SB 643/HB 1063 will transfer control of Sunday hunting regulations from the State Legislators, who represent all of their constituents, to the MD Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who, as a practical matter, routinely represents just hunters on this issue; creates a three year pilot program, and prohibits DNR from authorizing any FEWER Sunday hunting days than are in effect as the pilot program begins; appears to create a blanket allowance of Sunday hunting on public land (except for the state park system; allows year-round 7-day-a-week hunting of deer on any property of at least 10 acres that has deer damage to crops, forests, or landscaping, and allows shooting in those cases at least 25 yards from DNR designated equestrian trails; generally allows Sunday hunting of migratory game birds; and, adds a second 3:00 to sunset Sunday hunting period to counties that currently have a 10:30 am cut off.
This bill grants sweeping and unprecedented powers to DNR.
Contact these members of the House Environment & Transportation Committee and tell them to reject this bill. The hearing is next Friday, February 27.
marc.Korman@house.maryland.gov (Chair)
michele.guyton@house.maryland.gov (Vice Chair)
nick.allen@house.maryland.gov
H.Kevin.Anderson@house.maryland.gov
terry.baker@house.maryland.gov
dylan.behler@house.maryland.gov
regina.boyce@house.maryland.gov
linda.foley@house.maryland.gov
david.fraser.hidalgo@house.maryland.gov
robin.Grammer@house.maryland.gov
anne.healey@house.maryland.gov
marvin.holmes@house.maryland.gov
jay.jacobs@house.maryland.gov
robbyn.lewis@house.maryland.gov
jeffrie.long@house.maryland.gov
todd.morgan@house.maryland.gov
ryan.nawrocki@house.maryland.gov
darrell.odom@house.maryland.gov
dana.stein@house.maryland.gov
natalie.ziegler@house.maryland.gov
AA_ENT@mga.maryland.gov
Also contact the Senate Education, Energy and The Environment Committee. The hearing on the Senate version is March 10.
brian.feldman@senate.maryland.gov (Chair)
cheryl.Kagan@senate.maryland.gov (Vice Chair)
dalya.attar@senate.maryland.gov
benjamin.brooks@senate.maryland.gov
marybeth.carozza@senate.maryland.gov
jason.gallion@senate.maryland.gov
kevin.harris@senate.maryland.gov
katiefry.hester@senate.maryland.gov
bryan.simonaire@senate.maryland.gov
mary.washington@senate.maryland.gov
ron.watson@senate.maryland.gov
AA_EHE@mga.maryland.gov
If hear about a bill that you are concerned about, don’t hesitate to contact your local representatives, even if they are not the bill’s sponsor or on the assigned committee. You can find your local legislators and how to contact them here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District
