We commend the efforts of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to assist farmers in controlling nuisance wildlife on agricultural lands. We continue to urge DNR to implement additional programs to limit overpopulations of deer, migratory and resident Canada geese, and other nuisance wildlife in Maryland in order to minimize their negative impacts on agricultural production, highway safety and disease control. ‘08

Bird Control
     Flocking birds such as blackbirds, grackles and starlings can quickly devastate any number of agricultural crops, especially small grain. Therefore, we urge DNR to explore and implement effective solutions to the problems posed by flocking birds. ’08

Black Bear
     We support a regulated hunting season as a sound wildlife management tool in order to manage the State’s black bear population in a safe and effective manner. ’08
     We oppose the movement of black bear by government agencies from western Maryland to other counties.’07

Deer
     The crop damage and human health issues resulting from the state’s overpopulation of deer are of major concern to Maryland’s farmers. ’08
     We urge the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to explore, develop and implement effective, innovative practices to control the deer population in our state. These practices should include, but not be limited to the following: ‘08
     (1) Regulate deer as a “varmint” species where local, overpopulated herds persist. ’08
     (2) Allow market and bounty hunting. ‘08
     (3) Allow hunters to harvest a buck after they have harvested one doe during all hunting seasons. '08
     (4) Use deer/vehicle collision reports to enhance the accuracy of the state’s deer herd population count. ’08
     (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) To continue the use of rifles to hunt deer in counties where allowed. ’07
     (8) Enhance hunting opportunities on public lands, especially on those properties adjacent to agricultural lands. ’08
     (9) Promote the development of new and/or expanded facilities for handling and processing harvested deer. ’08
   (10) Sponsor workshops between hunters and landowners to promote effective deer management. '04
     Spotlighting of deer should be prohibited throughout the state except by landowner or tenant on private land. ‘08
     We support a requirement that property purchased by the state be required to have a plan to manage and control wildlife populations. ‘08
     We support the “Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry” program and support an increase in state funding for the program. ‘08

Deer Crop Damage
     The following actions will decrease crop damage from deer and we support immediate enactment:
     (1) Reimburse farmers for crop losses due to deer damage. ‘08
     (2) Allow farmers to control deer on public lands rented for agricultural purposes. ‘08
     (3) Allow a landowner/farmer to harvest deer whenever deer are destroying a crop within the guidelines of the Deer Management Permit. ‘08
     (4) Allow for the practice of spotlighting deer while utilizing Deer Management Permits specifically issued by DNR for nighttime use.
     (5) Farmers should make every effort to properly dispose of deer killed on Deer Management Permits. The current DNR policy to fine farmers $1500 for not disposing properly should be eliminated.
     (6) The landowner and/or agent should have the option to use the weapon of choice within county regulations for filling Deer Management permits during deer season. ‘08

Fox Chasing
     We support the requirement for fox chasers to obtain written permission from landowners to conduct the hunt. ‘08

Furbearers
     We support the harvesting of foxes. '02
     We support the 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. '08

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
     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. ‘08
     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. ‘08
     We oppose legislation banning use of steel leg hold traps in Maryland. '02
     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 recommend that Maryland DNR obtain authority from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take any and all actions necessary to reduce the resident Canada goose and snow goose population. ’08
     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 migratory Canada goose season and an increase in bag limits. ‘08
     We request that DNR change the waterfowl 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
     c. Require that waterfowl blinds be prohibited within an appropriate distance of property lines. ’08

Waterfowl Crop Damage
     We request DNR to reimburse farmers for crop damage caused by waterfowl. ‘08
     We strongly recommend DNR to propose effective ways (i.e. recorders or baiters) to reduce the snow goose population. ’08