WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
We commend the efforts made thus far by the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to assist farmers in controlling nuisance
wildlife. We continue to urge DNR to implement additional programs to limit
deer, non-migrating geese, and other nuisance wildlife in our state to minimize
crop damage for farmers, vehicle impact losses to motorists and insurers and
disease control to the general public. 05
Bird Control
Blackbirds, grackles, starlings and other flock birds destroy
small grain as it is emerging. Therefore we urge the Department of Natural
Resources to assist in combating this devastating problem. We suggest trapping,
the use of noisemakers, the use of repellents, or the implementation of any
other safe and effective control measure. 07
We urge officials of the Department of Natural Resources and
the Department of Interior to discuss and find solutions to the problems of
birds, including local migratory birds and migratory waterfowl.
Black Bear
We recommend that DNR continue in its effort to manage the
black bear population by supporting a black bear hunting season. 07
We oppose the movement of black bear by government agencies
from western Maryland to other counties.07
Crop Damage Economic Losses
We believe that DNR should take the following actions:
(1) Issue permits for additional deer
kill to farmers when complaints are received and investigations support the
claims of loss or damage.
(2) Reimbursement of farmers for crop
losses due to deer damage. 07
(3) Allow farmers to control deer on
public lands rented for agricultural purposes. 07
(4) The landowner, and/or permit
holder, should have the option to use the weapon of choice, within county
regulations, for filling permits during
deer season. '02
(5) When permits are issued for deer
kill to protect crops, the permit should allow for up to 10 percent of the kill
to be antlered deer.
(6) A landowner/farmer should have
the right to destroy a deer day or night whenever the deer are destroying a
crop. 07
(7) That the deer management permit
be valid for a year, reporting the harvest at the end of the year. '04
(8) Allow controlled bait stations to
attract deer for controlled night harvesting then processed deer will be donated
to soup kitchens. '01
Farmers should make every effort to dispose of deer killed on crop damage
permits. The current policy of DNR to fine farmers $1500 for not disposing of
deer properly should be eliminated. '04
Deer
Maryland farmers have an increasing problem with deer damage
to crops. We are concerned about the increasing population of deer as a result
of increased habitat though CRP/CREP and the resulting health and safety issues
caused by their over population. We urge the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources to implement effective practices to control the deer population in our
state. These practices should include, but not be limited to the following:
(1) Removing game animal status
from the deer herd in problem areas of Maryland and regulate deer as a pest
species. 06
(2) Allow market hunting and bounty
hunting 06
(3) Allow hunters to harvest a buck
after they have harvested one doe during all hunting seasons. '01
(4) More accurately estimate the deer
population within the state, using deer/vehicle collision reports and other
methods. '00
(5) Establish a deer population
threshold in each of the current DNR deer management areas. '04
(6) Establish new seasons or a longer
gun season wherever necessary to control the deer herd.05
(7) In counties with excessive deer
population increasing or eliminating the bag limit. '03
(8) To continue the use of rifles to
hunt deer in counties where allowed. 07
(9) To work with local jurisdictions
to open appropriate public lands to deer hunting.07
(10) The state designating the number
of deer allowed to be killed.07
(11) Encourage the use of research
dollars to be used to develop feasible deer repellants through genetic
modification or chemical use. '03
(12) Create new facilities for
handling and processing harvested deer. '04
(13)Increase managed hunts on public
lands and coordinate with adjacent property owners. '04
(14) Sponsor workshops between
hunters and landowners to promote effective deer management. '04
Several Maryland counties allow spotlighting of deer for
viewing purposes only until 9 p.m. This practice tends to be abused, resulting
in illegal poaching and trespassing. We recommend that those county Farm Bureaus
involved and the Department of Natural Resources work to outlaw this practice
and have spotlighting of deer made illegal throughout the state. 07
We support a requirement that property purchased by the state
be required to have a plan to manage and control wildlife populations. '01
We propose that the Department of Natural Resources plant
some state land in wildlife food as it suggests we do. We recommend opening the
land for hunting and charging a fee to defray the cost of planting the wildlife
crops. '97
We urge that deer harvested be utilized by charitable
organizations wherever possible. '98 Policy
We support the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry
program and support an increase in state funding for the program. 05
When harvesting animals under crop damage permits, state and
federal agencies should approve and encourage, through inspection of meat and
other methods, the sale and/or donation of said animals. '02
Fox Chasing
We support a requirement for fox chasers to obtain written
permission from landowners. '02
Furbearers
We support the harvesting of foxes. '02
We support a requirement that all fur-users take an
educational course and purchase a stamp or license with a minimal fee.
Landowners or operators should be exempt from any fee. '03
Hunting Ethics and Liability
The landowner shall not be held liable for any accidents on
his property when hunting is taking place. 07
We recommend legislation that would provide for hunting
violations to be handled in a manner similar to motor vehicle violations, which
would remove the violation from the record after an appropriate time of good
behavior. 07
We recommend that the state vigorously enforce existing
trespass and poaching laws to the maximum extent possible. 06
Hunting Methods, Seasons & Licenses
The opening dates for all seasons should be announced six
months in advance so that all interested parties can appropriately schedule
their activities. Furthermore, once the rules and regulations have been
established for a season they should remain in effect and not be changed during
that season.
We oppose legislation banning use of steel leg hold traps in
Maryland. '02
In cooperation with State Game Management efforts, we support
the privileges of citizens to continue to hunt, trap, and fish in accordance
with State Game Management regulations. '97
We oppose the introduction of non-native wildlife species to
any area of the state.07
We support a Regular Hunting License exemption, regardless of
age, for the landowner and his/her spouse, children, grandchildren and employees
when hunting only on that property. We recommend that this exemption also apply,
regardless of age, to a person and his/her spouse, children, and grandchildren
who: (1) holds land under lease for agricultural purposes (or a sharecropper);
and (2) lives on this farmland; and (3) hunts only on this farmland. We are
opposed to the statutory changes made in 2006 which limit the license exemption
to persons (other than the landowner or lessee and his/her spouse) that are
under the age of 16.06
Waterfowl
We urge DNR to do more to control resident geese in Maryland
by authorizing additional resident goose hunting dates including but not limited
to a spring (April) hunting season and increasing the bag limits during those
dates or by other means which limit reproduction. 07
We recommend that only a valid Maryland hunting license in
addition to the federal stamp be required to hunt resident Canada geese. 07
We recommend that the opening date for the goose season in
the state be uniform throughout, starting about November 5th. '02
We strongly support the continuation of the migrating Canada
goose season. We support increasing bag limits. '02
We request DNR to reimburse farmers for crop damage caused by
waterfowl. 07
We urge the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to
implement effective practices to limit the non-migrating wild goose population
in our state. We further urge the Department of Natural Resources to follow the
federal recommendations of season and bag limits for non-migrating geese. '01
We recommend that Maryland DNR obtain authority from U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to take all actions necessary to control the resident
goose population, e.g., a year-round season with no bag limits. 07
We recommend legislation that would require that land blinds
be prohibited within an appropriate distance of property lines. 07
We request that DNR change the duck blind license procedure
as follows:
a. One license will cover the entire
shoreline.
b. Application for license and
renewals will be mailed to the shore owner. '98