The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has released the proposed changes to hunting regulations. I wanted to share the ones that affect deer hunters and deer hunting. Now, we all have to remember that these are proposed regulations and still have to be put into law, but it is still a good thing to know about since there is always a good change they will make it to law.
For deer hunters the regulation changes are as follows:
1. To allow a cocked, but unloaded crossbow to be placed in, on or against any vehicle. The change would still prohibit a loaded crossbow from being in, on or against any vehicle. A loaded crossbow is one with a bolt or arrow in the shooting position.
2. Require persons that are bowhunting deer in the bear hunting zone to meet the hunter orange requirements while the bear season is open.
Those are the regulations that mainly involve deer hunters.
Then, the following regulations are the ones that pertain to deer hunting bag limits and seasons.
1. Create a STATEWIDE bag limit for antlered deer (bucks) and reduce the overall buck bag limit to three per year, one per weapon season (i.e. bow season, muzzleloader season and firearm season). One Bonus buck would be allowed to be taken in Region B only during the season of the hunter’s choice. Hunters must purchase a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp and harvest two does during any weapon season in Region B before taking a Bonus buck.
2. Extend the archery season for white-tailed and sika deer to open on the first Friday after Labor Day, each year.
I wanted to make a note that this would mean bow season would open on September 7th this year.
3. Expand the current unlimited antlerless bag limit for bow season in the Suburban Archery Zone to all of Deer Management Region B.
4. To permit the transportation of a deer carcass or part taken in the CWD Management Area (CWDMA) to an approved taxidermist.
5. To allow a person to remove deer front and hind leg quarters from the CWDMA.
I have read these new proposed regulation changes and read what the goals and/or comments that go along with them. I would encourage everyone to check the whole DNR statement out here :
HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATION PROPOSALS For 2012-13 and 2013-14
Once the regulations are finalized later this spring/summer I will post which of the proposed regulations made it into law and which ones did not.
I would love to hear what all of you think about the proposed regulation changes. Like or Dislike? Share your thoughts and/or opinions by leaving a comment!
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