Md. Code Regs. 08.03.04.20 - Black Bear Hunting
A. In
this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B. Terms Defined.
(1) "Annual mortality rate" means the
estimated percent of the black bear population in the hunted area that is known
to have died as a result of natural death, accidents, hunting, or other
causes.
(2) "Hunted area" means
Allegany County, Frederick County, Garrett County, and Washington
County.
(3) "Known mortality rate"
means the estimated percent of the black bear population in the hunted area
that is known to have died as a result of natural death, accidents, or other
nonhunting related causes.
(4)
"Permittee" means a person who has been issued a permit to hunt black bears by
the Service.
(5) "Subpermittee"
means a person designated by the permittee to participate with the permittee in
hunting black bears.
(6) "Targeted
harvest rate" means the difference between the Department's goal for the annual
mortality rate and the known mortality rate.
C. A person may hunt black bears in
accordance with COMAR
08.03.03.03F
after meeting the conditions listed in §§D-N of this
regulation.
D. Permit Required.
(1) A person may not hunt or participate in a
hunt for black bears in Maryland without having first obtained a black bear
hunting permit from the Service.
(2) A person that assists with the removal of
a dead bear or escorts hunters into or out of a bear hunting area:
(a) Is not required to possess a bear hunting
permit; and
(b) Shall be
unarmed.
E. A
subpermittee may continue to hunt black bears when the permittee is not hunting
black bears.
F. Targeted Harvest
Rate.
(1) Prior to the beginning of a hunting
season, the Service will determine the targeted harvest rate for the
season.
(2) The Service will issue
the number of permits estimated to be required to meet the targeted harvest
rate for the season.
(3) At the
discretion of the Director, the Service shall either close the season upon a
determination that the targeted harvest rate has been reached or establish an
appropriate season length estimated to achieve the targeted harvest
rate.
G. The use of dogs
to hunt black bears is prohibited, except as provided in Regulation .19 of this
chapter.
H. The use of scent
attractants or electronic calls is prohibited for black bear hunting.
I. Any person killing a black bear shall
attach the black bear field tag to the carcass of the black bear before
removing the carcass from the place of the kill.
J. Proof of sex shall remain attached to all
field-dressed bear carcasses.
K. A
black bear may be quartered or separated into pieces to facilitate retrieval.
However, the head and hide shall remain attached to each other and proof of sex
shall remain attached to one hindquarter.
L. Except as provided in §M of this
regulation, a person killing a black bear shall report to an official
designated black bear checking station with the entire carcass of the black
bear by 8 p.m. of the day of kill. At this time, the tag previously attached on
the carcass shall be exchanged for an official black bear possession tag
provided by the Service and securely attached to the carcass.
M. If a person kills a bear and cannot reach
a designated black bear checking station by 8 p.m. of the day of kill, the
person shall contact the appropriate Service office by 8 p.m. on the day of the
kill to report the kill. The person shall then have 24 hours to report with the
black bear carcass to a designated black bear checking station.
N. All successful black bear hunters shall
forfeit any biological data or specimens that the Service considers necessary
to properly manage this species.
O.
Any violation of the terms and conditions of the black bear hunting permit is a
violation of this regulation.
Notes
Regulation .20B, D amended effective July 17, 2006(33:14 Md. R. 1162)
Regulation .20B, E amended effective 41:15 Md. R. 889, eff.
Regulation .20F amended effective July 17, 2008 (35:14 Md. R. 1245); amended effective 43:16 Md. R. 899, eff.
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