Goose Hunting Season in Maryland: Dates, Bag Limits, and Rules for 2026-27
October 13, 2026
Maryland calls itself the Canada Goose Hunting Capital of the World, and more than 500,000 Canada geese winter on the Eastern Shore. Goose hunting season in Maryland is also more complicated than most states, with separate early, Atlantic Population, and late resident seasons stacked across five months.
There is a new wrinkle this year too. Maryland and the other Atlantic Flyway states have paused the Light Goose Conservation Order for the 2026-2027 season, so the spring snow goose perks you may remember are off the table for now.
This guide breaks down every season, limit, license, and legal method for the 2026-27 hunting year, using Maryland DNR and eRegulations figures as of October 2026. Dates and limits change every year, so treat this as your planning sheet and confirm details in the official state guide before you head out.
Goose Hunting Season Dates in Maryland
Maryland splits goose hunting into several overlapping seasons, and which one applies depends on the bird and where you are standing. The table below pulls together the 2026-27 dates from Maryland DNR and the state’s eRegulations listings.
| Season | 2026-27 Dates |
|---|---|
| Early Resident Canada Goose | Eastern Zone: Sept. 1–15; Western Zone: Sept. 1–25 |
| Youth, Veteran, and Military Waterfowl Days | Nov. 7, 2026 and Feb. 6, 2027 |
| Atlantic Population Canada Goose | Nov. 24–27, 2026 and Dec. 15, 2026–Jan. 30, 2027 |
| Late Southern Maryland Resident Canada Goose | Nov. 21–23; Nov. 24–27; Dec. 15–Jan. 30; Feb. 1–Mar. 10 |
| Late Western Maryland Resident Canada Goose | Nov. 21–27; Dec. 15–Mar. 10 |
| Light Geese (Snow and Ross’s) | Statewide Nov. 7–27 and Nov. 30–Feb. 6, 2027; Eastern Zone only Feb. 8–Mar. 10, 2027 |
The first shots of the year come in September, when the early resident season overlaps with the opening of mourning dove. If you hunt both, our Maryland dove hunting season guide covers the dove side of that opener.
Common Mistake: Hunting on a Sunday. Migratory birds cannot be hunted on Sundays anywhere in Maryland, so count Saturdays and holidays when you plan your trips.
Canada Goose Season in Maryland
The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is the bird most Maryland hunters care about, and the state manages it in three separate pieces. Resident birds that live here year-round get the September season and the late resident seasons. Migratory birds from the Atlantic Population get their own, shorter windows.
Early Resident Season in September
The early season targets resident geese before the migrants arrive. It runs Sept. 1–15 in the Eastern Zone and Sept. 1–25 in the Western Zone. Hunters may use shotguns capable of holding more than three shells during this season, a rule that applies during the September seasons only.
Atlantic Population and Late Resident Seasons
The Atlantic Population (AP) season is split into a short November segment and a longer winter run. Per Maryland eRegulations, it covers Nov. 24–27, 2026 and Dec. 15, 2026–Jan. 30, 2027 in the AP zone.
The late resident seasons run longer, particularly in western Maryland, where the season stays open from mid-December into March. Southern Maryland has four segments and runs until Mar. 10, 2027. Zone boundaries are set by county, so check the map before you set decoys on a new property.
Planning a trip outside the Mid-Atlantic? Our Ohio goose hunting season guide is a useful comparison for Canada goose timing in the Midwest.
Snow, Ross’s, White-Fronted Goose and Brant Seasons in Maryland
Maryland’s snow geese are a big draw. Snow geese (Anser caerulescens) and the smaller Ross’s goose (Anser rossii) are managed together as light geese. The snow goose population has grown to over 1 million birds, which is why Maryland keeps generous seasons for them.
The 2026-27 light goose season runs statewide from Nov. 7 through Nov. 27 and from Nov. 30 through Feb. 6, 2027. The Eastern Zone adds a late window from Feb. 8 through Mar. 10, 2027. Snow geese are the main target, but the limit also covers Ross’s geese.
The greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) does not have its own season in Maryland. It counts toward the AP bag limit, which may include Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese. Treat any white-front you take as part of your daily goose count.
Brant (Branta bernicla) are a Chesapeake and coastal bird with their own rules. The youth, veteran, and military days allow 1 brant. I could not confirm the regular brant dates for 2026-27 in the sources I reviewed, so check the current Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping before you plan a brant hunt.
Snow goose hunters who like to travel can compare Maryland with our guides to goose hunting in Illinois and Texas, two states that see heavy light goose traffic.
Goose Bag and Possession Limits in Maryland
Limits change by season, zone, and bird, so a quick look at the numbers before every hunt keeps you legal. The possession limit for migratory game birds is generally three times the daily bag limit, with light geese as the exception.
| Season | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Early Resident Canada Goose | 8 | 24 |
| Atlantic Population | 2 | 6 |
| Light Geese | 25 | No possession limit |
| Late Resident Zones | 5 in most segments, 2 during AP overlap periods (confirm in the state guide) | Three times the daily bag |
Important Note: Sources disagree on the September limit. Maryland eRegulations lists 8 geese per day with a possession limit of 24, while a few news and hunting sites report 15 per day. Go with the official state guide, and confirm before opening day.
The late resident limits follow a pattern of higher bag days and lower bag days that DNR has adjusted in recent years. One third-party summary lists 5 per day, dropping to 2 during overlap periods, so read the segment dates for your zone closely.
On youth, veteran, and military days, the goose limits are 2 Canada geese in the AP zone or 5 in the late resident zones, plus 25 light geese. These come on top of the duck bag. Check the Maryland DNR announcement for the confirmed light goose numbers.
Spring Light Goose Conservation Order in Maryland
The Light Goose Conservation Order normally gives you extra methods and extra time to thin out overabundant snow geese. For 2026-27, that bonus window is paused. Maryland DNR confirmed that the Atlantic Flyway states elected to pause the order for the season.
That means the usual late-winter perks are not available this year. Instead, you hunt light geese on the regular dates, including the Eastern Zone window from Feb. 8 through Mar. 10, 2027. The bag limit stays at 25 per day.
Pro Tip: Do not rely on older articles that mention extended spring hours or a $5 conservation permit. In earlier years the permit was required, but the 2026-27 order status was listed as “to be determined” before DNR confirmed the pause.
If the order returns in a future year, plan on separate permit rules. Maryland regulations require that hunters obtain a Snow Goose Conservation Hunt Permit, in addition to other required licenses or stamps. You can read the rule text in the Maryland COMAR regulation.
Hunters who follow spring snow goose seasons elsewhere can see how neighboring flyways handle them in our Wisconsin and Indiana guides.
Licenses, Permits, and Registration Required to Hunt Geese in Maryland
You need more than a basic hunting license to hunt geese in Maryland. Plan to have the following in hand before you go afield:
- A valid Maryland hunting license. For light geese, a resident Delaware hunting license also works.
- The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp and Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Maryland requires the printed validation showing proof of purchase for the stamp and HIP during the conservation order season.
- A federal duck stamp. Hunters no longer need the physical stamp in their possession if they buy an E-Stamp and add it to a mobile wallet.
- A Snow Goose Conservation Order permit, only if the order is open. It is not needed in 2026-27 because the order is paused.
Hunters who also chase deer and turkey can use the same base license for those seasons. See our Maryland deer hunting season guide and turkey hunting season guide to plan the rest of your year.
The state posts the current requirements in its migratory game bird rules. Buy your license, stamp, and HIP registration before the September opener so you are not scrambling when a cold front pushes birds south.
Shooting Hours and Legal Methods for Goose Hunting in Maryland
Shooting hours depend on the season. For the early September resident goose season, hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. In the regular seasons, hours run from one half hour before sunrise to sunset, including all light goose segments.
Important Note: Maryland DNR says the printed 2026-27 hunting guide has an error on light goose shooting hours, and the correct information is in the online regulations. If your printed copy says otherwise, trust the online version.
Legal methods are just as strict as hours. These are the rules to know before you pack the truck:
- Only shotguns and some archery equipment may be used to hunt migratory game birds, and shotguns must be 10-gauge or smaller.
- It is unlawful to carry an air gun, rifle, or pistol while hunting geese.
- Nontoxic shot is required for ducks, geese, brant, coots, rails, and snipe.
- You may not have a loaded firearm in, on, or leaning against any vehicle.
- Electronic calls are generally banned, except in authorized portions of light goose seasons.
Hunters also use public marshes such as Taylor’s Island WMA, where much of the ground is reached by boat. Scout early and confirm access rules on any public land you plan to hunt.
Looking to hunt beyond Maryland? Our guides to goose seasons in Michigan and Minnesota cover two other big goose states.
For deeper background on Maryland’s goose populations and hunting tradition, the state’s geese species page is a good place to start. Check the DNR guide again before each segment opens, since dates and limits can shift year to year.