EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0449*
SENATE BILL 449
M2 5lr2519
SB 611/24 – EEE CF HB 511
By: Senator Folden Frederick County Senators
Introduced and read first time: January 21, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 28, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Frederick and Washington Counties – Bow Hunting – Openly Carrying 2
Handguns 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from prohibiting 4
certain licensed bow hunters from openly carrying a handgun under certain 5
circumstances in Frederick County and Washington County during deer hunting 6
season; and generally relating to bow hunting in Frederick County and Washington 7
County. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Natural Resources 10
Section 10–408 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Natural Resources 16
10–408. 17
(a) In this section, “handgun” means a firearm: 18
(1) With a barrel length not exceeding 6 inches; and 19 2 SENATE BILL 449
(2) That does not have a scope or an electronic device attached. 1
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department 2
shall: 3
(i) Prescribe by regulation the means or weapons for hunting 4
designated wildlife; and 5
(ii) Set forth any restrictions relating to weapons used to hunt 6
designated wildlife, including the amount and size of ammunition for designated game 7
birds or mammals. 8
(2) The Department may not prohibit a licensed bow hunter from openly 9
carrying a handgun that the hunter is otherwise authorized to carry under § 4–203 of the 10
Criminal Law Article if the bow hunter: 11
(i) Is at least 21 years old; 12
(ii) Is hunting in [deer]: 13
1. DEER management Region A as defined by the 14
Department’s Guide to Hunting and Trapping; OR 15
2. FREDERICK COUNTY OR WASHINGTON COUNTY 16
DURING DEER HUNTING SEASON; 17
(iii) Is carrying the handgun for personal protection; and 18
(iv) Does not use the handgun to kill wildlife wounded by a vertical 19
bow or crossbow. 20
(c) The Department shall make the regulations available for distribution with 21
each hunting license purchased. 22
(d) This section does not authorize the Department to restrict the use of firearms 23
except in the activity of hunting designated wildlife. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 25
1, 2025. 26