Johnson Wildlife Management Area: deer harvest, hunting rules and map
Hunters reported 4 deer on Johnson Wildlife Management Area in the 2025-26 season, 1 antlered and 3 antlerless, against 5 in 2024-25. It is a Maryland DNR wildlife management area of about 141 acres in Wicomico County, in deer management Region B.
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 Johnson WMA. Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027.
Wildlife management areaState forestJohnson WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 141 acres (measured from DNR's map) |
|---|---|
| County | Wicomico County |
| Managed by | Wildlife and Heritage Service |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 4 (1 antlered, 3 antlerless) |
| Deer reported, 2024-25 | 5 |
| Deer management region | Region B |
| Nearest towns | Parsonsburg (6 mi), Powellville (6 mi) and Salisbury (7 mi) |
How many deer are taken on Johnson WMA each year?
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 2024-25 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Source: the public land table (Appendix II) in DNR's report for each season (Maryland DNR deer and big game report archive).
What is Johnson WMA like?
DNR describes it: "A 468-acre pocket of forest and fields in southern Wicomico County, the original Johnson WMA was purchased by the state in 1926, when the United States was first recognizing the growing need to conserve natural resources. Originally called Johnson Schoolhouse Game Refuge, its 153 acres were used to raise game animals for release into the wild."
On hunting and other uses: "Hunters come to Johnson WMA for the white-tailed deer, gray squirrels, woodcock, wild turkeys and cottontail rabbits which roam the forests and fields. Deer hunting is only allowed using archery equipment only."
On wildlife: "Forest dependent wildlife, including many species of colorful songbirds, dwell at Johnson WMA. Yellow-throated vireos and black-and-white warblers use the mature oak forests for nesting and finding insects to eat."
Quoted from DNR's page for Johnson WMA.
What are the rules on Johnson WMA?
- Use of Johnson WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year.
- Hunting is allowed in accordance with open seasons and shooting hours.
- All State and Federal Hunting Laws and Regulations are applicable.
- Deer hunting is allowed with archery equipment only.
From DNR's page for Johnson WMA.
When can you hunt Johnson WMA in 2026-27?
Seasons follow Region B: archery September 11 to January 31 with breaks, early muzzleloader October 22 to 24, firearm November 28 to December 12 and January 8 to 10, 2027, late muzzleloader December 19 to January 2. Spring turkey runs April 19 to May 24, 2027.
| County | Deer, 2025-26 | Antlered, 2025-26 | Spring turkeys, 2026 | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wicomico County | 2,787 | 1,112 | 242 | 11% |
Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027. County harvest: Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026.
How do you get to Johnson WMA?
Highways within five miles: MD 12, US 13, MD 350 and US 50. Nearest towns: Parsonsburg (6 miles), Powellville (6 miles), Salisbury (7 miles) and Fruitland (7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are taken on Johnson WMA?
4 in 2025-26: 1 antlered and 3 antlerless (Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026, Appendix II). In 2024-25: 5. DNR's tables go back to 2019-20 for this area.
Do you need a permit to hunt Johnson WMA?
DNR's page for Johnson WMA says: "Use of Johnson WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year. Use of Johnson WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year."
What county is Johnson WMA in?
Wicomico County. Wicomico County reported 2,787 deer in 2025-26, 1,112 antlered, and is in Region B.
What can you hunt on Johnson WMA?
DNR: "Hunters come to Johnson WMA for the white-tailed deer, gray squirrels, woodcock, wild turkeys and cottontail rabbits which roam the forests and fields. Deer hunting is only allowed using archery equipment only."
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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.