MARYLAND BLOOD
TRACKING NETWORK
Connecting hunters with experienced trackers
across the Old Line State
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Find a tracker in your area using the TRAKR app!
TRACKING LAWS* FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND
Know the rules before you track. These Maryland laws help ensure ethical recovery, respect for landowners, and the future of our hunting rights.
Maryland allows dogs to be used to find dead, wounded, or injured deer. The dog handler must maintain physical control of the tracking dog at all times. Before tracking, the hunter must notify Maryland Natural Resources Police. The deer may be dispatched only during legal shooting hours and only by legal means for the current season.
Hunters and tracking teams must follow Maryland’s fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink requirements during seasons where those rules apply. During firearm seasons, wearing the required safety clothing helps make recovery teams visible while tracking.
Maryland does not require a separate tracking dog license or certification. Hunters remain responsible for having the proper hunting license, stamps, permits, and harvest authorization required for the animal being recovered.
Tracking dogs may be used to help recover wounded game during legal recovery periods allowed under Maryland regulations. Tracking activity must remain focused on locating wounded animals and cannot be used as a method of hunting.
Using a tracking dog does not allow hunters or handlers to enter private property without permission. If wounded game crosses onto another property, permission should be obtained from the landowner before continuing the recovery.
A drone may be used to assist with the recovery of a wounded or expired animal. Drones may not be used to locate, drive, or flush game. It is also unlawful to scout or surveil for game and then hunt, or assist someone else to hunt, on the surveilled property within 24 hours of the last drone flight. Drone operators must contact Natural Resources Police at 800-628-9944 (available 24/7) before attempting to locate a wounded or expired animal and at the conclusion of the search.
* Disclaimer: The information provided by TRAKR is intended as a general summary of state tracking laws and regulations and is not legal advice. Because laws and regulations may change, hunters and trackers should always verify current statutes, regulations, and agency guidance before using dogs, drones, or other recovery methods in their state.
Average Deer Tracking Fees in Maryland
Hunters searching for deer tracking services in Maryland can choose from trained blood tracking dogs, thermal drone operators, and trackers who offer both recovery methods. Based on pricing information listed by Maryland trackers in the TRAKR database, the average cost varies considerably by tracking method and pricing structure.
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40% of Maryland dog tracking teams offer free services or operate primarily for tips or gratuities.
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Among Maryland dog tracking teams that list a fixed or calculable fee, excluding free and gratuity-based services, the average listed price is approximately $238.
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The average listed fee for drone deer recovery in Maryland is approximately $400.
How Maryland Deer Tracking Rates Were Calculated
These averages are based on rates and pricing instructions supplied by trackers through their TRAKR profiles. When a tracker listed mileage charges or travel-based pricing, the estimated rate was calculated using a standard travel distance of 50 miles each way.
Fee ranges were calculated using the midpoint. Separate recovery or finder fees were added to the initial tracking fee. When separate rates were listed for bucks and does, the buck rate was used because more than 80 percent of tracking requests involve bucks.
The rates shown are estimates based on available information and do not represent fixed, required, or recommended prices. TRAKR does not set tracker fees and does not guarantee the accuracy or availability of any listed rate. Individual trackers independently determine their own pricing, service areas, travel charges, deposits, recovery fees, and other terms. Maryland deer tracking pricing data last updated July 2026.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MARYLAND BLOOD TRACKING NETWORK
Maryland Blood Tracking Network has become a resource for Maryland hunters looking to connect with trained tracking dog handlers after a difficult shot. The group exists to help recover wounded deer and other game animals that might otherwise be lost by connecting hunters with experienced recovery teams.
The network operates through Facebook and brings together hunters and handlers who share the goal of ethical recovery. Tracking teams across Maryland use trained blood-tracking dogs capable of following difficult trails when blood is limited, weather conditions change, or visual sign disappears.
Size and Impact
Some publicly available Maryland Blood Tracking Network information includes:
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The group provides a centralized resource for Maryland hunters searching for tracking dog assistance.
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Tracking teams help recover wounded whitetail deer, sika deer, and other legally harvested game.
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Maryland’s combination of farmland, hardwood forests, marshes, and suburban properties creates challenging tracking conditions where trained dogs can be valuable.
Maryland Tracking Dog Regulations
Maryland allows the use of leashed tracking dogs to recover wounded game. The law gives hunters another tool to locate animals while preventing the use of dogs to actively pursue healthy deer.
Why Maryland Requires Leashes
Maryland’s leash requirement helps separate recovery tracking from traditional hunting with dogs. Keeping tracking dogs leashed allows handlers to follow the trail of a specific wounded animal while maintaining control of the dog. This balance gives hunters access to the advantages of a dog’s nose while protecting wildlife and maintaining responsible recovery practices.
Certification and Training
Maryland does not require state-issued tracking dog certification. However, many dedicated handlers continue training their dogs through practice tracks, real-world recoveries, mentorship, and organizations such as United Blood Trackers and American Blood Trackers Association.
Interesting Facts About Maryland Blood Tracking Network
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Maryland Blood Tracking Network helps hunters find recovery assistance in a state with very diverse tracking environments.
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Maryland tracking teams deal with unique recoveries involving agricultural land, suburban properties, hardwood ridges, wetlands, and coastal terrain.
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The state’s sika deer hunting opportunities create tracking scenarios uncommon in most of the United States.
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The organization’s mission aligns with TRAKR by helping hunters quickly locate available tracking teams when recovery matters most.
Most Popular Deer Tracking Dog Breeds in Maryland
Among Maryland tracking dogs on TRAKR with a reported breed:
#1 Dachshund - 36.4% | Average age: 4.7 years
#2 American Foxhound - 18.2% | Average age: 2.1 years
#3 Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound - 9.1% | Average age: 5.3 years
Dachshunds currently make up more than one-third of Maryland TRAKR tracking dogs with a reported breed.
TRAKR breed statistics are based on dogs whose breed has been reported by trackers in the TRAKR app. Percentages and average ages may change as trackers add or update their dogs.