Maryland’s early muzzleloader deer season opens Oct. 22 and runs through Oct. 24 statewide, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced. I read the DNR’s news release and found that hunters in Region B , which covers central, southern, and eastern Maryland , may also use muzzleloaders from Oct. 26 through Oct. 31, but only for antlerless deer during that extended window.
For the 2026-27 season, the statewide bag limit for antlered white-tailed deer is set at two per hunter. The DNR encourages hunters to report their harvest through the agency’s online system, which helps biologists track deer populations and manage the herd across the state.
What This Means for Homeowners
A deer season opening means more hunters will be in the woods and fields, including near residential areas. If you have deer coming into your yard or garden, remember that a deer carcass left on your property can attract raccoons and skunks, which may carry rabies. I looked up our guide on raccoon poop identification vs other animal droppings to remind myself that raccoon waste near a deer carcass is a health risk to dogs and children.
Homeowners who find a dead deer near a shed or outbuilding can also follow the 5 steps to safely remove a snake from your garden shed, since snakes sometimes shelter near carcasses. The DNR says loaded muzzleloaders must be unloaded and encased while being transported in a vehicle, so if you see a hunter near your property line, keep your distance and keep pets indoors.
The notice is published by Maryland Department of Natural Resources at news.maryland.gov.
