How Much Does a Maryland Hunting License Cost?
A Maryland hunting license costs $35 a year for residents and $160 a year for non-residents, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). That base license covers most game, but archery deer, muzzleloader deer, sika deer, migratory birds, furbearers, and black bear all require a separate stamp or permit on top of it.
Maryland runs its license on a fixed annual cycle rather than a rolling window: every hunting license is valid from the date of issue through July 31 of the following year, regardless of when you buy it. That means everyone's license expires on the same date each year, unlike states that base renewal on the purchase date.
Once you add an archery stamp, a sika deer stamp, or the migratory bird stamps needed for waterfowl, the total cost of a Maryland season can climb well past the base license price. Here's what the latest costs for a Maryland hunting license look like.
How Much Does a Maryland Hunting License Cost?
Maryland keeps its base license fee low. Just note that the license type you need depends heavily on your age and residency, and non-resident rates run several times higher than resident rates across the board.
Common Maryland Hunting License Fees | ||
| License Type | Resident | Non-Resident |
| Regular Annual Hunting License (ages 16–64) | $35.00 | $160.00 |
| Junior Hunting License (under 16) | $15.00 | $80.00 |
| Senior Hunting License (65 and older) | $5.00 | $65.00 |
| Apprentice Hunting License | $15.00 | $40.00 |
| 3-Day Waterfowl and Small Game License | Not available | $65.00 |
Maryland requires a license at every age, unlike states that exempt young hunters entirely. Younger hunters simply pay the discounted Junior rate instead of going license-free.
Additionally, the Apprentice Hunting License lets first-time adult hunters buy it once, while junior hunters can renew it annually through age 16.
Required Stamps and Permits
A Maryland hunting license alone doesn't cover archery deer, muzzleloader deer, sika deer, or migratory birds. You'll need to add the right stamp for whatever you're hunting, and several cost far more for non-residents.
Maryland Hunting Permits and Stamps | ||
| Item | Resident | Non-Resident |
| Archery Stamp (required to hunt deer during archery season) | $6.00 | $25.00 |
| Muzzleloader Stamp (required to hunt deer during muzzleloader season) | $6.00 | $25.00 |
| Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp | $10.00 | $25.00 |
| Sika Deer Stamp | $10.00 | $200.00 |
| Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp | $29.00 | $29.00 |
The Sika Deer Stamp is worth noting in particular: at $200 for non-residents, it's one of the steepest single add-ons in the state, reflecting how sought-after Maryland's sika deer hunting has become.
Furbearer hunters need a separate Furbearer Permit as well, and black bear hunters need a Black Bear Hunting Permit issued through a limited draw.
Youth and Discounted Licenses
Maryland offers a few ways to bring down costs for younger hunters, older residents, and veterans. These include:
- Junior Hunting License (under 16): Priced at $15 for residents, and residents who complete hunter education can qualify for a one-time free annual license plus free Archery and Muzzleloader stamps.
- Senior Hunting License (65 and older): Just $5 for residents, purchasable starting the calendar year you turn 65.
- Purple Heart and disabled veteran discounts: Purple Heart recipients get 50 percent off hunting and fishing licenses, and residents who are 100 percent service-connected disabled veterans or former prisoners of war qualify for a free lifetime license.
These programs meaningfully lower the cost of getting a young hunter started or keeping a longtime resident hunter, or veteran, in the field.
What Is a Maryland Hunting License?
A Maryland hunting license is the legal document issued by DNR that allows you to hunt game birds and mammals in the state. It comes in several forms, including:
- The standard resident or non-resident license
- A discounted Junior license for hunters under 16
- A discounted Senior license for hunters 65 and older
- An Apprentice license that lets new hunters try the sport before completing the full hunter education course
The license is separate from your hunter education certification. Your certification proves you completed an approved safety course, and once earned, it's valid for life. The license itself, by contrast, runs on Maryland's fixed license year and must be renewed by July 31 each year to keep hunting.
Who Needs a Maryland Hunting License?
Maryland residents and non-residents of any age need a hunting license to legally hunt in the state, since Maryland doesn't exempt young hunters the way some states do. A handful of exemptions apply beyond age, including landowners (and qualifying family members) hunting their own land, agricultural lessees hunting the farmland they lease and live on, and certain active-duty and disabled military members.
For the full breakdown of license types and current fees, Maryland DNR's hunting license page lays out every option in detail.
What Are the Requirements to Get a License?
Before buying a license, most Maryland hunters need to clear the state's hunter education requirement.
First-time hunters, and anyone who can't show proof of holding a Maryland hunting license before July 1, 1977, must complete an approved hunter education course before buying a license.
The course covers:
- Firearm and archery safety
- Wildlife identification and conservation
- Maryland-specific hunting laws and ethics
Maryland always requires an in-person component, unlike states that offer a fully online path. Hunters can either take a multi-day in-person class (required for anyone under 13) or complete the classroom portion online through the Hunter-Ed Maryland course and finish with a required in-person Field Day session.
How to Get a Maryland Hunting License
Getting licensed in Maryland means budgeting time for the required in-person component, whichever course format you choose.
- Complete an approved hunter education course if you're a first-time hunter or can't prove you held a license before July 1, 1977, either through the multi-day in-person class or the Hunter-Ed online course plus the required Field Day.
- Choose your license type: standard resident or non-resident, Junior, Senior, or Apprentice.
- Purchase your license online through MD Outdoors, by mail, at a DNR service center, or through a licensed agent.
- Add any required stamps, such as an Archery, Muzzleloader, Bonus Antlered Deer, or Sika Deer stamp, depending on what and how you're hunting.
- Add the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp and Federal Duck Stamp if you're hunting waterfowl or other migratory birds.
- Carry your license, hunter education certification, and any required stamps any time you're in the field.
You can purchase your hunting license directly through Maryland DNR, including online, by mail, and in person at service centers and licensed agents statewide.
Why It's Important to Have a Hunting License
Buying a Maryland hunting license does more than keep you legal in the field.
- Legal Compliance: Hunting without a valid license or required stamp can lead to fines and citations that cost more than getting licensed correctly from the start.
- Wildlife Conservation Funding: License and stamp revenue funds DNR's work managing deer, sika deer, turkey, and waterfowl populations statewide.
- Population Management: Maryland's stamp system for bonus antlered deer and its limited draw for black bear give DNR the harvest data needed to keep populations balanced.
- Ethical Hunting: A license ties every hunt to a defined season and bag limit, keeping the sport fair and sustainable for everyone afield.
- Public Land Access: License revenue helps support the wildlife management areas and state forests that make up Maryland's public hunting land.
Costs and rules vary by species and region, so it's worth checking current season dates and bag limits before you finalize your plans. And because hunting license costs and requirements vary widely by state, it's worth confirming Maryland's specific rules even if you've hunted elsewhere.
Ready to Hunt in Maryland? Get Your Hunter Safety Certification and Hunting License
A Maryland hunting license costs less than many neighboring states for residents, but the real cost depends on what you're hunting, since archery deer, sika deer, and migratory birds all require their own stamps on top of the base license. Whether you're budgeting for the $200 non-resident Sika Deer Stamp or getting a young hunter started with the discounted Junior license, knowing the full fee breakdown ahead of time means no surprises at checkout.
Complete your hunter education course if you need it, and get the hunting license that fits your plans. You'll be ready for opening day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is the Maryland hunting license fee a one-time payment?
A: No. A Maryland hunting license expires every July 31 and must be renewed annually to keep hunting, regardless of when you originally bought it. The hunter education course, on the other hand, is a one-time requirement, and certification never expires once earned.
Q: Are there discounts for Maryland hunting licenses?
A: Yes, Maryland offers a $5 Senior Hunting License for residents 65 and older, a $15 Junior Hunting License for residents under 16, and a 50 percent discount on hunting and fishing licenses for Purple Heart recipients. Residents who are 100 percent service-connected disabled veterans or former prisoners of war can also qualify for a free lifetime license.
Q: How much does a non-resident hunting license cost in Maryland?
A: A non-resident annual Maryland hunting license costs $160 for hunters 16 to 64, while non-resident Junior and Senior rates run $80 and $65. Non-residents who only want to hunt waterfowl and small game can instead buy a 3-Day Waterfowl and Small Game License for $65.
Q: Does a Maryland hunting license expire on a fixed date?
A: Yes, every Maryland hunting license expires on July 31 regardless of when you bought it, unlike states that base renewal on your purchase date. That means two hunters who buy licenses on different days in the same license year will still both need to renew by the same July 31 deadline.
Q: How much does a Maryland deer stamp cost?
A: In Maryland, an Archery Stamp or Muzzleloader Stamp costs $6 for residents and $25 for non-residents, while a Sika Deer Stamp costs $10 for residents but $200 for non-residents. A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp, which allows one additional antlered white-tailed deer, costs $10 for residents and $25 for non-residents.
Q: How much does the Maryland hunter education course cost?
A: Maryland's in-person hunter education classes are free, while the online portion through Hunter-Ed costs $29.95 and still requires a free in-person Field Day session to complete certification. There's no fully online-only path to certification in Maryland, regardless of which course option you choose.
