Firearms deer season starts Nov. 25 and runs through Dec. 9
Dylan Mackley took this 165-pount 13-point white-tailed buck with a crossbow on Nov. 12, the second day of the Junior Hunt weekend in Maryland. Firearms season is Nov. 25 through Dec. 9. ANNAPOLIS …
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Firearms deer season starts Nov. 25 and runs through Dec. 9
Dylan Mackley took this 165-pount 13-point white-tailed buck with a crossbow on Nov. 12, the second day of the Junior Hunt weekend in Maryland. Firearms season is Nov. 25 through Dec. 9.ANNAPOLIS — Firearm deer season in Maryland runs Saturday, Nov. 25 through Saturday, Dec. 9, the time hunters may use firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer this year.
New this year, certain air guns are legal for hunting sika and white-tailed deer during the firearms season. They are defined as any gun that propels a projectile by means of non-ignited compressed air or other gas, with projectiles including arrows, balls, bolts and bullets. An air gun must shoot a 0.40 caliber or larger bullet or ball that generates at least 400 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, or shoot an arrow or bolt at least 18 inches in length with a minimum speed of 300 feet per second. Arrows or bolts must be tipped with a metal broadhead with a minimum cutting width of 7/8 inches.
The bag limits are one antlered white-tailed deer, three sika deer, no more than one antlered, and in this region 10 antlerless white-tailed deer. One bonus antlered white-tailed may be taken per year during a weapon season of the hunter’s choice.
A hunter must first take two antlerless white-tailed deer and purchase a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp before taking a second antlered deer.
Please note that when checking in deer harvested with an air gun, hunters should choose “other” when asked what weapon they used to harvest their game.
Also new this year, the Apprentice Hunting License Program allows first-time hunters a lower-cost opportunity to explore the sport and tradition with an experienced and licensed guide and mentor.
Hunters are reminded an antler point restriction remains in effect for white-tailed deer. One may harvest up to two antlered deer per license year, which have two or fewer points on each antler present. Any additional antlered deer taken within the legal seasons and bag limits must have at least three points on one antler. Licensed junior hunters are exempt from the restriction.
