Maryland duck season 2026-27: dates and free maps
Season dates
Western zone, first split: Saturday, October 3 to Saturday, October 17, 2026
Black ducks only from Nov. 21.
Source: Maryland DNR
Eastern zone, first split: Saturday, October 10 to Saturday, October 17, 2026
Black ducks only from Nov. 14.
Source: Maryland DNR
Eastern zone, second split: Saturday, November 14 to Friday, November 27, 2026
Source: Maryland DNR
Western zone, second split: Saturday, November 21 to Friday, November 27, 2026
Source: Maryland DNR
Eastern zone, third split: Tuesday, December 15, 2026 to Saturday, January 30, 2027
Source: Maryland DNR
Western zone, third split: Tuesday, December 15, 2026 to Saturday, January 30, 2027
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.
Federal migratory bird rules apply on top of state rules: check what your state requires for the federal duck stamp and HIP registration, and your state's shooting hours and bag limits.
Marshes, river bottoms and refuge boundaries are hard to read in the dark, and public and closed areas sit side by side. Download the maps for your marsh ahead of time and Cartahaven shows your GPS position on them offline, so you can find your spot before shooting light and stay out of closed zones.
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.