Maryland bear season 2026: dates and free maps
Season dates
Bear hunt, by lottery permit: Monday, October 26 to Saturday, October 31, 2026
Zone 1: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties. Zone 2: Frederick and Washington counties.
Source: Maryland DNR
Checked on the agency's site November 6, 2026. Licenses, units, bag limits and shooting hours differ, and dates can vary by unit: the regulations are what count, so read them before you go.
Legal shooting hours for big game in Maryland, generally: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Bear country is big timber and steep ground, usually with no signal. Download the maps for your spot ahead of time and Cartahaven shows your GPS position on them offline, so you can stay on public ground, find your stand or bait site and get back out after dark.
Free public land maps in Maryland
Before you go
Cartahaven is not affiliated with or endorsed by Maryland DNR. Season dates come from the agency pages linked above.