Cunningham Swamp Wildlife Management Area: deer harvest, hunting rules and map
Hunters reported 9 deer on Cunningham Swamp Wildlife Management Area in the 2025-26 season, 5 antlered and 4 antlerless, against 14 in 2024-25. It is a Maryland DNR wildlife management area of about 326 acres in Garrett County, in deer management Region A.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026, Appendix II. Area: Maryland DNR owned lands (Maryland iMAP); DNR's page for Cunningham Swamp WMA. Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027.
Wildlife management areaState forestState parkCunningham Swamp WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 326 acres (measured from DNR's map) |
|---|---|
| County | Garrett County |
| Managed by | Wildlife and Heritage Service |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 9 (5 antlered, 4 antlerless) |
| Deer reported, 2024-25 | 14 |
| Deer management region | Region A |
| Nearest towns | Accident (5 mi), Jennings (6 mi) and Swanton (7 mi) |
How many deer are taken on Cunningham Swamp WMA each year?
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 2024-25 | 9 | 5 | 14 |
| 2023-24 | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| 2022-23 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 2020-21 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Source: the public land table (Appendix II) in DNR's report for each season (Maryland DNR deer and big game report archive).
What is Cunningham Swamp WMA like?
DNR describes it: "Cunningham Swamp WMA is located in Central Garrett County. This 328 acre tract encompasses the majority of Cunningham Swamp, a rich wetland with exceptional habitat for wetland and bog related species."
On hunting and other uses: "There is ample opportunity for the Garrett County adventurer to hunt waterfowl and big game such as white-tailed deer and black bears. The abundant cover here will challenge hunters to find game, but provides a unique opportunity to hunt in a pristine wetland habitat."
On wildlife: "The thick alder, viburnum and other wetland shrub species growing here make for excellent cover. This cover and abundant food sources are attractive to many young-forest and wetland loving species."
Quoted from DNR's page for Cunningham Swamp WMA.
What are the rules on Cunningham Swamp WMA?
- Use of Cunningham Swamp WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year.
- Hunting is allowed in accordance with open seasons and shooting hours.
- No special permits or drawings are required to hunt this area, except appropriate licenses and stamps.
From DNR's page for Cunningham Swamp WMA.
When can you hunt Cunningham Swamp WMA in 2026-27?
Seasons follow Region A: archery September 11 to January 31 with breaks, early muzzleloader October 22 to 24, firearm November 28 to December 12, late muzzleloader December 19 to January 2. Bear season in the western counties is October 26 to 31. Spring turkey runs April 19 to May 24, 2027.
| County | Deer, 2025-26 | Antlered, 2025-26 | Spring turkeys, 2026 | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett County | 5,147 | 3,058 | 542 | 23% |
Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027. County harvest: Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026.
How do you get to Cunningham Swamp WMA?
Highways within five miles: MD 495 and US 219. Nearest towns: Accident (5 miles), Jennings (6 miles), Swanton (7 miles) and Grantsville (9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are taken on Cunningham Swamp WMA?
9 in 2025-26: 5 antlered and 4 antlerless (Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026, Appendix II). In 2024-25: 14. DNR's tables go back to 2019-20 for this area.
Do you need a permit to hunt Cunningham Swamp WMA?
DNR's page for Cunningham Swamp WMA says: "Use of Cunningham Swamp WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year. No special permits or drawings are required to hunt this area, except appropriate licenses and stamps."
What county is Cunningham Swamp WMA in?
Garrett County. Garrett County reported 5,147 deer in 2025-26, 3,058 antlered, and is in Region A.
What can you hunt on Cunningham Swamp WMA?
DNR: "There is ample opportunity for the Garrett County adventurer to hunt waterfowl and big game such as white-tailed deer and black bears. The abundant cover here will challenge hunters to find game, but provides a unique opportunity to hunt in a pristine wetland habitat."
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Where these facts come from
- Deer by area: the public land tables in Maryland DNR deer and big game report archive. Boundary: Maryland DNR owned lands (Maryland iMAP).
- Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027; Maryland DNR: 2026-27 archery deer season opens September 11. County harvest: Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026.
- Public land around it: Maryland DNR owned lands (Maryland iMAP) for state land; USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1) for federal land. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
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