Dan's Mountain Wildlife Management Area: deer harvest, hunting rules and map
Hunters reported 131 deer on Dan's Mountain Wildlife Management Area in the 2025-26 season, 97 antlered and 34 antlerless, against 148 in 2024-25. It is a Maryland DNR wildlife management area of about 10,572 acres in Allegany 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 Dan's Mountain WMA. Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027.
Wildlife management areaState forestState parkMilitary (closed unless the base allows)Dan's Mountain WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 10,572 acres (measured from DNR's map) |
|---|---|
| County | Allegany County |
| Managed by | Wildlife and Heritage Service |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 131 (97 antlered, 34 antlerless) |
| Deer reported, 2024-25 | 148 |
| Deer management region | Region A |
| Nearest towns | Dawson (next to it), Danville (next to it) and Bier (next to it) |
How many deer are taken on Dan's Mountain WMA each year?
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 97 | 34 | 131 |
| 2024-25 | 88 | 60 | 148 |
Source: the public land table (Appendix II) in DNR's report for each season (Maryland DNR deer and big game report archive).
What is Dan's Mountain WMA like?
DNR describes it: "Dan's Mountain WMA, located in western Allegany County, includes the largest contiguous state-owned forest in Maryland. The steep ridges of the mountain, ranging from 900 to 2,800 feet, yield a breathtaking view of the North Branch of the Potomac River and its forested valley."
On hunting and other uses: "Turkey hunters prize Dan's Mountain for its large turkey population. Hunters can also pursue white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and gray squirrels."
On wildlife: "Dan's Mountain is prime habitat for many species of songbirds that only nest in forests. These birds, like the scarlet tanager, yellow-throated vireo and ovenbird, use the shelter of dense woods to protect their eggs and young."
Quoted from DNR's page for Dan's Mountain WMA.
What are the rules on Dan's Mountain WMA?
- Use of the Dan's Mountain 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 Dan's Mountain WMA.
When can you hunt Dan's Mountain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany County | 2,924 | 1,739 | 372 | 27.7% |
Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027. County harvest: Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026.
How do you get to Dan's Mountain WMA?
Highways within five miles: MD 36, US 220, US 40, I-68, MD 135 and MD 936. Nearest towns: Dawson (next to it), Danville (next to it), Bier (next to it) and Rawlings (next to it).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are taken on Dan's Mountain WMA?
131 in 2025-26: 97 antlered and 34 antlerless (Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026, Appendix II). In 2024-25: 148.
Do you need a permit to hunt Dan's Mountain WMA?
DNR's page for Dan's Mountain WMA says: "Use of the Dan's Mountain 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 Dan's Mountain WMA in?
Allegany County. Allegany County reported 2,924 deer in 2025-26, 1,739 antlered, and is in Region A.
What can you hunt on Dan's Mountain WMA?
DNR: "Turkey hunters prize Dan's Mountain for its large turkey population. Hunters can also pursue white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and gray squirrels."
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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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