SB 100 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Natural Resources - Pursuing Wounded Deer After Legal Hunting Hours and Using a Light - Authorization

This bill allows authorized deer hunters in Maryland to pursue and kill a deer they've wounded during legal hunting hours after hours end, provided they use only the hunting methods permitted for that specific season or permit. It directly affects licensed deer hunters who wound deer during legal time but cannot complete the harvest before closing. The law requires hunters to follow existing season/permit restrictions during post-hour pursuit and directs the Department of Natural Resources to create implementing regulations. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2024

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Oct 15, 2024 Last action Apr 7, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Natural Resources - Pursuing Wounded Deer After Legal Hunting Hours - Authorization → Third - Natural Resources - Pursuing Wounded Deer After Legal Hunting Hours and Using a Light - Authorization · 4 edits

MODERATE

SB 100 was amended to expand the authorization for hunters to pursue wounded deer after legal hunting hours by explicitly allowing the use of artificial lights, including spotlights, headlights, and battery-powered devices. The bill also updated the legal citation to include additional time restrictions and added signature lines for the Governor and legislative leaders.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly permit the use of lights when pursuing wounded deer after legal hunting hours, whereas the original version did not specify this allowance.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit authorization for hunters to use lights (spotlights, headlights, battery devices, or other artificial light sources) while pursuing wounded deer after legal hunting hours.

Updated the legal citation from § 10-410(A) to include both § 10-410(A) and (B) when discussing time restrictions for pursuing wounded deer.

TECHNICAL

Added signature lines for the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Delegates to the final version of the bill.

Added committee report status (Favorable with amendments) and Senate action (Adopted) with a second reading date.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2025

How they voted

45–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 46

Mar 23, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (45-0-1)

senate

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Oct 15, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors