SB 475
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
First Reader
Senate Bill 475 (Senator Eckardt)
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Talbot County – Deer and Turkey Hunting – Sundays
This bill authorizes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to allow, in
Talbot County, a person to (1) hunt deer (including on public land designated for hunting
by DNR) on each Sunday of the deer hunting seasons from the first Sunday in October
through the second Sunday in January, inclusive and (2) hunt turkey on one Sunday of the
spring turkey hunting season through participation in a junior hunt (including on public
land if designated for hunting by DNR). The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: The bill is not expected to materially affect State operations or finances.
Local Effect: The bill is not expected to materially affect local operations or finances.
Small Business Effect: Minimal overall, but potential meaningful impact for certain
businesses in Talbot County, as discussed below.
Analysis
Current Law: In general, DNR establishes the open season to hunt forest and upland
game birds and mammals by regulation each year. DNR may adopt regulations to enlarge,
extend, restrict, or prohibit hunting wildlife. There are three primary seasons to hunt deer
in Maryland: deer bow hunting season; deer firearms season; and deer muzzleloader
season. Deer hunting with archery equipment extends from early September through the
end of January. Firearms season is two weeks in November and December starting the
Saturday after Thanksgiving. There is also a two-day firearms season in January. There are
two muzzleloader seasons: one in mid-October and a second in late December. New for
the 2020-2021 season, there was also a three-day primitive deer hunt in early February.
For an overview of Sunday hunting laws in the State, as well as background information
on Sunday deer hunting in Maryland, please see the Appendix – Sunday Hunting in
Maryland.
Under current law, a person who is age 16 or younger and is participating in a junior hunt
may hunt on a Sunday. Hunting turkey on a Sunday of the junior turkey hunt is already
available in Talbot County.
Small Business Effect: Authorizing additional deer hunting in Talbot County may have
a meaningful economic impact on certain types of businesses. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service reports that, in 2011, the average hunter in Maryland spent $49 per hunting day on
trip-related expenditures. In 2011, the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife
Associated Recreation estimated that hunters in Maryland spend more than $260 million
annually on food, lodging, equipment, and transportation.
In addition to businesses directly affected by hunting, to the extent the bill results in a
decrease in the deer population in Talbot County, the bill may also affect several other
types of businesses, such as farms (due to a reduction in crop damage) and businesses that
own or repair vehicles (due to a reduction in deer-vehicle collisions.)
DNR estimates that another 50 to 100 deer could be harvested each year on the additional
Sundays in Talbot County.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: HB 1129 of 2020, a similar bill, passed the House with amendments
and was referred to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee,
but no further action was taken. Its cross file, SB 500, received a hearing in the Senate
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, but no further action was taken.
Designated Cross File: HB 325 (Delegate Mautz) - Environment and Transportation.
Information Source(s): Department of Natural Resources; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service; Department of Legislative Services
SB 475/ Page 2
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - February 14, 2021
an/lgc
Analysis by: Kathleen P. Kennedy Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
SB 475/ Page 3
 Appendix – Sunday Hunting in Maryland
Sunday Hunting, Generally
Hunting game birds or mammals on Sundays is generally prohibited, with specified
exceptions. Chapter 95 of 2020 reorganized and clarified statutory provisions related to
Sunday hunting in the State. Chapter 95 also (1) explicitly stated that a person may not
hunt on public lands within the State park system on a Sunday and (2) authorized the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to set all of the seasons for Sunday hunting.
Game Birds and Mammals on Private Property and Public Land
DNR may allow Sunday hunting for any game bird or mammal, except migratory game
birds, in Allegany, Cecil, Garrett, St. Mary’s, and Washington counties during the open
season for these animals on private property and public land designated for Sunday hunting
by DNR.
DNR may allow Sunday deer hunting in Frederick County from the first Sunday in October
through the second Sunday in January of the following year on private property and public
land designated for Sunday hunting by DNR.
DNR may allow Sunday turkey hunting in Dorchester County during the spring turkey
hunting season on private property and public land designated for hunting by DNR.
Deer on Private Property
All Seasons: DNR may allow Sunday deer hunting on private property (1) in Carroll and
Dorchester counties in all deer hunting seasons from the first Sunday in October through
the second Sunday in January of the following year; (2) in Kent County on each Sunday in
all deer hunting seasons from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. (however, the time
restriction does not apply to a participant in the junior deer hunt, on one Sunday in the deer
firearms season as designated by DNR, and on each Sunday during the deer bow hunting
season and the deer muzzle loader season); and (3) in Montgomery County on each Sunday
in all deer hunting seasons from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. (however, the
time restriction does not apply to a participant in the junior deer hunt, and on one Sunday
in the deer firearms season and the deer bow hunting season as designated by DNR).
Firearms Season: DNR may allow Sunday deer hunting on private property (1) in Calvert,
Caroline, Charles, Harford, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, and Worcester counties on each
Sunday of the deer firearms season; (2) in Anne Arundel and Talbot counties on the
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first Sunday of the deer firearms season; and (3) in Wicomico County on the first Sunday
of deer firearms season, and from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. on the
second Sunday of the deer firearms season.
Bow Season: DNR may allow Sunday deer hunting on private property (1) in Calvert,
Caroline, Charles, Harford, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester
counties on the last three Sundays in October and the first two Sundays in November of
the deer bow season and (2) in Anne Arundel County on the first Sunday in November of
the deer bow season.
Turkey on Private Property
DNR may allow Sunday turkey hunting on private property in Calvert, Caroline, Carroll,
Charles, and Kent counties on Sundays during the spring turkey hunting season.
Miscellaneous
Junior Hunt: DNR may allow a person who is age 16 or younger and is participating in a
junior hunt to hunt on a Sunday.
Traditional Sunday Hunting: DNR may allow the following persons to hunt game birds
and mammals on a Sunday: (1) a person using State-certified raptors to hunt game birds
or mammals during open season for these animals; (2) an unarmed person participating in
an organized fox chase; and (3) a person using a regulated shooting ground to hunt
pen-reared game birds or tower-released flighted mallard ducks.
Deer Management Permit Holders: DNR may allow a person with a deer management
permit to shoot deer on any Sunday throughout the year in accordance with the terms of
the permit.
Express Prohibitions
In general, a person may not hunt on a Sunday in Baltimore City or Baltimore, Howard, or
Prince George’s counties. This prohibition in these counties does not apply to the
above-described acts of traditional Sunday hunting. In addition, a person with a deer
management permit may shoot deer under the permit on a Sunday in these counties.
Further, a person may not hunt migratory game birds on a Sunday, and a person may not
hunt on public land within the State park system on a Sunday.
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Background on Deer Hunting in Maryland
Because white-tailed deer thrive in habitat that is composed of woods and openings and
because hunter access in those areas is limited, suburban development has provided
excellent deer habitat in the State. This has resulted in growing deer populations in
suburban areas. Higher populations of deer can lead to a greater number of negative
interactions with suburban residents, such as deer-vehicle collisions and vegetation
damage. Deer also cause agricultural damage.
According to DNR, regulated hunting is the most cost-effective deer population control
mechanism available throughout most of the State, and Sunday hunting has contributed
positively to managing the State’s white-tailed deer population in the 20 counties where it
is now permitted.
Hunters have harvested more than 75,000 deer on Sundays since becoming a legal hunting
day in 2003. Deer hunters harvested 5,566 deer on Sundays during the 2019-2020 hunting
season. Archery hunters harvested 1,970 deer on Sundays during the 2019-2020 hunting
season, while firearm hunters harvested 3,373 deer, and muzzleloader hunters harvested
223 deer. Included in the firearm totals are the 545 deer harvested by junior hunters on the
Sunday of the Junior Hunt Weekend.
SB 475/ Page 6


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Talbot County – Deer and Turkey Hunting – Sundays: 10-410 Natural Resources