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Season November 7 to February 28

Maryland Pheasant Season 2026

Maryland's pheasant season runs November 7, 2026 to February 28, 2027.

Nov 7
Opening day
Saturday
Feb 28
Last day
Sunday, 2027
2 birds a day
Daily limit
4 in possession
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Dates and limits

Maryland pheasant season dates and bag limit

Maryland's pheasant season opens Saturday, November 7, 2026, and closes February 28, 2027. The daily limit is 2 pheasants and 4 in possession.

  1. MarylandNov 7
    Season, Nov 7 to Feb 28; Stocked pheasant hunts (special opportunity for new, lapsed and youth hunters), Nov 21 to 22
General season Limited huntsMaryland, Nov 7 to Feb 28
General season
Saturday, November 7, 2026 to February 28, 2027
Daily limit
2 birds a day
Possession
4 in possession
Which birds
Either sex
Shooting hours
one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset; Sunday hours differ by county
  • PheasantNov 7 to Feb 28all counties, either sex; Sunday hunting only in certain counties
  • Stocked Pheasant Hunts (special opportunity for new, lapsed and youth hunters)Nov 21 to 22by application; apprentice, junior, new and lapsed hunters only; public lands

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service regulations, read October 8, 2026.

Wild and released birds

Maryland pheasant stocking

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service releases pheasants on public lands across the state. Release timing: November 21 and 22, 2026.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will once again be offering “do-it-yourself” hunts for stocked pheasants. Apprentice license holders, junior license holders, new hunters and hunters who have previously held a Maryland hunting license but have let it lapse are eligible to apply.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source
License

What it takes to hunt pheasants in Maryland

Residents
Resident Regular Hunting License $35
Nonresidents
Nonresident Hunting License $160

Every Maryland license, resident and nonresident, with what each costs, is on the Maryland hunting license page.

Maryland pheasant questions

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Pheasant season in other states

Pheasant openers in every stateThe whole season on one calendar, with each agency's outlook.Maryland small game seasonsQuail, grouse, rabbit and squirrel dates in Maryland.Maryland hunting licenseWhat a Maryland license costs and who needs one.Maryland waterfowl seasonsDuck and goose dates in Maryland, by zone.Maryland duck migrationWhere the ducks are in Maryland this week.Maryland CWD testingDeer sampling rules in Maryland.
A rooster ring-necked pheasant with a red face, green head and white neck ring standing on disced soil and broken straw
A rooster feeding in a disced crop field beside LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota. Birds feed in the open early and late and sit in grass and cattails through the middle of the day. “Ring-necked pheasant at LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge (51154749494)”, Tom Koerner, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Maryland read October 8, 2026 from Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, every source linked above. An agency can move a date or close an area between the printed regulations and opening day, so its page is the one that governs. Every state is on the pheasant season calendar.