Maryland Administrative Code

.04 Commercial Gear — General. A. An individual is not considered in violation of Natural Resources Article, §4-505, Annotated Code of Maryland, if the individual: (1) Is designated as an operator or co-user in accordance with this subtitle; or (2) Harvests fish in accordance wit…

.05 Commercial — Archery Equipment. A. Archery equipment shall have a retrieval line attached to any projectile. B. An individual may use archery equipment to take any fish during an open commercial season except for the following species: (1) All shark species; (2) American lobs…

.06 Commercial — Finfish Trotlines. A. An individual may not set or fish a finfish trotline within 100 feet of another individual's set trotline. B. The length of a finfish trotline is measured along the baited portion of the line. C. Except as provided in §H of this regulation, …

.07 Commercial — Pound Nets. A. Definitions. (1) For purposes of this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated. (2) Terms Defined. (a) “Co-user” means an individual who is: (i) Properly licensed in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-701, Annotated Co…

.08 Commercial — Haul Seines. A. An individual may use a haul seine in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-713, Annotated Code of Maryland, during the period from 12:01 a.m. Saturday until sunrise on Monday only if the individual notifies the Department in accordance wi…

.09 Commercial — Fyke Nets. A. Restricted Areas. From February 1 through March 31, inclusive, a person may not set a fyke net in any of the following areas: (1) Bohemia River upstream of a line beginning at a point at or near Little Hack Point defined by Lat. 39°27.78'N and Long.…

.01 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Aggregation site” means a location where shell donated for recycling is stored or aged prior to being replanted in State waters. (2) “Authorized shell recycling collector”…

.02 Eligibility. To be eligible for a State income tax credit under this chapter, a shell recycler shall: A. Prior to donating shell, complete an online registration as specified by the Department that includes the shell recycler’s Tax Identification Number; and B. Donate shell f…

.03 Authorized Shell Recycling Collector. A. Certification of a Collector. (1) A business entity may apply to the Department to be an authorized shell recycling collector. (2) An application shall: (a) Be submitted on a form provided by the Department; and (b) Include the applica…

.01 Definitions. A. In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Air gun” means any gun that propels a projectile by means of non-ignited compressed air or other gases. An air gun is considered unloaded when the bullet, pellet, arrow, …

.01 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) Bait. (a) “Bait” means fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay, corn, wheat, other feed, salt, or other mineral-based attractant intentionally placed, exposed, deposited, distributed,…

.02 Wildlife Management Area System. A. The wildlife management area system consists of the units in §B of this regulation as delineated on maps filed in the Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources. B. Wildlife Management Areas. Name of Area County Avondale Carroll Belle Gro…

.03 Wildlife Sanctuary or Wildlife Refuge. A. Except by a use permit from the Service, on Service controlled lands and waters posted as “Wildlife sanctuary” or “Wildlife refuge” a person may not engage in or attempt to: (1) Catch; (2) Harass; (3) Hunt; (4) Intentionally disturb; …

.04 Vehicles on Service Controlled Lands or Waters. A. A person may not operate or possess a vehicle on Service controlled lands and waters without a use permit from the Service except: (1) Licensed automobiles, boats, motorcycles, and trucks that operate on those roads, trails, …

.05 Baiting or Feeding. A. On Service controlled lands and waters, a person may not: (1) Hunt, shoot, or kill or attempt to hunt, shoot, or kill any game birds or game mammals with the aid of bait or on or over any baited area; or (2) Bait or feed wildlife without a use permit fr…

.06 Permanent Blinds and Tree Stands. A. A person may use temporary blinds and tree stands that are brought in and taken out daily on Service controlled lands. B. Hunters may use natural stands of vegetation that are present and left uncut at the hunting site. C. A person may not…

.07 Fires. A. On Service controlled lands a person may not: (1) Ignite; (2) Cause to be ignited; or (3) Maintain a fire except in designated camping sites or by a use permit from the Service. B. Violation of any provision or restriction of the permit shall constitute a violation …

.08 Camping. A. A person may not camp on Service controlled lands: (1) Outside of designated camping areas without a use permit from the Service; or (2) For more than 14 consecutive dates in a designated camping area. B. Violation of any provision or restriction of the permit sha…

.09 Trapping. A. A use permit is required from the Service before a person may trap or attempt to trap on Service controlled lands and waters. B. When designated properties are leased for furbearer trapping, furbearers and nutria may be hunted or trapped only by: (1) The lessee; …

.10 Plants, Rocks, Minerals, and Nongame Animals. A. Except with a use permit from the Service, on Service controlled lands and waters a person may not remove, disturb, damage or destroy any portion of a: (1) Mineral; (2) Plant; (3) Rock; (4) Tree; or (5) Nongame animal. B. Viola…

.11 Use of Dogs. A. A person may use dogs on Service controlled lands or waters, with the following restrictions: (1) Fox and raccoon hunting and chasing in accordance with §B of this regulation; (2) Designated field trials must be conducted in accordance with the conditions of a…

.12 Designated Dove Hunting Areas. A. During the months of September and October in areas posted as a “Designated Dove Hunting Area”, dove hunting is allowed only from 12 noon to 5 p.m. each day only on those days posted open to dove hunting. B. Non-toxic shot must be used to hun…

.13 Release of Animals or Plants. A person may not release any animals or plants on Service controlled lands without a use permit from the Service.

.14 Commercial Enterprise. A person may not conduct commercial activities on Service controlled lands and waters without a use permit from the Service.

.15 Closed Against Entry. A. The Service may close, restrict, or limit public access and entry to certain areas of WMAs or other Service controlled lands. B. The Service shall restrict public access on Service controlled lands and waters by posting the restrictions at appropriate…

.16 Fireworks. On Service controlled lands and waters, a person may not operate, possess or use: A. Combustibles; B. Explosives; or C. Fireworks.

.17 Geocaching. On Service controlled lands and waters a person may not place a cache for the purpose of geocaching without a use permit from the Service.

.18 Relics, Treasures, and Metal Detectors. On Service controlled lands and waters a person must obtain a permit from the Office of Archeology, Maryland Historical Trust, Department of Housing and Community Development, and a use permit from the Service, prior to: A. Digging for …

.19 Littering and Dumping. A. A person may not deposit litter or refuse on Service controlled lands and waters including, but not limited to: (1) Animal carcasses; (2) Appliances; (3) Brush; (4) Debris; (5) Furniture; (6) Garbage; (7) Hazardous materials; (8) Tires; (9) Waste pap…

.20 Damage to Public Property. A. A person may not vandalize real property on Service controlled lands including any: (1) Blind; (2) Building; (3) Crop; (4) Equipment; (5) Gate; (6) Habitat; (7) Plant; (8) Road; (9) Sign; (10) Trail; (11) Vehicle; (12) Vessel; or (13) Other publi…

.21 Grazing. On Service controlled lands, except with a use permit from the Service, a person may not graze: A. Cattle; B. Goats C. Horses; D. Sheep; or E. Other domestic animals.

.22 Decoys. On Service controlled lands and waters, decoys shall not be: A. Placed prior to 1 hour before legal shooting hours; B. Left set overnight; and C. Removed any later than 1 hour after legal shooting hours.

.23 Waterfowl Hunting. A. Subject to the conditions of §B of this regulation, an individual may hunt wild waterfowl from a boat at anchor or while standing on the natural bottom in waters adjacent to the following lands: (1) Wildlife Management Areas (WMA); (a) Cedar Point WMA ex…

.24 Hunting from Designated Waterfowl Blind Sites. On Service controlled lands and waters, unless otherwise authorized, a person assigned to hunt at a designated blind or blind site may not: A. Catch; B. Hunt; C. Kill; or D. Pursue any waterfowl when the person is more than 50 fe…

.25 Erection of Duck Blinds off Public Lands. A. A person may not license a blind or blind site within 300 yards from the natural shore: (1) In waters adjacent to Service controlled lands; (2) Within the boundary of Assateague Island National Seashore; or (3) Within the boundary …

.26 Use of Watercraft. A. A person shall not operate a vessel using an electric motor exceeding 60 pounds of thrust or a gasoline engine on: (1) Blair’s Valley Lake at Indian Springs WMA; and (2) All ponds at Myrtle Grove WMA. B. A person shall not operate a motorized vessel othe…

.27 Permit Hunting Areas. A. A public hunting permit or registration is required to hunt on the permit hunting areas listed in §§B—D of this regulation. B. Wildlife Management Areas. (1) During the migratory Canada goose and spring turkey seasons, a person may not hunt without a …

.28 Hunting Restrictions on Certain Wildlife Management Areas. A. Deer may be hunted only with archery equipment on the following WMAs: (1) Cheltenham; (2) Gravel Hill Swamp; (3) Johnson WMA; and (4) Ridenour Swamp. B. The following WMAs are open to archery hunting only: (1) Gwyn…

.29 Closing Against Entry — Frederick City Watershed. A. A person or vehicle may not enter, go upon, or remain upon the lands of the Frederick City Watershed CWMA after the posted hours without a use permit from the Service. B. A permit is not required during the normal posted ho…

.30 Designated Shooting Range Permits — Wildlife Management Area Lands. A. An individual desiring to target shoot on Wildlife Management Area lands shall first obtain a permit from the Service. A permit is valid for any designated shooting range on Wildlife Management Area lands.…

.01 Bag Limits and Possession Limits. A. The seasons, bag limits, and possession limits for game birds and mammals shall be in accordance with the schedule provided in this chapter. B. A person may possess only 1 day's bag limit while hunting in the field. C. A person may not exc…

.02 Migratory Game Birds. Wildlife Species Open Season Bag Limit Possession Limit Railbirds (sora, other rails and gallinules), coots, ducks, geese, common snipe, brant, mourning dove, and woodcock Seasons, bag limits, and possession limits for migratory game birds conform to reg…

.03 Forest Game. Species Open Season, Subject to Regulation .01D of This Chapter Location Bag Limits Possession Limit A. Black Bear (Permit Required). October 21, 2024 — October 26, 2024October 20, 2025 — October 25, 2025 In Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties 1…

.04 Upland Game. Species Open Season, Subject to Regulation .01D of This Chapter Location Bag Limits Possession Limit A. Crow. August 15 — March 15, hunting allowed Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday only In all counties No limit No limit B. Pheasant. (1) In General. Novem…

.05 Fur-Bearing Mammals. Species Open Season, subject to COMAR 08.03.03.01D Location Bag Limits Possession Limit A. Beaver. (1) In General. December 15, 2024 — March 15, 2025December 15, 2025 — March 15, 2026 In all counties, except Garrett and Allegany counties No limit No limit…

.06 Deer Hunting — General. A. Regional Management. (1) The seasons and bag limits for white-tailed deer are set on a regional basis. (2) The two deer management regions are: (a) Deer management region A includes Allegany (Zones 1 and 2), Garrett (Zones 1 and 2), and Washington (…

.07 White-Tailed Deer. A. The following lands are owned or controlled by the Department in Region A as defined in Regulation .06A of this chapter: (1) Billmeyer-Belle Grove; WMA; (2) Cunningham Swamp WMA; (3) Dan’s Mountain WMA; (4) Deep Creek Lake State Park (designated areas on…

.08 Sika Deer. Season Dates, Subject to Regulation .01D of This Chapter Season Bag Limits A. Archery Season. Statewide. September 6, 2024 — October 16, 2024October 20, 2024 (Sunday counties only)October 21, 2024 — November 29, 2024December 16, 2024 — December 20, 2024January 5, 2…

.01 Junior Hunting Day. A. Only an individual 16 years old or younger may participate on Junior Hunting Days as described in COMAR 08.03.03.03, .07, and .08. B. A junior hunter shall: (1) Possess a valid hunting license; (2) Possess a nonresident hunting license; or (3) Be exempt…

.02 Deer Management Permit Procedures. A. Form of Request. Pursuant to Natural Resources Article, §10-415, Annotated Code of Maryland, a person may request that the Service investigate severe damage caused by deer for the purpose of having the Service reduce the deer population i…