Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Your official connection to conservation & recreation Your guide to everything Natural Resources in Maryland.

Fishing, Parks, Hunting, Wildlife, Chesapeake Bay, Trees & Forests, Sustainability & much more

⭐️Maryland DNR Announces 2026 Photo Contest Winners!📸🌿A huge congratulations to our Grand Prize Winner, Kyle Smith, for ...
09/15/2026

⭐️Maryland DNR Announces 2026 Photo Contest Winners!📸🌿

A huge congratulations to our Grand Prize Winner, Kyle Smith, for capturing an incredible moment in nature! The winning photo features an Eastern Whip-poor-will perched peacefully on a branch while a curious squirrel makes a sneaky appearance behind it. 🐿️

From stunning wildlife to breathtaking natural landscapes, this year’s winning photos showcase the beauty of Maryland’s natural resources. 🌳💚

📸 See all of the winning photos: https://ow.ly/gjSP50ZNWGi

And don't forget! 👀 Our “Fan Favorite” photo contest kicks off tomorrow on the Maryland DNR page where you can choose your favorite picture! 📸

Outdoor educator, community leader, and nature lover, we are excited to welcome Brianna Amingwa, also known as “Ranger B...
09/15/2026

Outdoor educator, community leader, and nature lover, we are excited to welcome Brianna Amingwa, also known as “Ranger Bri,” to the main stage as a keynote speaker for the 2026 Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit!

She will draw on her experience in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and founding Deeply Rooted Outdoor Education to share best practices for making outdoor activities more inclusive and welcoming for all.

Join us to reflect on your connection with the outdoors, learn skills to practice culturally responsive outdoor recreation, and develop language and strategies to build more welcoming outdoor recreation experiences in Maryland.

Thanks to our Summit Sponsors!
⭐️Maryland Office of Tourism
⭐️Outside Magazine
⭐️ATV Safety Institute
⭐️Maryland Tourism Coalition
⭐️Visit Hagerstown
⭐️Destination Paradise
⭐️Assateague Outfitters
⭐️Maryland's Coast
⭐️Maryland Coastal Bays Program
⭐️Delmarva Trails & Waterways

September 29 - October 1, 2026
Ocean City, MD
Register here: https://marylanddnr2026.vfairs.com/en/registration-form

Teachers, homeschool educators, and families: Maryland seventh graders are invited to put their creativity to work for w...
09/15/2026

Teachers, homeschool educators, and families: Maryland seventh graders are invited to put their creativity to work for wildfire prevention!

To celebrate our 120th anniversary, the Maryland Forest Service is launching its first Fire Prevention Month Smokey Bear Poster Contest. Students are invited to create original artwork inspired by Smokey’s classic message:

“Only YOU can prevent wildfires!”

The contest is open to seventh-grade classrooms and homeschool groups in Maryland. One entry from each school may advance to regional judging for a chance to compete at the statewide level. Statewide winners will receive a Smokey Bear fire danger sign for their school.

Entries are due Nov. 2, 2026.

Learn more at https://ow.ly/lAhf50ZNvr7

📰: New DNR Tool Helps Direct Better Marsh Restoration and Protection“Marshes are an important ecosystem in their own rig...
09/14/2026

📰: New DNR Tool Helps Direct Better Marsh Restoration and Protection

“Marshes are an important ecosystem in their own right, providing water quality and habitat benefits, but they’re also critical buffer zones for coastal communities,” DNR’s Watershed and Climate Services Director Natalie Snider said. “This new Marsh Resilience Portfolio offers insights on how to best direct marsh restoration efforts in the state.”

Read more: https://ow.ly/s6f350ZNv0M

ATTN. SENIORS: Registration is open for Fair Hill NRMA Senior Rangers Program!To sign up, send an email to: lesley.leade...
09/14/2026

ATTN. SENIORS: Registration is open for Fair Hill NRMA Senior Rangers Program!

To sign up, send an email to: [email protected]

09/13/2026

Have you seen any Ruby-throated hummingbirds?

Nectar feeders can supplement their diet, but hummingbirds also need insects, spiders, and nectar-rich flowers. Native plants like columbine and trumpet honeysuckle are great choices for your yard.

Making nectar is easy: use 4 parts water to 1 part granulated sugar. Let it cool completely, and never add red food coloring or honey. Store extra nectar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Keep feeders clean and replace nectar when it becomes cloudy. To attract even more hummingbirds, plant colorful flowers like lantana, fuchsia, trumpet vine, and petunias nearby.

Now sit back and enjoy the show!

MARYLAND FISHING REPORT: At the Ocean City Inlet, anglers are catching sheepshead and tautog close to the jetty rocks wh...
09/12/2026

MARYLAND FISHING REPORT: At the Ocean City Inlet, anglers are catching sheepshead and tautog close to the jetty rocks while fishing with live sand fleas.

Recreational crabbers will most likely be talking about the late 2026 crabbing season for quite a while. Catches of crabs up to 8 inches and full baskets are plenty to talk about.

Fishing for white perch can be an elusive quest at times and fishing grass shrimp near deep water docks, piers, and structure tends to be the best way to target them. Read more about this week in Maryland fishing. https://ow.ly/6zLf50ZMCeR

Self-Guided Tours: To***co Barn Daily from April to October at 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Smallwood State Park2750 Sweden Point...
09/11/2026

Self-Guided Tours: To***co Barn
Daily from April to October at 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Smallwood State Park
2750 Sweden Point Road, Marbury

Step inside to smell the dried to***co, observe the old plantation tools, learn about the life of General William Smallwood, and learn how his Mattawoman Plantation operated.

Did you know? Much of the forested land at Smallwood State Park was once open farmland. During General William Smallwood’s lifetime, the fields provided a clear view of Mattawoman Creek from Smallwood’s Retreat.

09/11/2026

🏹 Have you ever considered bringing archery to your school? We make it easy with the Maryland National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). Our mission is to promote student education through participation in the sport of Archery with the focus being to provide International style target archery training in the 4th - 12th grades.

Topics are taught through classroom instruction, positive communication and hands-on activities. Students, responding to whistle commands, shoot at bulls-eye targets placed before an arrow restraint net right in the gym. By shooting indoors weather never becomes a factor. The students can easily help set up the range as a part of the class.

Students are taught how modern archery equipment works, shooting techniques, steps to archery success and how to improve their skills. The act of shooting the bow improves upper body strength, grip strength, muscle endurance and flexibility. Archery also develops hand-eye coordination, dexterity and the importance of learning how to focus or concentrate.

The program complies with the American Disabilities Act with most wheelchair-bound students being able to participate. Even blind students can participate with the help of a teacher / parent.

Core content covers the history of archery, safety, shooting techniques, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement. This program curriculum is already written and exceeds national physical education standards.

You can become a certified Basic Archery Instructor in just a few hours with our on demand training. 🎯

For more information contact our state coordinators at: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/education/nasp.aspx

Address

580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD
21401

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Maryland Department of Natural Resources posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share