Ground Hog Hunting

pumperp5 · Mar 18, 2010

Got another question for you. Since Baltimore County is a shotgun only hunting county, and ground hogs are not a regulated critter. Is it ok to shoot ground hogs in Balt. Co. with a rifle? I looked everwhere I could and wasnt able to find any info about this. If anyone knows please let me know. Thanks.

novus collectus · Mar 19, 2010

From what I understand it is not a shotgun only hunting county for game other than deer except for within the Metropolitan District.

§ 17-2-101. DISCHARGING FIREARM OR WEAPON IN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT.

(a) Prohibition. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a person may not fire or discharge a crossbow, pistol, air pistol, gas-propelled pistol, rifle, air rifle, gas-propelled rifle, or shotgun within:

(1) The limits of the metropolitan district of the county;

(2) A nondistrict enclave within the metropolitan district; or

(3) An appendage attached to the metropolitan district.

(b) Duty to post metropolitan district. The Police Department shall post in the county courthouse and in every police station and substation throughout the county, accurate maps designating the locations of the boundary lines of the metropolitan district established according to the Code.

(c) Exception. This section does not prohibit:

(1) A licensed hunter from discharging a shotgun, properly hunting in season using a shotgun that contains no heavier than No. 2 shot; or

(2) A person from discharging or firing a crossbow, pistol, air pistol, gas-propelled pistol, rifle, air rifle, gas-propelled rifle, or shotgun:

(i) On a permanently located, properly posted, and bona fide target range, the location of which has been filed with the Police Department;

(ii) When reasonably necessary for the defense of life or property; or

(iii) As part of a military occasion when the discharge is done under the orders of a commanding officer.

http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Maryland/baltimore_co/baltimorecountycode?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:baltimoreco_md
From what I understand and IIRC, the metropolitan district is basically any area which uses the city of Baltimore sewer system.
Not sure if this conflicts with state preemption though,

travistheone · Mar 19, 2010

I saw a fat hog tonight.

c&rdaze · Mar 19, 2010

I don't know anything about Baltimore County rules, sorry. But I've been looking for some groudhogs to show themselves with these warm days. :innocent0

Check with the DNR or county offices (maybe Agr. types). I would have to believe it would be OK in the rural parts for the use of a rifle, esp. rimfire. My .17 HMR really does the trick. :thumbsup:

pumperp5 · Mar 19, 2010

c&rdaze said:
I don't know anything about Baltimore County rules, sorry. But I've been looking for some groudhogs to show themselves with these warm days.

Check with the DNR or county offices (maybe Agr. types). I would have to believe it would be OK in the rural parts for the use of a rifle, esp. rimfire. My .17 HMR really does the trick.

Oh yeah, my .17 does a great job on hogs. But, I have a new ar-15 that has some ground hog written all over it.

hdgglock19 · Mar 19, 2010

good question here! any one know if its legal in cecil county?

pumperp5 · Mar 19, 2010

I just sent an email to the DNR asking for some info on this. We'll see what they say and I'll surely post it for you.

Jim Sr · Mar 19, 2010

pumperp5 said:
I just sent an email to the DNR asking for some info on this. We'll see what they say and I'll surely post it for you.

Guide to Hunting and Trapping 2009-2010
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/pdfs/2009_2010_MDHuntGuide.pdf

Page 14.
Unprotected mammal- nutria, woodchuck.

Page 18.
Note: The woodchuck and nutria are classified as “unprotected
mammals.” As such, a hunting license is not required to hunt
woodchucks and nutria except in Baltimore and Frederick Counties.
Woodchucks and nutria may be hunted throughout the year,
including on Sundays. Hunters must wear fluorescent orange while
hunting woodchucks. All legal hunting devices may be used to hunt
woodchucks and nutria.
Rifles may be used to hunt forest game (except turkey during the
spring season), upland game (except dove and woodcock), crow,
nutria, woodchuck and certain furbearing species.
Muzzleloading rifles and shotguns may be used to hunt forest
game, upland game (shotgun only for dove and woodcock),
coyote, fisher, fox, nutria, opossum, raccoon, skunk, and
woodchuck. Muzzleloading shotguns, with non-toxic shot
only, may be used to hunt waterfowl, coots, rails, and snipe.
Muzzleloading rifles may not be used to hunt turkey during the
spring season.

Page 18-19.
Modern and muzzleloading handguns may be used to hunt forest
game (handgun hunting for turkey only during the fall season),
upland game (except dove and woodcock), coyote, fisher, fox,
nutria, opossum, raccoon, skunk, and woodchuck.

Page 19.
Vertical bows (compound, recurve, or straight limb) may be
used to hunt nutria, woodchucks, and all game birds and game
mammals, including migratory game birds, with the exception of
beaver, long-tailed weasel, mink, muskrat, and river otter.

Slimjim · Mar 19, 2010

Id wait until june, unless you're killing them to get rid of them, as they havent given birth yet and will within the next few weeks and once the first of june roles around the babies are old enough to be out on their own.

MikeTF · Mar 19, 2010

I knew some firemen that would use a fire hose at one end of the ground hog hole and a baseball bat at the other end.

Arcticwolf · Mar 19, 2010

so i can go nutria hunting without a licence then?

Diesel Kinevel · Mar 19, 2010

I know in Montgomery/Howard County you can hunt Ground Hog with anything .25 cal or under. As for Balt. Co I am not sure.

-Z

Tconfo · Mar 19, 2010

Where is there public land for groundhog shooting? Baltimore county or Carrol county?

300RUM · Mar 19, 2010

I'm going tomorrow evening. I'm shocked that you have to wear orange though, oh well.

J.Brown · Mar 19, 2010

i have shot many a ground hog in B-more county with a rifle. I have had the rifle conversation with a NRP officer (he stopped to see how we were doing). shot gun applies to deer season when all the yuppi's are in the woods.

as for orange, ive never heard/seen that, nore did the NRP mention it o it must be kinda new

Oliveralan · Mar 19, 2010

im in Va been looking for some place to shoot ground hogs... any of you guys got some long range spots? I got a 300 win mag with 210 VLDs just begging to send some ground hogs into orbit. :party29:

IndispensableDestiny · Mar 19, 2010

I sighted in my .22 WMR today with Federal 50 gr hollow points. Time to get some whistle pigs.

pumperp5 · Mar 22, 2010

Heres what I got from DNR;

Thank you for contacting the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Woodchuck is classified as an unprotected mammal. A person may hunt woodchucks throughout the year. A person that is hunting woodchucks in Baltimore and Frederick Counties are required to purchase a hunting license. In addition, hunters must wear fluorescent orange while hunting woodchucks. All legal hunting devices including rifles may be used to hunt woodchucks in Baltimore County. This information is located on page 18 of the 2009-2010 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping. Also, it is available online at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/geninfo.asp .

Sincerely,

Tracey M. Spencer

Assistant to the Director,

Wildlife and Heritage Service

tspencer@dnr.state.md.us

Office: (410) 260-8564

shadow116 · Mar 23, 2010

As great as Frederick county is on alot of things, having to have a license to hunt groundhogs is about stupid. I know I already have a license for my other hunting, but I still hate it. I cannot remember how many times I have been out and remembered that I needed my license. Just my 2 cents

novus collectus · Mar 23, 2010

shadow116 said:
As great as Frederick county is on alot of things, having to have a license to hunt groundhogs is about stupid. I know I already have a license for my other hunting, but I still hate it. I cannot remember how many times I have been out and remembered that I needed my license. Just my 2 cents

Makes me wonder if any hunting license will work. There is a MD six dollar hunting license that one does not need a hunter safety course to get.

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