# COMAR Title 08 — Department of Natural Resources

## Subtitle 03 — Wildlife

### Chapter 04 — Forest Wildlife

#### Regulation .25 Killing Wounded Deer After Legal Shooting Hours.

*COMAR 08.03.04.25*

A. A hunter who wounds a deer during legal shooting hours may pursue and kill the deer after legal shooting hours subject to the following restrictions:

  (1) The pursuit and killing of the deer must occur within 24 hours of the end of legal shooting hours on the day the deer was wounded;

  (2) No person other than the hunter or a tracking dog handler may carry a firearm or bow of any description while pursuing a wounded deer after legal shooting hours;

  (3) No person other than the hunter or a tracking dog handler may kill a wounded deer that is pursued after legal shooting hours;

  (4) The hunter or tracking dog handler shall use only the means authorized for the applicable hunting season or permit to pursue and kill the deer; and

  (5) No additional hunting or pursuit of unwounded game is permitted after legal shooting hours.

B. Except as provided for in this subtitle, the act of pursuing and killing a wounded deer constitutes hunting as defined by Natural Resources Article, §10-101(k)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland, and is subject to all applicable laws, regulations, and conditions.

C. A hunter who pursues a wounded deer after legal shooting hours may use an artificial light including a spotlight, flashlight, headlamp, or other lighting device to cast a ray on the deer while in pursuit or while killing the animal.

D. Motorized vehicles may not be used to pursue a wounded deer during or after legal shooting hours.

E. If a hunter believes a deer will need to be killed after legal shooting hours, the hunter shall notify the Natural Resources Police by calling the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Communication Center 24-Hour Emergency telephone number prior to initiating or continuing the pursuit after legal shooting hours and once the pursuit has concluded. The hunter shall provide the following information:

  (1) The address and general location of where the deer was wounded;

  (2) The name, address, telephone number, and DNRid number of the hunter;

  (3) The name and, if known, the telephone number of the landowner where the deer was wounded;

  (4) The direction in which the wounded deer was traveling; and

  (5) The status of the pursuit when it concluded.

F. This subtitle does not authorize a hunter to trespass onto the property of another in pursuit of a wounded deer.

G. Recovered deer must be tagged and reported in accordance with COMAR 08.03.04.03.