Hunting Season at ACLT

Hunting season is upon us, and while that makes some of ACLT supporters happy, it frustrates others. Out of respect to all, the best we can do is to help everyone enjoy the land in whatever way they are most comfortable.

There is an overpopulation of deer in Southern Maryland, which causes problems for our forests and other native animals. Hunting is the best way to manage the deer population and mitigate these issues.

Hunting Locations

From September to February, hikers can use this calendar to see which days hunting is allowed. Some of ACLT’s trails are located on land owned by ACLT, while other trails run through land that is owned by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and managed by ACLT. See map on right, which shows ACLT-owned land vs DNR-owned land.

There are key differences between DNR-owned land and ACLT-owned land with regard to hunting:

ACLT-owned land is private, and only members of the Parkers Creek Conservation Society (PCCS) may hunt there.
The DNR-owned land within the Parkers Creek watershed is known as the Parkers Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA), and it is open to public hunting. If you have questions regarding hunting on the DNR Parkers Creek WMA, contact the Myrtle Grove WMA Office at (301) 743-5161.
Hunting is not allowed on Sundays on DNR-owned land. On ACLT-owned land, members of the Parkers Creek Conservation Society may only hunt before 9 A.M. on Sundays when Sunday hunting is permitted on private land (please see the calendar).

ACLT vs. DNR-Owned Land for Hunting Page of Website (1).jpg

Download Hunting Season Calendar

Map showing ACLT- and DNR-owned land. Click map to enlarge.

Stay Safe on the Trails

We encourage everyone to consider the following suggestions:

When out on the trails, wear bright colors (orange and red are especially good!) and avoid earth tones (browns, dark greens, etc.). Reminder: ACLT's merchandise store sells hunting season sweatshirts - get yours today!
Add a brightly colored item to your leashed dog as well for their safety.
Avoid early morning and late evening hikes during hunting season.

As always, please reach out to a staff member with any questions or concerns! We can be reached at 410-414-3400 and at info@acltweb.org.

NOTE: Gun hunting is not permitted at any time on the South Side trails (except for the properties surrounding the North-South trail). On all the other trails on ACLT-owned property, no hunting is allowed after 9 a.m. on Sundays. So, if you’d rather not hike while folks are gun hunting, visit the South Side Trailhead any day of the week or hike any of our trails on Sundays after 9 a.m.

Parkers Creek Conservation Society

The Parkers Creek Conservation Society (PCCS) is a private group of conservation-minded hunters who manage the white-tailed deer population on ACLT land. Hunters who are granted permission to hunt on ACLT properties must complete 20 hours of volunteer service at ACLT each year. Membership in the PCCS is limited. Applications will be advertised when openings become available. If you would like additional information about joining the PCCS, please email ACLT's Land Manager at clara@acltweb.org.