How Do Hunting Regs Get Revised?

MDHunter · Nov 30, 2018

Right now, bowhunters in Garrett and Allegheny counties can open carry during bow season to protect themselves in the event of a bear encounter. Would be nice to change this to apply to ALL counties where black bears can be hunted (so, add Frederick and Washington counties). Open carry across the entire state would be better, but baby steps...

I've never looked into the process for revising hunting regulations. Anybody have any 411?

SummitCnty · Nov 30, 2018

I think the DNR revises them every two years. Not sure of the actual process though.

danb · Nov 30, 2018

IIRC legislature passed this a few years ago. I THINK the statute only applies to certain counties. Good luck getting this to apply in Fredneck. Its the new Montgomery County.

danb · Nov 30, 2018

The original statute is here:

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&tab=subject3&id=sb0231&stab=01&ys=2014RS

The statute specifies Deer Management region A.

fidelity · Nov 30, 2018

One can handgun hunt in Frederick County. And this includes for coyotes, 365 days a year, with an inexpensive fur bearers permit in designated hunting areas. Don't see why one can't be hunting coyote and other game at the same time.

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danb · Nov 30, 2018

Oh yeah, i hunt coyote on Market Steet all the time, right?

MDHunter · Nov 30, 2018

danb said:
The original statute is here:

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&tab=subject3&id=sb0231&stab=01&ys=2014RS

The statute specifies Deer Management region A.

Thanks Danb. I think when it was passed, black bear hunting was restricted to Garrett and Allegheny counties. Would only make sense that we be allowed to open carry in any country where black bear hunting occurs, but I know that common sense isn't always on the agenda...

fidelity · Nov 30, 2018

danb said:
Oh yeah, i hunt coyote on Market Steet all the time, right?

More likely to find cougar out there ...

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danb · Nov 30, 2018

fidelity said:
More likely to find cougar out there ...

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No, I hunt cougar in Fulton.

danb · Nov 30, 2018

MDHunter · Nov 30, 2018

fidelity said:
One can handgun hunt in Frederick County. And this includes for coyotes, 365 days a year, with an inexpensive fur bearers permit in designated hunting areas. Don't see why one can't be hunting coyote and other game at the same time.

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You would think...but under the current regs, in Frederick County it is not legal to carry a handgun while bowhunting...go figure. :sad20:

Jim12 · Dec 1, 2018

Why not contact your state Rep. or Senator, and also whoever sponsored the Bill and talk to them about legislation to extend its reach?

The MD General Assembly website can give you a lead.

SCV/SAR Patriot · Dec 1, 2018

fidelity said:
More likely to find cougar out there ...

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HA HA!!

outrider58 · Dec 1, 2018

fidelity said:
One can handgun hunt in Frederick County. And this includes for coyotes, 365 days a year, with an inexpensive fur bearers permit in designated hunting areas. Don't see why one can't be hunting coyote and other game at the same time.

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One of the stipulations regarding open carry of handguns as a defense against black bear is the handgun must have a barrel shorter than 6" rendering it an illegal hunting firearm.

As for counties where this should be allowed, I would rather OP changed the wording from "all counties where bear hunting is permitted" to 'all counties where black bear encounters are possible'. That change would be beneficial to all concerned.

outrider58 · Dec 1, 2018

danb said:
No, I hunt cougar in Fulton.

You don't hunt Cougars. Cougars hunt you.

fidelity · Dec 1, 2018

Jim12 said:
Why not contact your state Rep. or Senator, and also whoever sponsored the Bill and talk to them about legislation to extend its reach?

The MD General Assembly website can give you a lead.

Sportsman's council in Frederick County might be one place to start. They have a monthly meeting at the Frederick IWLA (MDHunter, don't know if you're in Frederick County), and interface with legislators. They've had some successes in pushing forward changes in the past, iirc, esp given that they represent a number of different outdoor recreational organizations in the county.

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fidelity · Dec 1, 2018

outrider58 said:
One of the stipulations regarding open carry of handguns as a defense against black bear is the handgun must have a barrel shorter than 6" rendering it an illegal hunting firearm.

As for counties where this should be allowed, I would rather OP changed the wording from "all counties where bear hunting is permitted" to 'all counties where black bear encounters are possible'. That change would be beneficial to all concerned.

Agree with the advice on language.

As per barrel length of a handgun for coyote hunting, I haven't read the regs recently. Is there a length restriction? I know there's a 6-inch minimum for deer (as well as muzzle energy minimum), but didn't realize that this extended to coyote in counties where handgun hunting is permitted. I did look for this info 2-3 years back, possibly when there had been discussion of using pistols that use the 5.7x28 cartridge for fox and maybe coyote.

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outrider58 · Dec 1, 2018

fidelity said:
Agree with the advice on language.

As per barrel length of a handgun for coyote hunting, I haven't read the regs recently. Is there a length restriction? I know there's a 6-inch minimum for deer (as well as muzzle energy minimum), but didn't realize that this extended to coyote in counties where handgun hunting is permitted. I did look for this info 2-3 years back, possibly when there had been discussion of using pistols that use the 5.7x28 cartridge for fox and maybe coyote.

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On that, I am not sure. Not many people hunt coyotes with handguns, especially large bore handguns capable of killing "other animals".

I'll have to do some reading I guess.

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danb · Dec 1, 2018

I do not see where in the regs it specifies barrel length for coyotes:

Firearms

Taking coyote, fisher, gray fox, nutria, opossum, raccoon, red fox and skunk with firearms is subject to these regulations:

A shotgun may not hold more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
Rifles and handguns may be used. Full metal-jacketed, incendiary, or tracer bullets may not be used.
Muzzleloading rifles, shotguns and handguns may be used. To be considered a muzzleloader, a rifle, shotgun or handgun must be loaded from the muzzle, and a revolver must be loaded from the front of the cylinder. Muzzleloaders are considered unloaded if the ignition system is disabled by removal of the cap, primer, battery or primer powder.
It is illegal to have a loaded firearm in, on or leaning against any vehicle. This includes ammunition in the magazine or a muzzleloader ready to fire.

http://www.eregulations.com/maryland/hunting/furbearer-hunting-trapping/

outrider58 said:
One of the stipulations regarding open carry of handguns as a defense against black bear is the handgun must have a barrel shorter than 6" rendering it an illegal hunting firearm.

As for counties where this should be allowed, I would rather OP changed the wording from "all counties where bear hunting is permitted" to 'all counties where black bear encounters are possible'. That change would be beneficial to all concerned.

~~where does it say this? In the regs it says handgun hunting for bear requires a barrel length of more than 6" and 700 ft-lbs of energy.~~

nevermind, found it:

Firearms or airguns may not be carried while hunting deer during the Archery Season with the following exception. In Deer Management Region A, persons 21 years old or older may carry a handgun for personal protection against bear while hunting deer during the Archery Season.

The handgun:

May not be used for hunting any game species while the person is archery hunting for deer;
May not have a barrel length of more than six inches;
May not have a telescopic sight or electronic aiming device attached; and
May not be used to kill wildlife wounded by a vertical bow or crossbow.

danb · Dec 1, 2018

incidentally, the personal protection language says "May not have a barrel length of more than six inches"

while the other language says "a barrel length of 6 inches or more"

for the logically inclined, a barrel length of exactly 6 inches satisfies both.

How Do Hunting Regs Get Revised?

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