Update: On Friday, March 7, the House Environmental Matters Committee will hear the following Sunday deer hunting bills:
- HB 406: All Sundays, Public & Private Land, Allegany, Garrett & Washington
- HB 432: Deer Only, All Sundays Oct. – Mid Jan. Public & Private Land, Allegany, Garrett & Washington
- HB 669: Adding two muzzleloader days in Jan.
- HB 759: All Sundays Oct through mid-January, Private Land, Calvert County
Although it is not on the schedule (at least not yet) for this Friday’s hearing, because SB 473 (All Sundays Mid-Oct to Mid-Jan for Allegany, Washington, Garrett AND Frederick) has been passed by the Senate and crossed into the House into this Committee, obviously Frederick County residents are likewise encouraged to attend.
*******
For those who want to ride on Sundays from October through January, below is a quick update on the status of bills to add more Sundays to the deer hunting schedules in Maryland.
Click here for a list of all hunting legislation, and to monitor status, sponsors, amendments etc.
To read the bills, monitor legislation, check on hearing dates or find out who voted and how they voted, click here for the homepage for the Maryland General Assembly and then enter the bill number in the search field.
Anne Arundel Sundays October through mid-January, Private Lands
HB 197 (Sponsor by Del. Costa); Cross-filed SB 191 (Sponsored by Sen. Reilly) Currently, Anne Arundel County allows hunting on two Sundays; this bill would allow DNR to offer deer hunting on all Sundays from October through the second Sunday in January. HB 197 hasn’t gone beyond the hearing in the House Environmental Matters Committee on Jan. 29; may be stalled in committee. On the Senate side, SB 191 has likewise barely moved. Hearings on the bill have been cancelled. Next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4.
Allegany, Garrett & Washington Counties: All Game, All Sundays, Public & Private Land
HB 406 (Sponsored by Del. Beitzel, Kelly Myers. Parrott and Serafini); Crossfiled with SB 472 (Sponsored by Sen. Edwards, Shank and Young) Introduced on Jan. 24, the House bill just received a hearing date (Environmental Matters): Fri. March 7. Meanwhile, an amended version (regarding waterfowl) did receive a favorable report with amendments from the Senate Committee for Education, Health & Environmental Affairs on Feb. 18, and passed out of the Senate on Feb. 24. It will now cross over to the House.
Allegany, Garrett & Washington Counties: Deer Only; All Sundays Oct. – mid Jan, Public & Private Land
HB 432 Sponsored by Del. Beitzel, Kelly Myers. Parrott and Serafini) Like its sister bill, HB 406, this bill was introduced on Jan. 24 and just received a hearing date (Environmental Matters): Fri. March 7 at 1 p.m. However, its cross-filed cousin has taken on a life of its own…Allegany, Garrett & Washington Counties: Deer Only; All Sundays Oct. – mid Jan, Public & Private Land – AMENDED TO INCLUDE FREDERICK COUNTY
SB 473 (Sponsored by Sen. Edwards, Shank and Young) left committee, after being amended to include Frederick County, with a favorable report and was passed by the Senate on Tuesday, February 25, and has now crossed over to the House Environmental Matters Committee.
Harford County: Adding two muzzleloader days in January
HB 669 (Sponsored by Del. Glass); Was introduced on Jan. 31 and has not been assigned a hearing date. This bill is not cross-filed.
State-wide: All Sundays during Bow Season
HB 671 (Sponsored by Del. Glass); Was heard on Feb. 12 in the House Environmental Matters Committee; no action since.
State-wide All Sundays from October through mid-January
HB 890 (Sponsored by Del. O’Donnell & Holmes); this has not gone beyond first reading in the House Environmental Matters Committee. There is no hearing scheduled, and sometimes that is a good sign that the bill is being ignored.
