2023-2024 Assateague Island National Seashore Hunt Plan (pdf file, 259kb)2023-2024 DEER SEASONS & BAG LIMITS – ANTLERED & ANTLERLESS DEER*NO SUNDAY HUNTING*Please note the following regulations are applicable ONLY for the Federally owned portion of Assateague Island in MD.For hunting information in Assateague State Park please visit Hunting (maryland.gov) For hunting information in the Virginia district please visit Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)
DEER SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS ARCHERY and portions of DUCK seasons will be CLOSED in the Southern Hunt Zone during the LATE Season Deer hunt:
DEER HUNTING REGULATIONS1. Legal Shooting Hours: One half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.2. Antler Definitions: a) An antlered white-tailed deer is defined as a deer with two or more points to one antler, or a deer with one antler three or more inches long, measuring from the top of the skull as the deer is in life. b) An antler point is defined as any antler projection one inch or more in length and includes the brow tine. The tip of the main beam is also considered a point. c) An antlerless white-tailed deer is a female deer or a male deer with no antlers or spike antlers less than three inches in length, measuring from the top of the skull as the deer is in life. d) An antlered sika deer is a deer with at least one antler visible above the hairline. 3. Deer Tagging and Checking: a) Before moving a Deer from the place of kill, complete a Deer field tag at the place of kill in ink and attach it to the deer; or b) Check in the deer at the place of kill and receive a confirmation number that can be furnished upon request. If a confirmation number is obtained at the place of kill, the deer can be moved/transported untagged. (Place of kill is the location where the deer expired and was recovered). c) Deer harvested must be recorded at the Hunter Station during the hunter sign-out process. d) Hunters must also register their deer with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources within 24 hours using the COMPASS Portal at compass.dnr.maryland.gov/, DNR official mobile app (AccessDNR) or by calling 1-888-800-0121. e) The hunt code for Assateague Island National Seashore is 585 and the County Code number for Worcester is 23. 4. Straight-walled cartridge rifles, shotguns and muzzleloaders are approved to be used during the shotgun season. 5. Prohibited Activities: a) Use of straight-walled carttidges and use of Air guns b) Sunday hunting. c) Driving deer. Two or more hunters driving deer through an area towards standers positioned for a shot. d) Dogs cannot be used to hunt deer. e) Hunting with a rifle (other than strait-walled cartridge). f) Hunting with a shotgun rifle combination. g) Baiting deer. h) Use or possession of buckshot. FLUORESCENT CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS for deer (shotgun/muzzleloader)1. Archery hunters in the Southern Hunt Zone will be required to wear fluorescent clothing during the shotgun/muzzleloader seasons.2. When hunting, both hunters and companions must wear either: a) A cap of solid daylight fluorescent orange or pink color worn as an outer garment on the head at all times; b) A vest or jacket containing back and front panels of at least 250 square inches each of solid daylight fluorescent orange or pink color worn as an outer garment at all times; or c) An outer garment of camouflage daylight fluorescent orange or pink worn above the waist which contains at least 50% daylight fluorescent color. NOTE: Persons hunting from a ground blind that has four sides, a top, and is placed 4 feet or less above the ground must display - on or within 25 feet of the blind - a cap of solid daylight fluorescent orange or pink color, or a panel band, strip, or garment containing at least 250 square inches (approx. 16 inches x 16 inches) of solid daylight fluorescent orange or pink color. 3. Hunter Limits: During the Shotgun/Muzzleloader season (Including the LATE SEASON Deer Hunt) the National Park Service limits to 140 the number of deer hunters and/or aides permitted in the hunting zone at any one time. After this limit is reached, hunters will be admitted to the hunting area on a “one-off, one-on” basis. 4. Specific Regulations for the LATE SEASON Deer Hunt on January 5-6: a) Shotgun, straight-walled cartridge rifles and muzzleloader are the only weapons approved during this hunt. b) Access to the hunt zone will be on a first-come, first served basis. c) Hunters must sign in at the ranger station, no earlier than 5:00 a.m. the morning of the hunt. d) Hunters will be unable to access the hunt zones prior to 5:00 a.m. e) Once the 140 limit is reached, additional hunters will be allowed to stay on “stand-by” status and will be signed in accordingly. f) Access to the hunt zone will be on a “one-off, one-on” basis. g) Hunters must be physically present while waiting on “stand-by”. Contact InformationFor any questions on the pre-mentioned hunting season regulations please contactU.S. Park Ranger Andrew Brady (Hunting Program Coordinator at Assateague Island N.S.) Office: 410-629-6048 E-mail: andrew_brady@nps.gov |
Last updated: February 11, 2024