EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0982*
SENATE BILL 982
M2 2lr3274
By: Senator Hershey
Introduced and read first time: February 18, 2022
Assigned to: Rules
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Kent County – Archery Hunting – Safety Zone 2
FOR the purpose of altering the size of the safety zone for archery hunters in Kent County 3
within which archery hunting may not take place except under certain 4
circumstances; and generally relating to archery hunting in Kent County. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Natural Resources 7
Section 10–410(g) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2012 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Natural Resources 13
10–410. 14
(g) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a 15
person, other than the owner or occupant, while hunting for any wild bird or mammal may 16
not shoot or discharge any firearm or other deadly weapon within 150 yards, known as the 17
“safety zone”, of a dwelling house, residence, church, or other building or camp occupied by 18
human beings, or shoot at any wild bird or mammal while it is within this area, without 19
the specific advance permission of the owner or occupant. 20
(2) A person, while hunting for any wild bird or mammal, may not shoot or 21
discharge any firearm within 300 yards of a public or nonpublic school during school hours 22
or at a time when a school–approved activity is taking place. 23
2 SENATE BILL 982
(3) (i) For archery hunters in Allegany County, Calvert County, Carroll 1
County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Harford County, Montgomery 2
County, St. Mary’s County, or Washington County, the safety zone described in paragraph 3
(1) of this subsection extends for 50 yards from a dwelling house, residence, church, or any 4
other building or camp occupied by human beings. 5
(ii) FOR ARCHERY HUNTERS I N KENT COUNTY, THE SAFETY 6
ZONE DESCR IBED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION E XTENDS FOR 75 YARDS 7
FROM A DWELLING HOUS E, RESIDENCE, CHURCH, OR ANY OTHER BUILDIN G OR 8
CAMP OCCUPIED BY HUM AN BEINGS. 9
(III) For archery hunters in Anne Arundel County, the safety zone 10
described in paragraph (1) of this subsection extends for 100 yards from a dwelling house, 11
residence, church, or any other building or camp occupied by human beings. 12
(4) During any open hunting season, a person, other than the owner or 13
occupant, may not hunt or chase willfully any wild bird or mammal within the safety zone 14
without the specific advance permission of the owner or occupant. 15
(5) In Harford County, an archery hunter shall use a tree stand when 16
hunting any wild bird or mammal within 50 to 100 yards of a dwelling house, residence, 17
church, public or nonpublic school, or other building or camp occupied by human beings. 18
(6) In Montgomery County or Washington County, an archery hunter shall 19
be in an elevated position that allows the hunter to shoot in a downward trajectory when 20
hunting any wild bird or mammal within 50 to 100 yards of a dwelling house, residence, 21
church, public or nonpublic school, or other building or camp occupied by human beings. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 23
1, 2022. 24