I moved to MD a couple of years ago and purchased my first hunting handgun here last year, (which is a whole other story, this state sucks for owning/buying handguns). I have tried to read the rules but I'm a little fuzzy on some stuff. I do know it is legal to hunt deer with a pistol in all of the counties you can hunt with a rifle. Plus Frederick county which is shotgun only you can use a pistol for deer during firearms season. As far as carrying as a sidearm I'm not sure, I know if you do carry is has to be visible, but I'm not sure which seasons you can and cannot carry.