Savage River State Forest: deer harvest, hunting rules and map
Hunters reported 553 deer on Savage River State Forest in the 2025-26 season, 296 antlered and 257 antlerless, against 576 in 2024-25. It is a Maryland DNR state forest of about 55,077 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); DNR's page for Savage River SF. Seasons: Maryland DNR Hunting Seasons Calendar for 2026-2027.
Wildlife management areaState forestState parkArmy Corps of EngineersSavage River SFCounty lineHighway
| Size | 55,077 acres (measured from DNR's map) |
|---|---|
| County | Garrett County |
| Managed by | Maryland Forest Service |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 553 (296 antlered, 257 antlerless) |
| Deer reported, 2024-25 | 576 |
| Deer management region | Region A |
| Nearest towns | Jennings (next to it), Carlos (next to it) and Midlothian (next to it) |
How many deer are taken on Savage River SF each year?
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 296 | 257 | 553 |
| 2024-25 | 314 | 262 | 576 |
| 2023-24 | 297 | 164 | 461 |
| 2022-23 | 276 | 160 | 436 |
| 2021-22 | 217 | 141 | 358 |
| 2020-21 | 241 | 132 | 373 |
| 2019-20 | 211 | 149 | 360 |
Source: the public land table (Appendix II) in DNR's report for each season (Maryland DNR deer and big game report archive).
What is Savage River SF like?
DNR describes it: "Savage River State Forest covers approximately 55,185 acres in the northeastern quadrant of Garrett County. It is a second-growth mixed hardwood forest dominated by oak species, sugar maple, red maple, black cherry, hickory, and ash."
Quoted from DNR's page for Savage River SF.
When can you hunt Savage River SF 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 Savage River SF?
Highways within five miles: I-68, US 40, US 219, MD 36, MD 495 and MD 135. Nearest towns: Jennings (next to it), Carlos (next to it), Midlothian (next to it) and Bloomington (next to it).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are taken on Savage River SF?
553 in 2025-26: 296 antlered and 257 antlerless (Maryland DNR Annual Big Game Report 2025-2026, Appendix II). In 2024-25: 576. DNR's tables go back to 2019-20 for this area.
Do you need a permit to hunt Savage River SF?
DNR's public land table counts deer taken here, so it is hunted; check DNR's page for Savage River SF for any permit, drawing or day restrictions before you go.
What county is Savage River SF in?
Garrett County. Garrett County reported 5,147 deer in 2025-26, 3,058 antlered, and is in Region A.
Get a Maryland hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Maryland are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Maryland included.
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.