Linkwood Wildlife Management Area: deer harvest, hunting rules and map
Hunters reported 27 deer on Linkwood Wildlife Management Area in the 2025-26 season, 9 antlered and 18 antlerless, against 22 in 2024-25. It is a Maryland DNR wildlife management area of about 318 acres in Dorchester 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 Linkwood WMA. Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027.
Wildlife management areaState forestLinkwood WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 318 acres (measured from DNR's map) |
|---|---|
| County | Dorchester County |
| Managed by | Wildlife and Heritage Service |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 27 (9 antlered, 18 antlerless) |
| Deer reported, 2024-25 | 22 |
| Sika among them, 2025-26 | 4 |
| Deer management region | Region B |
| Nearest towns | East New Market (4 mi), Secretary (4 mi) and Vienna (6 mi) |
How many deer are taken on Linkwood WMA each year?
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 9 | 18 | 27 |
| 2024-25 | 9 | 13 | 22 |
Source: the public land table (Appendix II) in DNR's report for each season (Maryland DNR deer and big game report archive). Totals include sika deer.
What is Linkwood WMA like?
DNR describes it: "A remnant of a larger forest ecosystem, Linkwood WMA is predominantly a dense mixture of oaks, maple, black gum and loblolly pine. Located in Dorchester County, it's just shooting distance from the town of Linkwood."
On hunting and other uses: "Linkwood's forest supports a healthy population of white-tailed deer. Squirrel hunters will find many a gray squirrel, but be sure you can tell it's a gray squirrel and not an endangered Delmarva fox squirrel!"
On wildlife: "Vibrant rainbows of color flash through the forest during the spring and summer months. Songbirds, like the brilliant scarlet tanager, nest here after migrating from their winter homes in Central and South America."
Quoted from DNR's page for Linkwood WMA.
What are the rules on Linkwood WMA?
- Use of Linkwood 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.
From DNR's page for Linkwood WMA.
When can you hunt Linkwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester County | 5,106 | 2,338 | 216 | 20.8% |
Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027. County harvest: Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026.
How do you get to Linkwood WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 50, MD 16, MD 14, MD 331 and MD 392. Nearest towns: East New Market (4 miles), Secretary (4 miles), Vienna (6 miles) and Hurlock (6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are taken on Linkwood WMA?
27 in 2025-26: 9 antlered and 18 antlerless (Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026, Appendix II). In 2024-25: 22.
Do you need a permit to hunt Linkwood WMA?
DNR's page for Linkwood WMA says: "Use of Linkwood WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year. Use of Linkwood WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year."
What county is Linkwood WMA in?
Dorchester County. Dorchester County reported 5,106 deer in 2025-26, 2,338 antlered, and is in Region B.
What can you hunt on Linkwood WMA?
DNR: "Linkwood's forest supports a healthy population of white-tailed deer. Squirrel hunters will find many a gray squirrel, but be sure you can tell it's a gray squirrel and not an endangered Delmarva fox squirrel!"
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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.