855 GAMEDOG, LLC (855) 426-3364 Anne ArundelCalvertCharlesPrince George'sSt. Mary's $ Charles County
Blood trackers and deer recovery in Charles County, Maryland
2 vetted trackers cover Charles County: 2 tracking dog handlers and 1 drone operator. Call or text them directly. Searching this registry is free.
Region B Sunday hunting allowed
Who can help in Charles County
Closest trackers first. Every listing is reviewed before it goes public, and each tracker sets their own fee, so check the profile before you call.
855 GAMEDOG, LLC (855) 426-3364 Anne ArundelCalvertCharlesPrince George'sSt. Mary's $ Local rules
Hunting Charles County
Charles County sits in Region B, which covers the rest of the state, from Frederick and Montgomery east to the Eastern Shore.
Region B deer seasons, 2026–2027
- Archery
- Sep. 11–Oct. 21, Oct. 25–Nov. 27, Dec. 14–18, Jan. 3–7, Jan. 11–31
- Firearms
- Nov. 28–Dec. 12 and Jan. 8–10
- Muzzleloader
- Oct. 22–24, Oct. 26–31, Dec. 19–Jan. 2
Sunday deer hunting
Sunday deer hunting is allowed on private land in Charles County.
Safety zone
Charles County keeps the full statewide safety zone. Nobody may hunt or shoot within 150 yards of an occupied building, or shoot at a deer standing inside that ring, without advance permission from the owner or occupant. That applies to archery here too.
Rules that only apply here
These are the Charles County specifics that catch people out. They sit on top of the statewide rules, they do not replace them.
No bottleneck rifles or handguns
During firearms season this county allows shotguns, straight-walled cartridge rifles and handguns, air guns, muzzleloaders and archery equipment. A rifle or handgun firing a bottleneck cartridge is not legal for deer here, which rules out most of the classic deer calibers. Straight-walled rifles are legal in every Maryland county, so a .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster travels anywhere.
Air guns need 500 feet
Air guns are legal for deer during firearms season statewide, but the county code keeps them 500 feet from any home other than your own, and from schools, churches, places of public assembly, parks and playgrounds. That is more than three times the state safety zone, and it catches people who switched to an air gun for exactly that reason. Owners and tenants protecting property or livestock are excepted.
Dates and rules here are a summary of the 2026–2027 season and may contain errors. Always verify with the Maryland DNR before you hunt. Full dates, legal light, and Sunday details are on our season calendar.
Before you call
Give the tracker the best chance
Back out and stop grid searching. Walking the area spreads scent and turns a clean line into a puzzle. Mark the hit site and the last blood you found, note the time of the shot and what the deer did, then call. In Maryland the tracker also has to notify the Natural Resources Police before the search starts and close it out when it ends, whether they are running a dog or a drone, and a tracking dog stays leashed the whole time.
Losing the light is not a reason to give up. If the deer was hit during legal shooting hours you may keep after it and finish it after dark, with a weapon legal for the season and a light on the animal, so long as you call the Natural Resources Police before you carry on and again when the search ends. A bear is different: that one has to be finished in legal light.
Not sure whether a dog or a drone fits your situation? Our dog or drone guide walks through when each one wins.
Nearby
Counties next to Charles
Trackers travel. If nobody in Charles County is free, try a neighboring county.
Join
Not on the list?
We welcome experienced handlers and new trackers. If you are just getting started, reach out early for guidance during training and testing, and help finding a mentor who can guide you through your first season. Email info@mdbloodtrackers.net or join the Facebook group.
Applications are closed. We will reopen next summer, July/August, after the testing season, to join for the 2027/28 season.