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States / MD / Garrett County

Garrett County, Maryland

Game found here
White-tailed DeerWild TurkeyBlack Bear
Western MarylandSee on map →0 questions

Unit info

Game species
White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Black Bear
Group
Western Maryland
Area
N/A
Public land
N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
Reported harvest
5,613

Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.

Season & harvest data is published for White-tailed Deer so far. Wild Turkey, Black Bear also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.

About this unit

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Garrett County sits at Maryland's westernmost reach in the Allegheny Mountains and holds the largest blocks of public forestland in the state along with the only robust black bear population in Maryland. Savage River State Forest at 54,000 acres and Potomac State Forest anchor a mountain hunting landscape of mixed hardwood ridges, rhododendron slicks, and freestone streams that supports deer, turkey, and bear in a genuinely remote Appalachian setting. This is the destination county for hunters seeking a true mountain experience and the only realistic option for Maryland bear.

Terrain & elevation

Rugged Allegheny Mountain terrain with steep ridges, deep hollows, high-elevation plateaus, and major drainages including the North Branch Potomac and Savage rivers; elevation ranges from 1,500 to over 3,000 feet.

Hunting pressure

Low — the remote terrain, mountain roads, and physical demands of the landscape naturally limit pressure; Savage River draws the most consistent attention but remains lightly pressured compared to lowland counties.

Tags & permits

Over-the-counter archery, firearm, and muzzleloader tags; Maryland antler restriction applies; mountain deer tend to be smaller-bodied than Piedmont animals but mature bucks carry good antler mass.

Species & seasons

Black bear hunting defines Garrett County — Maryland issues a limited annual bear season almost exclusively targeting this county and adjacent Allegany; wild turkey are strong in the mountain hardwoods; ruffed grouse inhabit young aspen and alder regeneration areas.

Highlights

Savage River State Forest stands as the crown jewel of Maryland public hunting land and the top bear hunting destination in the state; the remote Allegheny Mountain setting provides a quality wilderness experience rare anywhere in the mid-Atlantic region.

Questions, tips & discussion

Ask anything about Garrett County— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.

Nothing posted yet about Garrett County.

Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).

Boundaries: Maryland DNR county-based deer management units. Community info last updated 15d ago.