Area Open For Offshore Waterfowl Hunting

(often referred to as the Gunning Rig Zone)

You may hunt migratory waterfowl during the open seasons (see Guide to Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons for season dates and bag limits) in the areas indicated on the Map of Areas Open for Offshore Waterfowl Hunting. See Table 2 below for the written area description.

Map of Areas Open for Offshore Waterfowl Hunting

Map of East-West Section of Areas Open for Offshore Waterfowl Hunting

Map of North Section of Areas Open for Offshore Waterfowl Hunting

Map of South Section of Areas Open for Offshore Waterfowl Hunting

Table 2. Written Description of Areas Open To Offshore Waterfowl Hunting
(Code of Maryland Regulations 08.03.07.07, and HB 1207, Chapter 609, Acts of 2006)

1. A person may hunt migratory waterfowl from a boat or floating blind which is anchored, drifting, sculled, or paddled, or while standing in the water on the natural bottom in those open areas described as follows:
   
   
   1. Chesapeake Bay: Beginning at Turkey Point on the northern side of the mouth of Elk River; then westerly to Sandy Point; thence along the eastern and southern shores of Spesutie Island to Bear Point; thence to Black Point; thence southwesterly along shore to Abbey Point; thence to Lego Point; thence along shore of Gunpowder Neck to southwestern tip of Rickett Point; thence to Lower Island Point; thence to the northeasterly point of Millers Island; thence southeasterly along the shores of Millers Island, Hart Island, and Patapsco River Neck to North Point; thence to Bodkin Point; thence southerly along the shores of Mountain Point; thence to Persimmon Point; thence along the shores to a point on Sandy Point due west of Sandy Point Light; thence to Hackett Point, thence to Greenbury Point; thence to Tolly Point; thence southerly along the shore to southeasternmost tip of Arundel on the Bay; thence to Thomas Point; thence in a straight line across the mouth of South River to Saunders Point thence in a southwesterly direction along the shore to Dutchman Point; thence in a straight line across the mouth of West River to Curtis Point; thence to Horseshoe Point; thence to Franklin Point; thence in a southwesterly direction along the shore to Holland Point; thence southerly along the shores to Cove Point and to Drum Point; thence to Hog Point; thence along the shores to Cedar Point to Point No Point and to Point Lookout; thence southeasterly across the Potomac River to Smith Point; thence northeasterly along State Line to intersection with westerly shore of Smith Island, crossing Big Thorofare at points marking its western entrance and continuing northward along shore to Fog Point; thence northwesterly to Holland Island Bar Light; thence to the southernmost point of Holland Island; thence along the western shores of Holland Island, Adam Island, Billys Island (Pone Island) and Bloodsworth Island to tip of shore on southwesterly side of entrance into Okahanikan Cove; thence northwesterly to Richland Point, Middle Hooper Island; thence following the western shores of Hooper Islands to Pons Point; thence to Sand Point; thence along the western shore of Barren Island to Barren Island Point; thence to the southernmost tip of The Marshes; thence along the western shores of Meekins Neck, Taylors Island and James Island to James Point on Upper James Island; thence to Black Walnut Point; thence northerly along the western shore of Tilghman Point to Triangulation Station WAP on the northern shore of Paw-paw Cove; thence running northwesterly to the most southwest point of Poplar Island; thence northeasterly along shore to the northeasternmost point of Poplar Island; thence to Kent Point; thence northerly along western shore of Kent Island to Love Point; thence northerly to Swan Point Channel Quick Flashing Red Buoy #4; thence in the same direction to Tolchester Channel flashing buoy #15; thence to can buoy #26B; thence to Tolchester Channel flashing buoy #21; thence in a northeasterly direction to black and white spar buoy #N25B; thence to black and white spar buoy #N23B; thence to black can #42B; thence to flashing bell buoy #30; thence to flashing buoy #34; thence to flashing buoy #36; thence easterly to Howell Point, Kent County; thence to Grove Point; thence to Turkey Point.
      
      
   2. Potomac River: Beginning at the intersection of mean low watermark at Point Lookout, marking Chesapeake Bay waters; thence following the mean low waterline of the shore northwesterly across the respective mouths of all creeks to Gray Point at the westerly entrance into Rowley Bay; thence in a straight line northwesterly to the southerly extremity of Kitts Point; thence along the mean low waterline to the southwesterly point of St. Inigoes Neck; thence in a straight line westerly to the most easterly point of St. Georges Island; thence following the mean low waterline in a general northwesterly direction, across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets to the southwesterly point of Huggins Point, thence in a straight line southwesterly to the eastern extremity of the sandbar known as Heron Island; thence southwesterly in a straight line to the most southerly point of Blackiston Island; thence in a straight line northwesterly to the southern extremity of Colton's Point; thence following the mean low waterline, westerly, excluding all creeks and inlets, to the point marking the southeasterly entrance into St. Catherine Sound; thence westerly in a straight line to the southern extremity of St. Catherine Island Sandbar; thence northwesterly along the westerly edge of that sandbar continuing along the mean low waterline of the southwesterly side of St. Catherine Island to the northwesterly point of the island; thence westerly in a straight line to Cobb Point Bar Lighthouse; thence northwesterly along the ridge of Cobb Point Sandbar to the southerly extremity of Cobb Point; thence following the mean low waterline in general northwesterly and northerly directions across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets to a point where the eastern span of the Potomac River Bridge (Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge) crosses the mean low watermark on the Maryland shore; thence following the mean low waterline, northerly, excluding all creeks and inlets to a point on the shore due east of Windmill Point; thence west to Windmill Point; thence following the mean low waterline southwesterly, excluding all creeks and inlets to Upper Cedar Point; thence following the mean low waterline westerly, excluding all creeks and inlets to Blossom Point; thence in a straight line southeasterly to Blue Heron Point; thence following the mean low waterline southwesterly, excluding all creeks and inlets to Maryland Point; thence following the mean low waterline northwesterly, excluding all creeks and inlets to Smith Point; thence following the mean low waterline northerly, excluding all creeks and inlets to Sandy Point; thence following the mean low waterline northerly, excluding all creeks and inlets to Moss Point; thence in a straight line northeasterly to the southern tip of Stump Neck; thence following the mean low waterline northeasterly, excluding all creeks and inlets to the most northwesterly point of Stump Neck; thence in a straight line northeasterly to Deep Point; thence following the mean low waterline northeasterly, excluding all creeks and inlets to a point on the shore due south of Hollis Point; thence in a straight line northerly to Hollis Point; thence following the mean low waterline northeasterly to a point on the shore that marks the boundary between Charles and Prince George's Counties; thence following the Charles-Prince George's County line northwesterly across the Potomac River to where the Charles-Prince George's intersects the mean low watermark on the Commonwealth of Virginia shore; thence southerly following the Maryland-Virginia state line to Smith Point and thence in a straight line across the mouth of the Potomac River, on the established line from Smith Point to Point Lookout, to the mean low watermark at Point Lookout, the place of the beginning.
       
   3. Susquehanna Flats: Beginning at Stump Point on the western side of Furnace Bay; thence in a straight line easterly to Carpenter Point; thence in a straight line southeasterly to Red Point; thence southerly along the mean low waterline to Turkey Point; thence in a straight line westerly to Sandy Point; thence northwesterly along the mean low waterline to Locust Point; thence westerly following the shoreline to Plum Point; thence in a straight line northwesterly to Swan Creek Point; thence northeasterly along the mean low waterline to Concord Point; thence in a straight line easterly to Stump Point.
       
   4. Elk River: Beginning at Turkey Point; thence northeast following the shoreline to Hyland's Point on the Elk River; thence northeast following the shoreline to Bull Minnow Point; thence east to Welch Point; thence southeast following the shoreline to Town Point; thence southwest to Arnold Point; thence southwest following the shoreline to Grove Point; thence north to Turkey Point.
       
   5. Sassafras River: Beginning at Grove Point, only in the Cecil County portion of the Sassafras River located west of 75º 58' 45".
       
   6. The open waters of Hooper Strait, Fishing Bay, and Holland Strait in Dorchester County and Kedges Strait and Pocomoke Sound in Somerset County.
       
   7. That part of the open waters of Tangier Sound, Monie Bay, Manokin River, and Big Annemessex River in Dorchester, Somerset and Wicomico counties described as follows: Keeping to the south of a line drawn between the southernmost tip of Frog Point, Dorchester County and the southernmost tip of Nanticoke Point, Wicomico County; keeping to the south of a line drawn between the southernmost tip of Nanticoke Point, Wicomico County and the westernmost tip of Wingate Point, Somerset County; and keeping to the south of a line drawn between St. Pierre Island, Somerset County and the northernmost tip of Cormal Point, Somerset County.
       
   8. Chincoteague Bay: Beginning at the State line on the western side of Chincoteague Bay; thence northeasterly following the shoreline of Mills Island to Assacorkin Island; thence northeasterly to Big Bay Point; thence northwesterly to Martin Point; thence northerly to Watermelon Point; thence northerly to Richs Point; thence northerly to Kelly Point, thence northerly to Out Point; thence northeasterly to the southeast tip of Cropper Island; thence easterly to Knot Point; thence southerly to Island Point; thence southeasterly to South Point; thence northerly to Green Point; thence easterly to Sandy Point Island; thence southerly to Goose Point; thence southwesterly to the eastern tip of Great Egging Island; thence southerly to the eastern tip of Tingles Island; thence southerly to Fox Hill Point; thence southeasterly to Whittington Point; thence southeasterly to Bay Island; thence easterly to Bay Point; thence southeasterly to Striking Marsh; thence southerly to West Bay Tump.
       
2. A person hunting wild waterfowl in the offshore hunting zone shall remain at least:
   
   
   1. 800 yards from any shore including shore emerging at mean low water, except in the following waters, where a person hunting wild waterfowl shall remain at least 400 yards from shore including shore emerging at mean low water:
      
      
      1. Chesapeake Bay located in Baltimore, Harford, and St. Mary's counties as described in §A(1) of this regulation;
      2. Potomac River as described in §A(2) of this regulation;
      3. Susquehanna Flats as described in §A(3) of this regulation; and
      4. Dorchester, Somerset and Wicomico counties as described in §A(6)—(7) of this regulation.
          
   2. 250 yards from any person legally hunting wild waterfowl; and
      
   3. 500 yards from any bridge, road, or causeway.