Snow geese at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Mitch Adolph, submitted to the 2016 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Maryland and other Atlantic Flyway states will not hold the additional Light Goose Conservation Order hunting season that is typically authorized under federal law, due to a decline in greater snow goose populations.
The Light Goose Conservation Order is a management tool authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and has been used to reduce and stabilize population levels of light geese (which include greater and lesser snow geese and Ross’s geese) since 2010. However, greater snow geese are now at, or below, the management plans’ population goal. Maryland and the other states in the Atlantic Flyway, a major bird migration route on the East Coast, have elected to pause the Light Goose Conservation Order for the 2026-2027 hunting season.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages hunting of these light goose species on these regularly scheduled dates:
Statewide: November 7 through November 27, and November 30 through February 6, 2027
Eastern Zone Only: February 8, 2027 through March 10, 2027
The bag limit is 25 light geese per day with no possession limit and may include greater snow geese, lesser snow geese and Ross’s geese. Hunting hours will be one half hour before sunrise to sunset in all segments of the 2026-27 light goose hunting season. Maryland DNR advises hunters there is an error regarding legal shooting hours for light geese in the printed versions of the 2026-27 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping. Correct information is listed in the online Maryland hunting regulations.
In the February to March segment, the following special methods may be used: (1) Hunters may use shotguns capable of holding more than three shotshells; (2) Hunters may use electronic calls with recordings of light geese.
For details of the Eastern Light Goose Zone, hunters can refer to an interactive waterfowl zone map on the DNR website. This area includes: The counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester and the portion of Carroll County east of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and east of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line and that portion of Prince George’s County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that portion of Charles County east of Route 301 to the Virginia line.
Known as a hotspot for ducks and geese in the heart of the Atlantic Flyway, Maryland’s marshes, lakes, rivers, and expansive Chesapeake Bay host many iconic waterfowl species throughout the fall and winter every year.
Hunting licenses, stamps, and permits may be purchased on the MD Outdoors website, by phone at 855-855-3906, at a Natural Resources Service Center or at any one of the more than 250 Sport License Agents statewide.
All other season dates, bag limits, and other regulations can be found in the 2026-27 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping. Hunters should download the MD Outdoors mobile app for easy access to all information.
Hunters with questions may contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service at 410-260-8540.
