LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 408
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Chapter 408
(House Bill 592)
AN ACT concerning
Deer Management Permit – Hunting on State Land Leased by Permit Holder –
Authorization
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to allow an
individual who hunts deer under a Deer Management Permit to use a certain
shotgun or breech loading center fired rifle to hunt deer throughout the year,
including all deer hunting seasons, in a certain manner on State land leased by a
permit holder for the purpose of cultivating crops; and generally relating to hunting
under a Deer Management Permit.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Natural Resources
Section 10–415(d)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2012 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Natural Resources
10–415.
(d) (1) In this subsection, “Deer Management Permit” means a permit issued
by the Department authorizing the holder or an agent of the holder to hunt deer outside of
deer hunting season for the purpose of preventing damage to crops.
(2) [In] ON PRIVATE PROPERTY I N Baltimore County, Charles County,
Calvert County, St. Mary’s County, and Harford County, THE DEPARTMENT MAY
AUTHORIZE an individual who hunts deer under a Deer Management Permit may TO[:
(i) Use] USE a shotgun or breech loading center fired rifle approved
by the Department to hunt deer throughout the year, including all deer hunting seasons,
in the locations and under the conditions set forth in the permit[; and
(ii) On State land in Baltimore County, Charles County, Calvert
County, St. Mary’s County, or Harford County leased by the permit holder for the purpose
of cultivating crops, hunt deer on the leased land in the locations and under the conditions
set forth in the permit].
Ch. 408 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(3) ON STATE LAND LEASED BY A PERMIT HOLDER FOR THE PURPOSE
OF CULTIVATING CROPS , THE DEPARTMENT MAY AUTHOR IZE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO
HUNTS DEER UNDER A DEER MANAGEMENT PERMIT MAY TO USE A SHOTGUN OR
BREECH LOADING CENTE R FIRED RIFLE APPROV ED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO HUNT
DEER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING ALL DEER H UNTING SEASONS , IN THE
LOCATIONS AND UNDER THE CONDITIONS SET F ORTH IN THE PERMIT .
(4) To protect public safety and welfare, the Department may restrict the
lands on which an individual may hunt deer under a Deer Management Permit.
[(4)] (5) (i) This paragraph applies only in Frederick County.
(ii) Subject to the conditions set forth in a Deer Management Permit,
a permittee may use a rifle approved by the Department to harvest deer throughout the
year, including all deer hunting seasons.
(iii) In Frederick County Zone 1, as defined in COMAR
08.03.03.06A.(3)(g), an agent of a permittee may use a rifle to harvest deer throughout the
year.
(iv) 1. This subparagraph applies only in Frederick County Zone
2, as defined in COMAR 08.03.03.06A.(3)(h).
2. Except as provided in subsubparagraph 3 of this
subparagraph, an agent of a permittee may use a rifle to harvest deer in a period beginning
October 1 and ending March 31.
3. In a deer firearms season, an agent of a permittee may
harvest deer only by using the weapon approved for that season.
(v) The Department shall adopt regulations to implement this
paragraph.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2022.
Approved by the Governor, May 16, 2022.