As the Senate Chair of the bi-partisan Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, one of my priorities is to protect and expand the right of Marylanders to hunt and fish in our State. One issue that I know is of interest to some Maryland hunters is permitting the use of straight-walled rifle cartridges to hunt deer. Prior to the 2020 Legislative Session, I prepared to introduce a bill that would have allowed straight-walled rifle cartridges to be used during the deer firearms season. In discussing this proposal with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Department assured me that this could be better accomplished through changes to their regulations.
The Department has recently enacted regulations to permit the use of straight-walled rifle cartridges. Now that these regulations are in effect, straight-walled rifle cartridges may be used to hunt deer during the Firearms Season and Junior Hunt Days in all counties of Maryland.
Below are links to the two regulations that have been changed to permit the use of straight-walled rifle cartridges by Maryland hunters:
http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/08/08.03.01.01.htm
http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/08/08.03.04.05.htm
As we look towards the 2021 Legislative Session, I will continue to work with the members of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, other Senators and Delegates, and the HUNTERS OF MARYLAND to protect and expand hunting and fishing rights in our state. Your advocacy is critical towards accomplishing this goal.
Senator Jack Bailey
District 29 - Calvert & St. Mary’s Counties
Senator Jack Bailey, DNR Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and HOM Advocate Bill Miles.
