How to Get Your Maryland Hunting License

A Maryland hunting license starts with the Resident Regular Hunting License, which covers hunters ages 16 to 64 for $35, while non-residents in that age range pay $160. Younger and older hunters have separate license tiers, and several stamps layer on top depending on what you're hunting.

Maryland requires a Hunter Education Certificate for any first-time hunter, regardless of age, before that person can purchase a license, unless they can prove they held a Maryland hunting license before July 1, 1977. Licenses are sold through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at MD Outdoors and through authorized retailers statewide, and they run from the day you buy them through the following July 31 rather than a rolling 365-day window.

This guide walks you through how to get your Maryland hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.

What Is a Hunting License in Maryland?

A Maryland hunting license authorizes you to hunt all legal game birds and mammals in season, though deer during archery or muzzleloader season, sika deer, migratory birds, furbearers, and black bear each require an additional stamp or permit on top of the base license. The Full Season Hunting License is the standard option most adult residents and non-residents buy.

The license itself is separate from your Hunter Education Certificate. The certificate proves you completed a Maryland-approved safety course and, once earned, it's permanent. The license, by contrast, expires every July 31 and has to be purchased again for the next license year.

Who Needs a Hunting License in Maryland?

Maryland requires a hunting license for anyone who hunts in the state, but hunter education runs on first-time-hunter status rather than age or birth year. That distinction shapes which path applies to you.

Anyone who has never held a Maryland hunting license must complete an approved hunter education course, regardless of age, unless they can prove they held a license before July 1, 1977. Depending on your situation, one of these paths may apply:

1. First-time hunter of any age, not ready for a full license: the Apprentice Hunting License ($15 resident / $40 nonresident) lets you hunt after a short online safety course, supervised by a licensed adult, and it can only be issued once in a lifetime.
2. Resident junior hunter under 16, completing hunter education: you qualify for a one-time free annual hunting license, Archery Stamp, and Muzzleloader Stamp the year you finish the course.
3. Age 65 and older: the Resident Senior Hunting License ($5) or Nonresident Senior Hunting License ($65) replaces the standard license, though hunter education still applies unless you're exempt.
4. Active-duty military stationed in Maryland: you must purchase a Resident Hunting License unless on official leave, in which case no license is required beyond specific stamps.

Whichever category applies to you, keep your Hunter Education Certificate or Field Day Qualifier Voucher on hand along with your license while hunting.

How to Get Your Maryland Hunting License (Step-by-Step)

Getting licensed in Maryland means confirming your hunter education status first, since that determines which license type you're eligible to buy. Here's the full process from start to finish.

1. Complete an approved hunter education course if you've never held a Maryland hunting license and can't prove you hunted before July 1, 1977.
2. Purchase your license online through MD Outdoors, by mail, or at an authorized retailer.
3. Select your license type: Resident Regular ($35), Nonresident ($160), Junior, Senior, or Apprentice.
4. Add stamps as needed: Archery ($6 resident / $25 nonresident), Muzzleloader ($6 / $25), Sika Deer ($10 / $200), or the Migratory Game Bird Stamp ($15) plus the Federal Duck Stamp.
5. Carry your license and Hunter Education Certificate, or your Field Day Qualifier Voucher if you're still completing certification, any time you hunt.

Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course

Maryland's hunter education requirement always includes an in-person component, which is worth knowing before you pick a format.

1. Online plus Field Day, age 13 and older: Pass the $29.95 Hunter-Ed online course, then attend a required Field Day Workshop within 365 days of finishing online.
2. Take-home study plus Field Day: Complete a printed study guide and present it at the Field Day instead of taking the course online.
3. Traditional classroom course, required under age 13: A fully in-person option covering both classroom and hands-on skills in one sitting.

However you get there, passing the online portion only earns a Field Day Qualifier Voucher, not the permanent certificate.

Step 2: Purchase Your License

Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate, or your Apprentice course number, you can buy your license through the DNR's licensing portal or at an authorized sport license agent.

You'll need a government-issued photo ID or DNR ID number, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.

Step 3: Add Stamps and Go Hunting

A Full Season Hunting License doesn't cover everything. Deer during archery or muzzleloader season, sika deer, migratory birds, and furbearers each require their own stamp or permit, purchased after your base license.

Once your license and any needed stamps are in hand, you're ready to hunt. Before you head out, review general hunting safety practices to make sure you're field-ready.

Maryland Hunting License Requirements by Age

Let's look at the requirements for hunting licenses in Maryland by age.

Stamps and permits: Archery ($6 resident / $25 nonresident), Muzzleloader ($6 / $25), Sika Deer ($10 / $200), and the Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp ($10 / $25) each require separate purchase, along with the $15 Migratory Game Bird Stamp and Federal Duck Stamp for waterfowl hunters age 16 and older.

Season dates and bag limits vary by species, region, and weapon type, so check the current guide before you plan a hunt.

Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost

Maryland stands out for requiring an in-person Field Day for every hunter, regardless of age, since the state doesn't offer a fully online certification path. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.

No matter which format you choose, the certification itself lasts a lifetime once it's issued. Only your hunting license needs replacing, and in Maryland that happens every July 31.

What to Bring When Buying Your License

Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Maryland hunting license. You'll need:

• Government-issued photo ID or DNR ID number
• Hunter Education Certificate, or your Field Day Qualifier Voucher if still completing certification
• Payment (credit or debit card online, or check or card in person)
• Proof of Maryland residency, if applying for resident rates

Maryland Hunting Laws and Penalties

Hunting without a required license in Maryland carries a prepayable fine of $500, with a maximum penalty of $1,500 for a first offense and $4,000 and up to a year in jail for a second, under Maryland's hunting laws and regulations.

Hunting without the required hunter safety certificate carries a smaller prepayable fine of $250, but a first offense can still bring a $1,500 maximum penalty and up to a one-year revocation of hunting privileges.

What About Reciprocity?

Maryland accepts hunter education certificates from any other U.S. state, since the state's own program is built to IHEA-USA standards. Other IHEA-USA-compliant states and provinces return the favor and accept a Maryland Hunter Education Certificate.

The hunting license itself, however, is not transferable. Hunters visiting from out of state still need to purchase a Maryland non-resident license.

What Out-of-State Visitors Need to Know

Non-residents can hunt in Maryland with a Nonresident Hunting License ($160), a Nonresident Senior license ($65), or a Nonresident Junior license ($80). Hunters who only want to hunt waterfowl and small game for a short trip can instead buy the Nonresident 3-Day Waterfowl and Small Game License ($65), which skips the hunter education requirement entirely.

Start Your Maryland Hunter Safety Course Today

The Hunter-Ed Maryland course is approved by the DNR, self-paced, and available on any device. Complete the online portion, finish your Field Day, and get your lifetime Maryland Hunter Education Certificate.

Approved by Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) | Last verified August 11, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do I need a hunting license in Maryland?

A: Yes, anyone who hunts in Maryland needs a hunting license, regardless of age. First-time hunters also need a Hunter Education Certificate or an Apprentice Hunting License before they can hunt unsupervised.

Q: How old do you have to be to get Maryland hunter education certification?

A: In Maryland, there's no minimum age for hunter education itself, but you must be at least 13 to take the online portion. Hunters under 13 complete the full in-person classroom course instead.

Q: How much does a Maryland hunting license cost?

A: In Maryland, a Resident Regular Hunting License costs $35 for ages 16 to 64, and a Nonresident license costs $160. Stamps for archery ($6 resident), muzzleloader ($6 resident), and other activities are purchased separately.

Q: Does a Maryland hunting license expire?

A: Yes. Maryland hunting licenses run from the day you buy them through the following July 31, rather than a rolling 365-day period, so your renewal date always lands at the end of the season.

Q: Can I complete Maryland hunter education entirely online?

A: No. Maryland always requires an in-person component to complete the hunter education requirement, either a Field Day after the online course or the fully in-person classroom option for hunters under 13.

Q: Do I need hunter education in Maryland?

A: Yes, you need hunter education in Maryland if you've never held a Maryland hunting license. Hunters who can prove they held a license before July 1, 1977 are exempt from the requirement.

Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in Maryland?

A: Hunting without a license in Maryland carries a prepayable fine of $500, with a maximum penalty of $1,500 for a first offense. A second offense within the statute's window raises the maximum to $4,000 and up to a year in jail.