Birds and bears: It's time for hunters to prepare
This week Maryland hunters prepare for the annual blind site licensing day, set for next Tuesday, Aug. 2, the start of the period when hunters may register waterfowling blind sites in open waters. This is a unique game with a complex set of rules, one that requires some specialized gear to play. If you're new to it the whole thing can seem daunting, but it can be a great way to have your own little slice of waterfowling heaven for the year for a very small fee.
Each site registration is only $20 and each hunter is allowed to claim two sites per day. Each county has a location where, at 8 a.m. the first day, lottery numbers are drawn to determine the picking order. You'll need either a current or last year hunting license, a photo ID and must be a Maryland resident to participate. After the first day you can still register open sites, but all licensing from Aug. 3 forward is held at the Salisbury regional DNR office.
In Wicomico County the first day lottery is held at the Natural Resources Service Center, 201 Baptist St., Suite 22 in Salisbury. In Worcester County the location is the Snow Hill Fire Department in Snow Hill. Hunters in Dorchester County will need to head to LeCompte WMA on Steele's Neck south of Vienna, while those in Somerset County should go to Wellington WMA on Dublin Road near Princess Anne.
MORE FROM CIEKOT: It's hot, humid, and a great time to look for deer
Black bears
Last week the application period began for the annual black bear hunt in western Maryland, so if you hope to participate it's time to take action.
The hunt this year is slated for Oct. 24-27 and there are some big changes, tops among them an expanded hunt zone that now includes Allegany, Garrett, Frederick and Washington counties. Most hunters go all the way to Garrett for the huge tracts of public land, but there are plenty of bears in the counties farther east.
Permits have been increased this year as well, up to 750 permits this year from the 500 last year. Each permittee can still name up to two co-permittees, too, so this can be a fun hunt with a couple friends.
The preference point system is still in place, so for each year you don't draw a tag, as long as you put in for a permit or buy a preference point, you'll accumulate extra chances until you do finally get a tag. It's $15 to apply, or the same fee to simply buy a point.
MORE FROM CIEKOT: Time to pursue summertime quarry: wild berries
One sore spot among those of us on this end of the state is that all residents of Maryland aren't treated equally when it comes to tags. For several years residents of Allegany and Garrett counties got the first 25 percent of any tags available and that system continues, although it's been expanded to include residents throughout the bear hunt zone. What that means for those of us on the Shore is that while there are 750 tags, we're only allowed the opportunity to draw for 562 of them.
If you want to apply for a tag it's easy to do through the DNR Compass licensing system, accessible through the DNR website or at any licensing vendor. Applications will be taken through Aug. 31 and the lottery will be held Sept. 2. Good luck!
Outdoor Calendar
Aug. 2: Maryland waterfowl blind site licensing day, first day lottery for each county.
Aug. 5-6: Eighth annual Marlin Club Ladies Tournament, OC Marlin Club, Ocean City, 410-213-1613.
Aug. 6: Ninth annual Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Flounder Tournament, Pines Point Marina, Ocean Pines, 410-641-5306.
Aug. 8-12: 43rd annual White Marlin Open, Harbour Island Marina, Ocean City, 410-289-9229.
Aug. 13: Maryland Waterfowlers Association swap meet, Talbot Rod and Gun Club, Easton, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., www.talbotrodandgunclub.com.
Aug. 15: Start of Maryland crow season, Wednesdays-Saturdays only.
Through Aug. 31: Maryland black bear hunt lottery application period.
Through Dec 20: Maryland striped bass season for Chesapeake and tributaries, two fish daily, 20 inches minimum, only one fish over 28 inches.