Post by osprey on Feb 6, 2008 10:46:44 GMT -5
Got this a few days ago (was supposed to go to the meeting, but got jury duty this month and never sure what's happening day to day) and starting to see it around, thought I'd bring you fellas up to speed. These are preliminary proposals, not yet even the official proposals that will be for review at public hearings in the coming months, but much of this should find it's way into next seasons hunting regs.
Hunting Season Proposal Concepts for 2008–09 and 2009–10
Snow Geese
Allow special snow goose hunting methods when and where appropriate and utilize the Light Goose Spring Conservation Hunting Season if allowed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Background/Justification:The use of farmland for foraging has increased the carrying capacity of the wintering and staging ranges of the greater snow goose population. This has led to conflict with agricultural interests, and with the rapid increase of the population, grazing pressure on many natural marshes remains high. Since 1998, the conditions of natural habitats used by the greater snow goose have not changed significantly and no additional degradation has been observed. However, it is difficult to determine if this situation is associated with the stabilization of the population size, the effect of possibly more favorable weather conditions in recent years (especially in the Arctic region), or to an increased use of farmland during the migration and wintering periods.
With the aim of determining a suitable target population size based on ecological and social considerations, a recent study showed that a spring population ranging from 500,000 to 750,000 would result in optimal benefits to society. The Atlantic Flyway 2007 spring population estimate was 1,019,000 birds. Thus, the liberalization of light goose hunting regulations is intended to increase the harvest of light geese, particularly greater snow geese, with the goal of reducing the greater snow goose population to a more optimal population level. Implementation of spring conservation hunting regulations for light geese may increase the greater snow goose harvest in the U.S. portion of the Atlantic Flyway sufficiently to reach the optimal population size.
Regular Light Goose Hunting Season
Preliminary Statewide Dates for 2008-2009: October 10 - November 28, 2008 and December 1, 2008 - February 12, 2009 .
Legal Goose Species: Light geese, including snow geese (white and blue phase) and Ross’s geese.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: 15 per day and no possession limit.
Special Hunting Methods: electronic calls, unplugged shotguns and extended shooting hours to one-half hour after sunset would be employed during the regular season only in areas and at times when other waterfowl seasons are closed.
Light Goose Spring Conservation Hunting Season (Conservation Order)
Preliminary Statewide Dates: February 13 - April 11, 2009 .
Licenses and Special Permits: All normal hunting licenses and permits for waterfowl hunting EXCEPT: A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (e.g., federal duck stamp) is NOT required and a free Spring Light Goose Conservation Season Permit is required.
Legal Goose Species: Light geese, including snow geese (white and blue phase) and Ross’s geese.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: No daily or possession limit on light geese.
Shooting Hours: Shooting hours for 2009 Spring Light Goose Hunting
Season shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset each day.
Special Hunting Methods: Electronic and recorded calls as well as shotguns (no larger than 10 gauge) capable of holding in excess of 3 shells may be used to take light geese during the 2009 Spring Light Goose Hunting Season.
Mourning Doves
Increase the daily bag limit to 15 birds/day if the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service changes the federal framework from 70 days and 12 birds/day to 70 days and 15 birds/day.
Background/Justification: States in the Eastern Management Unit (includes Maryland ) currently have a choice of either a 60-day season with 15 birds/day or a 70-day season with 12 birds/day. Maryland has always selected the longer season with 12 birds/day. In the near future, we anticipate that the federal framework options will be eliminated in favor of a 70-day season with 15 birds/day. The purpose of this proposed change is to allow a more straightforward assessment of the effects of hunting on dove populations. The proposed change is expected to increase the dove harvest by about 3%. Population surveys for mourning doves in Maryland and the Eastern Management Unit indicate a slowly increasing population over the last 40 years.
Allow dove hunting during all segments of the season during regular migratory bird hunting hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset). Currently, shooting hours are noon to sunset during the first season segment and ½ hour before sunrise to sunset in the second and third segments.
Background/Justification: Maryland (and a number of eastern states) traditionally restricted shooting hours for doves to noon-sunset during the first segment of the season. The purposes of this restriction were to limit double-bagging (killing a limit in the morning and another in the afternoon) and to allow game wardens to police rail hunters in the morning and dove hunters in the afternoon (for states where rail hunting was popular). Most states have now eliminated the shooting hour restriction or limited it to a few days. The purpose of the proposed change is to allow hunters more flexibility and to simplify regulations. Most dove hunting is conducted on managed dove fields where the landowner or managing agency determines the hours the field will be hunted. This proposal would allow more flexibility for hunters, but managers of dove fields (both public and private) will continue to have the latitude to determine shooting hours on their properties as they feel appropriate.
Wild Turkeys
Allow crossbows to be used to hunt wild turkeys.
Background/Justification: Shotguns and vertical bows are currently allowed for hunting turkeys in the spring season. In the fall season, rifles and handguns are also permitted. Allowing crossbows in both of these seasons would not significantly increase harvest rates or create safety concerns. One-half of the spring turkey hunters surveyed in 2007 supported allowing crossbows and 17% had no opinion. This proposed change would permit crossbows to be used in the spring or fall season for turkeys.
Bobwhite Quail
Open Allegany and Garrett counties to quail hunting (Include in the Western Quail Hunting Zone).
Background/ Justification: The quail season in these two counties was closed approximately 15 years ago in an effort to protect quail released as part of a trap-and-transplant project. However, the project did not succeed in restoring quail and current data suggest a viable wild quail population does not occur in these counties. Any quail reported in those counties are probably of pen-raised origins but hunters are not permitted to take quail except on Regulated Shooting Areas. This proposed regulation change would allow hunters to harvest quail that have escaped from game farms or other situations where released quail are present.
Fisher
Increase the bag/possession limit from 1 to 2 per year.
Background/Justification: Fisher distribution in Maryland has expanded to include Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties. Maryland ’s population is part of a contiguous population that extends through southern West Virginia , portions of Virginia , and Pennsylvania .
The first recorded harvest of fisher occurred during the winter of 1977-78 when two animals were incidentally trapped. Maryland established its first legal harvest season during 1978-79 when one animal was trapped. From that time through the mid 1990s, the average total fisher harvest was three animals per year. During the 1998-99 season harvest increased to five animals. A pronounced increase in harvest trends began during the 1999-2000 season when 16 animals were harvested. During the 2006-07 season, the highest recorded harvest of fisher occurred when 45 animals were taken.
Based on the expansion and physical extent of the contiguous fisher population throughout the central Appalachian region and Maryland ’s increasing harvest trend data, an increased bag limit is not expected to negatively impact the fisher population. This proposal would provide additional recreational opportunities for trappers and hunters.
River Otter
Increase the bag/possession limit from 1 to 2 in Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Washington counties.
Increase the bag/possession limit from 5 to 8 in all remaining counties except Allegany and Garrett.
The season will continue to remain closed in Allegany and Garrett counties.
Background/Justification: Otter are currently distributed statewide with the highest population densities occurring in, or adjacent to the tidewater region. Tidewater and coastal otter habitat types found in Maryland are expansive and similar to those found in the surrounding states of Delaware , Virginia , and North Carolina . In these and most other coastal southeastern states there is an unlimited bag limit on otter in the coastal/tidewater influenced portions of these states.
Between the 1996-97 and 2006-07 seasons, the statewide harvest has remained relatively stable averaging 259 otters per season. Although some trappers consistently limit out, the percentage of the available bag limit that individuals harvested was approximately 60% during 2005-06, and 52% in 2006-07 (in counties with a season limit of 5). Since most trappers do not approach the limit, increasing it should provide additional recreation and income for the more proficient trappers without substantially increasing harvest.
It is not expected that the increased bag/possession limits would negatively impact otter populations. An additional benefit resulting from increased otter bag and possession limits will directly benefit those trappers who target beavers. This proposed change would allow beaver trappers to continue trapping for a longer period of time with less risk of exceeding the otter limit through incidental harvest.
Deer
Establish a separate bag limit for the Junior Hunt day in Regions A and B.
Background/Justification: Under current regulations, youth hunters who harvest deer during the Junior Hunt day have limited hunting opportunity during later portions of the Firearms Season. For example, if an antlered deer is harvested during the Junior Hunt in Region A, that youth hunter may not hunt again during the Firearms Season until the antlerless deer season opens later in the season. This proposal would allow successful youth hunters to continue hunting throughout the firearms season in accordance with the regular Firearms Season bag limits. The proposed bag limits mirror current Junior Hunt day bag limits, but stand independent from the Season Limit.
Increase the length of the ‘Antlered or Antlerless’ segment of the Region A Firearms Season to 2 days on private land only.
Background/Justification: The current one-day antlerless season in Region A limits the ability of private landowners to manage deer herds via the normal hunting season. Environmental factors such as weather or mast production can heavily influence the regional harvest, especially when limited to one day. This proposed change would allow agricultural producers an extended opportunity to harvest deer without the need to rely on Deer Management Permits. This proposed change would affect private lands only, DNR Public lands would continue with one day of antlerless hunting during the Firearms Season in Region A.
Allow crossbows to be used during the entire Bow Season in the ‘Suburban Deer Archery Zone’. This zone includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George ’s counties.
Background/Justification: Currently, crossbows may be used in the ‘Suburban Deer Archery Zone’ during the crossbow segment of the Bow Season. This concept would allow the use of this weapon during the entire Bow Season in these selected counties. The expectation is that this proposed change would help meet our goal of increasing the deer harvest in the ‘Suburban Deer Archery Zone’ through increased hunter participation during the Bow Season.
Change when hunters must complete the Big Game Harvest Record.
Background/Justification: Currently, successful deer and turkey hunters are required to complete the Big Game Harvest Record while still in the field (with the exception of the telecheck confirmation number). This is confusing and not well understood by hunters. This proposed regulation change would allow hunters to complete this record once the animal is checked-in and a confirmation number is received (i.e. within 24 hours of harvest). The goal of this proposal is to simplify the hunter’s required actions while still providing a season tally mechanism and not impacting law enforcement efforts. Field tagging requirements would not be affected by this proposed change.
Black Bear
Modify the current ‘no feeding’ regulation to include unintentional feeding of black bears.
Background/Justification: The current regulation states that a person may not ‘overtly’ place food products to attract bears. Therefore, anyone who feeds deer, turkeys, or other wildlife cannot be charged for creating a nuisance situation. This proposed regulation would allow NRP officers to charge citizens who are creating a nuisance situation, regardless of the targeted species. Under the proposed regulation, citizens will be given the opportunity to remove attractants and cease feeding activities prior to being charged.
Eliminate the second one-week segment of the bear hunting season.
Background/Justification: The second (December) one-week segment of the bear-hunting season was designed to provide a mechanism to reach the target harvest rate in the event it was not achieved during the first segment in October. The target harvest rate has been reached during the October segment each year since the 2004 bear hunting season. It appears that the second segment of the season in December is not necessary to reach the targeted harvest rate.
Modify the regulatory language regarding the target harvest rate to allow the Service flexibility in methods for attaining the target harvest rate.
Background/Justification: Since Maryland ’s first modern bear hunting season in 2004, the Wildlife & Heritage Service has kept harvest at the desired level by establishing a targeted harvest rate (i.e. a quota) and ending the hunt when the quota was reached. It has taken between one and four days of hunting to reach the targeted harvest rate. As more bear seasons are held, the WHS will be increasingly able to predict daily harvest and ultimately can manage harvest by setting the open season at a given number of hunting days versus using a quota hunt. This proposed change would allow the Service the flexibility to reach a desired harvest level by setting a targeted harvest rate and ending the hunt when it is reached (as it has in the past) or by establishing a set number of days for the hunt.
Hunter Safety Issue
Propose a new regulation that will require hunters using an enclosed hunting blind to display at least 250 square inches of solid fluorescent orange on or near the outside of the blind in a manner that is visible from all directions. This regulation will only apply to persons engaged in an activity that currently requires the wearing of fluorescent orange.
Background/Justification: The use of enclosed hunting blinds has become increasingly popular and many manufactured blinds are constructed in such a way as to severely limit the visibility of the user to other hunters. This limited visibility seriously decreases the effectiveness of the Maryland Statute (§10-418) requiring certain hunters to wear fluorescent orange for safety reasons. This proposal is intended to remedy this situation by requiring anyone using a fully enclosed blind to display fluorescent orange on or near the outside of the blind whenever §10-418 requires the wearing of this color for safety.
Currently, §10-418 requires all hunters and persons assisting with hunting wear fluorescent orange except any person who assists or:
· Hunts any wildlife on the person’s property with or without a hunter’s license;
· Hunts deer with a bow and arrow during the season restricted to hunting with a bow and arrow;
· Hunts game birds or mammals during the open season using falcons, hawks, or owls; or
· Hunts wetland game birds, fur-bearing mammals, crows, doves, or wild turkeys
Hunting Season Proposal Concepts for 2008–09 and 2009–10
Snow Geese
Allow special snow goose hunting methods when and where appropriate and utilize the Light Goose Spring Conservation Hunting Season if allowed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Background/Justification:The use of farmland for foraging has increased the carrying capacity of the wintering and staging ranges of the greater snow goose population. This has led to conflict with agricultural interests, and with the rapid increase of the population, grazing pressure on many natural marshes remains high. Since 1998, the conditions of natural habitats used by the greater snow goose have not changed significantly and no additional degradation has been observed. However, it is difficult to determine if this situation is associated with the stabilization of the population size, the effect of possibly more favorable weather conditions in recent years (especially in the Arctic region), or to an increased use of farmland during the migration and wintering periods.
With the aim of determining a suitable target population size based on ecological and social considerations, a recent study showed that a spring population ranging from 500,000 to 750,000 would result in optimal benefits to society. The Atlantic Flyway 2007 spring population estimate was 1,019,000 birds. Thus, the liberalization of light goose hunting regulations is intended to increase the harvest of light geese, particularly greater snow geese, with the goal of reducing the greater snow goose population to a more optimal population level. Implementation of spring conservation hunting regulations for light geese may increase the greater snow goose harvest in the U.S. portion of the Atlantic Flyway sufficiently to reach the optimal population size.
Regular Light Goose Hunting Season
Preliminary Statewide Dates for 2008-2009: October 10 - November 28, 2008 and December 1, 2008 - February 12, 2009 .
Legal Goose Species: Light geese, including snow geese (white and blue phase) and Ross’s geese.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: 15 per day and no possession limit.
Special Hunting Methods: electronic calls, unplugged shotguns and extended shooting hours to one-half hour after sunset would be employed during the regular season only in areas and at times when other waterfowl seasons are closed.
Light Goose Spring Conservation Hunting Season (Conservation Order)
Preliminary Statewide Dates: February 13 - April 11, 2009 .
Licenses and Special Permits: All normal hunting licenses and permits for waterfowl hunting EXCEPT: A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (e.g., federal duck stamp) is NOT required and a free Spring Light Goose Conservation Season Permit is required.
Legal Goose Species: Light geese, including snow geese (white and blue phase) and Ross’s geese.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: No daily or possession limit on light geese.
Shooting Hours: Shooting hours for 2009 Spring Light Goose Hunting
Season shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset each day.
Special Hunting Methods: Electronic and recorded calls as well as shotguns (no larger than 10 gauge) capable of holding in excess of 3 shells may be used to take light geese during the 2009 Spring Light Goose Hunting Season.
Mourning Doves
Increase the daily bag limit to 15 birds/day if the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service changes the federal framework from 70 days and 12 birds/day to 70 days and 15 birds/day.
Background/Justification: States in the Eastern Management Unit (includes Maryland ) currently have a choice of either a 60-day season with 15 birds/day or a 70-day season with 12 birds/day. Maryland has always selected the longer season with 12 birds/day. In the near future, we anticipate that the federal framework options will be eliminated in favor of a 70-day season with 15 birds/day. The purpose of this proposed change is to allow a more straightforward assessment of the effects of hunting on dove populations. The proposed change is expected to increase the dove harvest by about 3%. Population surveys for mourning doves in Maryland and the Eastern Management Unit indicate a slowly increasing population over the last 40 years.
Allow dove hunting during all segments of the season during regular migratory bird hunting hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset). Currently, shooting hours are noon to sunset during the first season segment and ½ hour before sunrise to sunset in the second and third segments.
Background/Justification: Maryland (and a number of eastern states) traditionally restricted shooting hours for doves to noon-sunset during the first segment of the season. The purposes of this restriction were to limit double-bagging (killing a limit in the morning and another in the afternoon) and to allow game wardens to police rail hunters in the morning and dove hunters in the afternoon (for states where rail hunting was popular). Most states have now eliminated the shooting hour restriction or limited it to a few days. The purpose of the proposed change is to allow hunters more flexibility and to simplify regulations. Most dove hunting is conducted on managed dove fields where the landowner or managing agency determines the hours the field will be hunted. This proposal would allow more flexibility for hunters, but managers of dove fields (both public and private) will continue to have the latitude to determine shooting hours on their properties as they feel appropriate.
Wild Turkeys
Allow crossbows to be used to hunt wild turkeys.
Background/Justification: Shotguns and vertical bows are currently allowed for hunting turkeys in the spring season. In the fall season, rifles and handguns are also permitted. Allowing crossbows in both of these seasons would not significantly increase harvest rates or create safety concerns. One-half of the spring turkey hunters surveyed in 2007 supported allowing crossbows and 17% had no opinion. This proposed change would permit crossbows to be used in the spring or fall season for turkeys.
Bobwhite Quail
Open Allegany and Garrett counties to quail hunting (Include in the Western Quail Hunting Zone).
Background/ Justification: The quail season in these two counties was closed approximately 15 years ago in an effort to protect quail released as part of a trap-and-transplant project. However, the project did not succeed in restoring quail and current data suggest a viable wild quail population does not occur in these counties. Any quail reported in those counties are probably of pen-raised origins but hunters are not permitted to take quail except on Regulated Shooting Areas. This proposed regulation change would allow hunters to harvest quail that have escaped from game farms or other situations where released quail are present.
Fisher
Increase the bag/possession limit from 1 to 2 per year.
Background/Justification: Fisher distribution in Maryland has expanded to include Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties. Maryland ’s population is part of a contiguous population that extends through southern West Virginia , portions of Virginia , and Pennsylvania .
The first recorded harvest of fisher occurred during the winter of 1977-78 when two animals were incidentally trapped. Maryland established its first legal harvest season during 1978-79 when one animal was trapped. From that time through the mid 1990s, the average total fisher harvest was three animals per year. During the 1998-99 season harvest increased to five animals. A pronounced increase in harvest trends began during the 1999-2000 season when 16 animals were harvested. During the 2006-07 season, the highest recorded harvest of fisher occurred when 45 animals were taken.
Based on the expansion and physical extent of the contiguous fisher population throughout the central Appalachian region and Maryland ’s increasing harvest trend data, an increased bag limit is not expected to negatively impact the fisher population. This proposal would provide additional recreational opportunities for trappers and hunters.
River Otter
Increase the bag/possession limit from 1 to 2 in Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Washington counties.
Increase the bag/possession limit from 5 to 8 in all remaining counties except Allegany and Garrett.
The season will continue to remain closed in Allegany and Garrett counties.
Background/Justification: Otter are currently distributed statewide with the highest population densities occurring in, or adjacent to the tidewater region. Tidewater and coastal otter habitat types found in Maryland are expansive and similar to those found in the surrounding states of Delaware , Virginia , and North Carolina . In these and most other coastal southeastern states there is an unlimited bag limit on otter in the coastal/tidewater influenced portions of these states.
Between the 1996-97 and 2006-07 seasons, the statewide harvest has remained relatively stable averaging 259 otters per season. Although some trappers consistently limit out, the percentage of the available bag limit that individuals harvested was approximately 60% during 2005-06, and 52% in 2006-07 (in counties with a season limit of 5). Since most trappers do not approach the limit, increasing it should provide additional recreation and income for the more proficient trappers without substantially increasing harvest.
It is not expected that the increased bag/possession limits would negatively impact otter populations. An additional benefit resulting from increased otter bag and possession limits will directly benefit those trappers who target beavers. This proposed change would allow beaver trappers to continue trapping for a longer period of time with less risk of exceeding the otter limit through incidental harvest.
Deer
Establish a separate bag limit for the Junior Hunt day in Regions A and B.
Background/Justification: Under current regulations, youth hunters who harvest deer during the Junior Hunt day have limited hunting opportunity during later portions of the Firearms Season. For example, if an antlered deer is harvested during the Junior Hunt in Region A, that youth hunter may not hunt again during the Firearms Season until the antlerless deer season opens later in the season. This proposal would allow successful youth hunters to continue hunting throughout the firearms season in accordance with the regular Firearms Season bag limits. The proposed bag limits mirror current Junior Hunt day bag limits, but stand independent from the Season Limit.
Increase the length of the ‘Antlered or Antlerless’ segment of the Region A Firearms Season to 2 days on private land only.
Background/Justification: The current one-day antlerless season in Region A limits the ability of private landowners to manage deer herds via the normal hunting season. Environmental factors such as weather or mast production can heavily influence the regional harvest, especially when limited to one day. This proposed change would allow agricultural producers an extended opportunity to harvest deer without the need to rely on Deer Management Permits. This proposed change would affect private lands only, DNR Public lands would continue with one day of antlerless hunting during the Firearms Season in Region A.
Allow crossbows to be used during the entire Bow Season in the ‘Suburban Deer Archery Zone’. This zone includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George ’s counties.
Background/Justification: Currently, crossbows may be used in the ‘Suburban Deer Archery Zone’ during the crossbow segment of the Bow Season. This concept would allow the use of this weapon during the entire Bow Season in these selected counties. The expectation is that this proposed change would help meet our goal of increasing the deer harvest in the ‘Suburban Deer Archery Zone’ through increased hunter participation during the Bow Season.
Change when hunters must complete the Big Game Harvest Record.
Background/Justification: Currently, successful deer and turkey hunters are required to complete the Big Game Harvest Record while still in the field (with the exception of the telecheck confirmation number). This is confusing and not well understood by hunters. This proposed regulation change would allow hunters to complete this record once the animal is checked-in and a confirmation number is received (i.e. within 24 hours of harvest). The goal of this proposal is to simplify the hunter’s required actions while still providing a season tally mechanism and not impacting law enforcement efforts. Field tagging requirements would not be affected by this proposed change.
Black Bear
Modify the current ‘no feeding’ regulation to include unintentional feeding of black bears.
Background/Justification: The current regulation states that a person may not ‘overtly’ place food products to attract bears. Therefore, anyone who feeds deer, turkeys, or other wildlife cannot be charged for creating a nuisance situation. This proposed regulation would allow NRP officers to charge citizens who are creating a nuisance situation, regardless of the targeted species. Under the proposed regulation, citizens will be given the opportunity to remove attractants and cease feeding activities prior to being charged.
Eliminate the second one-week segment of the bear hunting season.
Background/Justification: The second (December) one-week segment of the bear-hunting season was designed to provide a mechanism to reach the target harvest rate in the event it was not achieved during the first segment in October. The target harvest rate has been reached during the October segment each year since the 2004 bear hunting season. It appears that the second segment of the season in December is not necessary to reach the targeted harvest rate.
Modify the regulatory language regarding the target harvest rate to allow the Service flexibility in methods for attaining the target harvest rate.
Background/Justification: Since Maryland ’s first modern bear hunting season in 2004, the Wildlife & Heritage Service has kept harvest at the desired level by establishing a targeted harvest rate (i.e. a quota) and ending the hunt when the quota was reached. It has taken between one and four days of hunting to reach the targeted harvest rate. As more bear seasons are held, the WHS will be increasingly able to predict daily harvest and ultimately can manage harvest by setting the open season at a given number of hunting days versus using a quota hunt. This proposed change would allow the Service the flexibility to reach a desired harvest level by setting a targeted harvest rate and ending the hunt when it is reached (as it has in the past) or by establishing a set number of days for the hunt.
Hunter Safety Issue
Propose a new regulation that will require hunters using an enclosed hunting blind to display at least 250 square inches of solid fluorescent orange on or near the outside of the blind in a manner that is visible from all directions. This regulation will only apply to persons engaged in an activity that currently requires the wearing of fluorescent orange.
Background/Justification: The use of enclosed hunting blinds has become increasingly popular and many manufactured blinds are constructed in such a way as to severely limit the visibility of the user to other hunters. This limited visibility seriously decreases the effectiveness of the Maryland Statute (§10-418) requiring certain hunters to wear fluorescent orange for safety reasons. This proposal is intended to remedy this situation by requiring anyone using a fully enclosed blind to display fluorescent orange on or near the outside of the blind whenever §10-418 requires the wearing of this color for safety.
Currently, §10-418 requires all hunters and persons assisting with hunting wear fluorescent orange except any person who assists or:
· Hunts any wildlife on the person’s property with or without a hunter’s license;
· Hunts deer with a bow and arrow during the season restricted to hunting with a bow and arrow;
· Hunts game birds or mammals during the open season using falcons, hawks, or owls; or
· Hunts wetland game birds, fur-bearing mammals, crows, doves, or wild turkeys
