Turkey Hunting Season in Maryland: Dates, Zones, Limits, and Rules

Maryland may be one of the smaller states on the map, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to wild turkey hunting. With a mix of tidal marshes, dense forests, and rolling farmlands, Maryland offers excellent turkey hunting opportunities and boasts thriving populations of Eastern wild turkeys that thrive in its diverse habitats. Whether you’re chasing spring gobblers in the Appalachian foothills of western Maryland or setting up along the Eastern Shore’s open agricultural fields, understanding the state’s regulations is the first step toward a successful and legal hunt.

Maryland manages turkey hunting across multiple seasons — spring, fall, and winter — each with its own dates, zones, shooting hours, and bag limits. The state’s turkey hunting seasons are regulated by the Department of Natural Resources, and hunters must adhere to specific dates, bag limits, and licensing requirements. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about turkey hunting season in Maryland for 2025–2026.

Spring Turkey Season Dates and Zones in Maryland

Spring is the most popular season for turkey hunting in Maryland. During this time, hunters pursue gobblers responding to mating calls. The breeding season makes birds more vocal and active, giving hunters a genuine advantage in the field.

The statewide spring wild turkey season kicks off with Junior Turkey Hunt Day and is followed by the regular spring turkey season, which runs from approximately April 18 through May 23. For the 2025 season specifically, the Junior Turkey Hunt Season is open statewide on Saturday, April 11, 2025, in all counties, and Sunday, April 12, 2025, in certain counties.

Shooting hours vary depending on where you fall in the season calendar:

• Spring Turkey Season daily shooting hours for April 18 through May 9 are one-half hour before sunrise to noon.
• Spring Turkey Season daily shooting hours for May 10 through May 23 are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except on Sundays in certain counties.

The spring season is statewide, meaning it applies to all Maryland counties. However, Sunday hunting comes with important geographic restrictions. Sunday hunting is permitted on Junior Hunt Day (April 12) and all Sundays during any open turkey season, but with restrictions in specific counties and locations.

Pro Tip: Sunday hunting during the spring season is only permitted in select counties and on designated public lands. Always check the Maryland DNR’s Sunday hunting chart before heading out on a Sunday to confirm your specific county or WMA is included.

Maryland’s rich ecosystems, including hardwood forests, agricultural fields, and wetland edges, provide ideal habitats for Eastern wild turkeys. The state’s conservation efforts have supported robust turkey populations, making it a top destination for hunters in the Mid-Atlantic. Public land options abound as well — Maryland’s WMAs, such as Indian Springs and Myrtle Grove, offer public hunting opportunities and are managed to support wildlife populations, including turkeys, often providing excellent access for hunters.

Fall Turkey Season Dates and Zones in Maryland

Unlike the statewide spring season, fall turkey hunting in Maryland is geographically limited. Western Maryland has a long-standing either-sex Fall Turkey Season, and it is limited to the three western counties of Garrett, Allegany, and Washington.

For hunters in Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties, the fall turkey hunting season opens on November 2 and continues through November 10, with a bag limit of one turkey per hunter. That’s a tight nine-day window, so planning ahead is essential.

Fall Turkey Season daily shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. This is a slightly different window than the spring season, so make note of the distinction.

Key Insight: Fall turkey hunting in Maryland is restricted to just three western counties — Garrett, Allegany, and Washington. If you live or hunt in central or eastern Maryland, your next opportunity will be the spring season or the winter season.

Fall turkey hunters are encouraged to wear daylight fluorescent color clothing, especially when other hunting seasons are open at the same time. While orange is not legally required for turkey hunting in Maryland, wearing it during the fall season is a smart safety practice given the overlap with other open seasons.

Maryland also offers a brief Winter Turkey Season. Maryland offers a brief winter turkey hunting season in January, though there is a bag limit of one turkey between fall and winter seasons combined. Winter Turkey Season daily shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. If you’re also planning to hunt deer in Maryland, be sure to review how overlapping season dates may affect your plans.

Bag Limits and Sex Restrictions in Maryland

Maryland’s bag limits differ significantly by season, and understanding sex restrictions is critical — especially in the spring when taking the wrong bird can result in a violation.

Only bearded turkeys may be harvested in the Spring Season. The Spring Season bag limit is one bearded turkey per day and two bearded turkeys for the season. This restriction is designed to protect hens during the critical nesting period.

Only bearded turkeys may be harvested in the Junior Turkey Hunting Days and Spring Season, and turkeys taken by junior hunters during these days count toward the entire Spring Season bag limit. So if a youth hunter tags a bird on Junior Hunt Day, that harvest comes off the spring season total.

The combined bag limit for the 2025 Fall and 2026 Winter Seasons is one turkey of either sex. In other words, if you harvest a turkey during the fall season in western Maryland, you cannot take another bird during the winter season.

Important Note: Bearded hens do exist and can legally be harvested during the spring season. However, always make a positive identification before pulling the trigger — hens without beards are fully protected during spring.

If you’re comparing regulations across state lines, check out how turkey hunting season in Kentucky or turkey hunting season in Georgia handles bag limits and sex restrictions for a useful point of reference.

License, Permit, and Tag Requirements in Maryland

Before you set foot in the woods, you need to make sure your paperwork is in order. Maryland’s licensing structure is straightforward, but there are a few key requirements to know.

A hunting license is required to hunt wild turkeys (with exceptions). Anyone 16 years or older needs a valid hunting license and a turkey permit. License costs for 2025–2026 are as follows:

• Residents: An annual hunting license costs $24.50, and the turkey permit is $10.00.
• Nonresident Hunting License: $160.00 (ages 16 to 64); Nonresident Senior Hunting License: $65.00 (age 65 and above); Nonresident Junior Hunting License: $80.00 (under 16 years of age, written permission of parent or guardian required).

If you were born on or after January 1, 1972, you must complete a certified hunter education course before buying your first license. This training is a cornerstone of safe and responsible hunting.

There are some exemptions worth knowing about. Maryland residents hunting on their own property are exempt from the hunting license requirement but still need a turkey permit. Maryland also exempts residents on official military leave; others generally must buy a license, and nonresidents stationed in Maryland buy at the resident rate.

You’ll also need a DNR ID number to participate. A Maryland DNR Identification Number is required for all hunters, even those exempt from licensing. You can obtain this free number through the MD Outdoors portal.

The Maryland DNR now offers a new and improved online licensing system called MD Outdoors, available at the MD Outdoors licensing portal. A mobile app version is also available through your device’s app store by searching “MD Outdoors mobile app.” You can use MD Outdoors to purchase licenses and stamps, check in deer and turkeys, print harvest report cards and field tags, and access many of the features available across all DNR units.

Pro Tip: Purchase your license and permits through the MD Outdoors app so you have digital access to your credentials, field tags, and check-in tools all in one place — no paper required in the field.

For comparison on how neighboring states handle licensing, see our guides on turkey hunting season in Indiana and turkey hunting season in Illinois.

Legal Hunting Methods and Equipment in Maryland

Maryland draws a clear distinction between what equipment is legal in each turkey season. The rules are not the same across all seasons, so reviewing them carefully before you head out is essential.

Spring Season and Junior Hunt Days:

Hunting devices for Spring Turkey Season are only shotguns (loaded with #4 shot or smaller), crossbows, vertical bows, or air guns that shoot arrows or bolts.

Fall Season:

In the Fall Season, turkey hunters may only use air guns (that shoot arrows, bolts, or bullets), crossbows, handguns, shotguns (loaded with #4 shot or smaller or a solid, single projectile), rifles, or vertical bows. The fall season allows a broader range of equipment, including rifles and handguns, which are not permitted during the spring.

Winter Season:

Hunting devices for Winter Turkey Season are only shotguns (loaded with #4 shot or smaller), crossbows, vertical bows, or air guns that shoot arrows or bolts. This mirrors the spring season restrictions.

There are several universal prohibitions that apply regardless of season:

• It is illegal to hunt turkeys with the aid of bait or over any baited area. Feed or bait placed for deer or other wildlife may be considered baiting if turkeys are being hunted. An area is considered by law to be baited for 10 days after the removal of the bait.
• Salt and mineral supplements are no longer considered as a source of bait for turkeys.
• It is illegal to use recorded or electronically amplified calls, or use motorized or electronic turkey decoys.
• Dogs and organized drives may not be used.
• It is illegal to have a loaded air gun or firearm in, on, or leaning against any vehicle. This includes ammunition in the magazine or a muzzleloader ready to fire.
• Daylight fluorescent color clothing is not required for hunting turkeys.

Common Mistake: Many hunters assume that if bait was placed for deer, it doesn’t affect turkey hunting. Not true — Maryland law considers an area baited for turkeys if any bait is present, regardless of the intended target species. The 10-day rule applies after bait is removed.

For a look at how equipment rules compare in other states, see our guides on turkey hunting season in Kansas and turkey hunting season in Iowa.

Youth and Apprentice Turkey Hunting in Maryland

Maryland places a strong emphasis on introducing new hunters — especially young ones — to the sport through dedicated hunting opportunities. The special youth turkey season is an important part of introducing young hunters to the sport, encouraging participation and highlighting the health of the Eastern wild turkey population in the state.

Junior Turkey Hunt Days are held just before the regular spring season opens. Junior hunters must have a license or a license exemption to participate, and these hunts are available to hunters ages 16 and younger.

Supervision requirements are strict during Junior Hunt Days. Junior turkey hunters must be accompanied in the field by an individual who possesses a valid Maryland hunting license (an Apprentice Hunting License does not meet this requirement) or is exempt from hunting license requirements, and who is unarmed.

Additional rules for Junior Hunt Days include:

• The Junior Turkey Hunting Days bag limit is one bearded turkey per day.
• Daily shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset for Junior Turkey Hunting Days, except on Sundays in certain counties.
• Hunting devices for the Junior Turkey Hunting Days are only shotguns (loaded with #4 shot or smaller), crossbows, vertical bows, or air guns that shoot arrows or bolts.

Non-residents and residents can also get an Apprentice Hunting License. However, it’s important to note that an Apprentice Hunting License does not qualify an adult supervisor for Junior Hunt Day purposes — the supervising adult must hold a standard valid Maryland hunting license or qualify for an exemption.

Young hunters under 16 can get a free annual license, stamps, and archery or muzzleloader stamps after completing a hunter education course. This makes it very accessible for families to get youth involved without significant upfront costs.

Key Insight: Any turkey a junior hunter harvests on Junior Hunt Day counts toward the overall spring season bag limit of two bearded turkeys. Plan accordingly if your youth hunter intends to also hunt during the regular spring season.

If you’re exploring youth hunting programs in other states, our guides on turkey hunting season in Maine and turkey hunting season in Florida offer useful comparisons.

Harvest Reporting Requirements in Maryland

Maryland requires all turkey hunters — including those exempt from licensing — to complete a mandatory tagging and check-in process after every harvest. All hunters, including those who may hunt without a license, must complete the tagging and checking procedure for each deer and turkey taken.

Step 1: Tag the bird at the place of kill.

Complete a Deer and Turkey Field Tag at the place of kill in ink and attach it to the animal, or check in the animal at the place of kill and receive a confirmation number that can be furnished upon request. Place of kill is the location where the animal expired and was recovered.

When required, the field tag must be attached to the leg of the turkey. Field tags are available in the Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping, or a tag can be made by the hunter with the appropriate information — hunter name, DNRid number, county of harvest, date of harvest, or a confirmation number with the hunter’s name when the animal has been checked in.

Step 2: Report the harvest within 24 hours.

An individual killing a turkey shall report the kill to the Department by calling a designated toll-free number, by registering the kill on the internet, or as designated on the Department’s website. The harvest of a turkey shall be reported not later than 24 hours after the turkey was taken into possession by the hunter.

Critically, turkeys must be reported before being processed for consumption. Don’t clean or process your bird before completing the check-in — doing so is a violation.

Step 3: Record your confirmation number.

Make a permanent record of your turkey registration by either recording the confirmation number on a Big Game Harvest Record (provided with a hunting license) or creating a hard copy record of your own, or by maintaining an electronic record. Harvest records, whether recorded electronically or in hard copy format, must be furnished upon request and remain in possession of the hunter.

Hunters are required to furnish the confirmation number to taxidermists and processors/butchers before they can leave their turkey. If you plan to have your bird mounted or processed, have that number ready before dropping it off.

Important Note: You cannot transport a turkey without either a completed field tag or a confirmation number. Deer and turkeys cannot be moved or transported untagged if a confirmation number has not been received.

Hunters must use their DNRid number when checking in a turkey. The DNRid number is printed on all hunting licenses. You can also check in through the MD Outdoors mobile app, making the process quick and paperless in the field.

Maryland’s harvest reporting system supports long-term wildlife management. Money generated from the sale of licenses goes directly to the conservation, protection, and preservation of Maryland’s natural habitat and cherished wildlife, and the Maryland DNR works tirelessly to maintain a healthy population of fish and game and the regulations needed to sustain hunting in Maryland.

If you’re also hunting other species in the state this season, be sure to review the rules for goose hunting season in Maryland and dove hunting season in Maryland, as reporting and tagging requirements vary by species. For turkey regulations in other Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states, explore our guides on turkey hunting season in Idaho and turkey hunting season in Hawaii.

Final Thoughts

Turkey hunting in Maryland offers a rewarding experience across multiple seasons, from the vocal spring gobblers responding to your calls to the either-sex fall season in the western mountains. Maryland’s mix of Chesapeake Bay marshes, dense forests, and rolling farmland creates a unique and rewarding environment for turkey hunting. From the rugged Appalachian foothills to the Eastern Shore’s open fields, the state offers diverse opportunities for pursuing Eastern wild turkeys.

To hunt legally and ethically, keep these key points in mind: know your season dates and zones, respect the bag limit and sex restrictions, carry the right license and permit, use only legal equipment for the season you’re hunting, and complete your harvest reporting before processing or transporting your bird. When in doubt, always consult the official Maryland DNR Wild Turkey Hunting page for the most current regulations before your hunt.