By Brett Stayton, Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator
Senator Jack Bailey, a newly appointed Co-Chair of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, recently introduced two bills aimed at expanding Sunday hunting opportunities for both deer and waterfowl, SB 293 and SB 390.
SB 293 would authorize the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to allow for migratory game bird hunting on Sundays during the open season on private property and designated public land.
SB 390 would authorize the Maryland DNR to allow deer hunting on Sundays throughout the deer hunting season on private land and designated public land.
The public hearing for SB 293 will be in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday February 12 at 1:00 pm; and the public hearing for SB 390 will before the same committee on February 19 at 1:00 pm.
Opening up Sunday hunting throughout the season would create additional opportunities for hunters to participate during the hunting season and further add to the economic benefit hunting provides to Maryland at large.
CSF will continue to work with legislators and partners in Maryland to expand hunting access and opportunities for the state’s 445,000 sportsmen and women.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
