SB 346, Harford County – Deer Hunting on Private Property – Sundays.   This bill has been passed by both houses and will most likely be signed into law by the Governor.

This bill adds Harford County to the list of counties that already allow Sunday deer hunting, as follows: Calvert County, Charles County, and St. Mary’s County, on the first Sunday of the bow hunting season in November and each Sunday in the deer firearms season.  It also adds Harford County to the list of counties (Allegany, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester) that already allow a person hunting deer on private property with a bow and arrow or crossbow during open season on the last three Sundays in October and the second Sunday in November.

SB 390/HB 129, Caroline County – Deer Hunting on Private Property – Sundays.  This legislation has been passed by both houses and will most likely be signed into law by the Governor.
This bill adds Caroline County to the list of counties that already allow Sunday deer hunting, as follows: Calvert County, Charles County, and St. Mary’s County, on the first Sunday of the bow hunting season in November and each Sunday in the deer firearms season.  It  also adds Caroline County to the list of counties (Allegany, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester) that already allow a person hunting deer on private property with a bow and arrow or crossbow during open season on the last three Sundays in October and the second Sunday in November.

HB 809, Prince George’s County – Deer Hunting on Private Property – Sundays.  This bill died without any action being taken.
This bill would have added Prince George’s County to the list of counties that already allow Sunday deer hunting, as follows:  Calvert County, Charles County, and St. Mary’s County, on the first Sunday of the bow hunting season in November and each Sunday in the deer firearms season.  It would also have added Prince George’s County to the list of counties (Allegany, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester) that already allow a person hunting deer on private property with a bow and arrow or crossbow during open season on the last three Sundays in October and the second Sunday in November.

HB 877, Cecil County – Deer Hunting,-Private Property-Sundays.  This bill passed the House but died in the Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.
This bill would have added Cecil County to the list of counties that already allow Sunday deer hunting, as follows:  Calvert County, Charles County, and St. Mary’s County, on the first Sunday of the bow hunting season in November and each Sunday in the deer firearms season.  It would also have added Cecil  County to the list of counties (Allegany, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester) that already allow a person hunting deer on private property with a bow and arrow or crossbow during open season on the last three Sundays in October and the second Sunday in November.

HB 912, Domestic Animals – Pet and Animal Guardians.  This bill would change the term “owner” to “guardian” throughout Maryland law.  This bill was given an Unfavorable Report by the House Environmental Matters Committee.
 [Background: MAWC actively opposed this bill and presented written testimony to the Environmental Matters Committee.  Here’s the rationale for HB 912:  The bill sponsor Delegate Kach’s former legislative aide is now in law school and is taking a course on animal law.  He approached Del. Kach who thought this sounded like a good idea.  They both argued that HB 912 is meant to be a “cultural shift” in the way people look at their animals, i.e., owning a pet is not like owning a piano.  Then, Del. Kach told the committee that he has drawn up an amendment that defines “guardian” as “owner.”  Obviously, this amendment undoes what the bill does in the first place.
On the opposition side, the president of and the lobbyist for the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) testified for both  the MVMA and the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA).  The written testimony submitted by AVMA was excellent and comprehensive.  
The committee chair mentioned that she has received more emails on this bill than she ever received on other significant issues the Legislature has handled throughout her tenure as a delegate.]

HB 1052, Natural Resources-Suspension of Hunting Licenses and Privileges.   This bill has passed both houses and will most likely be signed into law by the Governor.
This is the third year this bill has been introduced.  Originally, the bill would have prevented hunters who have been twice convicted of state or federal hunting violations from hunting, trapping, pursuing game, or chasing fox or other furbearers anywhere in the state.  Background:  Per MAWC’s request, the bill sponsor, Delegate Beitzel, amended the bill by striking “chase fox.”  MAWC presented written testimony supporting the bill with the above amendment to the committee at the bill hearing on March 7.

HB 1419, Natural Resources – Hunting Licenses and Stamps.   This bill was killed by the full House. This bill would have raised the cost of hunting licenses and stamps. The original bill added an alternative Consolidated Hunting and Trapping License at a cost of $95.  This new license would require no further stamps, etc.

HB 1446, Somerset and Worcester Counties – Deer Hunting on Private Property – Sundays. This bill has passed both houses and will most likely be signed into law by the Governor.  
This bill adds Somerset and Worcester Counties to the list of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties to allow Sunday hunting the first Sunday in the bow hunting season in November and each Sunday in the deer firearms season.

HB 1448, Queen Anne’s County – Deer Hunting on Private Property – Sundays.   This bill passed the House but died in the Senate EHE Committee.

 This will would have allowed a person hunting deer on private property with a bow and arrow or crossbow during open season on the last three Sundays in October and the second Sunday in November and also would have added Queen Anne’s County to the list of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s to allow a person to hunt on the first Sunday in the bow hunting season in November and each Sunday in the deer firearms season.

 

The Maryland General Assembly’s website, www.mlis.state.md.us, is packed with all sorts of information.  You can find status of legislation, bill hearings, legislators’ biographical information, contact information and much, much more.