Prather's Neck Wildlife Management Area: deer harvest, hunting rules and map
Hunters reported 10 deer on Prather's Neck Wildlife Management Area in the 2025-26 season, 8 antlered and 2 antlerless, against 10 in 2024-25. It is a Maryland DNR wildlife management area of about 215 acres in Washington County, in deer management Region A and 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 Prather's Neck WMA. Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027.
Wildlife management areaNational Park ServicePrather's Neck WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 215 acres (measured from DNR's map) |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Managed by | Wildlife and Heritage Service |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 10 (8 antlered, 2 antlerless) |
| Deer reported, 2024-25 | 10 |
| Deer management region | Region A and B |
| Nearest towns | Big Spring (next to it), Charlton (3 mi) and Clear Spring (3 mi) |
How many deer are taken on Prather's Neck WMA each year?
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| 2024-25 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 2023-24 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 2022-23 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 2021-22 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 2020-21 | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| 2019-20 | 8 | 6 | 14 |
Source: the public land table (Appendix II) in DNR's report for each season (Maryland DNR deer and big game report archive).
What is Prather's Neck WMA like?
DNR describes it: "Due to repairs being conducted by the National Park Service on vehicular tunnels in the area, access to Prather's Neck WMA may be limited until repairs are completed."
On hunting and other uses: "Prather’s Neck WMA provides hunting opportunities for deer, wild turkey, fox, grey squirrels, rabbits, and woodcock. For the waterfowler, the “Neck” offers a rare opportunity to hunt a variety of ducks and geese from the shoreline."
On wildlife: "This 215-acre property is dominated by a mixture of oak/poplar forest habitat, with several old fields in early stages of succession. Forest wildlife species such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, fox and grey squirrels can be seen throughout the area."
Quoted from DNR's page for Prather's Neck WMA.
What are the rules on Prather's Neck WMA?
- Use of Prather’s Neck WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year.
- Hunting is allowed in accordance with open season and shooting hours.
- No special permits or drawings are required to hunt this area, except appropriate licenses and stamps.
- Camping is not permitted, but is available at the Indian Springs WMA.
From DNR's page for Prather's Neck WMA.
When can you hunt Prather's Neck WMA in 2026-27?
Seasons follow Region A and 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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 4,560 | 2,337 | 382 | 10.5% |
Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027. County harvest: Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026.
How do you get to Prather's Neck WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-70, US 40, MD 56 and MD 68. Nearest towns: Big Spring (next to it), Charlton (3 miles), Clear Spring (3 miles) and Big Pool (4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are taken on Prather's Neck WMA?
10 in 2025-26: 8 antlered and 2 antlerless (Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026, Appendix II). In 2024-25: 10. DNR's tables go back to 2019-20 for this area.
Do you need a permit to hunt Prather's Neck WMA?
DNR's page for Prather's Neck WMA says: "Use of Prather’s Neck 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 Prather's Neck WMA in?
Washington County. Washington County reported 4,560 deer in 2025-26, 2,337 antlered, and is in Region A and B.
What can you hunt on Prather's Neck WMA?
DNR: "Prather’s Neck WMA provides hunting opportunities for deer, wild turkey, fox, grey squirrels, rabbits, and woodcock. For the waterfowler, the “Neck” offers a rare opportunity to hunt a variety of ducks and geese from the shoreline."
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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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