Maryland

Straight-walled cartridge rifles (.357 to .50 caliber, e.g., .350 Legend, .450 Bushmaster, .45-70) are legal during firearm seasons in designated agricultural shotgun/straight-wall counties. In Region A (Western MD mountains: Garrett, Allegany, Washington), full bottleneck centerfire rifles (.243 to .30-06) are fully legal.

10, 12, 16, and 20 gauge shotguns firing single slugs or sabots are legal for deer during the two-week firearm season. 3-shell capacity limit applies. Buckshot is prohibited in most management zones. Non-toxic shot required for waterfowl across Chesapeake Bay tidal marshes.

Minimum .40 caliber single-barrel muzzleloaders firing a single projectile. Modern in-line muzzleloaders with 209 ignitions, sabots, and magnifying scopes are fully legal during the October early muzzleloader and December late muzzleloader seasons. Black powder or commercial synthetic powders only.

Compound, recurve, and longbows with minimum 30 lb draw weight. Broadheads must have minimum 7/8-inch cutting width. Fixed and mechanical broadheads legal. The archery deer season runs continuously from September through January across all regions.

Fully legal for ALL licensed hunters during the entire archery deer season without requiring a medical disability permit. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 75 lbs, a functioning mechanical safety, and shoot bolts with hunting broadheads measuring at least 7/8 inch wide.

Centerfire handguns .24 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 6 inches and producing at least 700 ft-lbs of muzzle energy are legal for deer during the firearms season. Expanding bullets mandatory.