Waterfowl Guiding Permit Details


Waterfowl Guiding Permit

General Info - Statewide Permit


A Maryland permit to serve as a commercial waterfowl guide.  A waterfowl hunting guide is an employee of a waterfowl outfitter and is the individual that provides personal guiding services to hunters.

These employees accompany hunters in the blind and perform activities that include calling, dispatching and retrieving downed waterfowl, controlling the times and zones of shooting, and the species and number of waterfowl taken. 


  • - s

    Approval time

  • $50.00

    Application cost

Obtaining the Permit

Ready to get your permit? - Steps, Requirements, and Documents

  1. Must be at least 16 years of age.

  2. Must possess a valid Maryland hunting license.

  3. In the preceding 3-year period, the applicant may not have been convicted of two or more violations arising out of a separate set of circumstances of any state or federal migratory game bird laws or regulations pertaining to:

    (1) hunting with the aid of bait,
    (2) exceeding the daily bag limit,
    (3) hunting with the aid of live decoys,
    (4) violation of shooting hours,
    (5) hunting during a closed season and
    (6) waterfowl outfitting and guiding.

Apply for the Permit

Maintaining Your Permit

Renewal and maintenance -

Maintaining your Permit (aka Related forms/requirements to maintain Permit/stay in good standing)

  1. The waterfowl hunting guide working for the outfitter shall maintain a field record updated within 24 hours following the completion of a hunting day that contains the following information for each hunter:

    (1) Full name;
    (2) Address of residence;
    (3) Valid hunting license number;
    (4) Date;
    (5) Number and species of wild waterfowl that were killed by each hunter;
    (6) Name and waterfowl hunting guide license number of the accompanying waterfowl hunting guide.

  2. The only restrictions on waterfowl hunting guides while guiding a hunting party are:

    (1) that they must possess a valid Maryland hunting license and

    (2) while providing personal guiding services in either the Offshore Waterfowl or Sea Duck Hunting Zones, they must possess a valid U. S. Coast Guard Captain’s or Master’s license.

Agency/Contact

Permit Issuer - Information

Who issues the permit?

Department of Natural Resources dnr.maryland.gov

Contact Information

Permits Coordinator

Tel: (410) 260-8540

Legal Authority

What laws and regulations give Department of Natural Resources the legal authority to issue this approval?