Maryland changes longstanding rule on hunter orange
One sure sign that the fall hunting seasons are near is when the annual "Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping" hits local sporting goods stores. That happened last week and every hunter should take the time to check it out. You can find all the seasons, bag limits, rules and regs you need to follow, changes for the year and, this year at least, a longstanding privilege the DNR has taken away from hunting landowners.
You've got to dig pretty deep to find that last one, page 53 to be exact. It's not listed under the "New Laws and Regulations" section in the front of the guide. Nope, it's near the end of the section on fluorescent orange clothing requirements, that nail-biting copy I'm sure you all read first thing each year.
For the four decades I've been hunting, and well before that, landowners who hunt on their own property have always been exempt from the hunter orange requirements. No more.
Is this a big deal? Well, yes and no. Hunter safety orange is required for many types of hunting and it's always a safe thing to wear. Other hunters can see you better and not mistake you for the animal they're after. I think every hunter agrees that wearing hunter orange during gun seasons for deer and small game is a good idea.
But as I mentioned above, landowners have always been exempt from that requirement on their own property. Most still wear the hunter orange when heading into the deer woods, but I don't know any landowners who believe the DNR should be able to dictate a dress code to a taxpaying landowner on their own place.
Landowners on their own property are often at the ready even when they aren't hunting. I've often split wood behind the shed during deer season with the rifle nearby just in case something walked into the field. Most farmers keep a rifle handy when in the field or working on equipment for the same reason. Pick that rifle up and shoot a deer now, on your own place, in season, but just wearing your normal work clothes or coveralls? You'll have a hefty fine and ticket coming your way.
MORE CIEKOT:Sure, it's early, but you can start preparing for goose season
Most disturbing is how this new law came to be. I admit it slipped my notice. I contacted the good folks at the Maryland Hunting Coalition, who are deeply involved in all the laws and regulations, but they hadn't heard of it either. The head of DNR Wildlife and Heritage, Paul Peditto, told me it wasn't one of their regulations, that it had come in law from the Legislature.
That last bit was only partly true. It did come from the batch of new laws passed this spring, but it was buried deep into HB0126, submitted by the Chair of the Environmental Committee, which means it was a bill requested by the DNR. DNR even sold the bill as a mere housekeeping effort to clean up some old regs, but the hunter orange/landowner change was at the very end of the text and was not mentioned in the bill summary. I'd be willing to bet my orange hat that it slipped the notice of almost every Legislator who voted for the bill, too, as all ours did.
If you hunt on your own property you must be aware of this change. Wear your state-mandated uniform or else.
READ MORE:Rays, skates and sea robins: Are they fit for your plate?
Outdoor Calendar
July 14-16: 30th annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament, Ocean City Fishing Center/Sunset Marina, Ocean City, 1-800-322-3065
July 22-23: 13th annual Marlin Club Kid's Classic, Ocean City Marlin Club, Ocean City, 410-213-1613
July 28-30: Fourth annual Big Fish Classic, Talbot Street Pier, Ocean City, 410-213-0325
Aug. 1: First licensing day for offshore waterfowl blind sites, locations in each Maryland county
Aug. 4-5: Ninth annual Marlin Club Ladies Tournament, OC Marlin Club, Ocean City, 410-213-1613
Aug. 7-11: 44th annual White Marlin Open, Harbour Island Marina, Ocean City, 410-289-9229
Aug. 18-20: 2017 Flounder Pounder Open, Long Neck, Delaware, flounderpounderopen.com
Through Dec. 20: Chesapeake striped bass season, main bay and all tributaries, two fish daily, 20 inches minimum, only one over 28 inches