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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="10-206" title_number="10" title_name="Wildlife" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Organization and Authority of Unit Pertaining to Wildlife -- in General">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Department may reduce the wildlife population in any county, election district, or other identifiable area of the State after a thorough investigation reveals that protected wildlife is seriously injurious to agricultural or other interests in the affected area. The method of reducing the wildlife population is at the Department’s discretion, except that trapping is preferred whenever feasible. The Department shall dispose of wildlife taken pursuant to the provisions of this section as the Department deems advisable.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subsection, “deer damage” includes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Widespread damage caused by deer, including the elimination of forest understory, tree regeneration, and native plants; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The destruction of agricultural crops caused by deer.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department may authorize the reduction of the deer population on any single, contiguous property of at least 10 acres where the Department has documented deer damage.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The method of reducing the deer population:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Is at the Department’s discretion; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, may include the issuance of a permit to a property owner, or the property owner’s employee, lessee, or agent, to shoot deer on the property on Sundays.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A permit issued under subparagraph (i)2 of this paragraph:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>May not authorize hunting on Sundays in:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Baltimore City;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Baltimore County;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>Howard County; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>Prince George’s County; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Shall prohibit deer hunting on Sundays during deer firearms season within 150 yards of a Department trail designated for bicycling, hiking, equestrian use, or other active or passive recreational use.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Department shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Map areas of the State to which a permit may apply under this subsection; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Make the maps readily available to the public.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
