Dumb Question - hunting license

Education Requirements
Hunter Education And Safety Requirement

To hunt or purchase a hunting license in Maryland, State law requires:

Presentation of a Certificate of Competency in Firearms and Hunting Safety (required of all first time hunters), or
Certification that you held a hunting license issued prior to July 1, 1977, or
Certification that you hunted on private property prior to July 1, 1977, and were legally exempt from purchasing a hunting license, or
Certification that you are purchasing a nonresident license and will only hunt waterfowl.

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• a resident of Maryland (and their spouse) who owns property and who hunts only on that property. This also applies to:
  • the landowner’s children and grandchildren if they are under the age of 16.
  • the landowner’s children and grandchildren, and the spouse of the children or grandchildren, regardless of age, if the child, grandchild, or their spouse lives on the property, or has worked on the property for at least 30 days during the preceding 12 months, or manages the property.
    (Each person must individually qualify under these criteria. To qualify for this exemption, a landowner does not need to live on the property but must be able to prove ownership.)
• A person (and spouse) who holds land under lease for agricultural purposes (or a sharecropper), and lives on this farmland, and hunts only on this farmland. This also applies to:
  • the lessee’s children and grandchildren if they are under the age of 16.
  • the lessee’s children and grandchildren, and their spouses, if the child, grandchild, or spouse of the child or grandchild, lives on the property, or has worked on the property for at least 30 days during the preceding 12 months, or manages the property.
• A nonresident (and spouse) who owns a contiguous piece of farmland that is in both Virginia and Maryland may hunt on the Maryland portion of the property without a Maryland hunting license, if the person’s primary residence is on the Virginia portion of the property. This also applies to the owner’s children and grandchildren if they are under the age of 16.
• A Maryland resident serving in the United States Armed Forces that is on official leave in Maryland (whether stationed in Maryland or outside Maryland) and possesses a copy of official leave orders while hunting.
• A person serving in the United States Armed Forces who has a service-connected disability and possesses a valid military identification while hunting.
• A person who is a retired former member of the United States Armed Services and hunting on farmland that is in active farming status and owned by the person or the person’s spouse, child, child’s spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, niece or nephew. A retired former member who hunts on farmland without a hunting license must possess the retired military identification card and written permission from the owner of the farm property specifying the relationship of the person to the owner of the property.

• must obtain a free DNRid number and a free Maryland Big Game Harvest Record if they intend to hunt deer or turkeys. These items may be obtained through the COMPASS portal at compass.dnr.maryland.gov/ OR any DNR Licensing and Registration Service Center (pg. 6) OR a DNR Sport License agent.
• must have Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp to hunt migratory game birds.
• must possess the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp to hunt waterfowl and coots.
• must obtain a Furbearer Permit to hunt, trap, or chase any furbearer.
• are not required to purchase Archery Deer Stamps, Muzzleloader Deer Stamps, or Bonus Antlered Deer Stamps.

Sticky said:

From the DNR E-regs this year...


"Who May Hunt Without a Hunting License in Maryland

All Maryland hunters must comply with the Hunter Education and Safety Requirement.
You are not required to possess a Maryland hunting license if you are:

• a resident of Maryland (and their spouse) who owns property and who hunts only on that property. This also applies to:
  • the landowner’s children and grandchildren if they are under the age of 16.
  • the landowner’s children and grandchildren, and the spouse of the children or grandchildren, regardless of age, if the child, grandchild, or their spouse lives on the property, or has worked on the property for at least 30 days during the preceding 12 months, or manages the property.
    (Each person must individually qualify under these criteria. To qualify for this exemption, a landowner does not need to live on the property but must be able to prove ownership.)
• A person (and spouse) who holds land under lease for agricultural purposes (or a sharecropper), and lives on this farmland, and hunts only on this farmland. This also applies to:
  • the lessee’s children and grandchildren if they are under the age of 16.
  • the lessee’s children and grandchildren, and their spouses, if the child, grandchild, or spouse of the child or grandchild, lives on the property, or has worked on the property for at least 30 days during the preceding 12 months, or manages the property.
• A nonresident (and spouse) who owns a contiguous piece of farmland that is in both Virginia and Maryland may hunt on the Maryland portion of the property without a Maryland hunting license, if the person’s primary residence is on the Virginia portion of the property. This also applies to the owner’s children and grandchildren if they are under the age of 16.
• A Maryland resident serving in the United States Armed Forces that is on official leave in Maryland (whether stationed in Maryland or outside Maryland) and possesses a copy of official leave orders while hunting.
• A person serving in the United States Armed Forces who has a service-connected disability and possesses a valid military identification while hunting.
• A person who is a retired former member of the United States Armed Services and hunting on farmland that is in active farming status and owned by the person or the person’s spouse, child, child’s spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, niece or nephew. A retired former member who hunts on farmland without a hunting license must possess the retired military identification card and written permission from the owner of the farm property specifying the relationship of the person to the owner of the property.

Be aware that hunters not required to have a license:

• must obtain a free DNRid number and a free Maryland Big Game Harvest Record if they intend to hunt deer or turkeys. These items may be obtained through the COMPASS portal at compass.dnr.maryland.gov/ OR any DNR Licensing and Registration Service Center (pg. 6) OR a DNR Sport License agent.
• must have Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp to hunt migratory game birds.
• must possess the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp to hunt waterfowl and coots.
• must obtain a Furbearer Permit to hunt, trap, or chase any furbearer.
• are not required to purchase Archery Deer Stamps, Muzzleloader Deer Stamps, or Bonus Antlered Deer Stamps.

Nonresidents of Maryland who own property in the state and hunt on that property are required to purchase a Nonresident Hunting License and all other appropriate stamps and permits.
Individuals who are exempt from Maryland hunting license requirements are subject to all state and federal laws and regulations relative to hunting and trapping."

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Kyler said:

excellent. I also found this

Furbearer Permit Exceptions

A Furbearer Permit is also not required for:
a landowner to hunt or trap a coyote, fox or skunk that is damaging or destroying the personal or real property of the landowner on their land.

but I'll get one anyway to be safe

thanks!

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Pale Ryder said:

IF you decide you want to hunt elsewhere in the state, and aren't old enough( 56 yrs old) to have hunted prior to 1977. There used to be an online class from Texas that was free that was recognized as your hunter safety class. Just take the class, get your card and then use it to purchase Md. Hunting License.

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Kyler said:

thanks! I just want to be legal - not expecting anyone to come visit from DNR but better to be safe than sorry.

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Sticky said:

It's only $5 for a furbearer permit, I always get one. And a note... groundhogs are not considered a game species, you can hunt them year round, even on Sundays, but... You are required to wear orange per the regs..

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traveller said:

Unless you have a good size chunk of land in a rural county, expect that NRP will show up soon after you shoot the first time. Know your county ordinances in addition to state law on where you can shoot on your property for hunting purposes.

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Pale Ryder said:

... aren't old enough( 56 yrs old)...

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Kyler said:

got that one covered! I'm 64

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