Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants
HB0654 repeals the Sunday hunting time restrictions that currently apply in Wicomico County for hunting game birds and mammals on private property and on certain public lands designated for Sunday hunting. Under current law, Wicomico County hunters are limited to hunting only from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. on specified Sundays, with some seasonal exceptions. This bill removes those time-of-day limits for Wicomico County while leaving the county’s Sunday hunting authorization in place.
The bill amends § 10-410 of the Natural Resources Article, which governs where and when Sunday hunting is allowed in Maryland. It specifically strikes Wicomico County from the list of counties subject to Sunday morning-only hunting restrictions on private land and public land designated for hunting, and removes related exceptions tied to deer firearms and bow seasons. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and would give hunters in Wicomico County the same broader Sunday hunting access already available in some other counties without those time limits.
The bill changes Maryland hunting law by expanding Sunday hunting opportunities in Wicomico County and eliminating the county-specific morning cutoff for game bird and game mammal hunting on eligible lands. It affects the Natural Resources Article, § 10-410, which sets county-by-county Sunday hunting rules, and it removes Wicomico County from the list of counties with restricted Sunday hunting hours on private property and certain public lands. The practical effect is to allow hunting during the full Sunday hunting periods otherwise permitted by the Department, subject to remaining statewide and local restrictions such as bans on migratory game birds, State park land, and counties where Sunday hunting remains prohibited.
The available voting history suggests the bill was broadly supported, with the House passing it by a wide margin, 124-10. That vote indicates generally favorable sentiment toward easing Sunday hunting restrictions in Wicomico County. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded discussion here showing organized opposition or amendment debate, but the strong floor vote suggests the measure was not highly controversial among most members.
The main point of contention is likely the policy choice to expand hunting access on Sundays versus preserving limited hunting hours for safety, land-use, or community reasons. Supporters would view the bill as a local flexibility measure for hunters and landowners in Wicomico County, while opponents may be concerned about increased hunting activity, noise, or conflicts with other Sunday uses of rural land. Because the bill only removes time restrictions rather than authorizing Sunday hunting statewide, the dispute is localized and centered on whether Wicomico County should continue to be treated differently from counties with full Sunday hunting access.