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Hunting and Trapping On State Forests
Hunting with rifles, handguns, shotguns, bows and
muzzleloaders is permitted in all designated areas in accordance with state
and federal laws except for Seth Demonstration Forest. At Seth, deer may be
hunted by bow and arrow only. Trapping, raccoon hunting and fox chasing are
allowed in some forest areas, by permit only. Possession or use of weapons
is prohibited in state forests outside of regular open hunting seasons.
Target shooting is prohibited, except at public shooting ranges.
All game birds and game mammals may be hunted or
trapped. Tree stands are limited to those of a temporary nature which must
be removed or dismantled at the end of each day. The use of hunting dogs by
a licensed person in designated hunting areas for legal species is
permitted.
The hunting and trapping seasons in State Forests
conform to standard hunting seasons adopted by state and federal
regulations. An (*) indicates archery shooting range. Facilities marked (V)
have provisions for assisting individuals with permits to hunt from a
vehicle. See Hunt from Vehicle Permit.
Chesapeake Forest Lands open for public hunting are listed below.
Allegany
(V) Green Ridge State Forest- 46,657 acres- Furbearers, forest
game, upland game, and deer (bow, muzzleloader, shotgun, and rifle). Free
permit required for trapping (call 310-777-2136 for permit). Public shooting
range (call for hours and fees); 301-478-3124
Cecil
(V) Elk Neck State Forest- 3,316 acres- Furbearers, forest
game, upland game. Public shooting range (call for hours and fees);
410-287-5675
Charles
(V) Cedarville State Forest- 1,100 acres- Furbearers,
forest game, upland game. No breech loading rifles. Trapping by free permit
only. 301-743-5161 between 8:00am- 12:00pm.
Doncaster Demonstration Forest- 1,700 acres- Furbearers, forest game,
upland game, waterfowl. Trapping by free permit only. 301-934-2543
Tayloes Neck Tract- 300 acres- Forest game, upland game, waterfowl, deer
(bow, muzzleloader, and shotgun). Free permit and reservation required.
301-743-5161 between 8:00am- 12:00pm.
Garrett
*(V) Potomac-Garrett State Forest- 18,535 acres- Furbearers,
forest game, upland game, and deer (bow, muzzleloader, shotgun, and rifle).
Free permit required for trapping (call 310-777-2136 for permit). Public bow
shooting range (self-registration, call for hours and fees); 301-334-2038
(V) Savage River State Forest- 54,447 acres- Furbearers, forest game,
upland game, and deer (bow, muzzleloader, shotgun, and rifle). Free permit
required for trapping (call 310-777-2136 for permit). Public shooting range
(call for hours and fees); 301-895-5759
Harford
Stoney Demonstration Forest- 318 acres- Furbearers, forest game,
upland game and deer (bow, muzzleloader, and shotgun). Free permit required.
410-356-9272 between 7:30am - 11:30am.
Prince George’s
(V) Cedarville State Forest- See Charles County.
St. Mary’s
Salem Tract- 850 acres- Furbearers, forest game, upland
game, deer (bow, muzzleloader, and shotgun). Trapping by free permit only.
301-743-5161 between 8:00am- 12:00pm.
Talbot
Seth Demonstration Forest- 124 acres- Deer hunting with bow only;
410-632-3732
Wicomico
Wicomico Demonstration Forest- 1,250 acres- Furbearers,
forest game, upland game. Contact Forestry Division; 410-632-3732
Worcester
(V) Pocomoke River State Forest- 13,036 acres- Furbearers,
forest game, upland game, waterfowl. Free permit required for trapping and
raccoon hunting. Limited vehicle access; 6572 Snow Hill Rd., Snow Hill , MD
21863; 410-632-3732; located next to the fire tower off Snow Hill Rd. (Rt.
12)
CHESAPEAKE FOREST LANDS
The Chesapeake Forest Lands are most of the former land holdings of
the Chesapeake Forest Products Company. They are comprised of 460 parcels
totaling more than 58,000 acres in five lower Eastern Shore counties.
Approximately half of the forest area (29,000 acres) is now open to public
hunting the other half is under a leased hunting program. See the
Chesapeake Forest website at:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/chesapeakeforestlands.asp for
information concerning the leased hunting program and for maps of the public
hunting areas. Furbearers, forest game, upland game, and waterfowl may be
hunted on these properties where found. A permit is required for trapping. A
portion of the Aughty Naughty Complex in Wicomico County has a hunting area
for the physically disabled, see the website above for a map. Contact the
Chesapeake Forest Office for information on other possible hunting
opportunities for the physically disabled. Office address: 6572 Snow Hill
Rd., Snow Hill, MD 21863; 410-632-3732; located next to the fire tower off
of Snow Hill Rd. (Rt. 12).
The following Chesapeake Forest Lands parcels are
open to public hunting for the 2008-2009 seasons:
Caroline
Branch/Messenger Complex- 349 acres located off Houston
Branch Road adjacent to Idylwild WMA.
Gordy Complex- 456 acres located off Line and Noble Road.
Seipp Complex- 108 acres located off Bloomery Road adjacent to Idylwild
WMA.
Dorchester
Bell Estate Complex- 445 acres located off the south side
of Centennial Road.
Hornicke/Oliphant Complex- 370 acres located off Vienna - Henrys
Crossroads Road near LeCompte WMA.
Insley Complex- 445 acres located off Beach Ground Road
Lewis Complex- 1,594 acres located off Henrys Crossroads and Griffith’s
Neck Road adjacent to Fishing Bay WMA.
Marshy Hope Complex- 3,408 acres located along Marshy Hope Creek off N.
Tara, Harrison Ferry, Wesley, and Puckham Roads.
South Baumgardner Complex- 210 acres located off Elliotts Island Road
adjacent to Fishing Bay WMA.
Somerset
E. Mace Smith Complex- 1,700 acres located off Deal Island and Pine Pole
Road.
Haislip/Marumsco Complex- 1,480 acres located off Back Shelltown Road.
Oriole Complex- 568 acres located off the west side of Oriole Back Road
adjacent to Deal Island WMA.
Peters/McAllen Complex- 917 acres located off Loretto Station Road.
Wells Complex- 1,932 acres located off Mitchell Road and Route 13 near
Costen Station Road adjacent to Wellington WMA.
Wicomico
Athol Complex- 681 acres located off Athol Road.
Aughty Naughty Complex- 1265 acres located off Snethen Church and Cross
Roads.
Brown Tract- 70 acres located off Cooper Mill Road.
Fair Meadow- 368 acres located off Hickman Lane adjacent to Ellis Bay
WMA.
Greenhill Complex- 3,311 acres located west of Whitehaven Road.
Louis-Horner Complex- 460 acres located off Wetipquin Road.
Sixty Foot Road Complex- 2,014 acres located off Sixty Foot, Powell and
Warren Roads adjacent to the Wicomico Demonstration Forest.
Worcester
Abe Hammond Complex- 145 acres located along Corker Creek adjacent to
Pocomoke State Forest.
Apgar Tract- 200 acres located off Sand Road adjacent to Pocomoke State
Forest.
Bethards Tract- 40 acres located off Old Furnace and Green Briar Swamp
Road adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest.
Buck Harbor Complex- 318 acres located off Stevens Road. This area is
managed for handicap hunters who are restricted to a wheelchair. For more
information contact the National Wild Turkey Federation at 410-546-9154.
Cordery Complex- 625 acres located off Sturgis Road.
Donnaway-Timmons Complex- 528 acres located off Sheppards Crossing Road.
Dunn Swamp Complex- 1,154 acres located off Dunn Swamp Road.
Johnson & Johnson Tract- 853 acres located off Corner House Road
adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest.
Priscilla Pusey Complex- 131 acres located between Stevens Road and
Dividing Creek.
Selby Complex- 551 acres located on the southeast side of Bird Hill
Road.
Tankard Farm Complex- 880 acres located off Whitesburg and Oak Hall, and
Fleming Mill Roads adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest. This complex is
comprised of three separate tracts they are the Creek, Chatham and Tankard
Farm.
Whitesburg Complex- 375 acres located off Whitesburg and Old Beech Road
adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest.
Waterfowl Hunting Opportunities
Waterfowl hunting will be on a first come basis from the
shoreline of the following areas:
Dorchester County
Insley Complex (1.2 miles of shoreline)
Lewis complex (4.3 miles of shoreline)
Marshy Hope Complex (4.3 miles of shoreline)
Wicomico County
Fair Meadow (1.8 miles of shoreline)
Greenhill Complex (.5 miles of shoreline)
Lewis-Horner Complex (.33 miles of shoreline)
Ventor/Lathrop complex (1.4 miles of shoreline)
Note: The public should take special note of the
following two regulations pertaining to hunting on Chesapeake Forest Lands:
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An individual may not hunt within 150 yards of an
occupied structure or camp.
-
An individual may not hunt within 150 feet of any
exterior Chesapeake Forest Lands boundary, nor shoot on, from or across
any public road.
For more information, maps, and updates on Chesapeake
Forest Lands open to public hunting go to the web site:
www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/chesapeakeforestlands.asp |
