Glossary - Definition of Terms
 

The following definitions are for use when reading this guide:

Antlered sika deer- a sika deer with at least one antler visible above the hair line.

Antlered white-tailed deer- a white-tailed deer with 2 or more points to one antler, or a white-tailed deer with one antler 3 or more inches long, measuring from the top of the skull in a living deer.

Antlerless sika or white-tailed deer- is any sika or white-tailed deer not antlered.

Bag limit- the number of game birds and game mammals that can be legally taken.

Blind- any man-made or natural material that conceals a hunter from full or partial view but not worn by the hunter.

Blind site- a specific location in the water where a person may hunt wild waterfowl from a boat or raft which is tied to or anchored at a stake and is not a permanent structure.

Closed season- the time period when a person may not hunt a species of game bird or mammal and includes any period of time not included within the open season.

Falconry- hunting with the aid of birds of prey (falcons, hawks, owls).

Furbearing mammals- beaver, bobcat, coyote, fisher, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, red fox, and skunks.

Game birds- brant, coot, crow, ducks, gallinule, geese, mergansers, mourning dove, pheasant, quail, rails, ruffed grouse, snipe, swans, wild turkey, and woodcock.

Game mammals- black bear, deer, fox squirrels (except Delmarva subspecies), furbearing mammals, gray squirrels, rabbit, and red squirrels.

Hunting- capturing, catching, gigging, killing, pursuing, shooting, or trapping or attempting to capture, catch, gig, kill, pursue, shoot, or trap or in any manner take any bird or mammal into personal possession.

Hunting devices- a term used to describe legal equipment for hunting during certain seasons or for certain species of wildlife, e.g., a type of bow or firearm.

Jaw spread- the distance between the inside of both jaws of a trap when measured across the trap jaws on a line perpendicular to a line drawn through the jaw pivot points when the trap is in a set position.

Muzzleloader firearm-  a handgun, rifle, or shotgun which is loaded from the muzzle or a revolver which is loaded from the front of the cylinder.

Nighttime- the time beginning one half hour after sunset and ending one half hour before sunrise the following day.

Nongame birds and mammals- every wild bird or mammal not classified as a game bird or mammal.

Open season- the time when a person can lawfully hunt or trap.

Protected birds and mammals- any wild bird or mammal not included within the definition of game bird, game mammal, unprotected bird or unprotected mammal.

Riparian owner- the owner of shoreline land.

Snare trap- any device constructed of cord, cable or other material, which forms a loop and is designed or set with the intent of capturing a furbearer by the neck.

Stationary blind- a permanent offshore structure built on pilings or stakes and used for hunting wild waterfowl.

Unprotected bird- house sparrow, European starling.

Unprotected mammal- nutria, woodchuck.

Waterfowl- ducks and geese.

Wildlife- any living creature, wild by nature, endowed with sensation and power of voluntary motion and including amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles which spend a majority of their life cycle on land.