News
In Association with Mr Dale Gertz, Hunters of Maryland is highly encouraging all sportsman to rally and go make your vote count November 3rd.
We invite you to Visit this website and watch a Video from Mr Ted Nugent.
Please click this link to learn more…
Advocate for the Hunters of Maryland just returned from Kansas after a long dove and blue-winged teal hunting trip with his brother, Mike. Dove there are like locusts and the blue-winged teal are like ghosts from above, says Bill Miles. And having man’s best friend afield makes it all that much better.
Fellow General Assembly Members,
As the leadership of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus we wanted to ensure that we provided some information that may be helpful to your constituents who may be reaching out to you in regard to hunting licensure. We have recently been contacted by some constituents who have shared their confusion and frustration in regards to fulfilling the hunter safety requirement needed to purchase a hunting license for this year. It is my suggestion that if they meet the requirements for a resident apprentice hunting license that they pursue that option first. The apprentice hunter must be accompanied and directly supervised by a Maryland resident who is at least 18 years old and possesses a valid Maryland non-apprentice hunting license. More information is available through the Department of Natural Resources’ website: https://dnr.maryland.gov/Pages/service_hunting_license.aspx.
The second option applies to hunters who held an apprentice license last year, based on the Governor’s executive order from June 19th which extended the expiration date of licenses, they may continue using last year’s hunting licenses. The Governor’s order is effective until the 30th day after the termination of the State of Emergency. The Governor’s order can be found here: https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2089_001.pdf. Please note there are still federal requirements for some forms of hunting, such as the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp and the HIP Permit purchased through the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp that require purchasing a stamp, which have not been extended.
The third option is to take the hunter safety class online through another state that does not have a waiting list or require you to travel long distances to take the course. Examples of other states that offer an online class that do not have a residency requirement for taking the course include Idaho, North Carolina, and Nebraska. Once obtaining a certificate of competency in firearms and hunters safety a number will be provided that can then be used to obtain a license in Maryland.
I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to take the online hunter safety course in Maryland as it is very educational with regards to the laws and practices that we discuss regarding hunting in Maryland and how we train Marylanders to use and store firearms safely.
As always, we are encouraging everyone to hunt safely and use all appropriate caution when hunting. We do not want any Marylander to miss the opportunity to hunt with their friends or family due to the unforeseen circumstances caused by this pandemic. We hope this information is helpful to you and your constituents.
HOM Founder Steve Keithley just returned from a successful Tule elk bowhunt in California. He tagged this animal early in the hunt prior to evacuating the Shamrock Ranch due to wildfire warnings and heavy smoke
in the area. The other photo was taken at 12:30 pm the day of evacuation.
By 3pm the sky was pitch black with dangerous wildfire smoke.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that archery hunting for white-tailed and sika deer opens statewide Sept. 11, and continues through Jan. 30, 2021.
New for the upcoming deer season, archery and muzzleloader hunters may participate in Primitive Deer Hunt Days from Feb. 1-3, 2021. During this special season, hunters may use vertical longbows, vertical recurve bows, flintlock, or sidelock percussion muzzleloaders only. Telescopic and electronic aiming devices are prohibited during this hunt. More information on these special hunt days is available in the 2020-2021 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
For the 2020-21 season, the statewide bag limit for white-tailed bucks is two deer (no more than one per weapon season). Hunters have the option to take one additional bonus buck in Region B (the state’s central, southern, and eastern regions) after purchasing a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp.
The antlerless archery deer bag limits differ between deer management regions. In Region A, no more than one antlerless deer may be harvested during the regular archery season. An additional antlerless deer may be harvested in Region A during the Primitive Deer Hunt Days.
In Region B, the antlerless archery limit is 15, except for in the Suburban Deer Management Zone, where the archery antlerless limit is now unlimited. This newly re-established zone comprises Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties.
An antler-point restriction remains in effect. Deer hunters may harvest one antlered white-tailed deer within the yearly bag limit that does not meet the requirement of having at least three points on one antler. Any additional antlered deer taken within the established bag limit must meet the minimum point restriction. Licensed junior hunters and apprentice license holders, 16 years of age or younger, are exempt from this restriction.
The sika deer archery season bag limit is three with no more than one being antlered. An antlered sika is defined as a deer with at least one antler visible above the hairline. The sika deer archery season is open in every county.
Multiple Sundays are open to archery hunting in most counties, including on some public lands.
“We are excited to expand our archery hunting opportunities this year with the new Primitive Deer Hunt Days and re-established Suburban Deer Management Zone,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. “Archery hunting has become increasingly important for effective deer management in Maryland, and is especially needed in urban and suburban areas.”
Hunters should carefully inspect all tree-stands and always wear a full-body safety harness while in the stand and while climbing in or out. The department strongly recommends using a sliding knot, commonly known as a prusik knot, attached to a line that is secured above the stand that allows the hunter to be safely tethered to the tree as soon as they leave the ground.
When checking in their deer, hunters should report deer taken with a long, compound, or recurve bow as harvested with a vertical bow. Crossbow hunters should register their deer as taken with a crossbow. This information helps biologists collect information on preferences and trends in how deer are harvested.
Maryland hunters are encouraged to donate any extra deer they may harvest to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry. Last year, the program provided more than 650,000 venison meals to community food banks and other efforts.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the state’s 2020-2021 migratory game bird hunting seasons. Bag limits, season dates, and shooting hours can be found in the 2020-2021 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
“The early migratory game bird seasons give Maryland’s hunters an exciting way to kick off the season,” Wildlife and Heritage Director Paul Peditto said. “With all the excellent hunting opportunities Maryland has to offer, we’d like to encourage our sportsmen and women to introduce a young person to the experience of a day afield.”
Season dates are as follows. Except where otherwise noted, shooting hours begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end at sunset for all early migratory game bird hunting seasons:
Dove, split season
First Season: Sept. 1 – Oct. 17
Second Season: Oct. 24 – Nov. 27
Third Season: Dec. 19 – Jan. 9, 2021
During the first season segment only, shooting hours are from noon to sunset
Woodcock, split season
First Season: Oct. 21 – Nov. 27
Second Season: Jan. 11–23, 2021
Early resident Canada goose season
Eastern zone: Sept. 1–15
Western zone: Sept. 1–25
Hunters are allowed to use shotguns capable of holding more than three shot shells. Shooting hours are extended to a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset.
Teal, September season
Sept. 16–30
Shooting hours will be a half-hour before sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit is six.
All migratory bird hunters, including landowners who are license-exempt, must purchase a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp/Harvest Information Program Permit and possess the printed receipt while hunting. All waterfowl hunters, ages 16 and older, must possess a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp). Licenses, permits, and stamps can be purchased online, by phone at 855-855-3906, by appointment at a department service center, or at any of Maryland’s 250 sport license agents.
Hunters are encouraged to report banded migratory game birds online. After reporting the banded bird, hunters will receive a certificate of appreciation that includes all known biological information on the bird they harvested.
Anyone with questions may contact the department at 410-260-8540.
On October 13, 2017, Governor Hogan issued an EXECUTIVE ORDER 01.01.2017.24 creating the Maryland Outdoor Recreation Economic Commission (link below).
Accordingly: “The outdoor recreation economy in Maryland generates 109,000 direct jobs, $951 million in state and local tax revenues, $4.4 billion in wages and salaries and $14 billion in consumer spending…providing improved access to world-class activities, such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, paddling, boating, fishing, hunting, camping, swimming, wildlife-viewing, and visitation to historic sites, will support economic investment in the State’s outdoor recreation industry and nature and heritage tourism.”
By December 1, 2019, the Commission was required to submit its recommendations and an action plan to strengthen and enhance the following: “(1) The business climate for the outdoor recreation industry so as to retain and grow Maryland jobs and Maryland’s economy; (2) Maryland’s brand as a premier destination for outdoor recreation and heritage tourism; (3) Development of a world-class outdoor and heritage tourism experience; (4) Stewardship of Maryland’s natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources; and (5) Opportunities for workforce development and job creation in the outdoor recreation industry.”
Thanks to inquiries by the bi-partisan Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, the Hunters of Maryland (HOM) have been informed the release of the Commission’s final Report is imminent. Upon its release, HOM will post the Report on its website –huntersofmaryland.com – and identify issues deemed pertinent to the policy and non-policy related interests of Maryland’s hunting community.
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.
Please take a moment to click on the link to read the Article written By Bill Miles, Our Hunting Advocate on legislative advancement to secure funding and opportunities.
The article is on line on pages 12-18 “Titled the thrill of Victory and the agony of Defeat in Annapolis.”
