PUBLIC HUNTING PROGRAM 2021-2022

1 PUBLIC HUNTING PROGRAM 2021-2022 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service NEW!

2 The Central Region PUBLIC HUNTING Permit and the Southern Region PUBLIC HUNTING Permit are now one single permit called the Free PUBLIC HUNTING Permit. Call the Myrtle Grove Wildlife Office Call the Gwynnbrook Wildlife Office for reservations for Southern or Western Region for reservations for Central or Eastern Region properties at 301-743-5161. properties at 410-356-9272. PUBLIC HUNTING PERMIT AVAILABILITY See pages 6-14 to see which properties require this permit. Option A - Online Option B In Person Option C - Mail Apply online through COMPASS. Click on Purchase New License then HUNTING and choose the Free PUBLIC HUNTING Permit. When you complete the checkout process your seasonal permit will print on your HUNTING license.

3 After purchasing your HUNTING license you may obtain the Free PUBLIC HUNTING Permit from either the Gwynnbrook or Myrtle Grove Office. Have your DNR ID available. Mail a copy of your HUNTING license to the Gwynnbrook or Myrtle Grove Office. Please note which areas you are interested in. Include a letter-sized envelope with return address and postage. If you are HUNTING License exempt or have a Senior Lifetime Consolidated License please call the Gwynnbrook or Myrtle Grove Wildlife Office for instructions on how to get your permit. For specific information on SPRING TURKEY SEASON see the Spring Turkey HUNTING Guide. For specific information on WATERFOWL HUNTING see the Waterfowl HUNTING Guide.

4 RESERVATION REGULATIONS **See Pages 5-13 for information on which properties require RESERVATIONS.** Reservations are available: 7:30am-11:30am @Gwynnbrook (Central/Eastern Region) 8:00am-12:00pm @Myrtle Grove (Southern/Western Region) *No walk-in reservations for the first hour.* Both Offices: August 16, 2021 - February 15, 2022 (Mon-Fri) Myrtle Grove: February 16, 2022 March 10, 2022 (Tues and Fri Only from 8am-9am) Spring Turkey: April 11, 2022 - May 23, 2022 (Mondays ONLY) Closed all State Holidays Deer, Small Game, and Turkey: Hunters may call a maximum of 8 calendar days prior to the day of the hunt. Waterfowl Sites: Hunters may call a maximum of 4 calendar days prior to the day of the hunt.

5 Limitations: A hunter may make 2 reservations per phone call. A hunter may only hold one reservation per day. Reservations left on the answering machine will not be honored and calls will not be returned. If unable to hunt, you MUST cancel your reservation at least one business day in advance so that another hunter may utilize the opportunity to hunt. Cancelations may be left on the answering machine. Page 1 of 14

6 ONLINE RESOURCES Reservations: Hunters may check their current reservations using their DNR ID and birthday. Available reservations for select properties may be viewed in our online calendar. Maps: All of our PUBLIC land maps are available online. Some of our maps are now in geo-referenced PDF form. Instruction for using geo-PDF maps on mobile devices: Several applications are available to take advantage of the geo-referenced data embedded inside the PDF document.

7 This means map users can interact with maps on their mobile devices in both online and offline environments. One such application, available from Avenza Inc. is called PDF Maps and is currently available for both IOS and Android devices. After downloading the application you can load the maps from the website and utilize the functions available. REGULATIONS FOR ALL PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS No building or using of permanent tree stands. All portable tree stands must be removed at the end of the day. Maryland PUBLIC lands are trash-free. All trash must leave with you. Please pick up your empty shotgun shells. Placing or HUNTING over bait for any wildlife species is prohibited on all PUBLIC lands.

8 Target shooting, camping, building fires, and HUNTING in safety zones or restricted areas is prohibited. Parking is allowed in designated parking areas only. Do not block gates. The cutting of trees, branches, shrubs, or other vegetation is prohibited. This includes cutting shooting lanes. Off-road vehicle use is prohibited (allowed on select properties with a Universal Disability Pass), call for info. Non-hunters may accompany a permitted hunter if they are unarmed and stay with the hunter at all times. Trapping is allowed on certain properties with written permission. Call for more information. Do not walk through or damage fields until crops have been harvested.

9 If entering through a closed and/or locked gate, close and lock the gate behind you when entering and leaving. Additional waterfowl HUNTING regulations can be found in the Waterfowl HUNTING Guide. State Park SpecificRegulations In addition to the regulations above, hunters must abide by the following restrictions on State Parks: Hunters must contact NRP (410-260-8888) before tracking wounded deer after hours, off State Park Property, or outside of the designated HUNTING area. For most State Parks, hunters may enter a HUNTING area hrs before sunrise and must be out by hrs after sunset. See individual property notes in the chart on pages 5-13 for exceptions or additional entry restrictions.

10 Camping and camp fires are permitted in designated areas by reservation only. The Managed Hunt Permit is required to hunt certain State Park properties in the following counties; Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Queen Anne s. Please reference your Maryland Guide to HUNTING and Trapping to see which properties require it (pages 60-63). All State, Federal, County, and Property HUNTING regulations apply. Failure to comply with these rules or regulations will result in a fine and/or suspension from the PROGRAM (Page 5). Emergency Info: For wildlife emergencies or to report HUNTING violations please call Natural Resources Police IMMEDIATELY at 410-260-8888.