Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland

Bear Hunters' Guide to Hunting Black Bears in Maryland 2009

What’s New for the 2009 Bear Hunting Season

  • New Pre-Hunt Meeting Attendance Requirements:
  • Pre-hunt meeting attendance remains MANDATORY for any permittees who have not attended a pre-hunt meeting in previous years.
  • Pre-hunt meeting attendance is OPTIONAL for any permittees who have attended a pre-hunt meeting in previous years.
  • Pre-hunt meeting attendance remains optional for subpermittees and landowner subpermittees.
     
  • New Regulation: Persons required to wear fluorescent orange that hunt from a ground blind that has four sides, a top, and is placed no more than 4 feet above the ground must display, on or within 25 feet of the blind, a cap of solid daylight fluorescent orange color or a panel, band, strip, or garment containing at least 250 square inches (approximately 16” x 16”) of solid daylight fluorescent orange color. See Fluorescent Orange.
     
  • In 2007, DNR implemented a Preference Point System for bear hunting permit applicants. Each year that a hunter applies for a bear hunting permit he/she will receive one preference point if they are not selected for a bear hunting permit. The preference points will provide additional entries in future drawings. Applicants will get one additional entry in the random drawing for each year they are a concurrent applicant.
  • Applicants must apply each year to retain preference points. If an applicant skips a year, all preference points will be forfeited.
  • Once an applicant is selected to receive a bear hunting permit, all preference points will be forfeited.
  • If an applicant is selected in the random drawing, but forfeits the permit, all preference points will be forfeited.
  • Applicants will not forfeit preference points by participating in the hunt as a Subpermittee or Landowner Subpermittee.
  • Applicants have the opportunity to purchase a preference point only. This will allow those hunters who cannot hunt in 2009 the opportunity to retain their preference points for use in future drawings without risk of losing them.
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