Merkle Natural Resources Management Area: deer harvest, hunting rules and map
Hunters reported 13 deer on Merkle Natural Resources Management Area in the 2025-26 season, 6 antlered and 7 antlerless, against 39 in 2024-25. It is a Maryland DNR natural resources management area of about 1,712 acres in Prince George's 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 Merkle NRMA. Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027.
State parkMerkle NRMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 1,712 acres (measured from DNR's map) |
|---|---|
| County | Prince George's County |
| Managed by | Maryland Park Service |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 13 (6 antlered, 7 antlerless) |
| Deer reported, 2024-25 | 39 |
| Deer management region | Region B |
| Nearest towns | Dunkirk (next to it), Croom (2 mi) and Marlton (4 mi) |
How many deer are taken on Merkle NRMA each year?
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| 2024-25 | 7 | 32 | 39 |
| 2023-24 | 24 | 40 | 64 |
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 Merkle NRMA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's County | 998 | 466 | 123 | 5.1% |
Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027. County harvest: Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026.
How do you get to Merkle NRMA?
Highways within five miles: MD 4, US 301, MD 382, MD 2, MD 260 and MD 778. Nearest towns: Dunkirk (next to it), Croom (2 miles), Marlton (4 miles) and Baden (4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are taken on Merkle NRMA?
13 in 2025-26: 6 antlered and 7 antlerless (Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026, Appendix II). In 2024-25: 39. DNR's tables go back to 2023-24 for this area.
Do you need a permit to hunt Merkle NRMA?
DNR's public land table counts deer taken here, so it is hunted; check DNR's page for Merkle NRMA for any permit, drawing or day restrictions before you go.
What county is Merkle NRMA in?
Prince George's County. Prince George's County reported 998 deer in 2025-26, 466 antlered, and is in Region B.
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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.