Maryland Hunting License: Cost, Online Purchase, Sika Deer & Bear (2026)

Maryland's hunting license year runs August 1 through July 31. The Resident Regular Hunting license for ages 16–64 costs $35. The resident senior rate is $5, youth under 16 pay $10.50, and non-residents pay $160 for an annual hunting license. Non-resident seniors 65+ pay $65. An Apprentice Hunting License ($15 resident / $40 NR) allows hunting without hunter education for up to 2 years with a licensed mentor supervisor. Resident landowners hunting their own property are exempt from the license requirement but still must complete harvest reporting.

Maryland uses a stamp-based add-on system for specific seasons and deer types. An Archery Stamp ($6 resident / $25 NR) is required for archery deer hunting. A Muzzleloader Stamp ($6 resident / $25 NR) is required for muzzleloader seasons. A Migratory Game Bird Stamp ($9) is required for doves, waterfowl, and woodcock. A Sika Deer Stamp ($10 resident / $200 NR) is required for sika deer hunting. A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp ($10 resident / $25 NR) allows a third antlered white-tailed buck in addition to the standard two-buck limit. White-tailed deer tags are part of the base license, but the required stamps can materially change the real trip cost.

Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1960. The free online course requires a field day. Youth hunting days are offered annually where youth can hunt with a licensed supervising adult. Disabled veterans with service-connected disability receive free licenses. Active duty military stationed in Maryland pay resident rates. The bear hunt is a lottery; hunters should budget for the application fee and confirm the current county list and permit rules before applying.

Maryland offers a long archery deer season running September 6 through January 31. Crossbows are legal throughout the archery season. The firearms deer season is shorter, running approximately November 29 through December 13. A muzzleloader season in October and a late muzzleloader season in December bracket the firearms season, providing multiple weapon-specific hunting windows. The standard antlered white-tailed deer limit is 2 bucks; hunters who purchase the Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp may take a third antlered white-tailed buck.

Maryland has free-ranging sika deer on the Eastern Shore, especially in Dorchester County marsh habitat. The sika opportunity is not covered by the ordinary white-tailed deer cost alone: hunters need the Sika Deer Stamp, currently listed as $10 for residents and $200 for non-residents. Sika bag limits and county details should be checked in the current Maryland DNR guide before travel.

Antlerless deer limits in Maryland vary by county and management region, with more liberal harvest in some agricultural and suburban areas and more restrictive opportunity in lower-density mountain counties. Regardless of zone, hunters must comply with harvest reporting requirements. Because white-tailed deer, sika deer, archery, muzzleloader, and bonus antlered privileges use different add-ons, the safest planning method is to build the cart around the exact county, weapon, and deer type.

Maryland holds an annual black bear hunting season in eligible western Maryland counties through a lottery system. Hunters should confirm the current lottery area, application fee, and permit instructions in the DNR system before applying. Bears harvested must be tagged and reported under DNR rules.

Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore marshes create meaningful waterfowl opportunity, but the license stack matters. The Migratory Game Bird Stamp ($9), Federal Duck Stamp ($25), and HIP certification are required for waterfowl hunting. Canada goose, puddle duck, and diving duck seasons use season-specific frameworks that should be checked before booking a trip.

CWD has been detected in Maryland, and the DNR maintains a CWD Management Area that includes western and central counties. The Eastern Shore may have a different risk profile than the affected counties, but hunters should not treat the whole state as CWD-free. Carcass import and movement rules apply, so confirm the current allowed-parts list before bringing deer into or across Maryland.