Section 10-406 - Open season for hunting and trapping fur-bearing mammals. - Maryland Statutes

§ 10-406. Open season for hunting and trapping fur-bearing mammals.
 

(a)  Designated.- Except during the hunting and trapping season or as allowed under subsection (b) of this section, a person may not hunt or trap any fur-bearing mammal or possess the meat or pelt of any fur-bearing mammal, whether hunted or trapped within the State or any other state, territory, or country. 

(b)  Exceptions.-  

(1) (i) A person may possess any green pelt of any fur-bearing mammal until March 25 for purposes of curing the skins. 

(ii) However, in Frederick, Garrett, Allegany, Carroll, Howard, and Washington counties, a person may hunt or trap mink or muskrat between November 15 and February 15, of the year following, and a person may possess any green mink and muskrat pelt until February 25 for purposes of curing the skin. 

(iii) 1. In the remainder of the State except for the counties in item 2 of this paragraph, a person may hunt or trap mink or muskrat between January 1 and March 15. 

2. In Baltimore, Cecil, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, and Worcester counties, a person may hunt or trap mink or muskrat between December 15 and March 15 of the year following. 

(iv) The Department may extend any muskrat season set by this subsection for a period of 1 week, if the Department considers it necessary for any reason, including weather conditions. 

(2) A person may possess the meat of muskrat or otter no more than 10 days after the close of open season for these mammals in order to dispose of the meat for food. However, a person may apply for a permit to store the meat during the closed season if the meat was hunted lawfully. 

(3) A muskrat damaging any embankment or impoundment may be destroyed by the owner at any time. 

(4) A person may hunt or trap and possess the pelt or meat of raccoon or opossum during those periods and under the restrictions, including bag limits, the Department may establish by regulation. 

(5) In Charles and Dorchester counties, a person may hunt or trap a fox or possess the pelt of a fox at any time of year. 

(6) A person may hunt or trap on the person's land a coyote, fox or skunk that is damaging or destroying the personal or real property of the landowner. 

(7) A person may: 

(i) Trap a coyote during the trapping season established by the Department; or 

(ii) Hunt a coyote: 

1. While the person is legally hunting for any other species of game bird or mammal, by any method legal for use at the time in hunting that other species; or 

2. At any time of year, by predator calling. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 66C, §§ 175, 178; 1973, 1st Sp. Sess., ch. 4, § 1; 1975, ch. 165, § 2; 1978, ch. 107; 1979, ch. 372; 1980, ch. 684; 1981, ch. 121; 1985, ch. 536; 1987, chs. 186, 575; 1990, ch. 6, § 2; 1995, ch. 572; 1998, ch. 200; 2000, ch. 690.]