Late Waterfowl Seasons Maryland
ByLate Maryland Waterfowl Seasons and Bag Limits 2016-2017
Note: Shooting hours for regular waterfowl seasons are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset except for (1) teal during the September season when shooting hours are sunrise to sunset, (2) for Resident Canada geese during September seasons when shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset, and (3) light geese during the conservation order season when shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. All hunting season dates are inclusive. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit, except for light geese (greater and lesser snow geese, Ross’ geese) which have no possession limit. Waterfowl hunting is closed on Sundays by Maryland law.
DUCKS, COOTS, and MERGANSERS
Regular Duck Season Oct. 15 – Oct. 22 Nov. 12 – Nov. 25 Dec. 13 – Jan. 28
Black Duck Season Nov. 12 – Nov. 25 Dec. 13 – Jan. 28
Duck Daily Bag and Possession Limits: The daily bag limit of ducks (including mergansers) is 6. The 6-duck limit shall consist of no more than 5 long-tailed ducks, 4 scoters, 4 mallards (max. 2 hen mallards), 2 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 2 pintails. 2 redheads, 2 hooded mergansers, 2 canvasback, 1 black duck (during black duck season), 1 fulvous tree duck, and 1 mottled duck. All other species of ducks (except harlequin duck) may be taken up to the 6-duck limit. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit. In addition to the duck bag limit hunters may take 15 coots per day. No open season for harlequin ducks and swans.
YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNTING DAYS
Season Dates Nov. 5 & Feb. 11
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: The duck bag limits for the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days are the same as the regular season (above), except one black duck may also be taken. In addition to the duck bag limit youth hunters may take 2 Canada geese in AP Canada goose hunt zone or 5 Canada geese in the Resident (AFRP) Canada goose hunt zone, 2 brant, 25 light geese, and 15 coots. The Canada goose hunting zones are online at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/AP_RP_Hunt_Zones.asp. No open season for harlequin ducks and swans.
Any licensed hunter 15 years old or younger may participate during these one-day hunts. Youth of this age who are exempt from Maryland hunting license requirements may also participate. Youth waterfowl hunters must possess a receipt showing they purchased a $9 Maryland Migratory Game Bird Hunting Stamp. Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old that holds a valid Maryland hunting license or is exempt from the hunting license requirements. One adult may take one or more young hunters, and that adult may call waterfowl, assist with decoys and retrieve downed birds but may not possess a hunting weapon and may not participate in other seasons that are open on the youth waterfowl hunting days.
SEA DUCKS (Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, and Eiders)
Season: Nov 5 – Jan. 13 (Only in Special Sea Duck Zone) Daily Bag Limit: 5 (no more than 4 longtails, riders, or scoters) per day
ATLANTIC POPULATION CANADA GEESE
Season: Nov. 19 – Nov. 25 Dec. 13 – Jan. 28
Daily Bag Limit: 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; 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 to the Virginia line.
*Bag limit may include Canada geese, cackling geese, and greater white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate.
RESIDENT POPULATION CANADA GEESE (Regular Season)
Season: Nov. 19 – Nov. 25 Dec. 13 – Mar. 8
Daily Bag Limit: 5 per day*
Resident Hunt Zone: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, and Washington Counties; 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 to the Virginia line.
*Bag limit may include Canada geese, cackling geese, and greater white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate.
ATLANTIC BRANT
Season Dates: Nov. 8 – Nov. 25 Dec. 12 – Jan. 31
Daily Bag Limit: 2 per day
LIGHT GEESE
Season Dates: Oct. 1 – Nov. 25 Dec. 12 – Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 Daily Bag Limit: 25 per day and no possession limit**
**Bag limit may include greater and lesser snow geese and Ross’s geese singly or in aggregate.
LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION ORDER SEASON
Seasons Dates: Nov. 28 – Dec. 10 Feb. 6 – Feb 10 and Feb. 13 – April 15
Daily Bag Limit: No daily bag or possession limits.
CO Hunt Zone: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties; 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; that portion of Prince George’s County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that portion of Charles County east of Route 301 to the Virginia line. The Special Sea Duck Zone is excluded from this hunt area.
Special Regulations during Light Goose Conservation Order Season:
(1) Participating hunters must possess a $5 Snow Goose Conservation Order Hunting Season Permit while hunting light geese during this season; (2) Hunters may use shotguns capable of holding more than three shotshells; (3) Hunters may use electronic calls with recordings of light geese; and (4) Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset