Migratory Game Birds

Shooting Hours
Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset, except for mourning doves during the first season segment, when shooting hours are from noon to sunset.

Unlawful Methods
Migratory game birds may not be taken with traps, snares, nets, crossbows, rifles, swivel guns, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explosives or stupefying substances.  Migratory game birds may not be taken with a shotgun capable of holding more than 3 shells.  Shotguns larger than 10 gauge may not be used to hunt migratory game birds.

Nontoxic Shot and Unlawful Shot
Non-toxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl and coots.  Hunters may not use or possess nontoxic shot larger than size number T (0.20 inches in diameter) or use of possess any lead shot while hunting waterfowl and coots.  The only shot approved as non-toxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (50 CFR 20) is steel, bismuth, tungsten-iron-nickel-tin (TINT), tungsten-nickel-iron (Hevi-shot), tungsten-iron, Tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix, tin and copper-plated, nickel-plated or zinc-plated steel shot for which the planting represents less than 1% of the shot's weight.  Lead shot plated with copper, nickel, or other material does not qualify.  Note: any non-toxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be legal to possess and use in Maryland.

Daily Bag Limit
You may take, in any one day, only the bag limit prescribed for each species.

Field Possession Limit
You may possess no more than one daily bag limit while in the field or returning from the field to your vehicle, hunting camp, or home.

Possession Limit
The maximum number of migratory game birds of a single species or combination of species permitted to be possessed by any one person.

Wanton Waste
No person shall kill or cripple any migratory or upland game bird without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird, and retain it in his/her actual custody.

Possession of Live Birds
Wounded birds reduced to possession shall immediately be killed and included in your daily bag limit.

Dressing
The head or one fully feathered wing must remain attached to all birds while being transported.  Never completely field dress any migratory game bird (except dove) before transporting the birds from the field.

Tagging
If you are giving, putting or leaving migratory game birds at any place or in the possession of another person, you must tag each bird with the following information: (a) hunter's signature, (b) hunter's address, (c) total number and species of birds killed, and (d) dates the birds were killed.  Tagging is required even if someone else is transporting the bird for you or the bird has been left for cleaning, storage (including temporary storage), shipment or taxidermy services.

Shipment
Tagged migratory game birds may not be shipped unless the package is marked on the outside with the following information: (a) name and address of the person who sending the bird, (b) name and address of the person to whom the bird is being sent, and (c) number of birds, by species, contained in the package.

It is Unlawful To:
Hunt migratory game birds with the aid of baiting (placing feed such as corn, wheat, salt or other feed that constitutes a lure or enticement).  An area is considered by law to be baited for 10 days after removal of the bait.  It is not necessary for you to know that an area is baited to be in violation.  Doves may not be hunted over any area that has been seeded by broadcasting, unless the seed has either germinated, been plowed or disced under or removed.  Hunting is permitted only after 10 days following the complete removal of all grain or other feed.  However, doves may be hunted in areas where seed-producing plants such as corn, sunflowers, wheat, and other small grains are manipulated) mowed, knocked down, burned) to attract doves for hunting purposes.  In this instance, the 10-day rule does not apply.

Sell taxidermy-mounted waterfowl for use as decoys.

Possess any rifle or pistol at any time while hunting waterfowl and coots.

Use common reed in any manner for the construction of blinds on lands owned or controlled by DNR.

Construct, or cause to be constructed, permanent blinds or tree stands, and to leave waterfowl decoys set overnight on lands owned or controlled by DNR, except with written permission from DNR.

Hunt migratory game birds after sunset.

Hunt wild migratory game birds on Sunday.

Hunt any animal other than deer on the 2003 Deer Firearms Season Opening Day except sea ducks in the Sea Duck and Offshore Waterfowl Hunting Zones.

Hunt from a sink box (low floating device with depression that conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water).

Hunt from or with the aid or use of a car or any other motor-driven land conveyance or any aircraft.

Hunt from or by means of any motorboat or sailboat unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or the sail furled and the boat's progress has ceased.

Use recordings of migratory game bird calls and sounds or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls.

Drive, rally or chase birds with any motorized conveyance or any sailboat to put the birds in the range of hunters.

Use or have the aid of live decoys.  Waterfowl hunting is not permitted on areas within which captive waterfowl are or have been confined in a closed structure and constitute a visible lure.  All live, tame or captive ducks and geese must be removed for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to hunting.  They must be confined in an enclosure that substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such birds from the sight of wild migratory waterfowl.

Offshore Duck Blind Laws
Contact the Wildlife & Heritage Service at 410-260-8540 or visit the DNR website at www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/waterfowl.html for updated information.

Offshore Waterfowl Hunting Laws
In designated waters of the state, a gunning rig license was formerly required to hunt waterfowl from a gunning rig, sneakboat or while standing on the natural bottom.  Hunting by these methods is still limited to designated waters but a gunning rig license is no longer required.  Nonresidents must be accompanied by a Maryland resident while hunting in designated waters.

Sea Duck and Offshore Waterfowl Hunting Zone
Obtain maps and descriptions of Sea Duck and Offshore Waterfowl Hunting Zones from DNR Wildlife & Heritage Service Offices by visiting www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/waterfowl.html .

Regulated Shooting Area (RSA) License and Stamp Requirements
Those persons hunting released pen reared ducks (only) on RSAs need to possess a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp and a valid RSA hunting license.  Those persons who may encounter wild waterfowl while waterfowl hunting on RSAs need to possess a Maryland hunting license, a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp and a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.

Hunting License Reciprocity for Snow Geese
Persons possessing a valid Delaware resident hunting license may hunt snow geese in Maryland without purchasing a Maryland hunting license.  In addition to a valid Delaware resident hunting license, these hunters must possess a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp, Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp and comply with Maryland's hunter safety requirements.  Persons possessing a valid Maryland resident hunting license may hunt snow geese in Delaware without purchasing a Delaware hunting license.