Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0643*
SENATE BILL 643
M2 6lr2993
CF HB 1063
By: Senator Bailey
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 21, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Natural Resources – Hunting – Management 2
FOR the purpose of providing that the Department of Natural Resources may authorize the 3
reduction of the deer population on certain property with deer damage using certain 4
methods; altering the time restrictions for Sunday deer hunting in certain counties 5
during deer firearms season; repealing the prohibition against hunting migratory 6
game birds on Sundays and authorizing the Department to allow Sunday hunting 7
for migratory game birds, subject to a certain requirement; repealing certain time 8
restrictions th at apply to the hunting of game birds and mammals on certain 9
Sundays on private property in Wicomico County; authorizing the Department to 10
allow a person to hunt deer on each Sunday of the deer bow hunting season in 11
Baltimore City; repealing certain provisions of law governing Sunday hunting on a 12
county–by–county basis and authorizing the Department to adopt regulations 13
allowing Sunday hunting during game bird and game mammal seasons, subject to a 14
certain standard; requiring the Department to establish cert ain procedures for a 15
county to request changes to Sunday hunting regulations; and generally relating to 16
hunting management. 17
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – Natural Resources 19
Section 10–206 and 10–410(a), 10–410(a), and 10–906(b)(3)(i) 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 22
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 23
2 SENATE BILL 643
Article – Natural Resources 1
Section 10–410(a) and 10–906(b)(3)(i) 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4
(As enacted by Section 1 of this Act) 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7
Article – Natural Resources 8
10–206. 9
(A) The Department may reduce the wildlife population in any county, election 10
district, or other identifiable area of the State after a thorough investigation reveals that 11
protected wildlife is seriously injurious to agricultural or other interests in the affected 12
area. The method of reducing the w ildlife population is at the Department’s discretion, 13
except that trapping is preferred whenever feasible. The Department shall dispose of 14
wildlife taken pursuant to the provisions of this section as the Department deems 15
advisable. 16
(B) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION, “DEER DAMAGE” INCLUDES: 17
(I) WIDESPREAD DAMAGE CAU SED BY DEER , INCLUDING THE 18
ELIMINATION OF FORES T UNDERSTORY , TREE REGENERATION , AND NATIVE 19
PLANTS; AND 20
(II) THE DESTRUCTION OF AG RICULTURAL CROPS OR 21
LANDSCAPING, INCLUDING ORNAMENTAL LANDSCAPING, CAUSED BY DEER. 22
(2) THE DEPARTMENT MAY AUTHOR IZE THE REDUCTION OF THE 23
DEER POPULATION ON ANY SINGLE, CONTIGUOUS PROPERTY OF AT LEAST 10 ACRES 24
WHERE THE DEPARTMENT HAS DOCUMENTED DEER DAMAGE. 25
(3) (I) THE METHOD OF REDUCING THE DEER POPULATION: 26
1. IS AT THE DEPARTMENT’S DISCRETION; AND 27
2. SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS 28
PARAGRAPH, MAY INCLUDE THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT TO A PROPERTY OWNER, OR 29
THE PROPERTY OWNER’S EMPLOYEE, LESSEE, OR AGENT, TO SHOOT DEER ON THE 30
PROPERTY ON SUNDAYS. 31
(II) A PERMIT ISSUED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I)2 OF THIS 32
PARAGRAPH SHALL: 33
SENATE BILL 643 3
1. MAY NOT AUTHORIZE HUNTING ON SUNDAYS IN: 1
A. BALTIMORE CITY; 2
B. BALTIMORE COUNTY; 3
C. HOWARD COUNTY; OR 4
D. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY; AND 5
2. SHALL PROHIBIT DEER HUNTIN G ON SUNDAYS 6
DURING DEER FIREARMS SEASON WITHIN 25 150 YARDS OF A DEPARTMENT TRAIL 7
DESIGNATED FOR BICYCLING, HIKING, EQUESTRIAN USE , OR OTHER ACTIVE OR 8
PASSIVE RECREATIONAL USE. 9
(4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL: 10
(I) MAP AREAS OF THE STATE TO WHICH A PERMIT MAY APPLY 11
UNDER THIS SUBSECTION; AND 12
(II) MAKE THE MAPS READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. 13
10–410. 14
(a) (1) (i) The Department may allow a person to hunt on each Sunday of 15
the game bird and game mammal seasons in: 16
1. Allegany County; 17
2. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Calvert 18
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 19
3. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Caroline 20
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 21
4. Cecil County; 22
5. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Charles 23
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 24
6. Subject to subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, Dorchester 25
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 26
7. Garrett County; 27
4 SENATE BILL 643
8. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Queen 1
Anne’s County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 2
9. St. Mary’s County; 3
10. Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, Somerset 4
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 5
11. Washington County; 6
12. Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, Worcester 7
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; and 8
13. Subject to subparagraph (v) of this p aragraph, Wicomico 9
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. 10
(ii) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)10 and 12 of this 11
paragraph do not apply: 12
1. On each Sunday of the deer firearms season; and 13
2. On the last three Sundays in October and the first two 14
Sundays in November of the deer bow hunting season. 15
(iii) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)2, 3, 5, and 8 of this 16
paragraph do not apply: 17
1. On each Sunday during the deer firearms season; 18
2. On the last three Sundays in October and the first two 19
Sundays in November during the deer bow hunting season; and 20
3. On each Sunday of the spring turkey hunting season. 21
(iv) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)6 of this paragraph 22
do not apply: 23
1. On each Sunday of the deer hunting seasons from the first 24
Sunday in October through the second Sunday in January, inclusive; and 25
2. On each Sunday of the spring turkey hunting season. 26
(v) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)(13) of this 27
paragraph do not apply: 28
1. A. On the first Sunday of the deer firearms season; and 29
SENATE BILL 643 5
B. ON THE REMAINING SUNDAYS OF THE DEER 1
FIREARMS SEASON , FOR WHICH THE TIME R ESTRICTIONS SHALL BE FROM 30 2
MINUTES BEFORE SUNRI SE UNTIL 10:30 A.M. AND FROM 3:00 P.M. UNTIL SUNSET; 3
AND 4
2. On the last three Sundays in October and the first two 5
Sundays in November of the deer bow hunting season. 6
(2) The Department may allow a person to hunt deer on each Sunday of the 7
deer hunting seasons from the first Sunday in October through the second Sunday in 8
January, inclusive, in: 9
(i) Carroll County; and 10
(ii) Frederick County. 11
(3) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Department 12
may allow a person to hunt deer on each Sunday of the deer hunting seasons from 30 13
minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. in: 14
1. Kent County; 15
2. Montgomery County; and 16
3. Talbot County. 17
(ii) The time restrictions under this paragraph do not apply: 18
1. To a participant in a junior deer hunt authorized under 19
this subtitle; 20
2. A. On one Sunday designated by the Department 21
during the deer firearms season; AND 22
B. ON IN KENT COUNTY AND TALBOT COUNTY, ON THE 23
REMAINING SUNDAYS OF THE DEER F IREARMS SEASON , FOR WHICH THE TIME 24
RESTRICTIONS SHALL BE FROM 30 MINUTES BEFORE SUNRISE UNTIL 10:30 A.M. AND 25
FROM 3:00 P.M. UNTIL SUNSET; 26
3. In Kent County, on each Sunday during the deer bow 27
hunting season and the deer muzzle loader season; 28
4. In Montgomery County, on one Sunday designated by the 29
Department during the deer bow hunting season; and 30
6 SENATE BILL 643
5. In Talbot County, on the last three Sundays in October 1
and the first two Sundays in November during the bow hunting season. 2
(4) The Department may allow a person to hunt deer during the deer 3
firearms season: 4
(i) On each Sunday in Harford County; and 5
(ii) On the first Sunday in Anne Arundel County. 6
(5) The Department may allow a person to hunt deer during the deer bow 7
hunting season on: 8
(i) The last three Sundays in October and the first two Sundays in 9
November in Harford County; and 10
(ii) The first Sunday in November in Anne Arundel County. 11
(6) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ALLOW A PERSON TO HUNT DEER ON 12
EACH SUNDAY OF THE DEER BOW HUNTING SEASON IN BALTIMORE CITY. 13
(7) The Department may allow a person to hunt turkey on each Sunday of 14
the spring turkey hunting season in: 15
(i) Carroll County; 16
(ii) Kent County; and 17
(iii) Talbot County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. 18
(7) (8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the 19
Department may allow a person with [a]: 20
(I) A person with a deer management permit ISSUED UNDER § 21
10–206(A) OF THIS TITLE to shoot deer on any Sunday throughout the year in accordance 22
with the terms of the permit; AND 23
(II) A EXCEPT IN BALTIMORE CITY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, 24
HOWARD COUNTY, AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, A PERSON WITH A DEER 25
DAMAGE PERMIT ISSUED UNDER § 10–206(B) OF THIS TITLE TO SHOOT DEER ON ANY 26
SUNDAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN ACCORDANCE W ITH THE TERMS OF THE 27
PERMIT. 28
(8) (9) The Department may allow a person using a State certified 29
raptor to hunt game birds or mammals on each Sunday during the open season for the 30
game birds or mammals. 31
SENATE BILL 643 7
(9) (10) The Department may allow an unarmed person participating in 1
an organized fox chase to chase foxes on Sunday. 2
(10) (11) The Department may allow a person shooting pen –reared game 3
birds or tower–released flighted mallard ducks to hunt on Sunday at a regulated shooting 4
ground in accordance with § 10–906 of this title. 5
(11) (12) The Department may allow a person who is 16 years old or 6
younger to hunt on Sunday if participating in a junior hunt established by the Department 7
in accordance with this subtitle. 8
(12) (13) Except as provided in paragraphs (8) (9) through (10) (11) of this 9
subsection and subject to paragraph (7) (8) of this subsection, a person may not hunt on 10
Sunday in: 11
(i) Baltimore City; 12
(ii) Baltimore County; 13
(iii) Howard County; or 14
(iv) Prince George’s County. 15
(13) (14) (I) [A person may not ] SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) 16
OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE DEPARTMENT MAY ALLOW A PERSON TO hunt migratory 17
game birds on Sunday. 18
(II) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ALLOW THE FOLLOWING 19
PERSONS TO HUNT MIGR ATORY CANADA GEESE (ATLANTIC POPULATION ) ON 20
SUNDAYS DURING THE OPEN SEASON: 21
1. JUNIOR HUNTERS; 22
2. SENIOR HUNTERS; 23
3. APPRENTICE HUNTERS; AND 24
4. FULL–TIME STUDENTS WHO HO LD A HUNTING 25
LICENSE. 26
(14) (15) A person may not hunt on public land within the State park 27
system on Sunday. 28
8 SENATE BILL 643
(15) (16) (i) The Department may not allow a person to hunt on public 1
land designated for hunting by the Department on Sunday except in: 2
1. Allegany County; 3
2. Cecil County; 4
3. Garrett County; 5
4. St. Mary’s County; 6
5. Washington County; 7
6. Dorchester County, for turkey during the spring turkey 8
hunting season; 9
7. Frederick County, for deer from the first Sunday in 10
October through the second Sunday in January of the following year, inclusive; 11
8. Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, Somerset 12
County, on public land leased to a hunt club from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 13
a.m.; 14
9. Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, Worcester 15
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; and 16
10. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Wicomico 17
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. 18
(ii) The time restrictions under subparag raph (i)8 and 9 of this 19
paragraph do not apply: 20
1. On each Sunday of the deer firearms season; and 21
2. On the last three Sundays in October and the first two 22
Sundays in November of the deer bow hunting season. 23
(iii) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)10 of this paragraph 24
do not apply: 25
1. A. On the first Sunday of the deer firearms season; and 26
B. ON THE REMAINING SUNDAYS OF THE DEER 27
FIREARMS SEASON , FOR WHICH THE TIME R ESTRICTIONS SHALL BE FROM 30 28
MINUTES BEFORE SUNRI SE UNTIL 10:30 A.M. AND FROM 3:00 P.M. UNTIL SUNSET; 29
AND 30
SENATE BILL 643 9
2. On the last three Sundays in October and the first two 1
Sundays in November of the deer bow hunting season. 2
10–906. 3
(b) (3) (i) As part of the application for a regulated shooting ground permit, 4
a person may apply to the Department for authorization to allow hunting on Sunday as 5
provided under [§ 10–410(a)(10)] § 10–410(A)(11) of this title. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 7
as follows: 8
Article – Natural Resources 9
10–410. 10
(a) [(1) (i) The Department may allow a person to hunt on each Sunday of 11
the game bird and game mammal seasons in: 12
1. Allegany County; 13
2. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Calvert 14
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 15
3. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Caroline 16
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 17
4. Cecil County; 18
5. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Charles 19
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 20
6. Subject to subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, Dorchester 21
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 22
7. Garrett County; 23
8. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Queen 24
Anne’s County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 25
9. St. Mary’s County; 26
10. Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, Somerset 27
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; 28
11. Washington County; 29
10 SENATE BILL 643
12. Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, Worcester 1
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; and 2
13. Subject to subparagraph (v) of this paragraph, Wicomico 3
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. 4
(ii) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)10 and 12 of this 5
paragraph do not apply: 6
1. On each Sunday of the deer firearms season; and 7
2. On the last three Sundays in October and the first two 8
Sundays in November of the deer bow hunting season. 9
(iii) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)2, 3, 5, and 8 of this 10
paragraph do not apply: 11
1. On each Sunday during the deer firearms season; 12
2. On the last three Sundays in October an d the first two 13
Sundays in November during the deer bow hunting season; and 14
3. On each Sunday of the spring turkey hunting season. 15
(iv) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)6 of this paragraph 16
do not apply: 17
1. On each Sunday of the deer hunting seasons from the first 18
Sunday in October through the second Sunday in January, inclusive; and 19
2. On each Sunday of the spring turkey hunting season. 20
(v) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)(13) of this 21
paragraph do not apply: 22
1. A. On the first Sunday of the deer firearms season; and 23
B. On the remaining Sundays of the deer firearms season, for 24
which the time restrictions shall be from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. and 25
from 3:00 p.m. until sunset; and 26
2. On the last three Sundays in October and the first two 27
Sundays in November of the deer bow hunting season. 28
SENATE BILL 643 11
(2) The Department may allow a person to hunt deer on each Sunday of the 1
deer hunting seasons from the first Sunday in October through the second Sunday in 2
January, inclusive, in: 3
(i) Carroll County; and 4
(ii) Frederick County. 5
(3) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Department 6
may allow a person to hunt deer on each Sunday of the deer hunting seasons from 30 7
minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. in: 8
1. Kent County; 9
2. Montgomery County; and 10
3. Talbot County. 11
(ii) The time restrictions under this paragraph do not apply: 12
1. To a participant in a junior deer hunt authorized under 13
this subtitle; 14
2. A. On one Sunday designated by the Department 15
during the deer firearms season; and 16
B. On In Kent County and Talbot County, on the remaining 17
Sundays of the deer firearms season, for which the time restrictions shall be from 30 18
minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. until sunset; 19
3. In Kent County, on each Sunday during the deer bow 20
hunting season and the deer muzzle loader season; 21
4. In Montgomery County, on one Sunday designated by the 22
Department during the deer bow hunting season; and 23
5. In Talbot County, on the last three Sundays in October 24
and the first two Sundays in November during the bow hunting season. 25
(4) The Department may allow a person to hunt deer during the deer 26
firearms season: 27
(i) On each Sunday in Harford County; and 28
(ii) On the first Sunday in Anne Arundel County. 29
12 SENATE BILL 643
(5) The Department may allow a person to hunt deer during the deer bow 1
hunting season on: 2
(i) The last three Sundays in October and the first two Sundays in 3
November in Harford County; and 4
(ii) The first Sunday in November in Anne Arundel County. 5
(6) The Department may allow a person to hunt deer on each Sunday of the 6
deer bow hunting season in Baltimore City. 7
(7) The Department may allow a person to hunt turkey on each Sunday of 8
the spring turkey hunting season in: 9
(i) Carroll County; 10
(ii) Kent County; and 11
(iii) Talbot County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.] 12
(1) (I) SUBJECT TO THE PROVIS IONS OF THIS SECTION , THE 13
DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT REGULATI ONS ALLOWING PERSONS TO HUNT ON 14
SUNDAYS DURING THE GAME BIRD AND GAME MAMMAL SEASONS. 15
(II) THE REGULATIONS ADOPT ED UNDER THIS SUBSEC TION 16
SHALL AT A MINIMUM A LLOW SUNDAY HUNTING ON THE HOURS AND DAYS 17
AUTHORIZED FOR SUNDAY HUNTING BY SPECIES, HUNTING SEASON, AND COUNTY 18
ON JUNE 30, 2027. 19
(III) 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH STANDARD 20
PROCEDURES FOR A COU NTY TO REQUEST CHANG ES TO THE SUNDAY HUNTING 21
REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE COUNTY. 22
2. THE PROCEDURES SHALL, AT A MINIMUM: 23
A. REQUIRE THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE THE 24
DEPARTMENT WITH A LET TER FROM THE COUNTY ’S LEGISLATIVE BODY , COUNTY 25
EXECUTIVE, OR LOCAL DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH 26
SUPPORTS THE PROPOSED CHANGES; AND 27
B. PROVIDE FOR CONSULTAT ION WITH LOCAL 28
STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING NONHUNTERS. 29
SENATE BILL 643 13
3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBL ISH GUIDELINES 1
DESCRIBING THE PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH TO THE 2
DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE. 3
[(7)][(8)](2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the 4
Department may allow a person with: 5
(i) A person with a deer management permit issued under § 6
10–206(a) of this title to shoot deer on any Sunday throughout the year in accordance with 7
the terms of the permit; and 8
(ii) A Except in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, 9
and Prince George’s County, a person with a deer damage permit issued under § 10–206(b) 10
of this title to shoot deer on any Sunday throughout the year in accordance with the terms 11
of the permit. 12
[(8)][(9)](3) The Department may allow a person using a State certified 13
raptor to hunt game birds or mammals on each Sunday during the open season for the 14
game birds or mammals. 15
[(9)][(10)] (4) The Department may allow an unarmed person 16
participating in an organized fox chase to chase foxes on Sunday. 17
[(10)][(11)] (5) The Department may allow a person shooting pen–reared 18
game birds or tower –released flighted mallard ducks to hunt on Sunday at a regulated 19
shooting ground in accordance with § 10–906 of this title. 20
[(11)][(12)] (6) The Department may allow a person who is 16 years old 21
or younger to hunt on Sunday if participating in a junior hunt established by the 22
Department in accordance with this subtitle. 23
[(12)][(13)] (7) Except as provided in paragraphs [(8)][(9)](3) through 24
[(10)][(11)](5) of this subsection and subject to paragraph [(7)][(8)](2) of this subsection, 25
a person may not hunt on Sunday in: 26
(i) Baltimore City; 27
(ii) Baltimore County; 28
(iii) Howard County; or 29
(iv) Prince George’s County. 30
[(13)][(14)] (8) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the 31
Department may allow a person to hunt migratory game birds on Sunday A person may 32
not hunt migratory game birds on Sunday. 33
14 SENATE BILL 643
(ii) The Department shall allow the following persons to hunt 1
migratory Canada geese (Atlantic population) on Sundays during the open season: 2
1. Junior hunters; 3
2. Senior hunters; 4
3. Apprentice hunters; and 5
4. Full–time students who hold a hunting license. 6
[(14)][(15)] (9) A person may not hunt on public land within the State 7
park system on Sunday. 8
[(15) (16) (i) The Department may not allow a person to hunt on public 9
land designated for hunting by the Department on Sunday except in: 10
1. Allegany County; 11
2. Cecil County; 12
3. Garrett County; 13
4. St. Mary’s County; 14
5. Washington County; 15
6. Dorchester County, for turkey during the spring turkey 16
hunting season; 17
7. Frederick County, for deer from the first Sunday in 18
October through the second Sunday in January of the following year, inclusive; 19
8. Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, Somerset 20
County, on public land leased to a hunt club from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 21
a.m.; 22
9. Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, Worcester 23
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; and 24
10. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, Wicomico 25
County, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. 26
(ii) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)8 and 9 of this 27
paragraph do not apply: 28
SENATE BILL 643 15
1. On each Sunday of the deer firearms season; and 1
2. On the last three Sundays in October and the first two 2
Sundays in November of the deer bow hunting season. 3
(iii) The time restrictions under subparagraph (i)10 of this paragraph 4
do not apply: 5
1. A. On the first Sunday of the deer firearms season; and 6
B. On the remaining Sundays of the deer firearms season, for 7
which the time restrictions shall be from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. and 8
from 3:00 p.m. until sunset; and 9
2. On the last three Sundays in October and the first two 10
Sundays in November of the deer bow hunting season.] 11
10–906. 12
(b) (3) (i) As part of the application for a regulated shooting ground permit, 13
a person may apply to the Department for authorization to allow hunting on Sunday as 14
provided under [§ 10–410(a)(11)] § 10–410(A)(5) of this title. 15
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before December 1, 16
2029, the Department of Natural Resources shall: 17
(1) report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the 18
State Government Article, on the effectiveness of this Act on deer management and 19
balancing stakeholder interests; and 20
(2) include in the report input from all relevant stakeholders That: 21
(a) The Department of Natural Resources shall, in accordance with this section, 22
report annually on the impact of this Act on deer management in the State, the safety of 23
hunters and other individuals who engage in outdoor recreation, and the balancing of 24
stakeholder interests. 25
(b) Reports made under this section shall include: 26
(1) a summary of any regulations adopted under § 10 –410(a)(1) of the 27
Natural Resources Article, as enacted by Section 2 of this Act, during the reporting period; 28
(2) data regarding hunting related accidents; 29
(3) summaries of complaints received from any source regarding conflicts 30
between hunters and other individuals engaging in outdoor recreation; and 31
16 SENATE BILL 643
(4) any recommendations from the Department on strategies to improve 1
safety or decrease conflicts. 2
(c) On or before December 1, 2027, December 1, 2028, and December 1, 2029, the 3
Department shall, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the St ate Government Article, submit 4
the reports required under this section to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and 5
the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. 6
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act may not be construed 7
to authorize the Department of Natural Resources to allow Sunday hunting in Baltimore 8
County, Howard County, or Prince George’s County: 9
(1) (i) except as provided in Section 10 –410(a)(9) through (11) of the 10
Natural Resources Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act; and 11
(ii) subject to Section 10–410(a)(8) of the Natural Resources Article, 12
as enacted by Section 1 of this Act; or 13
(2) (i) except as provided in Section 10 –410(a)(3) through (5) of the 14
Natural Resources Article, as enacted by Section 2 of this Act; and 15
(ii) subject to Section 10–410(a)(2) of the Natural Resources Article, 16
as enacted by Section 2 of this Act. 17
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall take 18
effect July 1, 2027. It shall remain effective for a period of 3 years and, at the end of June 19
30, 2030, Section 2 of this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, 20
shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 21
SECTION 5. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, T hat, except as provided in 22
Section 4 5 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 23
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.