Chapter 02. Use of Wildlife Areas

Bait.

“Baited area” means any area where bait is placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered.

“Camping” means erecting tents or other shelters, sleeping in vehicles or trailers overnight, or otherwise attempting to reside temporarily upon the property overnight.

“Cooperative wildlife management area” means an area under private, corporate, or government ownership for which the landowner or his agent allows controlled public wildlife recreation opportunities in accordance with the provisions of a cooperative agreement or lease with the Service.

Dog Training.

“Geocaching” means to hide a small container or other item at discrete locations for the purpose of using GPS coordinates to locate the item.

“Natural resources management area (NRMA)” means an area where multiple-use management practices are implemented for the maximum use of the natural resources of the area.

“Permit hunting area” means a wildlife management area (WMA), cooperative wildlife management area, or natural resource management area (NRMA) for which a permit from the Service is required to hunt, birdwatch, fish, hike, horseback ride, and train dogs.

“Public hunting permit” means a free permit issued by the Service that allows a licensed hunter to hunt on certain Department lands.

“Target shooting” means to practice or discharge an airgun, BB gun, bow, crossbow, firearm, or paintball gun at a bottle, can, stump, paper target, or any other object into the air or into a body of water.

“Use permit” means written permission provided by the service provided on Department letter head and signed by the director or designee. A use permit may be applied for in writing by contacting the manager of the Wildlife Management Area on which the use will occur.

Vehicle.

“Wildlife management area (WMA)” means an area acquired by the State to protect, propagate, or manage wildlife, or for hunting purposes. The Department may open these areas to nature-based outdoor recreational activities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and wildlife watching.

“Wildlife refuge” or “wildlife sanctuary” means a designated area on any Service-controlled land or water in which wildlife may not be hunted, disturbed, or molested at any time.

Bodkin Island;

Chicone Creek;

Devil Island;

Fort Hill;

Globe Comm;

Hopkin’s Branch;

Kent Island Research Center; and

Little Patuxent Oxbow.

Catch;

Harass;

Hunt;

Intentionally disturb;

Kill; or

Pursue any wildlife.

Licensed automobiles, boats, motorcycles, and trucks that operate on those roads, trails, or waterways:

On certain mobility impaired hunting areas while in possession of a Universal Disability Pass in accordance with COMAR 08.03.10.09 and as posted open for use.

A person may park or leave a vehicle unattended in designated parking areas on Service controlled lands and waters when engaged in a legitimate recreational activity allowed on those lands and waters:

Parking area rules, if applicable, shall be posted and may include:

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

Bait or feed wildlife without a use permit from the Service.

Ignite;

Cause to be ignited; or

Maintain a fire except in designated camping sites or by a use permit from the Service.

Outside of designated camping areas without a use permit from the Service; or

For more than 14 consecutive dates in a designated camping area.

The lessee; or

Persons with a use permit from the Service.

Mineral;

Plant;

Rock;

Tree; or

Nongame animal.

Fox and raccoon hunting and chasing in accordance with §B of this regulation;

Designated field trials must be conducted in accordance with the conditions of a valid Field Trial Permit in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §10-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, issued by the Service;

Dog training is allowed only in designated dog training areas in accordance with posted rules;

Persons may not use dogs in areas marked as closed to entry by dogs; and

Dogs shall be leashed from April 15 through August 15 unless in a designated dog training area or as otherwise posted.

Allegany;

Anne Arundel;

Calvert;

Charles;

Frederick;

Garrett;

Montgomery;

Prince George’s;

St. Mary’s; and

Washington.

Grove Farm; and

Old Bohemia.

Animal carcasses;

Appliances;

Brush;

Debris;

Furniture;

Garbage;

Hazardous materials;

Tires;

Waste paper;

Yard waste; or

Other litter.

Blind;

Building;

Crop;

Equipment;

Gate;

Habitat;

Plant;

Road;

Sign;

Trail;

Vehicle;

Vessel; or

Other public property on those lands.

Wildlife Management Areas (WMA);

Chesapeake Forest Lands;

State Parks:

Monocacy Natural Resource Management Area (NRMA);

State Forests: Saint Inigoes State Forest, excluding the waters of Chicken Cock Creek and Smith Creek.

At least 250 yards from:

At least 125 yards from any licensed shoreline on the opposite shore; and

Not more than 1/3 the distance from the specified property to the opposite shore or a maximum of 300 yards from the specified property, whichever is less.

An individual may hunt wild waterfowl from a boat at anchor or while standing on the natural bottom at designated sites at Bloodsworth Island Range:

Violation of the terms and conditions of the permit is a violation of this regulation.

In waters adjacent to Service controlled lands;

Within the boundary of Assateague Island National Seashore; or

Within the boundary of Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Land; or

Floating craft, except a sinkbox, including those craft propelled by:

Beached;

Drifting;

Moored;

Propelled by:

Resting at anchor.

Blair’s Valley Lake at Indian Springs WMA; and

All ponds at Myrtle Grove WMA.

Deal Island WMA impoundment; and

Fairmount WMA impoundments.

During the migratory Canada goose and spring turkey seasons, a person may not hunt without a valid public hunting permit from the service on the Millington WMA.

From September 1 to February 28 and during spring turkey season, a person may not enter or hunt on the following WMAs without a valid public hunting permit from the Service:

From September 1 to February 28 and during spring turkey season, a person may not hunt without a valid public hunting permit from the Service on the following WMAs:

A person may not hunt from a designated blind or blind site without a valid public hunting permit on the following WMAs:

A person may only hunt on a CWMA controlled by the Service when consistent with any restrictions posted on the property or described in the public hunting permit.

A person may not enter or hunt on C&D Canal lands controlled by the Service without a valid public hunting permit from the Service, including areas known as:

Cheltenham;

Gravel Hill Swamp;

Johnson WMA; and

Ridenour Swamp.

Gwynnbrook; and

Strider.

Hunting within the Deal Island WMA impoundment is allowed on the following days:

Hunting within the Fairmount WMA impoundments is allowed as follows:

All hunters shall be off the waters and dikes of the impoundments between 1-1/2 hours after sunset and 2-1/2 hours prior to sunrise.

$5 for a resident or nonresident individual younger than 18 years old;

$20 for a resident individual 18 years old or older;

$10 for an individual who possesses a current, valid Maryland hunting license;

$5 for a one-day pass regardless of residency; and

$25 for a nonresident 18 years old or older.

The number of shooters using a range may not exceed the posted range capacity.

The possession, use, or consumption of alcoholic beverages or drugs, and any person under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is prohibited at a range at all times.

Shooting is permitted at paper targets only. Targets may not be placed on any portion of the baffle structure, and shall be located 3 to 4 feet from ground level.

Automatic weapons are not permitted at any time.

A person is not permitted on the shooting range outside the hours of use posted at the range.

An individual under 18 years old shall be accompanied by an adult while shooting.