, oak forests, and secluded mountain hollows holding whitetail deer, wild turkey, and ruffed grouse.

Potomac River Corridor | 4,000+ Acres Combined

McKee-Beshers & Indian Springs WMAs

McKee-Beshers WMA (2,000 acres) in Montgomery County features flooded green-tree reservoirs and sunflower fields along the Potomac River, renowned for early-season dove shoots and wood duck hunting. Indian Springs WMA (2,100 acres) in Washington County provides oak-hickory mountain timber for deer and turkey.