Deep Creek Lake State Park: deer harvest, hunting rules and map
Hunters reported 22 deer on Deep Creek Lake State Park in the 2025-26 season, 12 antlered and 10 antlerless, against 25 in 2024-25. It is a Maryland DNR state park of about 1,168 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). Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027.
State forestState parkArmy Corps of EngineersDeep Creek Lake SPCounty lineHighway
| Size | 1,168 acres (measured from DNR's map) |
|---|---|
| County | Garrett County |
| Managed by | Maryland Park Service |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 22 (12 antlered, 10 antlerless) |
| Deer reported, 2024-25 | 25 |
| Deer management region | Region A |
| Nearest towns | Swanton (5 mi), Accident (6 mi) and Deer Park (6 mi) |
How many deer are taken on Deep Creek Lake SP each year?
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 12 | 10 | 22 |
| 2024-25 | 14 | 11 | 25 |
| 2023-24 | 16 | 9 | 25 |
| 2022-23 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| 2021-22 | 11 | 9 | 20 |
| 2020-21 | 13 | 11 | 24 |
| 2019-20 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Source: the public land table (Appendix II) in DNR's report for each season (Maryland DNR deer and big game report archive).
When can you hunt Deep Creek Lake SP 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 Deep Creek Lake SP?
Highways within five miles: US 219, MD 495 and MD 42. Nearest towns: Swanton (5 miles), Accident (6 miles), Deer Park (6 miles) and Oakland (8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are taken on Deep Creek Lake SP?
22 in 2025-26: 12 antlered and 10 antlerless (Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026, Appendix II). In 2024-25: 25. DNR's tables go back to 2019-20 for this area.
Do you need a permit to hunt Deep Creek Lake SP?
DNR's public land table counts deer taken in the park, so it is hunted. Check DNR for where in the park and on which days hunting is allowed, and whether a permit or drawing applies, before you go.
What county is Deep Creek Lake SP in?
Garrett County. Garrett County reported 5,147 deer in 2025-26, 3,058 antlered, and is in Region A.
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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.
FilledTag is not part of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.