Maryland Sets November 7 Waterfowl Hunt for Youth, Veterans and Military Hunters

Maryland has set November 7, 2026, and February 6, 2027, aside for special waterfowl hunts for young hunters, veterans and eligible active-duty military personnel. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the dates October 30. Ducks, geese and coots may be hunted on private land and designated public hunting land, subject to the special-day requirements and applicable hunting rules.

The youth opportunity covers hunters 16 and younger. Eligible military participants include veterans as defined in federal law and active-duty members of the Armed Forces, including National Guard and Reserve members on active duty other than for training. Youth hunters must be accompanied by an unarmed adult at least 21 years old or by eligible military personnel who are also participating in the hunt. This is not a general extra hunting day for every adult mentor.

Licenses and stamps still matter. DNR says eligible hunters and adult mentors must hold a Maryland hunting license unless exempt. Adults participating in the hunt need both a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp and a Federal Duck Stamp. Youth hunters, including apprentice-license holders, need the Maryland stamp; the federal stamp exemption applies only to those under 16. A 16-year-old qualifies for the youth hunt but not that age-based federal stamp exemption.

Most bag limits follow the regular seasons, but DNR lists four special-day exceptions: two black ducks, two scaup, two Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Canada Goose Hunting Zone, and five Canada geese in the Late Southern and Western Maryland Resident Goose Zones. Check the full regulations and the zone where you will hunt rather than treating those figures as a stand-alone bag-limit guide.

For planning, start with the DNR announcement and the 2026–27 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping. DNR points readers to pages 60–63 for public hunting lands and Wildlife Management Areas. A special hunt date does not make every public parcel available: confirm the individual area's access requirements before traveling, and obtain permission for private land. The agency's Wildlife and Heritage Service can answer questions at 410-260-8540.

For mentors who want to study birds with a new hunter before shooting starts, an optional gear choice is the Bushnell R3 8x42 binoculars. This model pairs 8x magnification with 42mm objective lenses. Use binoculars for observation and identification practice, not as a substitute for positively identifying every bird and a safe shot; if identification is uncertain, do not shoot. No new optics purchase is necessary if you already have a suitable pair.

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Photo: Illustrative file photograph of waterfowl hunting, not a photograph of the announced Maryland hunts. Credit: Chuck Traxler/USFWS; public domain. Original image and usage rights.

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