Maryland Bear Hunting & Third Deer Sunday Update.
02-27-2002 | 06:48 PM
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From: Deep Creek Lake/McHenry-Garrett Co. Maryland USA
Maryland Bear Hunting & Third Deer Sunday Update.
Here is the latest news posted by the Republican Online (which our local newspaper here in Garrett Co.!)Before you read it let me comment on the bear deal. First of all we had 2 seperate incidents in which landowners had to shoot bears, one was for a bear who kept eating and attacking a farmers sheep, and the other for a threatning the saftey of his wife. In both incidents, Maryland law will not charge these people, and DNR has stated that if livestock or personal saftey is threatened, then the bear can be shot. The bill being past is kinda saying the same thing, which makes it seems somewhat rewording of current law! The bill also does not say anything about hunters paying or being able to shoot a bear for the farmer who is having trouble! I guess it will take one of the many tourist, to get mauled or killed before they open there eyes! We see black bears quite frequently, in fact I almost collided with a bruin on RT68 one day,last year, that would have probably done massive damage, to my car or even hurt or killed me if I hadnt stopped in time. Anyways here is a paste of the article, which also includes some info of the propsed Sunday Hunting for firearms season.
Md. House Panel Amends, Approves Bear Hunt Bill
The Maryland House Environmental Matters Committee has approved House Bill 10, the black bear hunting proposal authored by Del. George Edwards, although Edwards said that major revisions made to the bill have significantly altered its original intent. The bill was approved by a 13-8 vote. The panel also approved a proposal to increase the number of days firearms hunters can pursue whitetail deer. (See below.)
The "significantly amended" bear management measure now proposes issuing a kill permit to a landowner who can demonstrate that a nuisance bear is causing damage to property or is posing a threat to the safety of humans, livestock, or pets. The original bill was designed to provide for a lottery system that would provide for a limited, but specific, bear hunting season intended to manage the bear population in western Maryland.
The legislation differs from current policy in that a bear kill permit holder would not have to be under direct threat from a nuisance bear at the time of a shooting. Once the proven threat from a bear has been established by the Department of Natural Resources based on past incidents on the property, the permit would be issued to allow the bruin to be shot on sight. Landowners, or a residential or agricultural lessee, who secure a bear kill permit would be able to shoot the bear themselves. A landowner would be allowed to designate another person to kill the bear.
Although Edwards said that he was not satisfied with the change, he did see it as a small step toward political recognition that the increasing bear population is posing problems in the region, which has been a major hurdle in the past. "A lot of my colleagues are from places where people don't want bears killed, because they don't understand bears and don't have to live with them. I guess this is a step, a tool, but you won't know you are shooting the right bear unless the DNR comes out ahead of time and puts a tag on it."
If HB 10 is passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Parris Glendening, the law would go into effect on June 1. The DNR would then create specific regulations to implement the legislation, and the permits could be issued by this fall.
Committee chairman Del. John Hurson said there was no provision in the bill addressing the legality of a landowner selling the permit to someone who wants to shoot a bear.
Sunday Hunting Bill
The House Environmental Matters Committee also approved HB 9, which would expand the deer firearms hunt by one Sunday and six other days other than Sunday, by a narrow 12-10 vote.. The bill was specifically amended to propose that the first Sunday of firearms season, which falls during the weekend following Thanksgiving, be opened for deer hunting. The bill had originally proposed that three Sundays be opened for hunting.
The six additional days other than Sunday could be added at any point. "They could be added to the front of the firearms season or to the back of the season, or even in January," committee chairman Hurson said. "They aren't required to be consecutive."
Discussion on both bills will continue on the House floor.
Md. House Panel Amends, Approves Bear Hunt Bill
The Maryland House Environmental Matters Committee has approved House Bill 10, the black bear hunting proposal authored by Del. George Edwards, although Edwards said that major revisions made to the bill have significantly altered its original intent. The bill was approved by a 13-8 vote. The panel also approved a proposal to increase the number of days firearms hunters can pursue whitetail deer. (See below.)
The "significantly amended" bear management measure now proposes issuing a kill permit to a landowner who can demonstrate that a nuisance bear is causing damage to property or is posing a threat to the safety of humans, livestock, or pets. The original bill was designed to provide for a lottery system that would provide for a limited, but specific, bear hunting season intended to manage the bear population in western Maryland.
The legislation differs from current policy in that a bear kill permit holder would not have to be under direct threat from a nuisance bear at the time of a shooting. Once the proven threat from a bear has been established by the Department of Natural Resources based on past incidents on the property, the permit would be issued to allow the bruin to be shot on sight. Landowners, or a residential or agricultural lessee, who secure a bear kill permit would be able to shoot the bear themselves. A landowner would be allowed to designate another person to kill the bear.
Although Edwards said that he was not satisfied with the change, he did see it as a small step toward political recognition that the increasing bear population is posing problems in the region, which has been a major hurdle in the past. "A lot of my colleagues are from places where people don't want bears killed, because they don't understand bears and don't have to live with them. I guess this is a step, a tool, but you won't know you are shooting the right bear unless the DNR comes out ahead of time and puts a tag on it."
If HB 10 is passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Parris Glendening, the law would go into effect on June 1. The DNR would then create specific regulations to implement the legislation, and the permits could be issued by this fall.
Committee chairman Del. John Hurson said there was no provision in the bill addressing the legality of a landowner selling the permit to someone who wants to shoot a bear.
Sunday Hunting Bill
The House Environmental Matters Committee also approved HB 9, which would expand the deer firearms hunt by one Sunday and six other days other than Sunday, by a narrow 12-10 vote.. The bill was specifically amended to propose that the first Sunday of firearms season, which falls during the weekend following Thanksgiving, be opened for deer hunting. The bill had originally proposed that three Sundays be opened for hunting.
The six additional days other than Sunday could be added at any point. "They could be added to the front of the firearms season or to the back of the season, or even in January," committee chairman Hurson said. "They aren't required to be consecutive."
Discussion on both bills will continue on the House floor.
02-28-2002 | 02:59 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: morgantown wv USA
RE: Maryland Bear Hunting & Third Deer Sunday Update.
I know what you mean,we live in wv not to far from you,and the last two years we have been seeing more and more bears..This year I saw 5 different bears in Preston co..while bowhunting deer..We have a bear season but the farmer I hunt on doesen't want them bothered..Its rugged country and the bears love it..
