ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Today, in a resounding bipartisan vote, the Maryland House of Delegates passed SB0367: Natural Resources – Antlerless Deer Hunting Programs – Authorization on its third reading. This commonsense bill allows counties that have hosted successful deer management programs in the past, like the Lower Shore’s Doe Harvest Challenge, to continue their impactful efforts. The bill now awaits Governor Wes Moore’s signature to become law.
Recognized as a top priority by the Maryland Farm Bureau (MDFB), this bill addresses the pressing concern of wildlife damage, a major issue confronting farming operations across the state. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Maryland farmers suffer losses exceeding $10 million annually due to wildlife crop damage, with deer overpopulation accounting for over three-quarters of these losses. MDFB members played a pivotal role in advancing this legislation through grassroots advocacy efforts, including action alerts and digital advertisements, which resulted in over 50 MDFB members engaging in nearly 200 communications with their legislators.
“We are beyond pleased that our legislators listened to the issues facing their farming constituents and passed this commonsense bill,” said MDFB President Jamie Raley. “A special thank goes out to the bill’s sponsors, Senator Johnny Mautz and Delegate Tom Hutchinson, as well as the MDFB members who used their voices to champion the swift passage of this bill.”
On February 13th of this year, Tyler Hough, MDFB’s Director of Government Relations, joined bill sponsor Senator Johnny Mautz in testifying in support of SB0367 during a Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee hearing. Additionally, MDFB produced a digital advertisement featuring Bob Chase of Chase’s Produce, highlighting the detrimental impact of deer on agricultural crops. This week as a final push for passage, another digital ad was released featuring Anne Arundel County farmer Chris Catterton to further underscore the importance of passing this legislation.
In recent years, deer management programs have faced scrutiny, with uncertainty surrounding their continuation. SB367/HB481 represents a crucial legislative remedy, ensuring the preservation of these impactful efforts at the county level. MDFB remains committed to advocating for sensible legislation that supports Maryland farmers and safeguards the viability of agriculture in our state.
As an avid hunter I would like to say we do not need this type of detrimental legislation. Once again Democrats putting their common sense aside and creating problems to solve a problem. If you want to help farmers, STOP changing land zoning to help your developement and builder friends build sprawling housing and more retail properties to satiate your need for more tax dollars to spend. You are stripping the deer of habitat and food browse thereby over concentrating them in other areas. Secondly, break our children free of the electronics addiction and get them interested in hunting. Politicians can help by bringing back school programs like the Eddie Eagle Program and bow shooting instead of pushing this DEI and grooming agenda currently being crammed down their throats. Thirdly, more and more farmers WILL NOT allow hunting on their properties and then gripe about crop damage by foraging deer. Some going as far as posting signs at driveway entrances stating “DON’T EVEN ASK!” How about politicians giving farmers tax breaks or credits in some form if that farmland has a nonrelative or non farm related hunter(s) accessing those farms. Whether it be firearms, muzzleloader o and bow, bow only or a combination there of. That can be worked out when the property owner signs the required permission slip(s). This bill that Wes “Less” Moore signed will create more problems than it is solving. As per the norm. Government just cannot get out of it’s own way.
Yes!!!!
Yes!!!!
Absolutely correct!! The continued growth of housing developments has taken the habitat and food source for the deer.
Mr. Governor, if you sign the antlerless deer bill you will lose my vote.
Smart move to help farmers and put more meat on the table…
Mary, may I ask why you are so strongly opposed? I’m generally curious.
This bill won’t amount to a hill of beans! Farmers/landowners that don’t want deer shoot them already. Those that want lots of deer don’t shoot them! We already have a near unlimited ability to shoot antlerless deer!
Mr. Thompson made some good points in his rant but the entirety of his post lost effectiveness because of his dog whistle maga references that were completely unnecessary to making his point. And calling people names is childish.
So how many years will it take until the Deer population gets to low? Then hunting will cease until the population returns.