Md. Code Regs. 08.03.03.01

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 24, December 2, 2024

Section 08.03.03.01 - Bag Limits and Possession Limits

A. The seasons, bag limits, and possession limits for game birds and mammals shall be in accordance with the schedule provided in this chapter.

B. A person may possess only 1 day's bag limit while hunting in the field.

C. A person may not exceed or attempt to exceed the bag limits on game birds and mammals as set forth in schedules pursuant to this chapter.

D. Hunting on Sunday.

(1) Except as provided in §D(2) of this regulation, an individual may not hunt any game bird or game mammal on Sunday.

(2) An individual may hunt on Sunday, if the individual is:

(a) Using State certified raptors to hunt game birds or mammals during an open season;

(b) An unarmed participant in an organized fox chase;

(c) Hunting pen-reared game birds on a regulated shooting ground in accordance with the provisions of Natural Resources Article, §§ 10-410(a) and 10-906, Annotated Code of Maryland;

(d) Shooting white-tailed or sika deer under the authority of a Deer Management Permit as described in COMAR 08.03.04.02;

(e) Hunting white-tailed or sika deer on private property as described in Regulations .07 and .08 of this chapter:

(i) On the first Sunday in November during the deer bow season and the first Sunday of the deer firearms season in Anne Arundel County,

(ii) On the last three Sundays in October and the first two Sundays in November during the deer bow season and all Sundays during the deer firearms season in Harford County;

(iii) On all Sundays during the deer bow season in October and November, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, the first two Sundays in January during the deer bow season, all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season, and all Sundays in the deer firearms season in Carroll County; and

(iv) 16 years of age or younger when participating in the Junior Deer Hunt on private lands only in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne's, Somerset, and Talbot counties;

(f) 16 years of age or younger when participating in the Junior Deer Hunt on private property in Allegany, Frederick, Cecil, Garrett, St. Mary's, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties or a designated Natural Heritage Area, Wildlife Management Area, Cooperative Wildlife Management Area, State Forest, Fishery Management Area, or other designated public hunting area listed in §G of this regulation;

(g) Hunting deer on private property or a designated Natural Heritage Area, Wildlife Management Area, Cooperative Wildlife Management Area, State Forest, Fishery Management Area, or other designated public hunting area listed in §G of this regulation on all Sundays in September, October, November, and January during the deer bow season, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season, and all Sundays in the deer firearms season in Allegany, Cecil, Garrett, St. Mary's, and Washington counties;

(h) Hunting deer on private property or a designated Natural Heritage Area, Wildlife Management Area, State Forest, or Fishery Management Area listed in §G of this regulation on all Sundays during the deer bow season in October and November, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, the first two Sundays in January during the deer bow season, all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season, and all Sundays in the deer firearms season in Frederick County;

(i) Hunting deer on private property in Kent County:

(i) From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset on all Sundays in September, October, November, and January during the deer bow season, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season, and the first Sunday in the deer firearms season; and

(ii) From 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. on the second and any subsequent Sunday during the deer firearms season;

(j) Hunting deer on private property in Montgomery County:

(i) From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset on the first Sunday in November during the deer bow season and the first Sunday in the deer firearms season; and

(ii) Except as provided in §D(2)(j)(i) of this regulation, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. on all Sundays in September, October, November, and January during the deer bow season, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season, and the second and any subsequent Sunday during the deer firearms season;

(k) Hunting deer on private property or a designated Natural Heritage Area, Wildlife Management Area, State Forest, or Fishery Management Area listed in §G of this regulation in Wicomico County:

(i) From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset on the last three Sundays in October and the first two Sundays in November during the deer bow season and the first Sunday in the deer firearms season; and

(ii) Except as provided in §D(2)(k)(i) of this regulation, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. on all Sundays in September, October, November, and January during the deer bow season, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season, and the second and any subsequent Sunday during the deer firearms season;

(l) Hunting deer on private property in Talbot County:

(ii) Except as provided in §D(2)(l)(i) of this regulation, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. on all Sundays in September, October, November, and January during the deer bow season, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season, and the second and any subsequent Sunday during the deer firearms season;

(m) Hunting deer on private property in Calvert, Caroline, Charles, and Queen Anne's counties:

(i) From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset on the last three Sundays in October and the first two Sundays in November during the deer bow season and all Sundays during the deer firearms season; and

(ii) Except as provided in §D(2)(m)(i) of this regulation, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. on all Sundays in September, October, November, and January during the deer bow season, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, and all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season;

(n) Hunting deer on private property in Dorchester County:

(i) From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset on all Sundays during the deer bow season in October and November, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, the first two Sundays in January during the deer bow season, all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season, and the first three Sundays during the deer firearms season; and

(ii) Except as provided in §D(2)(n)(i) of this regulation, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. on all Sundays in September and January during the deer bow season;

(o) Hunting deer on private property or public land leased to hunt clubs in Somerset County:

(ii) Except as provided in §D(2)(o)(i) of this regulation, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. on all Sundays in September, October, November, and January during the deer bow season, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, and all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season;

(p) Hunting deer on private property or a designated Natural Heritage Area, Wildlife Management Area, State Forest, or Fishery Management Area listed in §G of this regulation in Worcester County:

(ii) Except as provided in §D(2)(p)(i) of this regulation, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. on all Sundays in September, October, November, and January during the deer bow season, the last Sunday in December during the deer bow season, and all Sundays in December during the deer muzzleloader season;

(q) Hunting wild turkeys as described in Regulation .03 of this chapter on private property on any Sunday during the Junior Hunt and spring season in Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Kent, and Queen Anne's counties;

(r) Hunting wild turkeys as described in Regulation .03 of this chapter on private property or a designated Natural Heritage Area, Wildlife Management Area, State Forest, or Fishery Management Area listed in §G of this regulation on any Sunday during the Junior Hunt and spring season in Dorchester County;

(s) Hunting any game mammal or any game bird, except deer, migratory game birds or wetland game birds, in Allegany, Cecil, Garrett, St. Mary's, and Washington counties on private property or a designated Natural Heritage Area, Wildlife Management Area, Cooperative Wildlife Management Area, State Forest, Fishery Management Area, or other designated public hunting area listed in §G of this regulation during the open seasons for those game animals;

(t) Hunting any game mammal or any game bird, except deer, turkey, migratory game birds or wetland game birds, in Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, and Queen Anne's counties on private property from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. during the open seasons for those game animals;

(u) Hunting any game mammal or any game bird, except deer, migratory game birds or wetland game birds, in Somerset County on private property or public land leased to hunt clubs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. during the open seasons for those game animals;

(v) Hunting any game mammal or any game bird, except deer, migratory game birds or wetland game birds, in Wicomico and Worcester counties on private property or a designated Natural Heritage Area, Wildlife Management Area, State Forest, or Fishery Management Area listed in §G of this regulation from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. during the open seasons for those game animals; and

(w) Hunting any game mammal or any game bird, except deer, migratory game birds or wetland game birds, in Talbot County on private property from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. during the open seasons for those game animals.

E. Except as provided in §F of this regulation, when opening dates fall on Sunday, the actual opening date will be the Saturday immediately preceding it and when closing dates fall on Sunday, the actual closing date will be the Saturday immediately preceding it.

F. The open seasons for muskrat, mink, and coyote are established by Natural Resources Article, § 10-406, Annotated Code of Maryland.

G. The Natural Heritage Areas, Wildlife Management Areas, Cooperative Wildlife Management Areas, State Forests, Fishery Management Areas, and other public hunting areas designated for Sunday hunting in accordance with §D of this regulation are as follows:

(1) Billmeyer-Belle Grove WMA;

(2) C&D Canal Lands

(3) Chesapeake Forest Lands;

(4) Cunningham Swamp WMA;

(5) Dan's Mountain WMA;

(6) E. A. Vaughn WMA;

(7) Earleville WMA;

(8) Ellis Bay WMA;

(9) Garrett State Forest;

(10) Green Ridge State Forest;

(11) Grove Farm WMA;

(12) Hickory Point Natural Heritage Area;

(13) Indian Springs WMA;

(14) Isle of Wight WMA;

(15) Johnson WMA;

(16) Mount Nebo WMA;

(17) McCoole Fishery Management Area;

(18) Nanticoke WMA;

(19) Old Bohemia WMA;

(20) Pocomoke State Forest;

(21) Pocomoke River WMA;

(22) Potomac State Forest;

(23) Prather's Neck WMA;

(24) St. Inigoes State Forest;

(25) Salem State Forest;

(26) Savage River State Forest;

(27) Sideling Hill WMA;

(28) Sinepuxent Islands WMA;

(29) Warrior Mountain WMA; and

(30) Wetipquin WMA.

Md. Code Regs. 08.03.03.01

Regulations .01 were previously codified as under COMAR 08.03.01 Wildlife Conservation. This recodification was effective June 3, 1985 (12:11 Md. R. 1047) For the history of these regulations before June 3, 1985, see the Administrative History which follows COMAR 08.03.01.
Regulation .01 amended effective June 30, 1986 (13:13 Md. R. 1488)
Regulation .01D amended and E adopted effective August 15, 1994 (21:16 Md. R. 1381)
Regulation .01E amended effective June 3, 1996 (23:11 Md. R. 809)
Regulations .01 repealed and new Regulations .01 adopted effective August 19, 2002 (29:16 Md. R. 1287)
Regulation .01D amended effective August 18, 2003 (30:16 Md. R. 1074); October 1, 2005 (32:16 Md. R. 1391); October 1, 2006 (33:17 Md. R. 1436); September 24, 2007 (34:19 Md. R. 1649); August 11, 2008 (35:16 Md. R. 1390); September 21, 2009 (36:19 Md. R. 1435)
Regulation .01D amended effective October 3, 2011 (38:20 Md. R. 1201)
Regulation .01 amended effective November 24, 2014 (41:23 Md. R. 1371)
Regulation .01D amended as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2013 (40:21 Md. R. 1771); amended permanently effective November 25, 2013 (40:23 Md. R. 1932)
Regulation .01 amended effective 42:17 Md. R. 1110, eff.8/31/2015; amended effective 43:16 Md. R. 899, eff. 8/15/2016; amended effective 44:18 Md. R. 864, eff. 9/11/2017; amended effective 45:16 Md. R. 774, eff. 8/13/2018; amended effective 46:17 Md. R. 725, eff. 8/26/2019; amended effective 49:27 Md. R. 1110, eff. 1/9/2023; amended effective 50:17 Md. R. 761-784, eff. 9/4/2023; amended effective 51:20 Md. R. 898, eff. 10/14/2024.