SUNDAY HUNTING STILL STIRS PASSIONS

In the March issue and in an earlier news blog posting, The Equiery wondered whether or not horse people were still concerned about Sunday Hunting legislation, once a hot button topic among trail riders. Click here to read the original Equiery editorial and responses.

Hunting Bills Killed

“Killed” bills are those bills which have been given an” unfavorable” report in committee. Click here for The Equiery’s original summary.

SB 33: Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Wild Game

SB 33: Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Wild Game

HB 521/SB 798: Anne Arundel Rabies Vector Species HB 521/SB 798: Anne Arundel Rabies Vector Species

HB 877: Baltimore Co. Sunday Hunting on Private Property HB 877: Baltimore Co. Sunday Hunting on Private Property

HB 1518: Sunday Hunting on Private Land, Most of Maryland, Oct – mid- Jan (a very troublesome bill, introduced very late in the session; see original equiery.com posting)

 Hunting Bills In Limbo

The vast majority of bills die a slow death of being stalled in committee; however, just because a bill is stalled does not mean it is dead, and it could come roaring back to life. When we sent the April print edition, there were still quite a few hunting bills in limbo, neither dead not progressing to the next legislative phase. This year, however, so far, most of the hunting bills which we have followed have had decisive action, either killed or passed out of one chamber into the next – which is interesting. The only ones still lingering are:

HB 1207: Calvert Co. Sunday Hunting on Private Property 

Would add Calvert County to the list of counties that already allow bow hunting on the last three Sundays in October and the first Sunday in November, and would also allow a hunter to use a crossbow in all of the counties listed.  This bill had a hearing in the Environmental Matters Committee on March 12, but no action as of press time.

HB 1512: Frederick Co. Archery Safety Zone

Would extend the safety zone for 50 yards from a dwelling house, residence, church, or any other building or camp occupied by human beings; introduced last year and was given an Unfavorable Report. No action as of March 30. 

Hunting Bills With Legs

See equiery.com’s News Feed for summary.

HB 301: So. MD Sunday Hunting Passed out of the House on March 25, crossed over to the Senate on March 27.

HB 851: Talbot Co. Sunday Hunting on Private Property Passed out of the House on March 25, crossed over to the Senate on March 27.

 HB 858: Montgomery County Prohibition on Leghold & Body Gripping Traps: Passed out of the House on March 25, crossed over to the Senate on March 27.

SB 259/HB 502: So. MD Deer Hunting: SB 259 passed the Senate unanimously on March 18 and crossed into the House on March 19; the House version stalled out, but they may have been waiting for the Senate version.

HB 246: Western MD Sunday Hunting on Private Property: Like its predecessor in 2009, HB 246 passed the House and has crossed to the Senate; last year it died in the Senate, so stay tuned.

The following bills do not appear in The Equiery’s original reports.

SB 978: Sunday Hunting, Private Property in Talbot Co.  Passed out of the Senate on March 27; has not yet crossed to the House.