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Maryland Legal Hunting Hours (2026)

Info: In Maryland, legal hunting time begins 1/2 hour before sunrise and ends 1/2 hour after sunset.

InfoVerified Jun 18, 2026

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In Maryland, legal hunting time begins 1/2 hour before sunrise and ends 1/2 hour after sunset. Some Sunday deer dates end at 10:30am; spring turkey differs.

Official source: dnr.maryland.gov →

Maryland legal hunting hours by date

The rule above (general hunting hours): 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, worked out from each place’s own sunrise and sunset. Start times are rounded up and end times down to the minute.

Legal hunting hours for Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis	Start (EDT)	End (EDT)
Sat, Oct 17	6:48 AM	6:54 PM
Sun, Oct 18	6:49 AM	6:52 PM
Mon, Oct 19	6:50 AM	6:51 PM
Tue, Oct 20	6:51 AM	6:50 PM
Wed, Oct 21	6:52 AM	6:48 PM
Thu, Oct 22	6:53 AM	6:47 PM
Fri, Oct 23	6:54 AM	6:46 PM
Sat, Oct 24	6:55 AM	6:44 PM
Sun, Oct 25	6:56 AM	6:43 PM
Mon, Oct 26	6:57 AM	6:42 PM
Tue, Oct 27	6:58 AM	6:41 PM
Wed, Oct 28	7:00 AM	6:39 PM
Thu, Oct 29	7:01 AM	6:38 PM
Fri, Oct 30	7:02 AM	6:37 PM

Sunrise moves about 4 minutes for every 50 miles east or west, so times where you hunt can differ from Annapolis. Seasons, species, special areas and Sundays can have their own hours — check the official source before you hunt. Sunday hunting in Maryland

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Legal Hunting Hours in states bordering Maryland

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

DelawareInfo
In Delaware, deer may be hunted from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. Raccoon and opossum may be hunted from 1 hour after sunset to midnight during certain deer seasons.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dnrec.delaware.gov · Full Delaware rule →
District of ColumbiaInfo
Hunting is prohibited throughout the District of Columbia.
Verified Jun 19, 2026 · Source: doee.dc.gov · Full District of Columbia rule →
PennsylvaniaInfo
In Pennsylvania, legal hunting hours for big game — deer, bear and elk — are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; spring gobbler and migratory birds differ.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: pa.gov · Full Pennsylvania rule →
VirginiaInfo
In Virginia, nonmigratory birds and game animals may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Spring turkey has separate hours.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dwr.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
West VirginiaInfo
In West Virginia, deer and bear may be taken from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and spring turkey from 30 min before sunrise to 1 p.m. Check the regulations for species-specific variations.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: wvdnr.gov · Full West Virginia rule →

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