Public lands in the United States offer a diverse range of opportunities for hunters, but they also come with various regulations and access points to note.
Locally, the Maryland-owned lands typically comprise State Parks, Wildlife Areas (WA), or Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). The rules for hunting in these areas can vary significantly. County-owned lands have various access for hunting. Also, there are private lands available for hunting.
It’s when hunting season is “in” that outdoor recreation users need to be respectful and ensure they are wearing blaze orange clothing and accessories when hiking or biking or bird-watching on the trails.
Here’s what we could find on the local (forested) public lands and the hunting policy for each:
Big Run State Park
• No Hunting
• Hunting permitted in the adjacent State Forest
Broadford Lake Park
• Open on November 24-26, 2025, for Waterfowl Hunting
Casselman River Bridge State Park
• No Hunting
Cunningham Swamp
• Use of Cunningham Swamp WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year
• Hunting is allowed in accordance with open seasons and shooting hours
• No special permits or drawings are required to hunt this area, except appropriate licenses and stamps
• Trapping by permit only
Dans Mountain
• Use of the Dan’s Mountain WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year
• Hunting is allowed in accordance with open seasons and shooting hours
• No special permits or drawings are required to hunt this area, except appropriate licenses and stamps
• Trapping by permit only
Deep Creek Lake
• General hunting permitted in the 551-acre designated hunting area
• No firearms hunting until October 15
• Spring turkey hunting is permitted during the listed seasons
• Hunting permitted Monday-Saturday
• Provisions for hunters with mobility impairments
• Waterfowl hunting only at designated sites on Deep Creek Lake (reservations required)
• Hunters may enter/remain on park property outside of the regular posted hours if they are engaged in legitimate, authorized hunting activity.
Deep Creek Lions Club Community Park – Lions Club Trails
• No hunting
Garrett State Forest
• Hunting permitted throughout 19,000 acres of Potomac-Garrett State Forest; NOTE: the two state park areas (Herrington Manor and Swallow Falls) hunting is prohibited.
• Forest boundaries are marked with yellow paint on trees; a yellow bar as you enter the forest, and a yellow dot as you exit the forest
• Potomac-Garrett State Forest offers over 4 miles of accessible hunting areas
Green Ridge State Forest
• Hunting is permitted throughout the 49,000 acres of Green Ridge State Forest (except where posted with safety zone signs)
• Green Ridge State Forest offers over 6 miles of accessible hunting areas
• Several access roads are opened every fall to accommodate hunters. These gated roads are opened before squirrel season in September and remain open through January 31. Opened roads can be used by all hunters and allow for vehicular traffic. Due to the nature of these roads, the use of four-wheel drive is recommended.
Fork Run Recreation Area (Garrett County Owned)
• No Hunting
Herrington Manor State Park
• No Hunting
• Hunting permitted in adjacent Garrett State Forest
Mt. Nebo WMA
• Use of Mt. Nebo WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year.
• Hunting is allowed in accordance with open seasons and shooting hours.
• No special permits or drawings are required to hunt this area, except appropriate licenses and stamps.
• Trapping by permit only.
• There is disabled hunter access off of Oakland-Sang Run Road.
New Germany State Park
• No Hunting
• Hunting permitted in adjacent State Forest
Rocky Gap State Park
• General hunting permitted in 1,451-acre designated hunting area
• Archery-only hunting permitted in 300-acre designated hunting area
• Hunting permitted Monday-Saturday
• Hunt from Vehicle provisions for disabled hunters
Sang Run State Park
• No Hunting
Savage River State Forest
• Savage River State Forest offers over 2.8 miles of accessible hunting areas
Swallow Falls State Park
• No Hunting
• Hunting permitted in adjacent Garrett State Forest
Western Maryland Rail Trail
• No Hunting
Wolf Den Run
• Hunters may enter/remain on park property outside of the regular posted hours if they are engaged in legitimate, authorized hunting activity; however, the park gates are open at 9:00 AM and locked at 4:00 PM (November 1 – March 31) & 6:00 PM (April 1 – October 31). Parking outside of the gates in designated areas is recommended
• Hunting permitted Monday-Saturday
• No Sunday Hunting
Youghiogheny Wild River Management Area
• General hunting permitted in 1,200-acre designated hunting area
• Hunting permitted Monday-Saturday
