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 regards to hunting:

ACLT-owned land is private, and only members of the Parkers Creek Conservation Society (PCCS) may hunt there. If you would like additional information about joining the PCCS, email the Land Manager at landmanager@acltweb.org.
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 it is permitted on private land.

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

NOTE: Gun hunting is not permitted at any time on the south side trails (except for the area surrounding the north-south trail). On all other trails, 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.

Trails that run only through ACLT-owned land:

All of ACLT’s south side trails (Frog Pond Trail, Ridge Loop, Flint Trail, Laurel Loop, Karen’s Trail, East Loop, Oriole Trail, Wallace Lane, Chestnut Trail, Cemetery Lane, Hughes Trail, and Less Traveled Path). Only bow hunting is allowed on the land surrounding these trails; gun hunting is never allowed.
Griffin Meadow Trail

Trails that run partly or fully through DNR-owned land:

PF2Bay Trail
Horse Swamp to Bay Overlook
Parkers Creek Loop
Double Oak Road Trail
North-South Trail
Holly Hill Trail

Stay Safe on the Trails

For peace of mind, we encourage everyone to consider the following suggestions:

When in the forests, 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 those weeks.

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.Click to download the entire schedule here.

Download Hunting Season Calendar