EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0634*
SENATE BILL 634
M2 5lr0654
SB 983/24 – EEE CF HB 741
By: Senators Lewis Young, M. Washington, and Watson
Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Hunting – Nonlead Ammunition, Fox Chasing, and Deer Management 2
FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “hunt” to include the sport of fox chasing; 3
establishing the Deer Management Assistance Program in the Department of 4
Natural Resources; requiring the Department of Budget and Management, on or 5
before a certain date, to increase the number of full–time employees in the 6
Department of Natural Resources to administer the Program; requiring the 7
Department of Natural Resources to require, through a certain phasing–out process, 8
the use of nonlead ammunition for the hunting of all game species on or before a 9
certain date; establishing a certain exemption and a certain requirement for any 10
person who participates in unarmed fox chasing; and generally relating to hunting. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
Article – Natural Resources 13
Section 10–101(a) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Natural Resources 18
Section 10–101(k) and 10–408 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21
BY adding to 22
Article – Natural Resources 23
Section 10–214 and 10–410(q) 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 26
2 SENATE BILL 634
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Natural Resources 3
10–101. 4
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
(k) [(1)] “Hunt” means to pursue, capture, catch, kill, gig, trap, shoot, or attempt 6
to pursue, capture, catch, kill, gig, trap, or shoot, or in any manner reduce any bird or 7
mammal to personal possession. 8
[(2) “Hunt” excludes the sport of fox chasing.] 9
10–214. 10
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “PROGRAM” MEANS THE DEER MANAGEMENT 11
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 12
(B) THERE IS A DEER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE 13
DEPARTMENT . 14
(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO EDUCATE AND ASSIST FARMERS 15
WITH DEER MANAGEMENT AND HUNTING ON PRIVATE L AND. 16
(D) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2026, THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND 17
MANAGEMENT SHALL INCR EASE THE NUMBER OF FULL –TIME EMPLOYEES IN TH E 18
DEPARTMENT BY ONE PERMANENT , CLASSIFIED POSITION TO ADMINISTER THE 19
PROGRAM. 20
10–408. 21
(a) (1) In this section[, “handgun”] THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE 22
MEANING INDICATED . 23
(2) “HANDGUN” means a firearm: 24
[(1)] (I) With a barrel length not exceeding 6 inches; and 25
[(2)] (II) That does not have a scope or an electronic device attached. 26
(3) “NONLEAD AMMUNITION ” INCLUDES: 27
SENATE BILL 634 3
(I) AMMUNITION IN WHICH T HERE IS LESS THAN 1% LEAD 1
CONTENT; AND 2
(II) ANY FEDERALLY APPROVED NONTOXIC AM MUNITION. 3
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department 4
shall: 5
(i) Prescribe by regulation the means or weapons for hunting 6
designated wildlife; and 7
(ii) Set forth any restrictions relating to weapons used to hunt 8
designated wildlife, including the amount [and], size, AND TYPE of ammunition for 9
designated game birds or mammals. 10
(2) The Department may not prohibit a licensed bow hunter from openly 11
carrying a handgun that the hunter is otherwise authorized to carry under § 4–203 of the 12
Criminal Law Article if the bow hunter: 13
(i) Is at least 21 years old; 14
(ii) Is hunting in deer management Region A as defined by the 15
Department’s Guide to Hunting and Trapping; 16
(iii) Is carrying the handgun for personal protection; and 17
(iv) Does not use the handgun to kill wildlife wounded by a vertical 18
bow or crossbow. 19
(c) The Department shall make the regulations available for distribution with 20
each hunting license purchased. 21
(d) This section does not authorize the Department to restrict the use of firearms 22
except in the activity of hunting designated wildlife. 23
(E) (1) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2029, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQU IRE 24
THE USE OF NONLEAD A MMUNITION FOR THE HU NTING OF ALL GAME SP ECIES. 25
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CAR RY OUT 26
THIS SUBSECTION . 27
10–410. 28
(Q) ANY PERSON WHO PARTIC IPATES IN UNARMED FO X CHASING: 29
4 SENATE BILL 634
(1) IS EXEMPT FROM THE RE QUIREMENT S OF § 10–301.1(A)(1) OF 1
THIS TITLE; AND 2
(2) SHALL POSSESS A RESID ENT OR NONRESIDENT FULL SEA SON 3
HUNTING LICENSE . 4
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 5
(a) On or before July 1, 2026, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt 6
regulations requiring the use of nonlead ammunition for hunting pen–raised birds on 7
regulated shooting areas. 8
(b) On or before July 1, 2027, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt 9
regulations requiring the use of nonlead ammunition for hunting upland game birds. 10
(c) On or before July 1, 2028, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt 11
regulations requiring nonlead ammunition for hunting webless migratory game bird 12
species and wild turkey. 13
(d) On or before July 1, 2029, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt 14
regulations requiring the use of nonlead ammunition for muzzleloaders, rifles, and 15
shotguns used for hunting deer and any other game species not specified in subsections (a) 16
through (c) of this section. 17
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
1, 2025. 19