Hunting Season Trail Safety

Hunting season begins Sept. 8th 2023. Hunting is prohibited in the Hashawha Environmental Center and its trails. However, hunting is permitted in Union Mills and the surrounding Saw Mill Wildlife Management area. The trails in Union Mills are designated Hunter Safety Zones, which means hunting along the trails there is prohibited, but is allowed in areas away from the trails. We recommend you familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations regarding hunting in Maryland by visiting the Maryland DNR website about hunting. The hunting season schedule can be located and downloaded here.

The specific rules for this area are here: Sawmill Cooperative Wildlife Management. and a map of the area can be downloaded here. Here is a summary of the rules from the website, but we strongly advise that you visit the site and examine the map.

Non-Hunting Users

From September through February, non-hunting users may access the property on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. During the two week deer firearms season that begins the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day, non-hunters may only access the property on Sundays. No permit or reservation is needed. Outside these time-frames, Sawmill CWMA is open Sunday through Saturday for the following activities:

  • Hiking

  • Fishing

  • Biking on established trails

  • Bird Watching

  • Nature Photography

  • Swimming is prohibited

  • Pets must be leashed at all times.

General Safety

For your own safety when riding, hiking, or running on the trails surrounding Hashawha—Union Mills or the Saw Mill Wildlife Management Area—we recommend wearing at least one article of Daylight Fluorescent Orange (better known as Blaze Orange) clothing. If accessing the trails near dawn or dusk we recommend wearing a light, such as a head lamp or handlebar light to help distinguish yourself from any wildlife. Additionally for cyclists in particular a bell is advised to occasionally announce yourself when entering new sections of trail (we really like these Timber Bells). It is also strongly encouraged to avoid wearing white articles of clothing or a white helmet, especially during deer harvesting periods.

When encountering hunters on the trails engage with them as you would any other trails user, a friendly hello goes a long way in establishing good relations with all trails users. We encourage you to learn about the hunting laws and regulations in Maryland to know your rights on the trails, which days are active/non-active for hunting, and how to best keep yourself safe while sharing the trails with hunters during the designated hunting seasons.