Important information you should know before you begin
  • Only hunting and fishing licenses and associated items are available via phone or on-line sales.
    • Please contact your local DNR Service Center for other DNR licenses & permits.
    • All items can be printed immediately – some require associated materials (i.e. hunting guides, decals) to be mailed. Please allow 7-10 days for receipt.
    • A fishing or hunting license does not represent permission to fish or hunt on private property.
  • Definition of a Maryland resident.
    • An individual whose fixed, permanent and principal home for legal purposes is located in the State of Maryland.
    • A member of the armed forces of the United States...
      • who is on active duty and stationed officially in the State, or
      • officially stationed outside the State of Maryland whose legal residence is Maryland.
  • Legal penalties for providing false information to obtain a MD sport license.
    Information provided in securing a fishing or hunting license is provided under penalties of perjury.
  • Printer test
    All printers vary; to ensure that your license will print properly we recommend you print a sample license. This will also ensure that you have the Adobe Acrobat Reader software and that it is working properly.
  • Lost licenses
    • A license reprint can be obtained within 5 days of issuance via online licensing. Call 1-800-918-2870 for assistance if needed.
    • In all other instances, a replacement license will be required.
    • Maryland law allows a reduced replacement cost for primary licenses only. All other documents (stamps, permits, etc.) must be repurchased at full cost.
  • Requirement to carry second form of ID along with license.
    Maryland licensed sportsmen are required to carry a second form of identification along with their licenses when hunting or fishing. That second form of identification should match the name and address provided for online license purchase.
  • Hunter Education Requirement
    Maryland law requires completion of a hunter safety course unless you...
    • held a hunting license prior to July 1, 1977,
    • hunted on private property prior to July 1, 1977 and were legally exempt from purchasing a hunting license, or
    • are purchasing a nonresident license and will hunt only waterfowl.
      • If the applicant is unable to provide a Certificate of Competency number, a provisional license will be issued. The Certificate of Competency must be in the hunter’s possession when in the field.
      • Completion of another state’s hunter safety course is acceptable.
  • Information about the sales process
    • An independent vendor is under contract to MD DNR to provide and support the phone/internet sales and system.
    • The vendor charges a fee for this convenience.
    • The convenience fee includes additional charges when associated materials (i.e. hunting quide, decals) must be mailed.
    • Purchaser may cancel the transaction at any point before entry of payment information.
    • All sales are final.
  • Convenience fee calculation/examples
    • The convenience fee is $1.00 + mailing fee (if any) + 2.5% of your sub-total. Your sub-total is the cost of the items purchased + $1.00 + mailing fee (if any). If associated materials must be mailed, the mailing fees are $0.75 for fishing and $1.50 for hunting.

    • Example 1: Purchase of a Non-Resident Bay Sport fishing license ($14.00). No mailing is required.

      • Convenience fee is $1.00 + 2.5% of ($14.00 + $1.00) = $1.38.
    • Example 2: Purchase of a Resident Hunting license ($24.50) and Resident Bow stamp ($6.00). While the license prints immediately, the annual hunting guide must be mailed. A duplicate license will accompany it.

      • Convenience fee is $1.00 + $1.50 + 2.5% of ($24.50 + $6.00 + $1.00 + $1.50) = $3.33.