In this section, “child” includes: Foster child; Foster grandchild; Grandchild; Stepchild; and Stepgrandchild. To provide a fund to pay the expense of protecting and managing wildlife, and preventing unauthorized persons from hunting them, a person may not hunt or attempt to hunt during open season and in any permitted manner any game birds and mammals in the State without first having procured either a resident or nonresident hunter’s license. A permanent resident of a government reservation may obtain a resident hunter’s license. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the following persons are not required to obtain a hunter’s license, bow and arrow stamp, black powder stamp, bonus antlered deer stamp, or sika deer stamp: With respect to hunting on farmland only: The resident owner of the farmland and the owner’s spouse, child, and child’s spouse; A tenant and the tenant’s spouse, child, and child’s spouse. A tenant is a person holding land under a lease, or a sharecropper who resides in a dwelling on the land, but a tenant does not include any employee of the owner or tenant; and A nonresident owner of a parcel of farmland and the owner’s spouse, child, and child’s spouse if: The parcel of farmland is located in Maryland and an adjacent state; The owner’s primary residence is on the parcel of farmland; and The adjacent state extends similar privileges to a resident of Maryland; Any resident who is an active service member while on leave in the State, during the resident’s leave period, if, while hunting, the resident possesses a copy of the resident’s official leave order; Any person who is an active service member and has a service–connected disability, if, while hunting, the person possesses valid military identification; and Any unarmed person participating in an organized foxhunt. Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, in order to qualify for the license and stamp exemption in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection, a child or child’s spouse must be eligible to purchase a junior resident or junior nonresident hunting license. If a child or child’s spouse is ineligible to purchase a junior resident or junior nonresident hunting license, the child or child’s spouse shall qualify for the license and stamp exemption if the child or child’s spouse: Lives on the farmland; Worked on the farmland for 30 or more days during the prior 12–month period; or Manages the farmland. In this paragraph, “armed forces” includes the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Merchant Marine. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, a person who is a retired former member of the armed forces of the United States is not required to obtain a hunting license to hunt on farmland that is: In active farming status; and Owned by the person or the person’s spouse, child, child’s spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, niece, or nephew. A person who hunts on farmland without a hunting license under this paragraph shall possess: The retired–military identification card of the person; Written permission from the owner of the farm property to hunt on the property that includes: A specified period of time that the person is authorized to hunt on the property; and The relationship of the person to the owner of the property; and Any required hunting stamps. A person who wishes to obtain a hunting license shall complete and submit an application to the Department or to any person designated by the Department to issue a hunting license. An applicant for a license issued under this section shall provide all the information required by the Department, including the last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number, if the applicant has a Social Security number. Before a hunting license may be issued the applicant for the license shall acknowledge, as a component of the application, that a hunting license does not of itself permit an individual to hunt on private property. There is a resident hunting license that enables the purchaser to hunt all legal game birds and mammals during any appropriate season in Maryland without the purchase of additional stamps, unless the purchaser is hunting migratory game birds, deer during bow and arrow season or black powder season, or sika deer. To hunt migratory game birds the purchaser must also buy a Maryland migratory game bird stamp and to hunt wild waterfowl the purchaser must buy both a Maryland migratory game bird stamp and a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp. To hunt deer during bow and arrow season and black powder season the purchaser must also purchase a bow and arrow or black powder stamp. To hunt sika deer the purchaser must also purchase a sika deer stamp. There is a nonresident hunting license that enables the purchaser to hunt all legal game birds and mammals during any appropriate season without the purchase of additional stamps unless the purchaser is hunting migratory game birds, deer during bow and arrow season or black powder season, or sika deer. This license enables the purchaser to hunt migratory game birds only with the purchase of a Maryland migratory game bird stamp and to hunt wild waterfowl only with the purchase of both a Maryland migratory game bird stamp and a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp. This license enables the purchaser to hunt deer during bow and arrow season and black powder season only with the purchase of a nonresident bow and arrow or black powder stamp. This license enables the purchaser to hunt sika deer only with the purchase of a nonresident sika deer stamp. There is a nonresident 3–day hunting license that enables the purchaser to hunt all legal game birds and mammals except deer and turkey for the 3 consecutive legal hunting days in a single season that are specified on the license by the issuing agent. The purchaser must also purchase a Maryland migratory game bird stamp to hunt migratory game birds and a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp to hunt wild waterfowl with this license. Under no circumstance does this license authorize the purchaser to hunt deer and turkey. There is an apprentice hunting license that enables the purchaser to hunt all legal game birds and mammals in a single season without the purchase of additional stamps unless the purchaser is hunting migratory game birds, deer during bow and arrow season or black powder season, or sika deer. This license enables the purchaser to hunt migratory game birds only with the purchase of a Maryland migratory game bird stamp and to hunt wild waterfowl only with the purchase of both a Maryland migratory game bird stamp and a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp. This license enables the purchaser to hunt deer during bow and arrow season and black powder season only with the purchase of a bow and arrow or black powder stamp. This license enables the purchaser to hunt sika deer only with the purchase of a sika deer stamp. A person may obtain an apprentice hunting license on satisfactory completion of a short online or electronic course of instruction in competency in firearms and hunter safety approved by the Department. Except as provided in subsubsubparagraph C of this subsubparagraph, a person may hunt under an apprentice hunting license only if accompanied and directly supervised by another person who is at least 18 years of age and possesses a valid resident nonapprentice hunting license issued under this subtitle. A person who accompanies and directly supervises an apprentice hunting licensee shall maintain close visual and verbal contact with, provide adequate direction to, and be in a position to immediately assume control of the firearm of the apprentice hunting licensee. Except for a person participating in a junior hunt approved by the Department, an apprentice hunting licensee who has obtained a certificate of competency in firearms and hunter safety under § 10–301.1 of this subtitle may hunt without supervision. Except as provided in subsubparagraph 8 of this subparagraph, an apprentice hunting license: May be issued to a person only once in the person’s lifetime; May not be renewed; and May not be issued to a person who has previously been issued any hunting license under this subtitle. Notwithstanding subsubparagraph 7 of this subparagraph, the Department may issue an apprentice hunting license to a person under the age of 17 years who has previously been issued an apprentice hunting license. The Department shall require an applicant for a second or subsequent apprentice hunting license under this subsubparagraph to repeat the course of instruction in competency in firearms and hunter safety specified under subsubparagraph 5 of this subparagraph. Residents may purchase a senior hunting license beginning in the calendar year in which they attain the age of 65. Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a nonresident of any age must purchase either a nonresident hunting license or a nonresident 3–day hunting license to hunt in the State. A nonresident attending a college or university in the State may purchase a resident hunting license if the nonresident provides to the Department proof that the nonresident is enrolled at a college or university in the State. Subject to paragraph (7) of this subsection, the fees for hunting and trapping licenses are according to the following schedule: Resident, junior, under the age of 16 years .............. $15.00 Resident, regular, at least 16 years old and under the age of 65 years ………………………………………………………………………………...$35.00 Resident, senior, at least 65 years old ………………….$5.00 Nonresident, regular, at least 16 years old ............. $160.00 Nonresident, junior, under the age of 16 years …….. $80.00 Complimentary license authorized to be issued under § 10–303 of this subtitle.................................................................................................. No fee Nonresident 3–day hunting license ........................... $65.00 Resident apprentice ................................................... $15.00 Nonresident apprentice ............................................. $40.00 Nonresident trapping license .....................................$50.00 The fees for individual hunting stamps are according to the following schedule: Bow and arrow stamp ………………………………........$6.00 Nonresident bow and arrow stamp ……………….......$25.00 Black powder stamp .....................................................$6.00 Nonresident black powder stamp …………………......$25.00 Maryland migratory game bird stamp ..................... $15.00 Resident bonus antlered deer stamp ..........................$10.00 Nonresident bonus antlered deer stamp for each type of deer hunting season .............................................................................................. $25.00 Resident sika deer stamp ...........................................$10.00 Nonresident sika deer stamp ................................... $200.00 The fees for furbearer permits are according to the following schedule: Individual ......................................................................$5.00 Group ..........................................................................$50.00 The Department shall establish a program to provide discounted hunting licenses and any associated State–issued stamps or permits to Maryland residents who are recipients of the Purple Heart Award. The person designated to sell the hunting licenses and individual hunting stamps shall issue the hunting licenses and individual hunting stamps and collect the fee prescribed in subsection (g) of this section. The designated person who sells and issues the hunting licenses and individual hunting stamps shall retain as compensation 75 cents for each resident senior hunting license and individual hunting stamp sold and issued and shall retain as compensation $1.50 for each resident junior, nonresident junior, resident regular, nonresident regular, nonresident senior, and nonresident 3–day hunting license sold and issued. A hunting license shall be valid for the period August 1 through July 31, of each year. A hunting license may not be transferred to any other person. Upon issuing any hunting license, the Department shall furnish the licensee with a list of the names and addresses of every general hospital in the State which offers emergency medical treatment. When the Department has adequate computer capability, the Department shall compile statistics after the close of the hunting season each year concerning the sale of hunting licenses for the previous season, including the names, addresses, counties of residence, and ages of the persons who purchased the hunting licenses and the types of hunting licenses sold. Repealed. The Department may enter into contracts with farmers in the State to reimburse the farmer for planting and leaving grains, grasses, and legumes, including clover, alfalfa, and soybeans, unharvested in the fields in order to be used to provide food or cover for any upland game birds and mammals and wetland game birds in the State. In this subsection, “Fund” means the Upland Wildlife Habitat Fund. There is an Upland Wildlife Habitat Fund in the Department. The purpose of the Fund is to facilitate the implementation and management of upland habitat programs. The Department shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Fund consists of: Voluntary contributions made to the Fund at the time of purchase of a hunting license under this section; Any other donations made to the Fund; and Any investment earnings of the Fund. The Fund may be used only for: Providing cost–share assistance to landowners for planting upland wildlife habitat; Providing matching funds to acquire grant funding for upland wildlife habitat programs; Hiring contractual staff to implement upland wildlife habitat programs in the State; Promoting the Fund and upland wildlife habitat programs; and Covering administrative costs calculated in accordance with § 1–103(b)(2) of this article. The Secretary may prioritize the duties under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph to maximize the effectiveness of upland wildlife habitat programs. A designated person who sells hunting licenses under this section and who also collects donations for the Fund may retain as compensation 10% of each donation the person receives. The Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. Any investment earnings of the Fund may not be transferred or revert to the General Fund of the State, but shall remain in the Fund. Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.

On or after July 1, 1977, a person under 18 years of age may not procure a hunting license or hunt in the State, unless the person has first been issued a certificate of competency in firearms and hunter safety. On or after July 1, 1977, a person, regardless of age, may not procure a hunting license without producing a certificate of competency or a hunting license issued before July 1, 1977, or making out an affidavit that the person hunted before July 1, 1977. This section does not apply to nonresidents of Maryland who purchase a nonresident 3–day hunting license in the State to hunt wild waterfowl. This section applies to nonresidents of Maryland who purchase hunting licenses in the State to hunt wildlife other than wild waterfowl. The Department shall prescribe a course of instruction in conservation and in competency and safety in the handling of firearms. The Department shall designate those persons or agencies authorized to give the course of instruction, and this designation shall be valid until revoked by the Department. Those designated persons shall submit to the Department validated listings naming all persons who have successfully completed the course of instruction. The Department shall issue a certificate of competency and safety to each person who successfully completes the course of instruction, and the certificate shall be valid until revoked by the Department. The Department may not issue a certificate of competency and safety to an individual under the age of 18 unless the individual has completed satisfactorily the course of instruction, or produces a certificate of competency or a hunting license issued prior to July 1, 1978, or makes out an affidavit that the individual had such a license. The Department shall institute and coordinate a statewide course of instruction in conservation and in competency and safety in the handling of firearms, and in so doing, the Department may cooperate with any political subdivision or with any reputable organization having as one of its objectives the promotion of competency and safety in the handling of firearms, such as the National Rifle Association and local rod and gun clubs. The Department may conduct the course in hunter safety and issue the certificates, using Department personnel or other persons at times and in areas where other competent agencies are unable or unwilling to meet the demand for instruction. Any similar certificate, or hunting license, issued outside the State by a governmental agency, shall be accepted as complying with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection, if the privileges are reciprocal for Maryland residents. The Department shall adopt regulations to provide for the course of instruction and the issuance of the certificates consistent with the purpose of this section. On or after July 1, 1977, any person who obtains a hunting license by presenting a fictitious certificate of competency or who attempts to obtain a certificate of competency or hunting license through fraud shall have his hunting privileges revoked by the Department for a period not to exceed 1 year. Any applicant who is refused a certificate of competency under this section may appeal the decision or action of the issuing unit to the Secretary. The Department or a person designated by the Department may issue a 1–year gratis hunting license to a Maryland resident under the age of 16 years who has successfully completed a hunter safety course. A hunting license issued under this subsection shall include all applicable hunting stamps, except for migratory game bird stamps and bonus deer stamps. An individual may be issued only one such license during the individual’s lifetime. The Department or a person designated by the Department shall issue a complimentary hunting license each year to an individual who: Has been authorized by the Department to give the course of instruction in conservation and in competency and safety in the handling of firearms under subsection (b) of this section; Has completed at least 5 years of service as an instructor of this course; Maintains active certification as an instructor of this course; Has taught two hunter safety courses during the fiscal year preceding the issuance of the license; and Has indicated to the Department an interest in receiving a complimentary hunting license. A hunting license issued under this subsection shall include all applicable hunting stamps, except for migratory game bird stamps and bonus deer stamps. The Department may adopt regulations to establish a program to provide incentives for the successful completion of a hunter safety course by an individual who is not required by law to complete a hunter safety course. The program may include: Discounts on hunting licenses; and Any other incentive the Department determines to be appropriate.

There is a patron’s hunting license. The Department shall issue on a yearly basis a patron’s hunting license to any person who: Applies to the Department on a form provided by the Department; and Pays $500. The holder of a patron’s hunting license may hunt any game birds or mammals during any open season and in any manner permitted in the State without obtaining any other license or stamp, except the federal migratory wild waterfowl stamp and the Maryland migratory game bird stamp.

There is a commemorative lifetime hunting license. The Department shall issue a limited number of commemorative lifetime hunting licenses to certain nonprofit organizations, consistent with eligibility criteria developed by the Department, until December 31, 2011. Nonprofit organizations issued hunting licenses under this section may, in cooperation with the Department, market and sell the hunting licenses. All proceeds from sales of hunting licenses under this section shall be used by the Department to fund conservation law enforcement by the Natural Resources Police Force. The Department may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

Any person engaged in a retail business who desires to sell the resident hunting license, either nonresident hunting license or individual hunting stamps as an agent under the Department’s control and supervision shall apply to the Department and provide a bond or other security deemed sufficient and adequate by the Department to ensure payment for the resident and nonresident hunting licenses of any type and individual hunting stamps. License fees collected by an agent shall be forwarded to the Department on a schedule and in a manner prescribed by the Department. An agent may not make any false statement concerning any date of issuance or other resident or nonresident hunting license of any type or individual hunting stamp data. An agent may not issue any hunting license or individual hunting stamp without receiving the fees required by law. In addition to any other penalty provided for by the provisions of this title, any agent convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall lose the agent’s privileges.

The Department annually may issue a complimentary hunting license to the President of the United States, the governor of any state, or an official or an enforcement officer of the game and fish management agency of another state which reciprocally offers complimentary hunting licenses. Subject to the requirements of § 10–301.1 of this subtitle, the Department may issue a lifetime complimentary hunting license to a Maryland resident who certifies that the resident is: A former prisoner of war; An American veteran who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines is unemployable; or A 100% service connected disabled American veteran. Subject to the requirements of § 10–301.1 of this subtitle, the Department may issue a lifetime complimentary hunting license to an out–of–state person: Who certifies that the person is: A former prisoner of war; An American veteran who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines is unemployable; or A 100% service connected disabled American veteran; and Whose state of residence extends similar privileges to former prisoners of war, American veterans who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines are unemployable, or 100% service connected disabled American veterans of this State. A complimentary license is not transferable. For the purposes of this section, “former prisoner of war” means a person who, while an active service member, was forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by an enemy government or its agents, or a hostile force, during a period of armed conflict.

Any money the Department receives for hunter’s licenses shall be accounted for by the Department to the State Treasurer. The amount the Treasurer receives shall be credited to the State Wildlife Management and Protection Fund, and the Treasurer shall pay out of the Fund on warrant of the Comptroller upon requisition of the Department.

A person shall have in the person’s possession the person’s hunter’s license while hunting and, upon demand, shall exhibit the license to the Natural Resources police officer or any law enforcement officer, the landowner on whose property the person is hunting, or the landowner’s representative.

The Department may issue a special permit to a disabled person who has a hunting license authorizing the person to hunt from a stopped vehicle which is not on a public highway. The Department shall prescribe regulations requiring applicants to submit reasons for granting this permit, and shall require every licensee to possess this permit while hunting.

In addition to any other requirement, a person hunting migratory game birds in the State first shall purchase a Maryland migratory game bird stamp. A person may obtain a Maryland migratory game bird stamp for a fee of $15.00 from any person designated by the Department. The issuing person designated shall retain the sum of 75 cents as compensation for issuing each stamp. The balance of the fee is paid over and accounted for to the State Treasurer. The Treasurer shall credit all such fees received to the State Wildlife Management and Protection Fund, in accordance with § 10–209 of this title. The Department may sell expired stamps below face value to the general public for a period of 3 years, after which time the Department shall shred any unsold expired stamps. All revenues derived from the sale of the stamps sold under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall revert back to the Game Management Fund. While hunting migratory game birds, a person must be in possession of proof of purchase of the Maryland migratory game bird stamp. All revenues accruing to the Wildlife Management and Protection Fund from sales of the migratory game bird stamps shall be expended solely for the following purposes: Migratory game bird projects included in an approved State program to create, develop, enhance, maintain, and manage nesting cover, winter foods, and other habitat components on public lands to satisfy the habitat requirements of a broad range of wintering migratory game birds and native migratory game bird species; Migratory game bird research, management, and surveys; and Migratory game bird projects that conserve migratory game bird breeding habitats in Canada. To encourage waterfowl habitat conservation on private lands, the Department shall implement a 10–year licensing agreement for approved projects on privately owned lands detailing the landowner’s responsibilities. Expenditures by private landowners on private land for these waterfowl projects approved by the Department and covered by the licensing agreement shall be considered a contribution to the State. On or before December 1 each year, the Department shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on the effectiveness of any expenditures from the Wildlife Management and Protection Fund for migratory game bird projects under paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection. The Governor shall appoint a Migratory Game Bird Advisory Committee of 9 members who have a practical knowledge of migratory game bird habitat conservation, migratory game bird ecology, migratory game bird management, or migratory game bird hunting. The Committee shall advise the Department on: Matters relating to expenditures of funds derived from the sale of Maryland migratory game bird stamps; Policy, regulations, and legislation related to migratory game birds; and Migratory game bird habitat conservation projects.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a nonresident may hunt snow geese in this State without a resident or nonresident Maryland hunting license if: The nonresident possesses a valid hunting license from the nonresident’s home state; The nonresident purchases a Maryland migratory game bird stamp; and The nonresident’s home state allows a Maryland resident to hunt snow geese without a nonresident hunting license from the home state in accordance with the following conditions: The Maryland resident must possess a valid Maryland hunting license; and The Maryland resident must purchase a migratory waterfowl stamp from the home state.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Waterfowl hunting guide” means an individual who: Is an employee of a waterfowl outfitter; and Furnishes personal guiding services in assisting individuals to hunt wild waterfowl. “Waterfowl outfitter” means an individual who receives monetary consideration for the outfitting or guiding of hunters to hunt wild waterfowl. A “waterfowl outfitter” may be: Self-employed; or An officer of a corporation or partner in a partnership that operates a commercial service that outfits or guides hunters to hunt wild waterfowl. “Waterfowl outfitter” does not include a waterfowl hunting guide, agent, employee, or helper of a waterfowl outfitter. Except as provided in § 10–309.1 of this subtitle, an individual must be licensed by the Department as a waterfowl outfitter or a waterfowl guide before the individual may receive monetary consideration for outfitting or guiding a hunter to hunt wild waterfowl. The Department shall adopt regulations that include: Minimum qualifications to obtain a waterfowl outfitter and waterfowl hunting guide license and other application requirements; Procedures for the review of applications; Criteria for the issuance and denial of licenses; Grounds for license suspension and revocation; Standards for the conduct of waterfowl outfitters and waterfowl hunting guides; and Any other provisions the Department finds necessary to regulate waterfowl outfitters and waterfowl hunting guides. The fees for licenses are as follows: Waterfowl outfitter     $300 Waterfowl hunting guide     $50 The term of a waterfowl outfitter license and a waterfowl hunting guide license is 1 year from August 1 through July 31 of each year. The Department may suspend or revoke a waterfowl outfitter license of an individual based on a conviction for a violation by a waterfowl hunting guide committed while the waterfowl hunting guide was employed by the waterfowl outfitter.

A nonresident may provide waterfowl hunting guide services for hunting snow geese in the State without a Maryland waterfowl hunting guide license if: The nonresident possesses a valid waterfowl hunting guide license from the nonresident’s home state; The nonresident’s home state allows a Maryland resident to provide waterfowl hunting guide services for hunting snow geese without a waterfowl hunting license from the nonresident’s home state if the Maryland resident possesses a valid Maryland waterfowl hunting guide license; and The nonresident purchases a Maryland migratory game bird stamp.

A person may not obtain a hunter’s license issued pursuant to the provisions of this subtitle under an assumed name, an address other than the person’s legal place of residence, or by making any false statement.

If any person, convicted of violating § 10-306 of this subtitle under any penalty provided in this title, presents the person’s hunter’s license to the court within five days after the person’s conviction, the court, if it determines that the person held the license prior to the person’s arrest and that the violation was due to inadvertence, may reduce by one-half any penalty originally imposed.

The Department shall suspend a person’s hunter’s license if the license is used or presented to a law enforcement officer by a person other than the person to whom the license was issued, pending the disposition of a criminal proceeding against the other person. In addition to any penalty provided in this title, if any person is convicted of hunting without a proper hunter’s license in the person’s possession, or using another person’s hunter’s license, the hunter’s license shall be rendered void. The person upon whom the hunter’s license is found and the licensee may not procure a hunter’s license the following hunting license year. However, this section does not apply to a licensee who does not knowingly give the licensee’s license to another.

For the purpose of managing wildlife the Secretary may issue a permit when the Secretary deems it advisable to any person to trap game on property owned or acquired by the State, controlled by the Department, or on any property where permission is obtained from the owner.